quinnie50

I worked in the financial district in NY for 22 years, was layed off for a year and a half, then decided to go to nursing school at the age of 46. I always wanted to be a nurse, and somewhere i got the guts to do it. Quite honestly it was hard as hell, but it absolutely is the best thing I ever did. I did a year of prereqs and did a 14 month accelerated BSN program at Seton Hall. Good luck!

i am in my 8th week of orientation and also made a med mistake...i just started working 12 hour shifts so my preceptor was changed and to be quite honest i am a little intimidated by her....we got really busy and my preceptor asked the charge nurse to help me with a blood transfusion that had to be restarted after my very sick patient spiked a high temp...the charge nurse told me to go the the pixus and get 2 tylenol...i saw my preceptor who was helping my other patient and asked her which tylenol order to use because there were a few because she had to be premedicated prior to the transfusion...and she told me just to use the prn order...i then gave the pt the tylenol because the charge nurse told me to and was later scalded by my preceptor bc it was an hour too early...then at the end of the transfusion i had an order for lasix because my pt was not voiding and had krackles in her lungs...my preceptor drew it up and told me to give it, and then was scalded again because her b/p was too low..she knew all a long that her b/p was low...i couldn't sleep that night because i was afraid i could have killed my patient...but i should have known better and asked more questions and called the doctor..i was taking care of the woman for two weeks and the family was really hoping that she would agree to hospice but she refused..i have developed a good relaionship with them and would never do anything to hurt her....i honestly never thought that nursing would be this hard, but i do love it and the gratification i get from helpingpeople is amazing....i just wish i had better instincts.....i know now to check and double check before i do anything...and i don't care if it takes me too long

i didn't interview at kessler...however...they are hiring at newton memorial... i love it there!

i hear you...i am 49 and recently graduated from nursing school...i honestly couldn't believe how rude some students were...i don't even know how half of them passed because they spent the entire class chatting on the internet and not listening to the professor...it's a different world these days...how sad

just relax...you are going to do fine..i had similar grades in school and on kaplan..i usually scored in the 50s and rarely out of the 60s...i passed the boards in 75 ?s...i thought that nclex was similar to the boards...i even think there was repeat ?s...i also did ati and hesi in school (thought ati was a total waste)...force yourself to be in a good place the day of the boards....use the decision tree...and please don't change your answers (always my biggest mistake).....you are going to shine!! good luck! i will keep you in my prayers...

with tears running down my cheeks after reading your post...i can only thank God for having the courage to go back to school in the middle of my life to be a nurse...you will make an amazing nurse soon...good luck to you

i just graduated in december and just got home from my second day of the floor of my new job...i am 49.....the nurses on my floor couldn't be nicer or more accomodating...good luck to you....where there is a will there is a way:coollook:

it took rn...just keep doing them over and over...i really didn't use anything else to study with...just force yourself to be in a good place on the day of your exam...enough sleep...nourishing food.....meditation....church....whatever makes you feel good....i swear if you go in there nervous with an attitude that you are not going to pass...you won't....my clinical instructor told me to envision myself coming out of the exam with confidence knowing that i did well and passed...but quite honestly, i kindof thought that i failed....but i was calm...good luck

suesquatch....what model of birkenstocks do you have? thanx so much....i am so nervous about working these long shifts and being in pain

i also did a 100 a day.....i started with all of the unused..and then i made sure that i knew the answers for the used ones that i got wrong on previous tests...don't make yourself crazy..i never scored above 65 on any of the tests...i passed the nclex with 75 ?s....nclex is so similar to kaplan...it was the best money that i spent...good luck!

