Study Tips & Suggestions for Mrs.

Fetters content (in

addition to activities already provided on BB)

Work on practice questions at the back of your assigned ATI chapters, from
the Iggy text & workbook, and also on the ATI website under Practice Tests
Targeted Med-Surg: Gastrointestinal or Endocrine, or under
Tutorials Learning System RN Practice Tests Cardiovascular
and Hematology or Gastrointestinal or Endocrine.

Use the content objectives for each topic as a focus for your study. Turn them
into questions for yourself to try to answer. Also, the content objectives
provide a great structure for a study group. Take each objective one by one
and discuss with each other what you have learned and understand about
each one. Use them as a basis to form questions for one another or explore
the content more deeply.

Suggestions specific to the Anemia content:

o Using your class handouts, text readings, & ATI book, complete the
chart I provided comparing/contrasting the major types of anemia
discussed in class, the unique causes, related lab tests, signs &
symptoms, and specific treatment. After completing, review yours with
a peer(s), discussing the most important need to know information
and recreate a new table together. Then compare it to the answer key
on Blackboard.
o Create a table to categorize each of the types of anemia discussed in
class as either blood loss, increased destruction of RBCs, or decreased
production of RBCs. Explain to someone else why each one fits in the
category you chose.
o Write out or explain the basics for each of these lab tests: reticulocyte
count, MCV, MCH/MCHC, Serum Iron, Ferritin, TIBC, Shillings test. What
do they measure? How are they affected in various types of anemia?
What do bilirubin, haptoglobin, and potassium levels have to do with
anemia?
o List at least 3 important teaching points for a client with each of the
types of anemia. Compare your lists to your peer(s) and discuss them.
o Use the Active Learning Templates provided by ATI to create study
materials from your handouts/textbook & ATI readings. (To find them:
After logging in to ATI, click on Product Support Materials at lower
right half of the screen, then click on the + next to Active Learning
Templates to see the options available. Remediation Templates can
also be helpful too.)
Complete a Diagnostic Procedure template for bone marrow
biopsy.
Complete a generic Systems Disorder template for anemia.
Then create mini-templates for each of the specific types of
anemia discussed in class.
Complete Medication templates for each of the following:
Ferrous sulfate (include liquid iron info), Vitamin B12

supplements (compare the 3 routes), venofer (iron sucrose), and

Epogen (epoietin alfa/EPO)

Suggestions specific to Blood Transfusion content (using your class

handouts, textbook & ATI readings):
o Complete the chart I provided comparing/contrasting the major types
of blood transfusion reactions discussed in class, including symptoms,
why/when they occur, and treatment. After completing, review yours
with a peer(s), discussing the most important need to know
information and recreate a new table together. Then compare it to the
answer key on Blackboard.
o Compare your text readings, class notes, and the LGH Transfusion
protocol, and create your own bullet-point list of key steps for the RN to
follow in administering a blood transfusion.
o Complete a Nursing Skill template (available from ATI) for Blood
Transfusions using your class handouts, textbook & ATI readings.
o Role play with a peer the teaching you would provide to a patient prior
to a blood transfusion. Ask your peer to fully engage and ask
questions that would be expected from a patient who has never had a
transfusion before.
o Outline and/or discuss with peer(s) the steps to take in response to a
suspected transfusion reaction. Put them in order of priority. Explain
rationale for each step.

Suggestions specific to Adrenal content (using your class handouts, text

readings, & ATI book):
o Complete a Systems Disorder template (available from ATI- can use
either the Active Learning Template style, or the Remediation Template
style) for Cushings Disease, Addisons Disease, and
Pheochromocytoma.
o Create a chart/table comparing each of the above disorders, including
causes, key symptoms, lab findings/diagnostic work-up, treatments, &
nursing care for each.
o Create a nursing care plan for a patient with Adrenal Crisis.
o Complete a Therapeutic Procedure template (available from ATI) for
adrenalectomy
o Complete Medication templates (available from ATI) for each of the
following: hydrocortisone (IV)/prednisone (PO), spironolactone, florinef.
o Create a comprehensive teaching plan for a client on chronic oral
steroid therapy.

Suggestions specific to Hepatic Failure content (using your class handouts,

textbook & ATI readings):
o Create flash cards for each of the 4 types of cirrhosis discussed in class
with description and risk factors for each.
o Complete a Systems Disorder template (available from ATI- can use
either the Active Learning Template style, or the Remediation Template
style) for hepatic failure/cirrhosis.

o
o

o
o

Create a Therapeutic Procedure template (available from ATI) for

paracentesis.
Create a chart/table listing the main complications of hepatic failure,
comparing and contrasting the causes, related risks or key nursing
concerns, treatments, & any patient teaching related to each. Which
of these complications can be directly linked back to portal
hypertension (also a complication in itself)? Explain the connection.
Group the complications by the body system affected.
Complete Medication templates (available from ATI) for each of the
following: vasopressin, octreotide, propranolol, carafate, aldactone,
albumin, & lactulose. Keep it brief by focusing only on information
related to a client with hepatic failure or the related complication.
Create a table outlining the various procedural interventions for
esophageal varices: balloon tamponade, sclerotherapy/banding, TIPS,
Portacaval shunting. Include a one-sentence description of the
treatment and 1-2 key nursing points for each.
Outline dietary teaching for a client with hepatic failure with and
without encephalopathy. Provide (write or discuss) rationale for your
choices.
Create a nursing care plan for a client with end stage hepatic failure.
Include at least 2 psychosocial nursing diagnoses & their interventions.

Suggestions specific to Pancreatitis content (using your class handouts &

textbook readings):
o Complete a Systems Disorder template (available from ATI- can use
either the Active Learning Template style, or the Remediation Template
style) for both acute and chronic pancreatitis
o Compare and contrast the presenting symptoms for acute vs. chronic
pancreatitis. For example, how does the description of pain differ?
o Outline key lab findings in a client with pancreatitis and provide an
explanation for each. Compare and contrast the serum amylase and
lipase levels & how they are used.
o Create a nursing care plan for a client with acute pancreatitis. Identify
priority concerns/interventions and relate them to which
complication(s) they are aimed at preventing.
o Compare and contrast nutritional interventions for the client with acute
pancreatitis vs. chronic pancreatitis.
o Complete a Medication template (available from ATI) for pancreatic
enzyme supplements, including important patient administration
education.