Yesterday's Actue Care exam was much easier than I was expecting. It was only 30 multiple choice questions and I was pretty certain for about 70% of them. The rest I made an educated guess. Nearly everyone left half an hour early! Today's pharmacology exam was very hard. 100 multiple choice questions, all very wordy and complicated, a few of them asking about drugs I have never even heard of (and I reviewed every drug we learned about in our lectures and case studies). I was certain for at least half of my answers, others I used "deductive reasoning", and few I just had to guess at random.
Tomorrow's exam is Clinical Assessment. There are a lot of different body systems to study but I'm concentrating mostly on the heart because it's so complicated and confusing to me, interpreting the charts and knowing the difference between all the different heart problems. Here's an example:
Mr Smith is diagnosed with an inferior myocardial infarction (heart attack). Which cardiac artery is usually affected with this infarction site?
a. Circumflex artery
b. Left anterior artery
c. Right coronary artery
d. Right coronary artery or dominant distal left circumflex
Answer: D
What part of the heart is affected with an inferior myocardial infarction ?:
Answer: Base of the left ventricle.
What lab study is most specific for acute myocardial infarction?
a. elevated sedimentation rate
b. elevated blood sugar
c. elevated levels of creatine kinase - MB
d. elevated levels of creatine kinase - BB
Answer: C (it's an enzyme released by the cardiac muscle)
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Exam marathon
Last week of exams. I have one everyday this week: Today - Acute Care, Tomorrow - Clinical Assessment, Wednesday - Pharmacology, Thursday - Drug Calculations. I have to get 100% on that one to pass the subject and there are up to three attempts. actually that's the one I'm least worried about because it's easy to access practice exams and the calculations are pretty easy. For the others there are no practice exams available (not fair!) and they just say study the lecture material. But there is so much! I've just been rereading it all hoping I absorb whatever I need to know. At least they're multiple choice. Ugh! Can't wait till Thursday when these exams will be over - O.V.A.H!!!
Sunday, June 20, 2010
SLACKER!
Don't let the title of this post make you think I haven't been studying, I have. But I haven't updated my blog in a while. Here's what stage I'm at now:
Last Tuesday I had my drug administration exam. I got NEBULISER! The only one I haven't actually done before. Thank God I studied it and watched the youtube video on the morning of the exam. I didn't feel too confident going in and got a bit flustered during it because I got put off when the examiner asked me questions like "why are you doing that?". I couldn't tell by her tone if she was hinting that I was doing something wrong or if it was part of the exam and she just wanted me to explain the rationale of what I was doing. In hindsight, I think it was the latter. She said she could see that I was a bit panicky and I told her it was because I hadn't done nebuliser before. She said everyone who got nebuliser said the same thing and that some students didn't even know what it was or have any idea how to do it. She assured me that I did ok. I think that experience motivated me to study harder for my next exam (Clinical Assessment) which is tomorrow.
I went in on Friday and acted as the patient for my classmate's exam so I got a sneak peek of how the exam is and what questions they ask. Since then I've been reading and preparing all my cue cards for that exam. There are so many - these are the topics I could have to demonstrate:
• Cardiovascular assessment
• Abdominal assessment
• Musculoskeletal assessment
• Integumentary system assessment (hair, skin and nails)
• Mental status assessment
• Neurological assessment
• Perform an Electrocardiogram and explain its purpose
• Explain anatomy of the ear and do an ear examination using an otoscope
• Explain anatomy of the eye and do an eye examination using an opthalmascope
• Perform a blood sugar test and explain its purpose
I'll have to do two of these on the day but I won't know which until I get there, so I have to be prepared for anything, as I learned in my last exam.
Neck update: My osteopath appointment helped my neck a lot. I got an adjustment of both my neck and spine. I have a follow up appointment today.
Last Tuesday I had my drug administration exam. I got NEBULISER! The only one I haven't actually done before. Thank God I studied it and watched the youtube video on the morning of the exam. I didn't feel too confident going in and got a bit flustered during it because I got put off when the examiner asked me questions like "why are you doing that?". I couldn't tell by her tone if she was hinting that I was doing something wrong or if it was part of the exam and she just wanted me to explain the rationale of what I was doing. In hindsight, I think it was the latter. She said she could see that I was a bit panicky and I told her it was because I hadn't done nebuliser before. She said everyone who got nebuliser said the same thing and that some students didn't even know what it was or have any idea how to do it. She assured me that I did ok. I think that experience motivated me to study harder for my next exam (Clinical Assessment) which is tomorrow.
