Thursday, March 22, 2007

Test Taking Strategies

* Are you able to eliminate all but two choices on exams and always seem to choose the wrong answer?

* Do you find yourself over analyzing each question?

* Do you want to learn what key points to remember when taking an exam in the Nursing Program?

If you answered yes to any of these questions mark you calendar for…


What: Workshop on Test Taking Strategies

Where: Locke 313

When: Thursday March 29th

Time: 12:30 to 3:30 (open workshop-come when you can)

Facilitated By: Bonnie Boss, RN and Debbie Vogel, RN


For Further Details Contact:

Nursing Student Success Program

(209) 954-5445
Locke 304

Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Skills Lab Help

I was going to read for the skills lab tomorrow assessment. I opened my syllabus and found that I don't have the right text book or maybe I do. I don't know. I bought all of the required books at the bookstore. I bought the Dillon book Nursing Health Assessment. Then I look in the syllabus and it says to read the Gidden Wilson Health Assessment book. That is in the N2 required books not ours. So my question is to you people who already took N4 do we need to buy the other book or is the reading the same in our book?

Thanks to anyone who can help.
Susan
Just something to think about when you're taking care of the elderly

What Do You See Nurse?

What do you see, nurse, what do you see?
What are you thinking when you look at me?
A crabbed old women, not very wise
Uncertain of habit, with faraway eyes.
Who dribbles her food and makes no reply.
When you say in a loud voice, "I do wish you'd try."
Who seems to not notice the things that you do
And forever is losing a stocking or shoe.
Who unresisting or not, lets you do as you will
With bathing or feeding, the long day to fill
Is that what you're thinking, is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, you're not looking at me.
I'll tell you who I am as I sit there so still.
As I move at your bidding, as I eat at your will.
I'm a small child of ten with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters who love one another.
A young girl at sixteen with wings on her feet
A bride soon at twenty--my heart gives a leap
Remembering the vows I promised to keep.
At twenty-five, now, I have young of my own
Who need me to build a secure happy home.
A women of thirty, my young now grow fast
Bound to each other with ties that should last.
At forty my young now will soon be gone,
But my man stays beside me to see I don't mourn.
At fifty once more babies play round my knee.
Again we know children, my loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me, my husband is dead.
I look at the future, I shudder with dread.
For my young are all busy rearing young of their own.
I'm an old woman now and nature is cruel.
Tis her just to make old age look like a fool.
The body it crumbles, grace and vigor depart.
There is now just a stone where I once was a heart.
But inside this old carcass a young girl still dwells.
And now and again my battered heart swells.
I remember the joys, I remember the pain.
And I'm loving and living life all over again.
I think of the years all to few-- gone so fast.
And accept the stark fact that nothing can last.
So open your eyes, nurse, open and see.
Not a crabbed old women--look closer--SEE ME.

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Celebration of the end of N4~ Yes at Denny's!!!

Good Times At Denny's That Only We Could Have!

Lodi Memorial Hospital N4~ 1st rotation

The Lovely Ladies of Lodi Memorial

Forget Nursing, She is going to be a Sombrero Model!!!


This Was A VERY Happy Day!

Ohhh, What A Kiss

ADIOS Nursing 4!!!!!

Monday, March 19, 2007

SNA Today!

SNA meeting today in Locke 314 @1:00pm.
Elections for Officer Positions.
Guest speakers describe their Specialties.
Raffle prizes for SNA gear.
See you there!

Friday, March 16, 2007

Chest presses, not breaths, help CPR - article

By MARILYNN MARCHIONE, AP Medical Writer 1 hour, 25 minutes ago
Chest compression — not mouth-to-mouth resuscitation — seems to be the key in helping someone recover from cardiac arrest, according to new research that further bolsters advice from heart experts.

