NurseTronic

I was offered $26 as a new grad in Michigan.

I am a new grad (April 07) and took a PT job at a psych hospital in a child & adolescent unit ,which I am loving, and a FT job in an ICU. Honestly, I went to nursing school with the plan to become a CRNA for the money but during clinicals I really felt that psych was my calling. I enjoy being part of the mental health team and can see making a career in this field. I am pursuing both paths right now while learning more about mental health opportunities but I would prefer to just do psych and become a psych NP. I have the same concern though that I will be limiting myself without traditional hospital nursing experience.

I just graduated from an accelerated 2nd degree program. You can get federal loans but there is a yearly limit. I already worked at a hospital and was able to get tuition reimbursement each semester along with financial aid. It can be a tough road. Everyone in my program was either supported by a spouse lived with parents or a reimbursement setup like mine. The one person who tried to pay living expenses by working full time hours failed out.

I graduated in April and took NCLEX on May 30th. I wanted to do Kaplan but was severely broke. I used the Saunders Comp Review and passed with about 200 questions. That's just me though. Another classmate who skipped it passed with 80 questions. The people I know who took gave mixed reviews some thought it was pointless some thought it helped but none of them have taken NCLEX yet.

I used the blue Saunders Comprehensive Review book. Looking back I think Chapter 8 would be a good read. It's the delegation and prioritizing chapter. I thought the NCLEX delegation questions where straight forward and easy. However, I thought the prioritizing questions on my exam were not as clear cut as the practice questions just a similar style.

I thought I would offer some support to those who have to answer more than the magical 75 questions. I took NCLEX on 5/30 and my test went into the 210-220 range! Once I hit #120 I was sure it was a loosing battle, by #200 I was convinced I was being tortured by NCLEX-RN sadists. I felt well prepared going in on test day. I did well in class and the practice tests. Leaving the test center I felt brutalized. I accepted I would be retesting in 45 days. It seemed like I was guessing on so many questions. Today I got my passing results. Talk about relief. Stay tough! Don't get psyched out by triple digits.