I went in on Friday and acted as the patient for my classmate's exam so I got a sneak peek of how the exam is and what questions they ask. Since then I've been reading and preparing all my cue cards for that exam. There are so many - these are the topics I could have to demonstrate:
• Cardiovascular assessment
• Abdominal assessment
• Musculoskeletal assessment
• Integumentary system assessment (hair, skin and nails)
• Mental status assessment
• Neurological assessment
• Perform an Electrocardiogram and explain its purpose
• Explain anatomy of the ear and do an ear examination using an otoscope
• Explain anatomy of the eye and do an eye examination using an opthalmascope
• Perform a blood sugar test and explain its purpose
I'll have to do two of these on the day but I won't know which until I get there, so I have to be prepared for anything, as I learned in my last exam.
Neck update: My osteopath appointment helped my neck a lot. I got an adjustment of both my neck and spine. I have a follow up appointment today.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Drug Administration Exam
Today this afternoon I have my drug administration exam which is worth 45%. I could be assessed on giving an injection (subcutaneous or intramuscular), nebuliser (eg. for asthma), topical (eg ointment or patch), ear/eye drops or oral drugs. I've been practising preparing injections, and I had lots of practise with oral drugs and drops on placement. The only one I'm nervous about getting is nebuliser because I haven't done it before. So this morning I watched some videos on Youtube that demonstrate it step by step. This exam includes reading time to look up the relevant drugs and check for type of drugs, actions, side effects, normal doses, nursing precautions and follow up care. In the real world you would also do this before administering any drug.
On the weekend I went to uni and met up with a classmate to practise focused health assessments: neurological, cardiovascular, respiratory, elimination, musculoskeletal, integumentary, and mental status. We also compared cue cards which we can use in the exam. Her exam is this Friday and I am her patient, and then next Tuesday I have my exam and she is my patient. We have to organise our own patient for the exam.
On the weekend I went to uni and met up with a classmate to practise focused health assessments: neurological, cardiovascular, respiratory, elimination, musculoskeletal, integumentary, and mental status. We also compared cue cards which we can use in the exam. Her exam is this Friday and I am her patient, and then next Tuesday I have my exam and she is my patient. We have to organise our own patient for the exam.
Monday, June 7, 2010
1 exam down, 6 to go
I think my exam this afternoon went really well. It only took 15 minutes and my examiner was one of the (nice) lab teachers I had this semester. The skill I had to demonstrate was IV Therapy. Luckily this is the one I've had the most practice at because I had to do it with patients nearly every day on clinical placement. The other two skills I had only practised in the lab. After the exam I looked over the checklist of things you have to do and I'm pretty sure I did everything.
After, I went to Safeway and Target to buy a few things and I'm going to spend the rest of the day relaxing. My next exam is Drug Administration Skills next Tuesday and I'm also going into uni for a few hours on Saturday to practise Clinical Assessment skills. I'll start preparing for those tomorrow.
My back and neck are feeling really sore at the moment. I have a massage booked for next week which should sort the back out but my neck feels like it's out of alignment because whenever I turn or flex my neck it hurts and I feel like I don't have my usual range of motion. This is particularly annoying when I'm driving and it's been bothering me for about a week already. So this morning I booked a short session with an osteopath (at the same place I get my massage) on Thursday morning. I may need a neck adjustment which I haven't had in about five years. Hopefully, it will get rid of the problem.
After, I went to Safeway and Target to buy a few things and I'm going to spend the rest of the day relaxing. My next exam is Drug Administration Skills next Tuesday and I'm also going into uni for a few hours on Saturday to practise Clinical Assessment skills. I'll start preparing for those tomorrow.
