[FutureNurse35]

Originally Posted by journeeyh

Hello All,

I am very stressed out right now. I am going back to complete my final stretch of becoming an LPN. Classes start again on 1/23 and I am seriously considering not going back. My dilema is this, I have been told that there are not a lot of jobs for LPNs out there. Also I hear they are only making around $8-$10 per hour. I can not survive on that I work in customer service and make a lot more than that. I am also looking to go to medical school and I pay my own tuition. 8-10 dollars per hour will put an end to that. I have also looked online and I can not seem to find any jobs for LPNS. I only see positions for RN's. Can this be true, or am I not looking in the right places? Please Help!!!!!!!!

A friend of mine graduated last June as an LPN. Her first job, she was making $23 per hour. She started a new job two months ago and making $26 per hour doing wound care. The CNA here in Connecticut are making $12-$16 per hour. If I were you, I would finish the program b/c you can get your RN in 1 year. After you get the RN, you can always work and go to medical school. Maybe you should move to Connecticut :-)

Good Luck

[NanSeeH]

SickandTired and everyone else

Thank you for taking the time to share all this information with those of us who truly need it.

[Mave RN]

I love this sticky!!! Thanks for all the great advice!!!!

[KT1214]

Originally Posted by lmaddox

Hi,
My name is trina. I am a 1st year nursing student. I am truly excited about being in the nursing program, but I am so dissappointed in myself after my 1st test grade. I got a C, but I did everything that I was suppose to do, at least I thought.
Can anyone give me tips on how to take a nursing test, Please!!!!!!
Thanks
Trina

:hatparty:
Trina...I just graduated in December and I can't tell you how many times I asked that questions. Just relax. Don't try to memorize things, try to truly understand it...and when you take the test...DON'T READ INTO IT. Don't try to compare a clinical experience or a real life experience to it. If your tests are like mine were, no matter what, and I mean no matter what...answer it by what the teacher or your book tells you. I can't tell you how many times when I was taking the test a question popped up and I had to answer it with what the teacher said, even thought I disagreed. Most importantly do not and again mean DO NOT beat yourself up with a "C"....a "C" is an "A". No matter what your final grade is, as long as it's passing, you will still be called a Nurse and a patient is never going to ask you what you got on your test before you give them a shot...trust me and lots of luck. Just do your best and if it's a "C" that is still a great achievement!!!

[AngelsRN]

Originally Posted by KT1214

:hatparty:
Trina...I just graduated in December and I can't tell you how many times I asked that questions. Just relax. Don't try to memorize things, try to truly understand it...and when you take the test...DON'T READ INTO IT. Don't try to compare a clinical experience or a real life experience to it. If your tests are like mine were, no matter what, and I mean no matter what...answer it by what the teacher or your book tells you. I can't tell you how many times when I was taking the test a question popped up and I had to answer it with what the teacher said, even thought I disagreed. Most importantly do not and again mean DO NOT beat yourself up with a "C"....a "C" is an "A". No matter what your final grade is, as long as it's passing, you will still be called a Nurse and a patient is never going to ask you what you got on your test before you give them a shot...trust me and lots of luck. Just do your best and if it's a "C" that is still a great achievement!!!

This is very true . . .I just graduated as well and looking back, there were certain areas you will do better in than others. But regardless, dont beat yourself up -- no one will ask you if you got an A on that test or a C. And no one needs to know how you did except you and your instructor. I always kept my grades to myself.

I dont think it has hit me yet that I graduated and I am studying now for the Boards and the panic of that has set in for me. My hospital has a grad nurse program and last week I could tell the difference in how my patients treated me . . .I was their nurse, not just the student. WOW!

[frenchfroggyRN]

ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS ALWAYS remember


IF IT IS NOT CHARTED IT WAS NEVER DONE


It will come back to haunt you if a suit is brought against the hospital.

[nurscee]

mmm

[REHRN]

This would be my advice.

1) During your preceptorship stay on top of the person responsible for giving you written performance reports and be sure you get them within a few days of there due date.

2) Ask other nurses you have worked with about areas where they believe you could use improvement and ask them for their recommendations on how to improve your skills.

3) If you see much of the same thing happening procedure wise go back to your books you had in school read about it so you will at least not feel so unfamiliar with it when it comes time to do the same thing yourself.

4) Don't do anything that will make you stand out or draw attention to yourself (at least not until you are secure in your job). This will only make those people who want to make trouble put you on their radar.

5) Don't take a shortcut if it goes against your training and/or gut. I remember when I was precepting I had an experienced RN tell me not to ask the pt or the family what meds the pt was currently taking (while doing an admin assessment) because I could pull up old records and see what meds they were taking. Meds change all the time and that is one area where you cannot "short cut" to do so in my opinion puts the pt directly in harms way.

6) Even if you are treated with disrespect and unkind behavior remember that does not give you the right to treat new nurses that way. Remember how it felt to be treated that way and don't be the nurse who continues the cycle of abuse. Be the better person and treat the new nurse on your floor the way you wish you had been treated as a new nurse. I have real issues with RNs (especially very experienced RNs who should know better) that treat student nurses, graduate nurses or new RN's with anything other than respect and kindness. These new nurses are the one's who will insure the survival of nursing as a profession.

7) Do Do always admit when you don't know something and don't allow anyone to make you feel badly for not knowing everything. It is always better to admit you don't know something.

8) Continue to strive for self improvement as a human being and as a nurse.

9) Listen to the pt who is telling you that "they have never had any luck putting an IV in that hand, arm, etc" chances are if you can use the other one you will have an easier time. Pts know themselves and they know works for them and what doesn't. So listen to the patient at all times.

10) Be the kind of nurse you would want to have as a patient. Treat your coworkers the way you want to be treated.

Hope this is helpful.

[hlfpnt]

I stumbled onto this web site by accident, but I'm so glad I did! I am currently a student, but will be done very soon. The information, comments, and stories I've found here are priceless! Thank you to everyone who contributes and makes it possible.
D.W.

[REHRN]

This is a posting for ALL the Student Nurses about to become Graduate Nurses.

1) Do study NCLEX review questions for the test. Not so much for the formatting of the question but for the information the questions and answers contain. It is the information you gleen from the questions and answers + your knowledge + your belief in yourself that will get you through the experience.

2) DON'T Psyche yourself out over the NCLEX. It is a hard test and one like you have never taken in your life and very deserving of respect. That being said DO NOT allow yourself to get discouraged by the number of questions you have on the test or how long it takes you to complete the test. Take it one question and one deep breath (Both in and out) at a time. Relax and believe in your level of knowledge, your ability to apply that knowledge and trust what your gut is telling you about a question. From my own experience, and others, I can tell you that 75 questions only does not mean you have passed and 265 questions does not mean you have failed. Hang in there and give yourself the support and encouragement you need to get through the experience.

3) Don't give up if you don't pass it the first time around. Nobody is going ask you how many times you took the NCLEX. There is nothing wrong with not passing it the first time, it does not mean you are stupid or shouldn't be a nurse. It just means you had a bad testing day. I knew people who were staright A students all the way through Nursing School who failed the first time around and I knew people who were C students that passed the first time. Just as I know people who failed after only having 75 questions and people who passed after having all 265 questions.

4) Believe in yourself and know that you are able to accomplish great things with time and patience (no pun intended ).

GOOD LUCK NEW GRADUATES AND WELCOME TO THE WILD AND WOOLY WORLD OF NURSING. THERE IS NONE OTHER LIKE IT.