bekah79il

wear the most comfortable clothes you have. you could be sitting there up to 6 hours. something that you like to cuddle on the couch and watch tv in, like running pants or yoga pants or anyhting. the NCLEX is not a fashion show. also wear layers, in case the room is cold or warm... just my $0.02

as a new grad recently hired into a CVICU at a major academic hospital, i am less worried about my personal ability to perform the work than i am about the "old" nurses ability to accept new grads as peers. Of COURSE i have tons to learn, but a 3 month preceptorship on the more stable patients followed by gradual increase to more challenging patients should allow me the ability to learn what i need to know to safely care for my patients, and for some of us, the ICU is really the only option. i always want my hands in everyhting, i am not cut out to work on the floor...and just as many other new grads hired into ICU positions feel this way. remember there is something to be said for motivation and having your head in the academic mindset as new grads do... don't eat us alive!

kelli, RELAX. just like in any tense situation, having a clear mind will help you more than anything else you can do at this point. remember that you know the content. read the questions twice, look for anything that has to do with the ABCs, and know your delegation. good luck!

Relax. They have to standardize the test with some people, a certain percentage of people get the full 265 even if they were at passing level. don't let Kaplan scare you, no one really knows the algorithim used, that is pearson vue's secret, but jsut remember, passing a test is not indicative of the kind of nurse you will be. I know right now it's no consolation, but even if *God forbid* you didn't pass, you can retake the test. I know several nurses who did not pass the first time and are some of the best nurses I know. don't let it shake your confidence... Do something nice for yourself, and relax.

oh this makes me SO glad I am not a psych nurse. half the time I think psych is so easy, but i don't understand half of it. one time a nurse ( on a locked inpatient unit) said to me. open patient, insert med...that's what we do. the mental health workers are the ones who know about this spych stuff. GREAT! I know a couple great psych nurses but... wow. i'd hate to run into that kid at the grocery store...

AH! i love that show.... makes me want to work with nice guys like Dr. ALter who don't judge peole and try to improve tehir quality of life no matter what their sexual orientation...and stay away from the scary docs if i ever want something "enhanced"

Chicago New Grad... Offered between 21.65-22.75 for new positions. a condo in my neighborhood goes for about 250,000 for a smallllll studio and up to the millions for a larger place. we rent a 1br with den for 1800, but we have a great view of chicago city views and the lake, and we are really close to both my job and his, I think its worth it but NO WAY could i afford it on my own.

Here's the thing... if you know you try to attend to the little things with your patients, only ask these scripted, impersonal questions when the "powers taht be" are around. ask your own way, take care of whatever you can, and focusing on ONE thing is not going to make the patient happy anyways, just try ( when you ahve SPARE(haha) time) to talk to your patints, same as you already know. press ganey is not appropriate for hospitals in my opinion, because it ignores outcomes and weighs questions sot hat EVERYTHING negative is the fault of the nurse but everything positive is the result of good physician care. just my personal bias on press ganey, and of course there is merit to the attempt to make your patients more comfortable, as patients frequently choose where they seek care.

Dansko... are not meant to be walked in. danskos are often the best for an ICU RN but a floor RN mayhave a hard time running all over. they are supposed to be a platform for your foot, rather than a walking shoe. That being said, they will fit more like a wooden shoe from the netherlands, with a large gap behind your heel. If you buy ones that fit your foot tightly you will be DYING at the end of the day, as the platform you stand on doesn't flex like rubber soles. this may take some getting used to, but if you do mroe standing than walking, your legs may thank you for it. no matter what shoes you get, remember your feet and legs have to last you the rest of your career, so a little extra money, if that is what it takes to make them happy, is worth it. ~rebekah

I see you are in Chicago. I know there are lots of dog walking services, I am sure some of them provide evening care, could let the dogs out at 10 or so for a half hour and would probably cost you about 15 bucks a day. If you can't find one that does, search craigslist or make a post, and do a background check. All of these reputable companies are insured, bonded, etc and won't let just anyone take care of your babies.

First off, are you completely unable to be a nurse, or was it just the failure that is keeping you from becoming one? do you still want to? I am sure that if you apply at some places, given your extenuating circumstances you would be accepted in time. int he meanwhile, apply to physician offices as an unlic. medical assistant, or get your medical assistant training/certificate. or what about being an OR tech? there are lots of opportunities. don't give up!

soooo many! the girl who would literally rather miss questions than be the second to finish. i always test quickly, so it became my goal, that if I was close to finishing and she was not, to finish at least one second before her. I loved to hear her sigh as i walked in to hand in my exam. but there were times i was 15 or 20 minutes to finishing and she would just smirk and make all kinds of noise as she walked out. the girls who are in nursing just the get the lovely MRS degree. please don't take a spot from someone who WANTS to be a nurse. The nurses at clinical sites who dont want a student and as a rsult make you their personal @$$-wiping CNA rather than teaching you something new or explaining why they do something a certain way...(my guess is they don't know) animosity within clinical groups. listen. we are ALL nurses/nursing students. when we go into the workforce the way any one of us behaves reflects on the others. no one gets along with everyone, but can we please be adults about it? and POWER POINT... why do we have to print so much stuff? the teacher i hate most was acutally the best, she gave us handouts taht highlighted what was important, rather than trying to tell us it's all important yada yada. well of course it's all important but we can't graduate knowing everyhting, just help us hone our skills and internal radar so we know when to investigate furthur... PLEASE

Hi all, my first post on all nurses, although i have often read the advice. i have searched the forums but was wondering if someone who has recently traveled to hawaii can tell me a few things. 1) do you know the cost to upgrade to private housing (my boyfriend will be coming with me, we'd like to have our own place rather than shared housing) or, alternatively, do you know the approximate housing stipend/subsidy provided in hawaii? 2) any recommendations on a company to travel with as a first timer? My main concern is getting fair pay and private housing. I'd like to work 3 to 4 12 hour shifts a week. is this unrealistic? Thanks for all your help! Rebekah