A study in Japan showed that people were more likely to recover without brain damage if rescuers focused on chest compressions rather than rescue breaths, and some experts advised dropping the mouth-to-mouth part of CPR altogether. The study was published in Friday's issue of the medical journal The Lancet.
More than a year ago, the American Heart Association revised CPR guidelines to put more emphasis on chest presses, urging 30 instead of 15 for every two breaths given. Stopping chest compressions to blow air into the lungs of someone who is unresponsive detracts from the more important task of keeping blood moving to provide oxygen and nourishment to the brain and heart.
Another big advantage to dropping the rescue breaths: It could make bystanders more willing to provide CPR in the first place. Many are unwilling to do the mouth-to-mouth part and become flummoxed and fearful of getting the ratio right in an emergency.
Sudden cardiac arrest — when the heart suddenly stops beating — can occur after a heart attack or as a result of electrocution or near-drowning. It's most often caused by an abnormal heart rhythm. The person experiencing it collapses, is unresponsive to gentle shaking and stops normal breathing.
In the new study, researchers led by Dr Ken Nagao of Surugadai Nihon University Hospital in Tokyo analyzed 4,068 adult patients who had cardiac arrest witnessed by bystanders. Of those, 439 received chest compressions only from bystanders, and 712 received conventional CPR — compressions and breaths.
Any CPR attempt improved survival odds. However, 22 percent of those who received just chest compressions survived with good neurological function compared with only 10 percent of those who received combination CPR.
"Eliminating the need for mouth-to-mouth ventilation will dramatically increase the occurrence of bystander-initiated resuscitation efforts and will increase survival," Dr. Gordon Ewy, a cardiologist at the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson, writes in an accompanying editorial.
A big caveat: The combination CPR in the Japanese study was given according to the old guidelines of 15 presses for every two breaths, not the 30 presses recommended now.
The American Heart Association said the study supports a focus on chest presses, but the association does not expect its advice to change. It recommends that bystanders provide compression-only CPR if they are "unwilling or unable" to do mouth-to-mouth breathing at the same time and for emergency dispatchers to give instructions on that.
The association wants to see survival results from programs that use compression-only CPR for cardiac arrest.
"It is important to note that victims of cardiac arrest from non-cardiac causes, like near-drowning or electrocution, and almost all victims of pediatric cardiac arrest benefit from a combination of rescue breathing and chest compressions," a heart association statement says.
More than 300,000 Americans die from cardiac arrest each year. About 75 percent to 80 percent of all cardiac arrests outside a hospital happen at home, and effective CPR can double a victim's chance of survival.
Roughly 9 out of 10 cardiac arrest victims die before they get to the hospital — partly because they don't get CPR.
___
On the Net:
Lancet article: http://tinyurl.com/2fup97
American Heart Association: http://www.americanheart.org

Thank you Bonnie and Debby!!

I just wanted to thank Bonnie and Debby for taking the time to put together the workshop yesterday. This was a real eye opener, I highly recommend it to everyone, even if you have passed N4 already it will definently prepare you for the NCLEX. Once again thank you ladies!!!

Thursday, March 15, 2007

I can't forget my classmates from N5!! Congrats to all for a successful completion of N5. Only 6 more nursing classes to go!!! HOORAYY!!! Enjoy the time off, because next week bright and early we start our venture through N4. See you all on Monday!!! Always Gemekia :)
Hey All!! Congrats to all that passed N4!!! Well it's time for the other half of the group to complete N4. *ahhhh!!!* My hands are sweating and my knees are shaking!! I know it's not easy, but it's not impossible either!! WE CAN DO IT!!!! I want to thank everyone that posted the wonderful resources. This will definitely help us through N4. We greatly appreciate it!!! Good Night to all and have a blast in N5. Mrs. Ippolito is wonderful!!! Always Gemekia:)

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Tic-Toc-Tic-Toc-Tic-Toc..............

Does anybody else hear the clock..........only 42 more hours and N 4 is behind us. Best of luck to all.........I wish we were the class for 100% of the students to all pass!! The thought of some of our classmates leaving us at this point truly saddens me but, I know they will navigate their detour successfully and become great RN's !!

Thursday, March 08, 2007

Workshop offered Thurs 3/15

Come and attend a workshop with New Grads Bonnie Boss and Deborah Vogel which will cover test and study strategies using your critical thinking skills. This will be a learn by practice session with lots of group interaction. Bring your brain, common sense and a sense of humor.

The student success program will have a room for us on Thurs 3/15 at 1300-1500ish. This should give you a chance to get some lunch after your class before attending (we will probably be a little early and plan on leaving late).

Unfortunately our schedules were not as open and available as we were hoping that they might be after graduation for lots of tutoring but we still want to help out if we can. Bring your questions for those who have been there, done that and survived.

Sunday, March 04, 2007

Always be Positive!

FROGS

Once upon a time there was a bunch of tiny frogs.... who arranged a running competition.

The goal was to reach the top of a very high tower.


A big crowd had gathered around the tower to see the race and cheer on the contestants....

The race began....


Honestly:

No one in crowd really believed that the tiny frogs would reach the top of the tower.


You heard statements such as:

"Oh, WAY too difficult!!"

"They will NEVER make it to the top."

or:

"Not a chance that they will succeed. The tower is too high!"


The tiny frogs began collapsing. One by one....
Except for those, who in a fresh tempo, were climbing higher and higher....
The crowd continued to yell,
"It is too difficult!!! No one will make it!"

More tiny frogs got tired and gave up....
But ONE continued higher and higher and higher....

This one wouldn't give up!


At the end everyone else had given up climbing the tower. Except for the one tiny frog who, after a big effort, was the only one who reached the top!


THEN all of the other tiny frogs naturally wanted to know how this one frog managed to do it?


A contestant asked the tiny frog how he had found the strength to succeed and reach the goal?


