April 2008 NCLEX test takers, COME ON IN!

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Per the request of janina08 ;) I've started the April NCLEX takers support group. When do you take it? What are you using to study? Would anyone like to review any of the systems/meds that he/she feels weakest on? Let's keep each other in our prayers and good thoughts as we go through one of the biggest experiences of our lives. :) :nurse:

Specializes in ICU.

select all that apply

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Specializes in Clinical Nursing and OR Nursing.
Hi

I too was in a similar situation and passed nclex rn with 75 questions on 29th march 2008!!!...am not bragging but really its not easy...the only advice I would give you do the Suzanne plan it involves only one book=$40...and it is sufficient!!! I did it and if you want any further help pm me!!!:)

WOW! What a great start for us April test takers!

IGMIRNOR, congrats! and thanks for the post, you are lifting me up today, I am doing Suzanne's Plan 2nd tip then will take the exam on the 22nd.

TO: avalere2474, kano and Jtejas, GOD BLESS & GOOD LUCK TO UR EXAM TOMMOROW..

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I have a question that's bugging me...

Let's say Psych RN ges float to MedSurg unit, and the charge RN assigns her to which patient:

a. COPD for discharge in 3 hours

b. post-op explore lap who needs help ambulating

c. patient who will be given packed RBCs

d. newly admit BPH patient

what's your answer?

I get questions like these and I always pick the one for discharge because, you know, the patient is going home, so maybe he's fine now, stable. 'Cuz they say pick the stable ones to delegate. But I've been forgetting that discharge = discharge teaching. But then again, the float nurse is also an RN, so she can do the teaching, but RNs are not supposed to delegate assessment, teaching, planning, IV meds..so uhhh...what now???

:confused:

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I have a question that's bugging me...

Let's say Psych RN ges float to MedSurg unit, and the charge RN assigns her to which patient:

a. COPD for discharge in 3 hours

b. post-op explore lap who needs help ambulating

c. patient who will be given packed RBCs

d. newly admit BPH patient

what's your answer?

I get questions like these and I always pick the one for discharge because, you know, the patient is going home, so maybe he's fine now, stable. 'Cuz they say pick the stable ones to delegate. But I've been forgetting that discharge = discharge teaching. But then again, the float nurse is also an RN, so she can do the teaching, but RNs are not supposed to delegate assessment, teaching, planning, IV meds..so uhhh...what now???

:confused:

my answer will be c. patient who will be given packed RBC's coz all RN's are trained for blood transfusions whichever area we are in..

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I took the NCLEX-RN today, for the 2nd time since I graduated back in '00. I was so devastated after my first failed attempt that I refused to try again, until now.

I had been studying since June '07. A little bit of everything but definitely benefited most from Suzanne's plan because I lacked in content.

I had 75 Q's. I was relieved when the screen shut off. Not because I think I passed but because I totally felt like I bombed it, so they cut me off, to save myself from further torture. I had 15 "select all that apply". I know, 15!!! One dosage calculation which I KNOW I got wrong and several priority/delegation questions. I could probably count on 1 hand the answers I was totally sure of.

I don't know if I passed but I am glad it's over, (at least for this time!). But if I didn't pass, then I will try again and again and again. I haven't even bothered to look things up in my notes or books. Only time will tell...and seeing how I tested through CA board...it might be a while.

YOU MUST KNOW INFECTION CONTROL--standard, contact, droplet, etc.

Good Luck to all and trust in the LORD!

It's funny you mentioned infection control, I had loads of them yesterday. I've read somewhere here in AN that if a question keeps popping out, then you must be doing bad at it and the system is trying to get you to pass that part. I don't know if that's true though, because I really utilized the whiteboard thing to make a decision, and take infection control down, but they kept popping up. I also had 9 SATAs, 2 med calculations, and 2 basic IV calculations. Lots of priority, delegation and evaluation up to 265 questions again. I am scared today because the exam yesterday was easy compared to when I first tested, and the woman proctor was probably laughing at all the faces I was making throughout the exam. I came out of the test site relieved too. If I pass, I'm gonna cry, but if I fail, I'm gonna laugh at myself, and try again. No more hard feeelings towards myself, nclex torture is enough. hehehe!

tested in CA too...now the long wait begins again..

