Look everyone! School can be fun!

Michelle just found a pretty major mistake in my Unit I study guide that anyone using the guide should be aware of:
Here's what's in the study guide.
Hemoglobin M: 4.5-5.3 million/mm3 F: 4.1-5.1 million/mm3

The concept mapping book, Berman and the lab results from St. Pete's refer to HBG in g/dL rather than million/mm3 (though RBC range looks like what you have). The normal range from Berman is M: 13.8-18 g/dL F: 12-16 g/dL

Thanks Michelle!!!

I just posted a list of meds mentioned in class on the google groups page. I attempted to organize based on pre-/intra-/postop, but would love some extra eyes to check it out and make suggestions. Thanks!

Study Guide

Hey folks,
The presentation powerpoints that Heathyr sent out are up at the google docs site too (I hope its not overkill).

I also uploaded a Unit One study guide for 144, which Andrea made up. It is awesome and thorough and I highly recommend it. Be sure to upload any study tools you have put together if you'd like to share.

Good luck studying this weekend! Remember to get rest, eat healthy food and take some time to relax, too!

Michelle

Abbreviations

Ruth kindly got together all of the abbreviations that Jan wanted us to know. Here they are:
H+H Hematocrit and Hemoglobin
OR Oper. Rm
PF partial fill
SC subcutaneous
SSS short surgery stay
DOS day of surg
CXR chest XR
NPO nothing by mouth
IVF intra venous fluid
RFA R forearm
IM intravenous
LOS length of stay
PB Piggyback
UA urine analysis
SL sublingual
TKO to keep open
PO per oral
ER emerg rm
CL central line
LFA L forearm
SQ subcutaneous
NS norm saline
RR recovery rm
CNS central nervous system
PACU post anesthesia care unit
LR lactated ringer
ED emerg deprtmt
R right
PAR= Post Anesthesia Recovery
EBL= Estimated Blood Loss
NCP = Nursing Care Plan
CVC= Central Venous Catheter
PICC= Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter

Quote of the Day

Thanks Coreen, for the laugh in class...

"So, the drug dealers, I mean not dealers, the drug companies..."

New packets

Packets that Jolene just sent are up at the Google site.

They include: Enemas, Enterostomal, NG tube, Specimen Collection and Patient lift.

Fun with packets!

Michelle

Physical Assessment Form

For those of you who are comfortable with computers, I uploaded a physical assessment form that makes it easier to fill in your information on the computer. The original form is a formatting nightmare, but this one lets you navigate through fields with the tab button, and doesn't mess up the format as you type in your info. One caveat: you need openoffice.org (a free program) to open it.

Let me know if you are interested but need some help getting open office to run on your computer. It's been a real timesaver for me, plus it makes the physical assessment form neat and easy.

Hope you are all enjoying the long weekend! See you Thursday or sooner.

Michelle

Surgical scrub

There are some good details about surgical scrub requirements here. Though it may be too much information! Also here is a link the the CDC about hand hygiene (including surgical scrub).

Also CINAHL , the CDC and JCAHO may all be helpful for us as we are sorting through and gathering information.

Also, I added Jan's UNIT I B+C powerpoint to the google groups page, accessible from the "Documents relevant to this quarter" link on the right side of the screen. Everyone (even if your not signed up with google groups) should be able to access this.

Have a great weekend!

Michelle

Playing videos on Macs

Hey folks, if you are a Mac user and you can't get Windows Media Videos (wmv) to play on your computer, try this free download. I know I sound like spam right now, but it makes the videos from the website Jolene sent us on IVs work. :)

Hope it helps,
Michelle

Reading checklist

I just uploaded a reading checklist for 144. :) If you look to the links at the right "Documents relevant to this quarter" you'll see it and all the other files Michelle has uploaded for us.

--Heather

IV calculations

Here are the math/ IV calculations websites that are in the IV packet that Jolene emailed to us. I've included them in the sidebar, too.

"Math Calculations: the below websites are for your review if you need additional help with IV math calculations.

http://www.accd.edu/sac/nursing/math/ivprob.html Review

http://caring4you.net/tests.html list of some good sites for studying of math, meds and NCLEX. Some sites no longer work.

http://www.alysion.org/dimensional/analysis.htm decent site –lots of information that includes math questions and detailed answers."

Google groups

I know some folks have already signed up, but for those of you who are interested and not signed up, there is a google group list serve available for us also. If you sign up, you can send an email to spsccnursing2011@googlegroups.com you will email the whole group. I also have all the documents available through the google groups page (one easy place.) You can go here for this- though, again, you may need to sign up first.

School begins in two days! I hope you've all had a great break- see you Monday!