LPNs in Georgia

LPN01112005 · Jul 3, 2005

I graduated in December 2004, took and passed the NCLEX in January on my first try with 85 questions. My school prepared us well for the NCLEX, and it has a 100% NCLEX pass rate for a few years running. However, it is a no excuses kind of program. Only the most dedicated students will make it thorough that rigorous year. We graduated with only 1/4 of the students who started the program.

As far as jobs go, well.......that's another story. I graduated with a base knowledge, but I wouldn't say I was totally prepared for the job. There are days when I still feel ill prepared for my job. It's a learning process, and most nurses will attest that no matter how long they've been nursing, it's still a learning process. However, I have found that my critical thinking skills kick in when necessary. I work 11-7 in LTC and I haven't failed to send someone out to the hospital who needed to go. We have reference books to use, and of course, I take along the trusty old Taber's (my best friend, LOL). Really, I think that we get a base knowledge in school, but the real learning comes with the repitition of actually "doing" our jobs. I can't tell you the number of times I drag out the Med-Surg book at home. Just looking for information on a disease process that will help me better care for my residents. Procedures such as catheterization, blood draws, suctioning etc. just come with practice, and you probably won't get enough practice until you are actually working. I graduated from nursing school and had never ever drawn one vial of blood on a live patient, LOL, but now, I do it all the time. At my facility, the LPN's start IV's if there is an order for one (not often, but does happen) and the only time I've had to start one, I called my ADON to come in to help me. She gladly came to assist me, walking me through step by step. Then confided that when she graduated RN school, she had never started an IV, and had been working in the hospital for several months before she got her first chance due to the trend toward infusion teams in hospitals. She said she asked for help for the first few times, and then felt comfortable enough to do it on her own. That's what we have to do to. Know what we feel comfortable doing, and ask for help on the rest. No crime in asking for help.

craigrah · Jul 4, 2005

I graduated in December 2004, took and passed the NCLEX in January on my first try with 85 questions. My school prepared us well for the NCLEX, and it has a 100% NCLEX pass rate for a few years running. However, it is a no excuses kind of program. Only the most dedicated students will make it thorough that rigorous year. We graduated with only 1/4 of the students who started the program.
As far as jobs go, well.......that's another story. I graduated with a base knowledge, but I wouldn't say I was totally prepared for the job. There are days when I still feel ill prepared for my job. It's a learning process, and most nurses will attest that no matter how long they've been nursing, it's still a learning process. However, I have found that my critical thinking skills kick in when necessary. I work 11-7 in LTC and I haven't failed to send someone out to the hospital who needed to go. We have reference books to use, and of course, I take along the trusty old Taber's (my best friend, LOL). Really, I think that we get a base knowledge in school, but the real learning comes with the repitition of actually "doing" our jobs. I can't tell you the number of times I drag out the Med-Surg book at home. Just looking for information on a disease process that will help me better care for my residents. Procedures such as catheterization, blood draws, suctioning etc. just come with practice, and you probably won't get enough practice until you are actually working. I graduated from nursing school and had never ever drawn one vial of blood on a live patient, LOL, but now, I do it all the time. At my facility, the LPN's start IV's if there is an order for one (not often, but does happen) and the only time I've had to start one, I called my ADON to come in to help me. She gladly came to assist me, walking me through step by step. Then confided that when she graduated RN school, she had never started an IV, and had been working in the hospital for several months before she got her first chance due to the trend toward infusion teams in hospitals. She said she asked for help for the first few times, and then felt comfortable enough to do it on her own. That's what we have to do to. Know what we feel comfortable doing, and ask for help on the rest. No crime in asking for help.

LPN1112005 :) Great! I think the best advice a new nurse should take is to find a great mentor and stick with him/her. A good mentor can save your life and that of your charges.