Nursing Goal: To-Do List to Work On For This Summer

What do I need to do every day (independent of assignments specific for that week) that will distinguish myself and make me a better nurse than those around me?

-          Invest time everyday to study Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN® Examination, 5e by Linda Anne Silvestri (Author) and Medical-Surgical Nursing Made Incredibly Easy! by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins (Author)

(My classmate said that this book is better than our professor’s notes because it gives you exactly the information that you need to know, will remember throughout your nursing career, and doesn’t bombard you with excessive details of pathophysiology like our textbook does)

-          Set up time to go over Professor Debourgh’s notes. Answer any questions you may have through textbook or via internet.

-          Set up time to review old notes (notes that you just went over for this past test so you build and solidify the knowledge; don’t let it just slip away and have to re-pick up all over again due to not touching it for a long time!)

-          Go over fundamentals! Meaning, study Jarvis book to improve your assessment skills! (ex: Lung Sounds; Abnormal Heart Sounds; percussion, what to look for EXACTLY and understand what is EXACTLY going on with the patient) 

-          Invest time to run over the steps of performing Skills in your head. (Ex: Trach. Suctioning, catheter insertion, wound dressing change, etc.) Clarify any questions!  

Weekly:

-          Set up time to review CPR

-          Invest time to review EKG strip interpretations

***Write out nursing goal to-do list in a place where you will easily see it every day.  

How much time should I spend on each per day? I need to challenge myself AND be realistic simultaneously.