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I am so excited. I just checked the Pearson QuickResults and there were those four letters I wanted to see, PASS. Here's my story/suggestions that may help others: I took the exam on Thursday. I had originally scheduled it for July 1. But as July 1 rolled around I was far too anxious. I was taking the Kaplan review and I had not done question trainer 6 or 7 and had only done about 50% of the qbanks. So I rescheduled and immediately felt more relaxed. During the extra 8 days I really didn't try to learn new stuff, I just reviewed and practiced with the qbank and qtrainer. I had been studying for about 5 weeks prior to this. For the first 3 weeks however, I used Saunders Comprehensive for studying content. Then I transitioned over to using the Kaplan videos and practice tests. As many have said before, the actually exam is much like QTrainer 7. I took my exam at 8am. About an hour and 15 minutes into the test I was on question 75. When it didn't shut off I was simultaneously disappointed and nervous. I started thinking "omg, I'm not doing well enough to stop. omg! I am going to get 265 questions. omg!.OMG!" So I stopped took a moment to regroup. I took an unscheduled break went to the bathroom --looked myself in the mirror and told myself to calm down -- I was still in the game and to focus. I ran in place, did a few stretches and came back into the testing room. And the questions just kept coming. At question 150 I was like ok, it is clear that I am going to get all 265. But then I thought to myself, if I am still getting questions I am still in the game. By the time I got totally comfortable with trying to complete the rest of the questions the computer shut off. It shut off around 179/180 questions. I didn't get that many SATA, 2 med calculations, some meds but they were mostly meds I was familiar with, and an EKG reading. But overall i didn't feel the test was that hard. I didn't think it was necessarily easy but the questions weren't necessarily mind blowing. On some questions I thought 'you've got to be kidding me, of course it's X' but then I thought it might be a trick question so I didn't always select the obvious answer right away. I really thought about each answer before selecting it. I honestly felt like I had a good chance of passing after I left. But I didn't want to be over confident. I just stayed positive. For those of you who have problems staying positive I suggest reading Norman Vincent Peale's The Power of Positive Thinking. It is a really old school book and it is heavy on spiritually, praying, and God. If that really isn't your thing watch The Secret or just something that is positive so you won't bring yourself down worrying about the best. Visualize the quickresults screen saying PASS. Tell yourself that you will be an RN. Just stay busy and stay positive. You can do it.

Hi All: I'm a new grad contemplating where I should start my career. I have been offered two positions. One at a major Rehab hospital (top 3 in country) on the Spinal Cord Unit and the other at in an ICU at a smaller community hospital with a so-so reputation. I like the appeal of the ICU -- once you do ICU you can do anything. I like the idea of working 3 (12s). But I would be on night shift. I don't know much about the staff but they do have a new ICU director which could be good or bad. I was able to shadow on the SC unit and all the staff seemed pretty happy. It kinda seemed like "med-surg" light. The major tasks seemed to be dressing changes, meds, patient education. There are some possibilities for trachea and vent care. RNs here work 8 hours and I would be on the PM shift (3p-11p). A caveat is that I'm still in school. I am in a direct-entry program. So I finished the preNclex portion and will now start course work for my Master's. I guess my major concern would be how well I could work nights and go to school. Also, before it is all said and done, I would like to experience many different areas of nursing. But I am looking for a good place to start. I would just like to hear opinions from experienced nurses as well as from the newbies. Which job would you take? thanks in advance.