It turned out....

That the winner was DEAF!!!!


The wisdom of this story is:

Never listen to other people's tendencies to be
negative or pessimistic.... because they take your most wonderful dreams and wishes away from you -- the ones you have in your heart!

Always think of the power words have.

Because everything you hear and read will affect your actions!


Therefore:

ALWAYS be....
POSITIVE!

And above all:

Be DEAF when people tell
YOU that you cannot fulfill your dreams!

Always think:

I can do this!


Pass this message on to "tiny frogs"
you care about.

Test Bank Questions for exam 5 M.skeletal

Here are the practice tests for Tuesday's exam for musculoskeletal System................


N4 test Chapter 60 musc Skel stuff
N4 musculoskeletal trauma
n4-test-musculoskeletal-problems
N4 bones and joints quiz
n4-test-assessment-of-musculoskeletal system
n4-test-chapter-63-joints
n4 review questions chapter 62 back probs
n4-test-musculoskeletal-chapter-61
n4-test-osteoporosis
n4-test-differences-between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
n4-test-arthritis
n4-test-fractures-care-and-traction
n4-test-pagets-bone-disease
n4-test-hip-fractures
n4-test-fractures-and-dislocations
n4-quiz-systemic-lupus-erythematosus
n4-muskuloskeletal-pharm-quiz
n4-test-musculoskeletal-trauma
n4-test-antiinflammatory-drugs

Saturday, March 03, 2007

for those who want to go to Kaiser in Modesto when we are done

We will graduate in enough time to work there when finally opens.

Kaiser Permanente has set October 2008 as the date it will open the 220-bed hospital wing of its new Modesto Medical Center.
A Kaiser official cited the organization's desire to open the hospital with its HealthConnect electronic medical records system in place and a backlog of work for outside hospital-supply vendors as reasons for the delay.
Kaiser officials announced last fall during the opening of the office wing housing 53 physicians that construction of the hospital wing would wrap up this July but the facility would not open until sometime in 2008.
However, it was not until recently that they pinpointed the opening date to the last quarter of the year, essentially mothballing the brand new building for up to 15 months.
Construction is on schedule and is not an issue.
The entire project on 49 acres at 4601 Dale Road in northwest Modesto has been estimated to cost $492 million and is intended to serve Kaiser's 265,000 members in Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties. And that number is projected to grow by 7,500 to 10,000 members this year, according to Kaiser.
The Oakland-based health-care giant operates a small, 99-bed hospital in Manteca and contracts with private hospitals Dameron in Stockton and Emanuel in Turlock to serve its area members. They also have access to larger Kaiser hospitals in Sacramento and the Bay Area.
At the time the project was announced in December 2002, Kaiser's Toni Flores said "it is imperative for us to get this medical center up and running quickly."
Kaiser officials at the time cited rapid population growth and the shortage of hospital beds and medical-specialty physicians as the reasons for selecting the site and seeking to move forward rapidly.
Corwin Harper, a Kaiser senior vice president and Central Valley Area manager, said this week that the Modesto hospital simply has to wait its turn as Kaiser opens other hospitals and medical office buildings around the state.
In Northern California alone, Kaiser expects to invest $1.6 billion into the next decade on construction projects. Together with other hospitals in the midst of expansion and construction, hospital-supply vendors are being taxed beyond their capacity.
"We're opening hospitals in Southern California and Antioch (Nov. 7), and it's putting a huge demand on our vendors," Harper said, particularly in the area of radiology where MRIs and CT scanners must be installed by trained technicians.
Also, Kaiser wants to open the new hospital with its highly touted HealthConnect system in place. HealthConnect will provide a common software for all Kaiser facilities and over the Internet covering electronic registration and scheduling, billing, clinical information systems, laboratory and X-ray information, pharmacy records and information, and online patient access.
Harper said Kaiser's schedule calls for HealthConnect to be implemented in South Sacramento, Santa Rosa and Antioch hospitals this year, followed by the hospitals in Manteca and Modesto in 2008.
Meanwhile, Harper is moving forward with hiring key personnel for the new hospital. When fully operational, the Modesto Medical Center is expected to employ more than 1,800. Kaiser currently employs close to 2,500 people at nine facilities in the two-county area, including about 315 physicians in the Permanente Medical Group.
"We have a very well-organized education department for training purposes. We do not want to hire everyone in September. We're looking at multiple different ways to staff this hospital - from existing Kaiser staff in the Bay Area to people already living here who will make the decision they want to come work for Kaiser," Harper said.
California's Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, which regulates hospital construction, said Friday there were no problems with the delay in opening from a construction standpoint, according to spokesman David Byrnes.

Sheesh... glad that's over!!

I hope everyone got their care study in on time.

I know a few of us who did not know Fern's review time had changed. Did anyone make it?