My back and neck are feeling really sore at the moment. I have a massage booked for next week which should sort the back out but my neck feels like it's out of alignment because whenever I turn or flex my neck it hurts and I feel like I don't have my usual range of motion. This is particularly annoying when I'm driving and it's been bothering me for about a week already. So this morning I booked a short session with an osteopath (at the same place I get my massage) on Thursday morning. I may need a neck adjustment which I haven't had in about five years. Hopefully, it will get rid of the problem.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Assignment finished
Finally finished my assignment! I'm about to go to uni to hand it in. Overall I think what I've done is good but I won't be surprised if I get marked down on a few things. We were supposed to use at least 10 peer reviewed journal articles on whatever topic we chose (mine is arteriovenous malformation and tracheostomy care). However I only used about 6 and couldn't even find 10 journal articles. I think AVM is a bit of an obscure topic because it is very rare. It's also frustrating that some of the articles online cost money to access - like $45. I'm going to make it one of my goals next term to get some help with research skills because it's very different in health sciences than it is for arts or law. I'm also quite a bit over the word limit so I didn't write how many words I have on the cover page. Hopefully they won't notice. But it must be nearly impossible to include everything they ask for and stay within the word limit.
After I drop off the assignment I'm going to study for tomorrow's exam. It's Acute Care skills which means I will have to demonstrate and explain one of the following skills, but won't know which one until I get there:
• Setting up an IV line
• Nasogastric intubation
• Aseptic wound care technique and suture removal
After I drop off the assignment I'm going to study for tomorrow's exam. It's Acute Care skills which means I will have to demonstrate and explain one of the following skills, but won't know which one until I get there:
• Setting up an IV line
• Nasogastric intubation
• Aseptic wound care technique and suture removal
Friday, June 4, 2010
Practise session
Today I was at uni from 10 till 3 practising clinical skills with a couple of classmates. We did: aseptic technique (took a couple of dressing packs to practise more at home too), nasogastric tube insertion, injections (just on the sponge, not on each other!), setting up and administering IV fluids, and removing stitches and staples. I feel pretty confident about this exam now, in terms of clinical psychomotor skills. Will practise aseptic technique dressing pack a couple more times before the exam on Tuesday and will also do some reading about all the theory behind everything so I can explain stuff in more detail in the exam while I'm doing it.
We also got two of our scores back for group assignments. We got 78.5% for the group assignment (which was worth 10%) and 93% for the oral presentation, which was worth 15%. I'm really happy with those scores, it's very encouraging, and I think my group worked really well together. Group work can be tough if the members disagree on how to do things, or if some don't put in enough time and effort and just rely on the others too much. I'm glad my group also trusted me and were enthusiastic about my crazy ideas for our oral presentation, like everyone had to play a character, learn the script that I wrote, wear a costume and bring in props (eg, nursing uniform, one guy even wore a wig that I bought) and I used my iPod for sound effects and music to suit each scene. It was very different from what the other groups did, but in the end it paid off and everyone was happy with it. It's not enough to just present the information by talking to the audience because it's too boring. Of course, the content is very important but you have to present it in an 'engaging' way too otherwise the audience might get bored. As a teacher I've sat through and assessed about a hundred oral presentations myself and I think I know what works and what doesn't!
This weekend I need to finish off my assignment and I'll be handing it in on Monday.
We also got two of our scores back for group assignments. We got 78.5% for the group assignment (which was worth 10%) and 93% for the oral presentation, which was worth 15%. I'm really happy with those scores, it's very encouraging, and I think my group worked really well together. Group work can be tough if the members disagree on how to do things, or if some don't put in enough time and effort and just rely on the others too much. I'm glad my group also trusted me and were enthusiastic about my crazy ideas for our oral presentation, like everyone had to play a character, learn the script that I wrote, wear a costume and bring in props (eg, nursing uniform, one guy even wore a wig that I bought) and I used my iPod for sound effects and music to suit each scene. It was very different from what the other groups did, but in the end it paid off and everyone was happy with it. It's not enough to just present the information by talking to the audience because it's too boring. Of course, the content is very important but you have to present it in an 'engaging' way too otherwise the audience might get bored. As a teacher I've sat through and assessed about a hundred oral presentations myself and I think I know what works and what doesn't!
This weekend I need to finish off my assignment and I'll be handing it in on Monday.
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