We've had a lot of requests on how we make our lab class study charts! Here is a quick post describing the components we like to add to our charts.
We actually JUST recently started making study charts a part of our studying routine last semester. In order to make these charts actually work, you first need to gather your supplies!
Sharpie
Multiple highlighters - we suggest Midliners from Zebrapen!
Black pen
Paper
Plastic covers
Textbook and lecture notes condensed
Now that you have gathered your supplies, it's time to CREATE! We love, love, love using colour. We suggest using one main colour per topic, along with one highlighting colour for emphasis purposes. Using a different colour for each topic helps with memorization and recall while you are writing your exam.
The following are components we will always add into our mind maps for clinical skills:
Definitions
Indications with the pathophysiology
Nursing considerations
Nursing diagnoses
Patient goals and desired outcomes
Materials required to carry out the skill
Steps in executing the clinical skill
What to assess
Potential complications
Troubleshooting
Documentation
We try to make these really short, to the point and only one side of a page. The reason for this is because we like to have these to utilize as a quick reference just prior to going into an exam.
Sometimes we may add additional information, like acronyms. Acronyms help us out greatly when we are required to list things on exams, or for the dreaded select all that apply answers. When we add in acronyms, we like to use a colour to emphasize them so they stand out. An example of an acronym we used on a skills sheet when to CLAMP a chest tube:
Changing a pleur-evac system
Leak assessment (air escaping from tubing?)
Malignant effusion/sclerosis after pleurodesis
Prior to removal of chest tube to assess tolerability (with physician orders)
Looks like "CLAMP" just without the "A"
We like to have these charts on hand not only for exam studying purposes, but also in clinical to refer to prior to executing a skill for the first time. We recommend storing the charts in a plastic cover so that while you are in clinical you are able to disinfect the charts to help with infection control. The plastic covers also protect the paper charts from coffee spills during studying! Laminating would also work great too!
After creating these charts we will repeatedly write out each section mentioned above on our white boards to quiz ourselves and to help solidify the information. We continually refer back to these sheets to stay familiar with the colour coding we used for memorization. You would be amazed at how well these charts have worked for us!
We would like to hear from you if you give these charts a try! Are there any additional components that you added to your charts? Please tag us in your charts so we can have a look at all of your beautiful creations! We hope this quick blog post has helped you with your studying!
Time for us to get down to business and create new study sheets for our upcoming exams!
Good luck & happy studying!
xx
Sydney & Tara
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