Last few days before the October 2013 exam

Hi there future RNs!

You are in the home stretch before of studying before you write the October 2013 exam. It can be difficult for students to focus on the last weekend and days before the exam so and some students will find it useful to go to the library during this last few days to minimize any distractions.

Remember to practice good sleep hygiene and go to bed an get up the same time every morning that you would before the exam so you get used to having your mind turned on for the morning CRNE start time.

We also encourage all students to practice as many practice questions as you can before the exam so email us if you would like a $10 coupon code of the PRIMED study centre. You can apply the coupon code to a 200 question mock CRNE, 50 questions Mental Health exam and flashcards!

Good luck on the exam and don't forget to make some celebratory plans after the exam!

Mental Health in Nursing

Mental health issues are still one of those things that nurses often struggle with. We learn about the stigmas of mental health and pride ourselves, as nurses, in being understanding but the truth is, many of us still don’t know how to care for our patients with mental illness. I’ve heard from many students during mental heath rotations, “once this is over, I’m never working in mental heath.” The problem with that statement is, no matter where you work, you will see patients with mental illness in your practice. They are ordinary people! A teen with depression can still break their arm; a lady with a personality disorder can still be hospitalized for pneumonia; a man with schizophrenia can still have a heart attack, still need an immunization. It doesn’t matter where you practice, what specialty you have, anyone can have any number of health issues that underlies their current primary diagnosis. 

As a passionate nursing student, I feel it’s my job to treat every person with the same dignity and respect as the next. I’ve had some experience with community mental health and acute psychiatry and although I still have a lot to learn, I feel like I am fulfilling my goals to provide that fair care. I’m happy to say that with our year 3 theme of complexity at my school, many of my classmates DO understand the fact that all areas of care need training in mental health skills. 

Here’s something else to think about. Mental health theory and knowledge is also required of every REGISTERED nurse in Canada. SO, if you’re planning to write the CNRE, then you best have at least a baseline of mental health knowledge. Thankfully PRIMED has a specific mental heath practice quiz for the CNRE so you can test your knowledge and find the areas that you need more learning in. 

For more resources on mental heath, a good place to start is the Canadian Mental Health Nurses Association http://cfmhn.ca. 

Happy Studying!

Eating for your brain!

Eating for your brain!

The North American diet has taking a dangerous shift in the modern age. We’ve traded in
our brain-saving omega-3 fatty acids for saturated or trans fatty acids. As a busy nurse-tobe you need to keep your brain in tiptop shape; omega-3 and a number of other nutrients
play an important role in this goal. They also help keep your brain sharp when you’re
studying for the CRNE!

Omega-3 helps to prevent decline in mental function, and you can find it in salmon, chia,
kiwi and walnuts

Flavonoids have been found to boost brainpower when combined with exercise; you can
find them in green tea, citrus, red wine, and dark chocolate.

B vitamins are great for enhancing memory for women and the most effective ones are
B6, B12 and folate. Many women take B vitamin supplements and if you don’t you can
find them in leafy green veggies, shellfish, grains and fruit to name a few sources.

Iron can help women stabilize cognitive function and it’s found in most meat (red meat,
poultry, fish) along with beans and lentils.

So stock up on these power foods while you are cramming your brain full of  nursing
knowledge and  they could help keep it there! Good luck on the CRNE!

Reference:
Gómez-Pinilla, F. (2008). Brain foods: the effects of nutrients on brain function. Nat Rev Neurosci. 9(7): 568–578. doi:10.1038/nrn2421.