LPN 2011 - exciting and overwhelming

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Hey guys,

I'm new here and I just got started on the application process for the Jan. 2011 LPN program at my local tech center. I live in southwest Florida with my husband, Thad, and 3-year-old daughter Maddie. I can't believe I'm actually going back to school - I'm excited!!

It's overwhelming too! I just wanted to ask some of you about your experiences in just the application process. Mainly about the tests; we have to take 2 tests - Math for Meds and Medical Terminology -to get accepted. I hear the books are a mile thick :rolleyes: Good thing I love reading.

I've already got the financial aid business outta the way (whew!) now the rest is the tedious stuff - diploma transcripts, references, TABE test, etc. Anyone else live in this area who went through all this? It's definately alot just to get accepted into the LPN program, but totally worth it.

I'm just so nervous! I haven't been in school or taken a test in about 8 years. But I found allnurses about a week ago, and I've just been browsing, doing as much research as I can, and this looks like a great site.

Any advice at all is welcome :)

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

It is overwhelming at first! I was in your shoes a few months ago, and now I'm 3 weeks into the nursing program. :) We had to take 2 tests for my program- one was the TEAS and the other was just a basic math test that we had to pass with at least a 75%. Both were not too hard.

Good luck with nursing school & welcome to allnurses!

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Thank you DreamyEyes!

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Hi, I am from Alabama and while I only had to take the TEAS V test to get accepted, there was so much other stuff to do like physical, drug testing, shots, titers, tb tests that it was mind boggling. I am finishing up my 3rd week and trust me, I don't have time to think about any of that anymore but I LOVE it so far. Good Luck to you!

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Hey vinsonbs! I just saw this, and thank you for the encouragement!

I've been studying my eyes out. I'm on dosages in my med-math now (chapter 3 or 4, I think), chapter 6 of med terminology, and I know I haven't even scratched the surface! Thank goodness for :hotchocolate:

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Specializes in 10.

I too will be going to school in Jan, and I am ready. Good Luck

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Specializes in LTC, Rehab, CNA, HHA, Nurse Mentor.

Congrats! Congrats! Congrats! I'm going to say first, that going to school to become a LPN is NOT easy. You'll have days where you'll want to throw in the towel and go kick your pile of school scrubs and throw your school ID across the room. Then you'll have days where you're like ... "Oh yeah ... I got THIS ... I sooo got this."

My advice is to stay calm and study ... study like your duty is to teach everyone else. Study and teach your husband, even if he turns blue in the face ... well ... maybe not ... but after you replenish his oxygen and ensure his respirations are between 12 - 20 be sure to go over what you learned that day. My husband is my study partner/best friend/father to our 2 year old. I tell him EVERYTHING that I learn and when I come home, he's there waiting, whether he likes it or not. *LOL*

I'm in the beginning of Med/Surg and from the looks of things in our text book, I'll be kicking my scrubs across the floor many times.

Good Luck, Stay Focused and Have Fun!

:yeah:

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Specializes in LTC.

I just want to wish you luck on everything. You have chosen such a wonderful and rewarding profession. Just study, study, study. PRay and do more studying. The program is doable and you will succeed.

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Specializes in LTC, Psych.

OOOOOH! It's so exciting, isn't it? I graduated as an LPN in 2008. I'm back for my RN and should graduate in May. Just soak up every bit of knowledge anyone is willing to throw your way. From the resp. techs to the tele techs....pick their brain cells every clinical day. I don't care if you haven't had cardiac lecture yet.....PICK THEIR BRAIN.

You will be overwhelmed and you will cry and qod you will swear you are quitting. But hang in there, one day it will all "click". Be the "eager beaver". Seek out procedures and ask if you can do them. This shows the clinical instructor that you WANT to learn....not just know enough to graduate. Performing a skill in the lab is waaaay different than on a real patient and it's best if you get the experience now while you have guidance.

Eat, sleep, poop, and breathe nursing. You won't regret it.

Good luck!

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Specializes in Pediatrics, OB/GYN, ER, Geriatrics.

Congrats to you!!!:yeah:My advice is not to get to comfortable...that is what happened to me...I stopped studying like I was when I first started the LVN program and found myself dropped from the program my

second semester :crying2:. After a major meltdown, I have decided to give it a try again at a different school and starting April 4, 2011. So, between now and then I am studying my butt off so that I do not have a big question mark on my face during lectures :idea:

If you can, get a hold of the book list and start reading now...especially fundamentals and drug dose calcuations.

Once school starts, everything is thrown at you at once and you are so completely overwhelmed!:eek:

If you can, try and read ahead of time, so you won't feel this way (at least that is the goal). We were told the in my orientation to read every chapter three times...in other words, read through once, then read again and highlight important parts, read through and take notes of just the highlighted portions in your book...who has time for that when you are juggling three subjects at a time and trying to maintain a family...so, having this done ahead of time helps you so that you are just reviewing reading and lecture notes for a test or quiz.

HTH!

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Congrats! I'm new to this site, but I take the TEAS Monday and hopefully will be in LPN school next month which is when it starts. I'm just as excited as you are. I have small children, so I'm doing this for them and then later I can transition to RN which is my ultimate goal.

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Hi, Punkinmommy! I go to school in Jacksonville, and I'm floored that you have to know med calc and terminalogy to get in. We got it hard and fast in Nursing core. Anyway, the best advise I can give you is to memorize this formula:

D/H xQ. That's what the doctor ordered, divided by what you have on hand, times the quantity. For example, dr. orders 400ml, you have 200mg/ml, so 400/200 x 1=2 ml. Works every time. good luck.

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