Are you freaked out about nursing school and not sure what to expect or how to pass?
In this video, I'm going to walk you through my step-by-step process for how to ace your
nursing fundamentals class.
I'm not kidding you, these tips I'm going to share will help you figure out exactly
WHAT to focus your study time on, how to learn it faster, and how to critically think along
the way.
This might just be the most important video you ever watch in nursing school, so be sure
to stick around until the end, because I'm about to blow your mind.
Now like this video, hit that subscribe button, click the notification bell, and let's dive
in.
So if you remember from THIS video, I shared my top tips for how I got straight A's in
nursing school.
But being honest, that wasn't an easy road.
There was a LOT of trial and error that went into figuring out exactly how to study.
I came home much every day with a headache, and felt like quitting pretty much all the
time in that first term of nursing school.
I cried all those tears, so you don't have to.
I've spent a lot of time thinking about WHY I got straight A's in nursing school, when
other students struggled to make it.
It's not that I'm special, gifted, or super talented.
I know my husband can give you a whole LIST of things I'm terrible at.
Starting with keeping ANY plant alive for an extended period of time…
And those are just a few of the casualties we've had over the years…
I am not special.
But here's what I DO know.
I followed a particular critical thinking model, even before I created it and recognized
what it was.
This is a Model that I created to help walk you through, step-by-step, how to critically
think in nursing school.
In a few minutes, I'm going to walk you through this Model for how to study in nursing school
so that you can ACE your fundamentals class.
But first, I want to put your mind at ease and walk through exactly what you can expect
in your fundamentals class.
I've received a LOT of questions about this over the past few weeks from our NursingSOS
Members, and I know you're probably a little freaked out about it too.
So if you're heading into nursing fundamentals, listen up.
Here's how it will go: you'll have your main lecture class where you'll learn all of the
basic concepts.
The main thing you'll learn about is the nursing assessment and the nursing process.
I have a deep dive video on the nursing process HERE for you to check out after this video.
So along with the nursing process, you'll learn about things like fluid and electrolyte
balance, how to take vital signs, infection control practices, how to write care plans
and how to document in a patient's chart.
Don't worry, we cover many of those topics here on our YouTube channel.
I'll put all the links in the description for you to check out.
Now along with this lecture class, you'll also most likely have a skills lab class and
a clinical class that go along with it for you to be able to practice all of these things.
During skills lab, you'll probably get to use mannequins and supplies in your school's
simulation lab so it's like you're taking care of real patient's, without the fear of
a real patient judging you or putting you at risk to hurt someone.
It's important to practice your skills FIRST before doing them in real life.
You'll practice your nursing assessment, learn how to give medications, and maybe practice
some basic skills like giving vaccines.
And then during your clinical class, you'll finally be able to practice all of your assessment
skills on a REAL LIVE PERSON.
How exciting!!!
So don't worry, friend, take a breath, trust yourself, and do the best you can.
It took me the better part of a clinical day to assess my first patient in nursing school,
because I kept forgetting things and having to go back into her room and ask her more
questions.
Man, that was rough.
So don't worry, if you're super nervous, you are NOT alone.
I was right there with you!
So that is generally what you can expect for your nursing fundamentals.
Make sure you practice as much as you can in the skills lab so that you're prepared
for clinical.
Now, let's talk about how to study in your nursing fundamentals class.
I've created a Critical Thinking Model that you can use again and again for every topic
you're studying.
It will walk you through, step-by-step, how to study in nursing school.
Following this Model will be the difference between getting a C on an exam and getting
an A. So pay attention, take notes, and let's change your life.
The Critical Thinking Model goes like this: DRC.
The "D" stands for definition or description.
The "R" stands for reason or rationale, and the "C" stands for connection.
So let's write this out and go through and example to help it all come together.
Because seriously, friend, this is the KEY to success in nursing school.
Follow this Model, and you will be GOLDEN.
The "D" stands for description or definition.
What is it?
What is it that you need to know about?
What's the description of it?
This is the high level stuff.
Don't worry, we'll get to the critical thinking and the deep stuff in a minute.
So stay with me.
So let's take an example of giving oxygen to a patient.
Giving oxygen and oxygen administration is absolutely something you'll study during your
fundamentals class.
You HAVE to know it for nursing school and your clinicals.
