Sunday, August 26, 2012

Beginning IV Therapy

IV Start Kit with Chloraprep and STATLock
 


While I am reviewing the IV Therapy Module for the skills lab tomorrow, I will post links and videos that I found helpful.  I will post a few videos that review the concepts of isotonic, hypotonic and hypertonic first and then move to more general information about IV therapy.

A brief video reviewing the tonicity of crystalloids and fluid shifts:
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKqrLaq33Zc

Colloids and crystalloid review:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKqrLaq33Zc

Introduction to IV Fluids:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=JFnGQHBDLXw&NR=1

Saddleback's very own ALPHA site.  Check out Med Surg II for IV fluid/therapy information.  This is such a great resource and the videos are so well done:
http://alfa.saddleback.edu/#

IV tubing, drip chambers, the roller clamp and the end of the tubing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QpX6NpQvdU&feature=related

Spike and Prime!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhXG9ISvqGc

IV line insertion tips:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iDK4YNPWu2Q

Nursing students and venipuncture skills.  Step by step walk through of the procedure:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHuOIcxJTIY&feature=related

Removal of a STATLock
http://www.bardaccess.com/statlock-piv-select.php?section=Video

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

A & P Respiratory Review

Nurse Ana has some of the best reviews of, not only respiratory, but also many other areas.  I will be posting her resources whenever I can.  Once you have this link, you can peruse her site for other information.  There are two powerpoints to this, as well as review questions:

http://www.nurseana.com/respiratoryreview.htm

Here is a great site for interactive respiratory physiology compliments of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.  Great interactive labs:
http://oac.med.jhmi.edu/res_phys/


No need to download this file, just click through the slides for a comprehensive review:
http://www.slideshare.net/nclexvideos/respiratory-system

Oxygenation and Ventilation:
http://www.slideshare.net/precyrose/ventilation-powerpoint


NCLEX respiratory review questions:

http://nclexreviewers.com/nclex-review/nclex-review-respiratory-questions-part-1.html

http://www.rnpedia.com/home/exams/nclex-exam/nclex-practice-test-for-respiratory-system-1

ABG's...easy as 123!



So, as I was reviewing the respiratory system and ABG analysis this week, I came across a few videos and links that may prove helpful.  I do notice that the values change somewhat from site to site, but they also vary from hospital to hospital.  Use what your instructor gives you in class and what the hospital uses during your clinical rotations:

Wisc- online does a pretty good job of making ABG's easy to understand.
http://www.wisc-online.com/objects/ViewObject.aspx?ID=nur6906

Here is a handy ebook that was provided by ed4nurses.
http://www.ed4nurses.com/resources/1/pdf/ABGebook.pdf

...and here is the video that goes along with it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6stANI3zNA0
ed4nurses has great videos on a variety of topics and is a terrific resource.

Here is something from the ABG site:
http://www.the-abg-site.com/about.htm


ABG Analysis compliments of NWIA Community College:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=1yHDtWK9zSo&NR=1


An ABG tutorial with case studies:
http://www.m2hnursing.com/ABG/normal_values.php

Last, but not least, here is the video I made during physiology for a review session.  Hey, it may not be in the top ten, but you'll never forget the tune!


Thursday, August 16, 2012

Let the Countdown Begin!

Only 4 more days until the semester starts and I am busy getting my office organized!  Coffee cup within easy reach, good lighting, necessary books at hand, and my trusty organizing tool where I can see it.  I have a brain for clinicals, but I surely need another for lectures.  My calendar is where I can see it, and I have marked the first three weeks of the semester as "taken".  There will be nothing else on my mind but school for those first three weeks!  That should set a good pace for the rest of the semester.

This is how I broke down my summer review, not in any particular order:
  1. Review respiratory A&P
  2. Review respiratory disorders, focusing on the pertinent chapters of the Lewis text and the pathophysiology text by McCance/Heuther
  3. Print out lecture notes and review prior to class
  4. Review lecture objectives before class
  5. review chest tube videos
  6. Review math packet, noting any deficits
  7. review the ATI respiratory book and online tutorials
  8. Review ABG's
  9. Review skills lab tutorials; Alpha videos and Mosby videos
  10. Check the syllabus and look for assignment and test due dates/put these in calendar, put skills lab days on calendar
  11. Set up 2 folders; one for lecture and one for clinical with all docs inside
  12. purchase parscores, necessary paper, ink, tabs, post its, and books for semester
  13. check nursing uniform; patches on securely, any tailoring on those baggy pants?
  14. Locate all clinical items; CPR card, name badge, penlight, steth, notepad, tic tacs, drug guide apps on Iphone, directions to hospital
  15. Review EPIC
  16. Organize master med list by body systems
  17. review: Do not Use list, equivalencies, physical assessment list, formulas for IV rates and calculations, and all normal values reviewed
  18. Review N172 tips and concept maps. 
  19. Contact study group members and set up a time to meet regularly.  Happy hour is considered post-post conference time!
  20. review my physical assessments regularly with friends and family
  21. Check Blackboard regularly, as I don't seem to be receiving regular emails from Bb.
  22. Remember to use 'fast draft' when printing lecture notes.  Saves so much ink and so much time!
  23. Review NLEX questions regularly; Cengage NLEX review book and Davis Pharm book

 This is how I am breaking down the rest of my life for the semester:
  1. Mass cooking on the weekend, with abundant leftovers frozen for the week.
  2. All shopping done early in the morning, once a week, before the crowds hit Trader Joe's and Whole Foods.  Local farmers market shopping can be done on the weekends
  3. Car filled with fuel for the week
  4. Everything prepared for clinical the night before; lunch, folder with appropriate paperwork, name badge, etc.  Start getting up earlier to prepare for clinical days
  5. uniform clean and ready to go.  Do I have my white socks and white shirt ready too?
  6. nails definitely need a manicure!  Summer has been hard on them...
  7. Family is on alert that the semester is starting and they need to be loving and accommodating during the transition from summer.  I promise to be nice to everyone, no matter how stressed I get.
  8. Replenish all supplies (paper, ink, etc) as soon as it looks as though they are getting low.  Nothing worse than needing to print something quickly and having no ink to spare.
  9. Order prescription glasses to wear on the floor during clinical.  I am not losing another pair of readers in a pile of MRSA soaked exudate again!
  10. Set up time for myself during the week to regenerate.  This includes a regular time for meditation and reflection and a creative outlet.
  11. Set up a regular time for exercise during the week!  I promise I am not going to have a huge behind on graduation day due to excessive sitting while studying.
  12. Renew my commitment to eating well and prepare meals accordingly.  It's so easy to reach out for something to snack on without much thought.  Have snacks ready to go and bring something healthy to eat at break during lecture.
  13. Grind the coffee beans at night, not at 5:00 am in the morning.  DH does not like that sound as his alarm:)
  14. Begin to wean myself off of Facebook.  Too distracting, but oh so fun!

So this is how I have prepared, and continue to prepare, for the second semester of the nursing program at Saddleback College.  Looking forward to a fantastic semester with some amazing people!