SwimKatt you have a tough decision to make! You have been accepted at a top 10 nursing school-- UIC-- and that is nothing to sneeeze at. But I also understand the allure of applying to/attending an Ivy league school. I will be attending the UIC program and I'm so excited. I also wanted to attend JHU, Yale or Columbia. But for me it came down to finances. The in-state tutition and the caliber/recognition of the program as good enough for me. Plus I love chicago and knew that even if I did relocate I would def. want to come back. But what is good enough for you? if you don't give this Yale opportunity a try will you regret it for the rest of your life? Are you interested in pursuing an PhD or DNP, if so you could apply to Yale for future studies? If you decline UIC and don't get in to Yale either, are you prepared to handle waiting another application cycle before attending schoool? Even though current yale students or others who have interviewed may give you their experience that should not be used as a litmus test for your decision. Interviews are so subjective and sometimes depend on whether you or your interviewer are having a good or bad day! I had the worst cramps of my life on one of my interview days so I know that I didn't shine like I could have sans the cramps ;o( If you haven't already, make a pro and con list. If that doesn't help, give each pro and con a number (1-10) and tally up the scores. For example if a pro for Yale is "the ivy league education" and you really want that name you could give it a "9". if a con for yale is "location" you could give that a (-2). Total for yale, in my example, 7. Do the same for UIC and see how you feel about that picture. Make the best decision you can and then go wholeheartedly in that direction. Don't attend UIC but all the while wishing you were at Yale. There are students on the waiting list at UIC dying to get in. best of luck to you

gennaver: while i understand your desire to keep this thread on track, i was answering a specific question from trauma "and...do all programs have some work experience time built in? just curious - thanks for the answers" and many students considering the msn generalist have undoubtly considered the np entry option as well so there may be some overlap in discussion. i do recognize the difference between the two. and for the newbie to this post - they will quickly be able to differentiate between the two entry post/curriculum. --------- hello, this thread is not about np entry programs, merely msn generalist. i am attempting to debunk myths and np entry programs are not the same as msn to entry programs.

In terms of experience, it varies school to school. For direct entry programs where you end up a nurse practitioner: The first 15 months is pre-nclex then you take the exam work full or part time while you finish your master's specialty. For direct entry program where you are a nurse generalist with a master's: the clinical hours are built into the semester. For example at the university of uiowa during your last semester you work primarily and have 1 or 2 courses while preparing for your boards

Gennaver: What does this really mean? Does it mean that if you are enrolled in a CNL or general master's direct entry you will have a harder time finding a school to accept you for post-master's training? -perhaps in your case you will have to stay at Depaul in order to obtain further training? Does it mean that the direct entry programs where you exit with a master's in a specialization and the ability to practices as an advance practice nurse are "better"? It is a double sided sword - this multiple entry into nursing thing-. Especially if some schools don't recognize the work of other programs. I found my decision on my direct entry program especially difficult because of your exact situation. Not only did I have to chose a program I felt comfortable with, I had to chose a program that left me with the most options even if it wasn't everything that truly wanted.

although on the expensive side here are the ones i like from tumi (do a little searching on ebay/nordstrom rack/craigslist you may find a deal) http://www.tumi.com/travel_luggage/totes_wheeled/category_search/west_broadway_20_wheeled_carry_on_convertible_backpack/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=66898 http://www.tumi.com/backpacks_messengers/flow/category_search/large_capacity_expandable_messenger_bag/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=41681 http://www.tumi.com/backpacks_messengers/flow/category_search/computer_backpack/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=75730 by acme http://www.acmemade.com/theclyde.html

Depends on... The structure of the programs. **For the community college route will you have to work and attend school? Is that something you want to do? **For the MSN route do you have to attend full-time can you afford to do so? Future goals: **Are you confident of the area you want to work in or the type of nurse you want to be? **Do you want to work in research or adminstration If you attend the Master's program you will easily make the $60K back What does your gut tell you? I'm in the process of making a similiar decision so I'm interested in hearing other responses/advice..... I am trying to decide between 2 nursing programs. Both programs are "graduate-entry" so geared for people who have a bachelor's degree in a field other than nursing. Program A is 16 months in length and I would graduate with a general Master's in Nursing and Healthcare. I would be an RN with an MS or MSN (just not a nurse practitioner) Program B is geared more towards students interested in being an advanced practice nurse. So the first 15 months are spent preparing for the NCLEX. The remaining portion is completed part-time as they suggest you work part time to build clinical hours. The drawback to this program is that after the 15 months I will only have a certificate of professional nursing. My concern with Program B is that if I have to stop before I get my master's, I will only have a certicate and no degree.