:lol2:

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Specializes in OB/GYN/OR.

Hi wishiwereanurse,

a rule of thumb i followed with floats was dont give (now in e.g. mentioned below) any pt who requires specific care related to that field...i.e.medsurg...discharge is for copd...though copd is stable... is discharge teaching specific to med surg whereas this is a psych nurse ,so new admission bph is out too.. now between postop lap who requires ambulation and patient who will be given packed cells...post op lap is for ambulation quite stable as they have to hold incision..pain etc... packed cells all RN's have to know how to give but requires close monitoring in first fifteen minutes..so correct me me if i am wrong...ans=postop lap

I have a question that's bugging me...

Let's say Psych RN ges float to MedSurg unit, and the charge RN assigns her to which patient:

a. COPD for discharge in 3 hours

b. post-op explore lap who needs help ambulating

c. patient who will be given packed RBCs

d. newly admit BPH patient

what's your answer?

I get questions like these and I always pick the one for discharge because, you know, the patient is going home, so maybe he's fine now, stable. 'Cuz they say pick the stable ones to delegate. But I've been forgetting that discharge = discharge teaching. But then again, the float nurse is also an RN, so she can do the teaching, but RNs are not supposed to delegate assessment, teaching, planning, IV meds..so uhhh...what now???

:confused:

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Specializes in ICU.

I agree... gallbladder removal via lap is not a complicated procedure... and the patients simply needs help ambulating.... not complicated....even CNAs are qualified to help someone ambulate.... so I would choose postop lab.

I would not choose COPD b/c the discharge teaching is specific to Medsurg....psych nurse may not be able to answer questions posed by the patient.....

RBC requires more medsurg experience and skills then simply helping a patient ambulate.

And new admit BPH is obviously wrong.... the patient just came in... they will need a skilled medsurg nurse to start treatment....

what is the right answer....

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Specializes in OB/GYN/OR.

hi

its funny but i had 75 q's and my test was very similar to what lvlytxnn...mentioned....i had close to 15 SATA..most of them infection

control..I too was scared why I kept getting similar questions ..that too towards the end.. but I PASSED so...all the best to you!!!..will pray for you!!!!

It's funny you mentioned infection control, I had loads of them yesterday. I've read somewhere here in AN that if a question keeps popping out, then you must be doing bad at it and the system is trying to get you to pass that part. I don't know if that's true though, because I really utilized the whiteboard thing to make a decision, and take infection control down, but they kept popping up. I also had 9 SATAs, 2 med calculations, and 2 basic IV calculations. Lots of priority, delegation and evaluation up to 265 questions again. I am scared today because the exam yesterday was easy compared to when I first tested, and the woman proctor was probably laughing at all the faces I was making throughout the exam. I came out of the test site relieved too. If I pass, I'm gonna cry, but if I fail, I'm gonna laugh at myself, and try again. No more hard feeelings towards myself, nclex torture is enough. hehehe!

tested in CA too...now the long wait begins again..

:lol2:

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yeah that's what i thought too..

clearly newly admit is crossed out first because it needs thorough assessment...

pRBCs can lead to unstable events like a reaction, so i crossed that out

now the thing that bugs me is the post-op for ambulation because in NCLEX world you're in a perfect world with all the staff n etc etc.. so I thought, nsg aide can handle the ambulation (although in the scenario there's no mention of CNAs)

but then stupid me I selected the discharge then clicked next then I realised the patient was for teaching and I started slapping my forehead. Hayyy... I missed that one I guess!

