Alysia Brillhart

Course Reflective Summary

Med-Surg III
NRS 201

At the beginning of Med-Surg III, I remember being so eager to learn about all of the

different disease processes, especially when it came to the kidneys and heart. However, I had

no idea how complex the information was going to be. I was also a little bit naïve when it came

to underestimating how difficult this semester was going to be.

The semester began with the fluid and electrolyte examination. I remember studying

really hard for the test and I still felt like I didn’t know everything about fluid and electrolytes.

The fluid and electrolyte test was most definitely one of the hardest tests that I took this

semester and my grade for the test reflected that. However, it was so interesting to see how

each of the disease processes tied into fluid and electrolytes. Now, I am able to recognize why a

patient may have abnormal electrolyte balances based on their admitting diagnosis. I will be

able to utilize the information regarding fluid and electrolytes in my future career as a nurse to

help identify what signs and symptoms to monitor for. In addition, the information will help me

come up with appropriate interventions to implement to help treat the fluid and electrolyte

imbalances my future patients may be experiencing.

We also learned about end stage renal disease (ESRD) and it was one of my favorite

topics to learn about. We learned about the different causes of ESRD, such as Diabetes,

hypertension, etc. In addition, we learned about the signs and symptoms, along with the

different types of treatments for ESRD. We learned that ESRD patients can be treated with

hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis or a kidney transplant. Dialysis was a topic that I previously

knew a little bit about because my grandpa was on dialysis for a few years before he passed
away. So, it was interesting to expand my knowledge more regarding dialysis. This is

information that I will use in my future career as a nurse by anticipating what types of

medications or treatments that a patient who is on kidney dialysis may be receiving, along with

what labs need monitored for ESRD. My nursing process paper this semester was actually

written about a patient who was in ESRD. Therefore, I was able to utilize the information we

learned during this semester about ESRD and I was able utilize the nursing process (ADPIE) to

come up with an appropriate plan of care for my patient. This assignment gave me the ability to

utilize a few program outcomes. I demonstrated the ASN program outcomes 2 and 3, by

promoting an interdisciplinary approach and by utilizing the nursing process to come up with an

appropriate plan of care for my patient. I also demonstrated the ASN program outcome 4 and 6

by using teaching skills and caring, safe patient-specific nursing interventions to help promote

my patients’ overall health.

This semester, we also had the opportunity to do a group project regarding Hepatitis B

and D. This group project allowed me to demonstrate the ASN program outcomes 2, 3, 4, 5 and

6. For this project, we had to work together with an interdisciplinary approach as a group to

come up appropriate health information regarding Hepatitis B and D, as well as utilize the

nursing process to come up with interventions to decrease the risk of obtaining Hepatitis B and

D. In addition, we used teaching to educate individuals on Hepatitis B and D in regards to

signs/symptoms, at risk groups, etc. We incorporated different communication modes through

the use of words, pictures and graphs to display important information.

Overall, I truly felt that this semester has been the hardest one yet. However, I have

really learned a lot about many different disease processes. I will definitely utilize all of the
complex information that I learned this semester to provide safe, competent care to my future

patients in my role as a nurse’s aide and future nurse.