So the definition and description of oxygen administration is that you are actually GIVING
oxygen to your patient.
You may give it at different levels or concentrations and through different ways.
And if you want, you can write all of those down here as well in this category.
Now the second part of this process is the R, which stands for reasoning or rationale.
This is where you'll write about the WHY.
Why does it happen, or why does it matter?
This is the reasoning behind it.
And in this section, I really want you to dig deep and focus on the underlying reason.
This is the first step of critical thinking here.
I'll walk you through the next step in a minute, so stay with me, we'll get there.
So in our example of giving oxygen, WHY do we give oxygen to a patient?
Well, we give oxygen if a patient isn't able to oxygenate themselves, either they aren't
able to get enough oxygen in, or they aren't able to circulate it as well.
So here I want you to dive into the pathophysiology behind it.
Listen, friend.
If there is ONE reason that I got straight A's in nursing school, it's this: I dug deep.
Constantly.
I didn't just learn the surface level stuff like everyone else.
I used this model and practiced my critical thinking skills over and over again.
And THAT is what made me successful.
Because when I got to my exam and it gave me a case scenario about oxygen administration,
I didn't just memorize the surface level stuff that the rest of my class focused on.
I was way more prepared because I did the critical thinking and learned WHY it matters.
And that's what I want you to do, too.
To really dig deep and ask yourself WHY.
Why do we give oxygen, why does it matter, and why is it important.
So that's step number 2: reasoning or rationale.
Why do we do it?
And now the 3rd step is the ultra critical thinking part, and this is the C: Connection.
This is where you'll write how it connects to the other things you're learning.
This is the HOW: How does it connect to everything else?
This is where you'll really shine at your critical thinking skills, and where it will
really start to show to your instructors that you know you stuff: when you can connect the
dots and put it all together.
So in our example of giving oxygen, how does that connect to other things you're learning
about?
So in your fundamentals class, you'll be learning about the nursing assessment, and you'll also
learn about oxygenation and perfusion: how the body gets oxygen and how it circulates
through the body to keep us alive.
If you want a deep dive into the nursing process and what the nursing assessment is, be sure
to check THIS video out after you finish this video.
So this is the final part of critical thinking, being able to connect it all together with
everything that you're learning about.
Don't worry, I'm not going to leave you guessing on how to do this.
Let's keep our same example and walk through it together.
So when you give oxygen to a patient, there are a LOT of things you need to assess for
before, during and after.
You'll look at things like their lips and mucous membranes to see if they have a blue
tint to them, which could indicate a lack of oxygen.
You'll look at how they're breathing and listen to their lungs.
If they're having difficulty breathing they may need to be on oxygen to increase their
blood oxygen level.
So walk through each of the nursing assessment components that relate to giving oxygen.
How does giving oxygen affect the body?
You'll also learn about oxygenation and perfusion in your fundamentals class, so how does giving
oxygen affect that?
Well, giving a patient oxygen will hopefully increase the amount of oxygen in their blood,
it will get more oxygen to their brain and other vital organs to keep them happy.
Are you seeing how all of this connects together?
This Critical Thinking Model is VITAL to follow in nursing school.
Like I said before, practicing this will be the difference between getting an A and getting
a B or a C on your exam.
Now I have a series of critical thinking questions for you to follow as you study as well.
These will really help guide your learning and help you focus your studying even more.
I do a deep dive into these question in THIS video here, and I've also got a free cheat
sheet that outlines them too.
So be sure to download that, the link is in the description below.
Phew, friend, I know that was a LOT of information right here.
I really wanted to do a deep dive video for you to give you everything you needed to succeed
in your Fundamentals Class.
So if you found this deep dive training SUPER helpful, write LOVE in the comments to let
me know, and tell me the date your start your nursing program, or if you're already in nursing
school, tell me the month and year you'll be graduating.
I am super pumped for you and your nursing school journey, and I feel so blessed to have
the opportunity to help you through it.
And of course, if you want more help with Nursing Fundamentals, make sure to join the
NursingSOS Membership Community where we are currently releasing a brand new fundamentals
course.
I'm so excited!
You are going to LOVE it!
Now click on the next video to help you keep rocking nursing school, and go become the
nurse that God created only YOU to be.
I'll see you over there friend.
Take care!