amybethf

I have been an RN for 10 mos. I was hired with 6 other new grads. The last 2 months or so we have all been taking turns being charge nurse. Basically, when I am charge, I need to know the pertinent info about each pt so when nsg supervisor comes I can give her the rundown. I am on a stepdown cardiac unit and the supe wants to know when/if the pt will be discharged, any change in code status, if they r on a heart med gtts, isolation, restraints, changes in condition since the last shift, etc. Its important to know what is vital to each pt because u want to be on high alert if a pt starts to deteriorate. It wasn't easy at first but as you become more comfortable as a nurse, it becomes second nature.

Do a search on his name (State Senator Raymond Basham, 8th district) and it will direct you to his official website where you can leave a comment. Katie's family received an authoritative resolution certificate ytdy but we are still pushing forward for the bill. It appears there is alot of support behind it and it is in the legislative process now. The News-Herald also met with the family and will be doing a story to be published Wed. 2/10. We are so happy to see so many people touched by this and showing their support!:redbeathe

That's absolutely nuts! I also had 12 weeks of orientation and have been at my position for 7 mos and I am still not ready to be charge nurse! And I am sure that you have wisened up to the fact that hiring 12 new nurses means ur floor has a high turnover rate. If your not being heard its time to move up the chain of command because it's just not safe. And it's ur license on the line!

You can contact Senator Raymond Basham, 8th district! Please, time is of the essence!

Hopefully it is ok to post this....a classmate of mine from Henry Ford Comm College found out days before she was to take the NCLEX-RN that she had an aggressive form of brain cancer; it is in the last stages now. One of the wonderful instructors @ HFCC started a push for a bill to give those who have encountered a devastating event in life to receive their honorary license. State Senator for the 8th district is among those who wish to see this happen and has been bombarded with emails and letters. You can can contact him or the official in your district. Katie was a vibrant 23 yr old woman who had everything in life going for her. We all know how hard nursing school is and to see her dream of attaining an honorary license would make Katie and her family, friends and classmates very, very happy! Please act now and pledge your support for this bill! :redbeathe

Chamberlain online program does not require clinicals but it's $600/credit hr!!!!

I also work at Oakwood on a critical care floor since June, I graduated in May. As with any job there are good and bad points. But for the most part, I like it alot. I usually have 3 pts with a max of four so I can't imagine working a med/surg unit and having as many as 8!!! I think as a new nurse and finally feeling somewhat confident, one of the most important aspects of my job is having a good rapport with the nursing aides; if not, I would be running the halls all night, never getting a break and barely getting to know my pts! The respect is a two-way street. I agree with the other post - definitely ask the mgr alot of questions, see how the unit and rooms are set up. On my floor, there are 3 different pyxis', an IV room and a med cart, alas, there is no central med room - this I don't like. But I do like my co-workers - there a few seasoned nurses and mostly new grads. So we all help each other out. When a new pt arrives, we all go in to help. I know that I can always depend on someone, which is huge for me! I may be out of orientation but I have only been an 'official' RN since July. At least have an interview and see if its what you're looking for. Good Luck!

There's an ongoing post about this on the MI forum. There's alot of programs available and u need to consider how fast u want to finish. My job offers UD onsite and OU online at a discount. But I have to sign a contract for 3yrs post completion. I am looking @ EMU, they r reasonable $$ and have online program as well.

I am new nurse @ Oakwood Dbn. and thus far it is ok. I am in a transition, working very hard to hone my skills and learn how to be a nurse. The other nurses I work with r nice. U will always have unhappy ppl any field u work in. But I think it is the job itself that is hard; alot of running around and problem-solving all day. But I wouldn't make a desicion to not work somewhere based on other ppl's opinions. It's ur experience and what u choose it to be.

Long time no talk friend! I didn't do Kaplan review but I have heard it helped some and its alot harder than actual nclex. Personally, I knew I passed when it shut off and I seem to be in the minority. Most ppl feel like they didnt know alot of the stuff on it and walk out dazed and confused but learn they passed. Just know all the infection precautions and classes of meds. If its something u don't know then choose what can harm the pt the most. Truly, there's no way to prepare, its alot of application and knowledge. And its testing whether ur 'safe' not smart. Remember its nclex hospital/world so go by the book and not reality. Avoid reading into the questions, make ur best educated guess and move on. Don't second guess urself, go with ur gut. And be calm, confident and focused. The # of ?s means nothing. My coworkers got 75, 83, 105, 110, 160, 265 and all passed. Those who fail seem to get flustered and panic. And u know more than u think so go in there and think it's like just another nsg test. U will do great!!!!! Be sure to do the pearsonvue trick and keep me posted! Good luck!!!!!!!

Passed with 75Qs in 1hr 20min.