:lol2:

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Congratulations to all the new proud Rn's. And to the ones waiting on their results and preparing for their exam, good luck to us.

To the ones who've just given the exam:

Guys, what book did u use to study ur lab values? Because there is inconsistency in teh numbers between one book and the other book. Please help. And if someone has a fresh list of lab values and would share, that will very very appreciated. Thanks

Mave,

I'm April 10.

FYI: check on pt. restrained every 30 minutes.

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If I read the values from 3-4 yr old book, will I be totally off? Thank u

Ca 9/11

WBC 45/11 (4500 - 11,000)

I think one of the values Ptt alos is somewhat to do with 11

2 magnum condoms - Magnesium - 1.6-2.6 Where Magum condom (Magnesium) stops, Phosphorus takes over so 2.6-3.5 (Phosphorus takes over until almost in between potassium (3.5-4.1)

6 protein shakes - (protein = 6-8)

Credit: Someone here posted the helpful hint to learn here in forum, I forgot who it was - I just modied it little)

I wrote those values off my head, did I write them right? So, do verify it with ur books. Thanks

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i hope this helps. It's actually a story type mnemonic. i read this from one of my books...the one with the drawings in it...so hope this helps.

CUSHING'S DISEASE:

Think of a boy named CUSHY CARL. He has an OVERproduction of hormones from the adrenal cortex. He always has a twinkie with him on one hand and a bag of chips on the other. So this means that he may have (twinkie)-increase in sugar, (bag of chips)- increase in sodium.

Cushy's face is fat and he has a buffalo hump. The fat face means that he's holding fluids. His "buffalo hump" probably scares him enough that his BP goes up even higher.

ADDISON'S DISEASE:

Anemic ADAM, is Cushy's half brother. They have opposite characteristics. Adam has a disorder caused by a decrease in secretion of the adrenal cortex hormone.

Adam doesn't have enough salt, that's why he loves salt (hyponatremia). He has hypoglycemia and complains of weakness and being tired most of the time. Weakness is a cardinal complain and is usually more severe in times of stress. He is occasionally in bed, and is dehydrated and has serious loss of weight because of anorexia, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. His skin is bronze. To prevent addisonian crisis, corticosteroids needs to be replaced.

HYPERTHYROIDISM (GRAVES DISEASE)

This is a story about GO GETTER GERTRUDE GRAVES. She is a thin lady, and her eyes "bug out" (exopthalmos). Everything is running except her menstrual period. Her heart is running fast :heartbeat (increased pulse), her BP is up, and her basal metabolic rate is running too so metabolism will be faster. (So picture this lady as running). She is always up and about cleaning at 2 in the morning. She is always in short pants and short sleeves coz she is hot all the time. So we should promote rest to this client, lower the room temp. Diagnostic test will also be increased= T3 and T4, protein bound iodine, BMR.

HYPOTHYROIDISM (MYXEDEMA)

This one is about MORBID MATILDA MYXEDEMA. She has slow deterioration of the thyroid function. This lady has exopthalmos too, but she has opposite characteristics as her sister Gertrude (Hyperthyroidism). Matilda is not thin. She will rather sleep at 2 am rather than clean. She will be sleeping most of the time because of her lack of energy. She loves to wear long pants to keep her warm. So increasing room temperature would be necessary.

Matilda will be placed on lifelong thyroid replacement and will be on low-calorie, low-cholesterol diet to help her with weight loss.

So for this lady, everything is SLOW-including her periods.

:)

Good one. Thank you

Also u can remember it this way.

c U shing = UP

Glucocorticods UP

Blood pressure UP

Sodium UP

Blood Glucose UP

Potassium DOWN

a D ision's = DOWN

Glucorticoids and Mineralocorticoids DOWN

Blood pressure DOWN

Sodium DOWN

Potassium UP

Both are Adrenal cortex disorders.

Correct me if I'm wrong. I just typed it off my head. Thanks

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