DQ reply 7 634

DQ-1

I don't feel like I am struggling with one topic, but overall general knowledge in each subject area. I feel like this because every day I am learning something new and I can't shake the feeling that I should have known that. I realize that I have to read it numerous times or recall the information in my everyday life in order to make it "stick". I have also been trying to change my study habits and work on things throughout the day instead of one compact focused study session. Life makes studying difficult sometimes, and I just try to balance work, life, and school. 

I would not say that there is any one topic that comes easily to me. I feel like I don't know anything about one particular topic, or just know the bare minimum. However, through this class, the APEA questions, and at work when unusual situations occur, I realize that I can recall small details about the topic. I am currently trying to apply for review, recall, and apply strategies to try to solidify my understanding of each topic. Sometimes I will be at work and hear of diagnosis and will try to work backward to recall differentials or treatments. Then when I have some downtime I will try to review to see if I was right or close, and if not, then review the topic again to ensure that I am remembering the right information. 

I don't think I am the only one who thinks this class load is the heaviest we've seen so far in this program. Especially with the midterm, Assessment exam, Shadowhealth full exam, and the 3P exam all in one class relatively close to each other. I just hope that constant review will allow for the information to be easily understood and recalled when the time comes. 

DQ-2

The topics that I have found to be the most challenging have been HEENT and skin, hair, and nails. I work in the ICU, and while it is definitely important to assess these systems, I have never had to do it at the level that will be required as a NP. We assess the eyes for changes in neuro status and we check oral mucosa, but I do not believe that I have ever looked into a patient’s ears or up their noses, and I definitely have not done so with an otoscope or an ophthalmoscope. Likewise, when it comes to a patient’s hair, skin, and nails, I rarely pay attention to their hair, however, I do assess their skin and nails, but the amount of conditions and disorders that we have covered in class has been a bit overwhelming. There have been a few conditions that we covered like thrush, cellulitis, and petechiae that have been familiar, but for the most part, these types of conditions are pretty foreign. As far as the topics that have come a little easier for me, I would have to say those have been cardiac and pulmonary. I have been trained as an open-heart nurse, so knowing all about the heart has been my job for many years. I have studied it, practiced what I have studied, gotten certifications on it, and feel fairly confident with regards to it and the lungs. What I have come to realize is that, just like I had to study about the heart and put into practice what I studied, I’ll have to do the same with regards to HEENT and skin, hair, and nails. I won’t be proficient overnight, but with time and practice, I’ll get there.

DQ-3

If I googled the symptoms that I have developed this semester, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder would pop up. Lately, I have felt quite disorganized, forgetful, easily distracted, and bounce from one activity to another. For this class, we have access to a lot of excellent study material, such as bates videos, shadow health, live lectures, etc. I feel almost overwhelmed and frantic to soak up every new piece of information. Plus, this information is so interesting, and I want to make sure I thoroughly learn and understand each topic.

As an emergency room nurse, I feel comfortable collecting the chief complaint, performing brief focused assessments, and dealing with most abdominal, respiratory, and cardiac and emergencies. Whereas verbalizing how things look for dermatology or how things move for the musculoskeletal system has always been difficult for me. I am also struggling with verbalizing the steps of the head to toe. I can write it out on paper or would recognize each step in a line-up, however, I am missing a number of steps while practicing.  For better comprehension of the topics that I need more work on will require quite simply, more practice, and more familiarity. For the head to toe, I will continue to become familiar with the various assessments, and develop a systematic approach and use this with every family member or coworker willing to let me inspect and palpate their various organ systems.