As far as I remember that is what I got when I knew I would be getting my ATT. Did it say pending due to 'passing nclex exam'? If so, then that is the green light. U will receive ur ATT by email within 24 hrs; by snail mail, don't know.

3 of my classmates tried the trick, got the popup and passed!!!!

I had a mix of some with brand and some with generic but never both. And if I wasn't sure, I went with the answer that would most likely harm the pt or disrupt their life, ie, noncompliance. Yes, the questions are short and to the point. However, u may find the options listed are not what u anticipated. Thats where knowledge base comes in. U should be prepared and definitely know all the infection/isolation precautions. Because remember, this is a test about 'safe' entry level nursing. In regards to priority questions, be sure to read the question and options twice before choosing. When u get an SATA, look at each option separately when deciding if it applies. Best advice: be confident, calm and focused. I loved the earplugs they gave cuz I have serious ADD!

After taking NCLEX u can leave feeling VERY unsure about ur performance because the format is so different. But as the other posters said, the amt of SATA u got doesn't really mean a thing. My friend got 12, I got 3 and we passed with 75Qs.

Some ppl might scream when I say this but I didn't find it that hard at all. You have to know ur material because it is all about application. But if u r prepared and can calmly read each question and options twice, u can definitely make a choice and move on. Of course there are the ones where 2 answers seem to be the best but u try ur best educated guess. Mine was primarily prioritizing meds and which pts to see first. And lots of infection control - I would really know these. I didnt get any delegation or OB. I am glad that I didn't internalize all the hype about how its so hard etc., I just did my best and didnt allow the pressure to get to me. And I think if u can go in there and just relax, thats half the battle. U made it thru school, u can pass boards! My best wished to you, I have no doubt u can do it!:redpinkhe

Best advice - be confident, calm and focused. Treat it like just another test. If u r prepared and read each question and all options TWICE - u should be fine. Like another poster stated, u might be pleasantly surprised that it's not the beast ur pre-test mind has made it out to be! Good luck! Keep us posted! And hopefully, u r relaxing today and doing something fun!

Sorry about ur test! I used Saunders Q&A and 4000 and ncsbn review. All 3 of these were great but since taking nclex-rn and passing - I would use ncsbn. I took a 3 wk 24 online access for $49. They also offer 5 and 8 wks. I feel it was also most like boards. I dont know if u are retaking pn or rn but ncsbn offers both reviews. Good luck and best wishes!

I found the nscbn review the most helpful and most like nclex. In terms of priority questions, remember ABC's and Maslows. Be sure to read the stem and see if it asking for an assessment or action answer. The questions can be tricky so read all the options.

RSV is droplet and contact. Rubella (measles) is airborne.

Rubella (measles) is airborne precautions!!!

This is my experience exactly! I did feel it was challenging at times but it was easier that alot of the reviews I did! When it shut off @ 75, I knew I passed! I am sure u did as well! Good luck!

My name was on the BON site this morning so YES IT WORKS!!!!!!

Use NCSBN learning extension. A 3 week course is $49 and u can also do 5 and 8 wks too. I also used Saunders but the above was the best review for me and my nsg instructors recommended it as well.

This is for those who have not taken boards yet. I had a mandatory review class @ my college. But what really helped me was being prepared. If u did well in school and studied so much, u actually retain the material then I suggest doing 100-150 practice questions 4-5 days/wk. I did this for 2 mo. Read the rationales on every answer so u know why u got it right or wrong. If u are doing poorly in an area, build tests with that in mind until it becomes a strength. I used Saunders Q&A and 4000 but the most helpful was the ncsbn review. (www.elearningext.com) And they write the test questions. I paid $49 for 3 wk 24hr online access where I could build my own tests. The actual nclex is straight forward but it is not like school tests. The answers u r expecting r just not there. Thats where being prepared and having a good knowledge makes all the difference. U have to critically think out the questions. It is not a test of intelligence rather one of safety. Know your infection/ isolation precautions, your med classifications. If u have no idea what the med is and they are asking for adverse effects, look to the answer that would be most harmful or disruptive to their lifestyle. Again, its all about keeping the pt free from harm. On priority questions and this will make up a large portion of the test, read and reread all the options. Hopefully u know what is normal and thus abnormal. Think ABC's, Maslow's. Know if it is asking a nursing assessment or action. But the most important piece of advice I can give you other than being prepared is to be CALM AND FOCUSED!!!!!! Don't go and sit down at your cubicle and start doubting yourself and thinking about all the ramifications. Be confident, be focused and be calm. This is just one last test. U have taken many of them already and passed; there is no doubt u can pass the BIG ONE! The day before, do nothing but relax. Wake up on test day ready to show that dang computer what u know!!!:typing P.S>. I got 75 questions and when it shut off, I knew I passed! I was prepared, confident, focused and calm! GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF YOU!!!!!:redpinkhe