linda...i truly believe that everything happens for a reason...may your patient rest in peace....it is so hard to make the decision to stop dialysis...my mother was in a similar situation 7 years ago and fell at the dialysis center and broke her hip...she coded on the operating table and was put on a ventilator....after 6 months of suffering and having a horrible quality of life she decided to stop dialysis....most of my older relatives felt that my mother was commiting suicide...can you imagine? now they understand where she was coming from as they all are approaching the end of their lives...you seem like a very compassionate nurse...may God bless you:redbeathe

my friend just got a job a columbia presbyterian in the nicu as a new grad and they asked her if she is willing to admit that she is scared to death working with neonates...she said very scared..the nurse laughed and said that i wouldn't hire you if weren't...good luck...i really have no advice to give you because i am a new gead myself and thought my job interview went terrible..luckily i got a job in a med surg setting...i will keep you in my prayers:coollook:

thanx for the input...we aren't allowed to wear crocs because of the holes on top...does anybody wear Klogs? what do you think of them? does it matter what style that you get for comfort?

i'm 48 and just finished my bsn...i worked on wall st for 22 years....you can do whatever your heart sets out to do...good luck and go for it!

studybuddy...it is the dreaded select all that apply...i had about 5 on my boards...have a nice day.....and mamut....hope you are chilling out and doing something nice for yourself...you deserve it!

hey pawer....just try to relax....i really don't think the 3 med calcs did you in either...i am so lucky that i did not have any calcs on my boards...i am embarrassed to say that i have a degree in finance and i usually am a wiz at math...but i have to tell you i struggled all through nursing school with math calcs...i just get so nervous and can't figure out how to do it when the answer is right in front of me...i feel your pain...i will keep you in my prayers...good luck

please relax!!! there is nothing that you can do about it now...try to keep yourself busy for the next few days...i will keep you in my prayers!

hi...i met a nurse who works at kessler in chester and she said that they hire new grads per diem.....good luck i am praying for everybody...how about the new grad program at valley hospital in bergen county ...it starts in august...i have 2 friends in it now and they are making big $s...i start my job in may at newton memorial and know how lucky i am....apply for any position even if it says 1-2 years experience...even though they don't have a new grad program...you do get precepted for 2-3 months....keep the faith...i am pulling for all of you

hi...i am starting my first job as a new grad in two weeks at the age of 49....i have flat feet and am really worried about being able to work 12 hours shifts...does anybody have any advice for a good pair of clogs...i hear so much about danskos but i am a little hesitant to buy a pair because a few years ago i did and didn't break them in...i was on my feet for 18 hours a day volunteering for the redcross for the hurricane katrina relief and ended up with a bunion (ouch!)...they were not the professional clogs...are they different? what about quarks? please help me find a comfortable pair of clogs that won't hurt my back after being on my feet all day:coollook:

too funny!! i actually just finished nursing school in december and many times i had those thoughts...however i just spent the day gardening because i seriously neglected my garden for the last 2 and 1/2 years....what a mess...but with me there was little i could do besides study....i actually kindof miss it....happy summer!

hey flipper...i am thrilled for you....it is such an amazing feeling...it has been 2 weeks since i got my job offer and haven't stopped smiling since then....good luck in your career...you are going to shine:yeah:

how did the interview go? i had to wait 11 days before i found out i got a new grad position...but honestly, i wish i was more prepared because i really felt like i blew it...but thank God everything worked out...let us know how you made out....raritan bay is a really good trauma hospital...some of my class did clinicals there...good luck....i will keep you in my prayers

i also have a bs in business and just finished an accelerated bsn program...i did not work...however, if i did it again i might have tried to get a nursing assistant job because this year without experience jobs for new grads were scarce....i am lucky to have found a job, but i think that because i am old (48 yrs old) and had a lot of life experience it helped me get my position...good luck to you...where there is a will there is a way...nursing is the absolute best decision i have ever made in my life....the satisfaction that i received in one week of clinical cant even compare to 5 years in business

I am so sorry that you had to endure this painful experience...Please know that Raven and her family and friends will be continued to be prayed for. Thank you for sharing her story with us. Please keep us updated on her siblings..May God bless you and keep you

I am so happy for you....Isn't it the most amazing feeling..I just was offered my first nursing position 5 days ago and I haven't stopped smiling since then...I honestly was starting to lose hope....Congratulations to you. I am sure that you are going to make an amazing nurse:nurse: