CPR, also known as the cardiac, pulmonary and renal systems, was my least favorite module. It was physiology based and I felt like I did not really know how to tackle the section. What I found helpful was to talk out functions and pathways with my study group. I also did several practice questions from the Guyton Hall Physiology review book and watched several YouTube videos. Some of my favorite videos include the ECG thumb rule from ECG Quest and the “Congenital Malformations of the Heart” video by professors at the University of Washington in 1951.
Many of my classmates used the Boards and Beyond videos as a supplement to lectures. However, I was hesitant to stray too far from the lecture material. The resources I used for this module were recommended by professors.
Of the three blocks that I completed term one, CPR was the module I did the worst in. Looking back, I think it would have been helpful to learn each system individually and then make connections to the other systems in the course. For example, we learned about the mediastinum and contents during cardiac lectures. In respiratory lectures, we learned about tension pneumothorax which is when gas or air accumulates in the pleural cavity. By connecting both systems, we find that this condition can be life threatening because it displaces structures of the mediastinum which include the heart and great vessels amongst others. In tension pneumothorax, these structures are compressed and cardiopulmonary function is compromised.
