hopefulfutureLPN

Thanks!! No, no Gateway...we are planning to move out of Phx in the Spring, so I will be looking at programs wherever we land. I had the hardest time with those dang hose in clinicals...but, my model was very easy for boards...slipped right on! I practiced dressing the resident, etc on my BF the night before, that really helped! Good luck with all your endeavors!! Thanks again for everything!

Well, all is well in new CNA land :) I was so nervous, but I went in super early and got to go 2nd for skills. I drew handwashing (of course), feeding dependent resident, antiembolic stockings, dressing resident with left weaker side and fluid intake. I was so stressed out afterward that I took a 4 hour nap. I was getting really ansy today waiting for results...I finally called D&S at noon and got my results. I got a 94% written and 100% skills! I am so relieved! RSAA was a really good experience overall, I am totally satisfied (in case anyone is reading this for a review). Thanks to chihmom for all the advice!

Haha...I jinxed myself on the occupied bed. My classmates got easy things like fluid intake and TPR...I jokingly said, "Watch me get occupied bed becuz it takes me 1/2 an hour to do it!" Then...what did I get? Ha! So, if I keep telling myself please give me Peri care...maybe I actually won't get it! I am going to shoot for 730...I want to get there, hopefully everyone else is scared to death more than me and will let me just go first! :)

Chihmom8 you rock! Thank you so much for your detailed and kind response! Those tips for handwashing, etc. will be helpful, I am sure! I know the RN's are wanting you to pass, but they are still intimidating! I did go in once and did some practice exams during clinicals, I aced the class...but, it wasn't as stressful as this waiting to take the boards! I probably won't sleep well! haha. I am supposed to be there around 8 and I am now going to leave my house by 7! I want to go first! Do they allow you to do skills first or do you have to take written first? I want to do skills and get it over with! I am not worried about the written so much. For our class final, we didn't have to do the skills with real stuff...just pretend. I got occupied bed and did it pretty quickly...I forgot to lower the bed and didn't keep my resident's heiny covered the whole time :) oops. Anyhow, I am pretty much ready, just need to destress a bit tonight and not drink too much coffee in the AM! Thanks again! I will post and let ya know how it went!

Thank you for the luck! I am sure they will have a spot for you. They start new classes constantly and offer them day, night and weekends, however...they fill up quickly! Good luck to you as well!

hi chihmom8, i just finished up my cna course at rsaa and have state boards tomorrow morning! i am a bit stressed and was looking for any advice you could offer. many students are confused at how things will be run tomorrow...like we practiced without water for peri-care and etc...do they expect you to use water, actually wear gloves...etc. or just say you would put on gloves?? anything you can offer would be great!! thanks!

wanna succeed!!!!! just another little bit of advice~go get your cna first, it will make the basic skills courses much easier for you! plus, it will give you more insight on whether healthcare is the path you really want to take.

I would buy a study guide from Barnes and Noble for Nursing Program Entrance Exams, or you can use the resources online. Here's a few websites that might help: http://www.testprepreview.com/nursing_practice.htm, http://www.eriproduct.com/detail.aspx?ID=1, http://www.umflint.edu/shps/UMFIND/NET%20Study%20Guide.pdf, http://www.test-preparation.ca/nursing/readingcomp.html. With the Reading Comprehension part on the test, make sure you scroll down all the way on the screen~I didn't realize that I was missing a lot of the material till the end~but, somehow still managed to pass it. You can take it again in 60 days, so just study up and relax :) You will make it if you really want it bad enough!

Thanks for the well wishes :) I didn't stay that day to talk with the director, I already voiced all of my concerns to her privately and kinda figured the session would not do much good at the time, but I am glad to hear it is better!

Wow, injections and foleys in the first week...they aren't wasting any time! Yes, I started with you in January 2009. I had to take a LOA due to financial and health issues. I don't think I am going to come back to MSC though. I think we are going to get out of Phoenix for good within the year. Don't stress too much, just take things day to day :)

Hope you are right :)

I personally suggest taking a CNA course first...that was the one issue that plagued me for Block A~not enough hands on lab time and expectations to know how to do things that we were barely shown. It used to be a requirement and I think they should go back to that for sure!

Thanks for all of the kind words and info...I don't know what to do or to think anymore! The instructor that left...I know you can't name names...but can you tell me how recent that was? I just am curious to know if it was one that was one of my previous instructors from January...that might make a difference in my decisions. I don't think 88% pass rate is near as bad as it sounded...everyone tests differently, too. Test anxiety could have even been a cause. I appreciate your insight!

I was able to work FT for the time that I was in Block A but I had a very flexible job as a caregiver. My client went to bed at 7-8pm and I had permission to do homework till 11pm when I left. If I didn't have that situation, I would not have been able to get the homework done. I highly recommend that you work PT or just on the weekends if you can.

Not to rain on anyone's parade, but I am finding more and more reasons not to go back in September. Yesterday I spoke with a former classmate and they said that they pushed their grad date up a month because people weren't passing the NCLEX. This really isn't surprising to me after my short experience in Block A. I am getting pretty discouraged with things and I am definitely looking in other directions. Do you really want to spend nearly $8000 and have to teach yourself for the most part and then have the chance of not passing your state boards because of the lack of education you've rec'd? I actually was considering coming back May 22nd~and not waiting till September...but, now I am not sure I even want to go back to that school. Anyone else have any thoughts??