myty23

Also, being a CNA is great experience for nursing. I am a tech at the hospital right now and have learned a great deal in patient care, not specific nursing duties, but basic patient care that it seems many nurses think they are not responsible for doing. I have learned the job of the tech/CNA and when I am a nurse will respect their job and understand what it's like to be in their shoes much more than if I never had this job. It's very obvious at times which nurses were techs before and which ones weren't. I know what kind of nurse I want to be more now than before I was ever a tech. I also am much more comfortable on the floor and working with people and patietns in the hospital.

Don't just apply online. Print out copies of your resume, dress up like you are going in for an interview, and go to each floor of the hospital, introduce yourself to the manager and personally hand them your resume. Tell them you applied online and you are really intersted in the job, tell them you are going to nursing school and you want a long future with them. The only way to get a job is to make yourself known. You are a needle in a haystack in online applications. My husband applied for tech jobs over and over again...then he walked in the the hospital like I just described and almost hired on the spot by the first manager he talked to...yes he still had to jump through the hoops by applying online, etc, but she knew him and liked him at that point and made sure he got the job. I also have gotten jobs this way too. Never have gotten a job by just applying online.

Congrats honeybee!!! I just went to my pinning ceremony on thursday. It was nothing short of amazing and surreal. So excited!!!! :)

I'm so glad I read this post. I've been thining about doing the same thing. Graduating in May and wondering if I could handle working night shift. I have two kids and they would also be in school/daycare during the day so I can sleep. Reading your posts it makes me feel so much more confident that I can do this. I really want the extra pay and sometimes think this schedule would work out better than the day shift, but wasn't sure how I could handle the differences in sleep schedule/etc. Thanks again for all the replies! :)

My school has an orientation day for the family members (spouses/parents, etc) before the first semester of the nursing program, where they explain in a very matter of fact way how much work it is and how much support the student will need to get through. I think it's a wonderful idea and think every school should do it.

Thanks everyone. I'm feeling a little better lately. I think it just kind of started to sink in all at once that I'm really at the end...starting preceptorship, then on my own in the nursing world. I've been waiting and wishing for this for so long and knew it was coming, but it just didn't really hit me until we got our assignments for preceptorship. I'm so excited, nervous, but happy to be here at the end!! I felt this way before starting clinicals too, so I know I will probably get over it fast, it's just a little scary jumping into the unknown....But here goes!! :) :)

I'm so excited and have been waiting to get to this point for so long, we just got our locations for our preceptorship and now all the sudden I'm just nauseated thinking about doing this. I'm sooo nervous! I just don't know if I'm ready yet, I don't feel like I know enough, and don't feel like I have had enough exposure/experience with skills, patient loads, etc in clinicals...I'm scared to death!! Help!

Thanks, I saw that, but actually what I'm wondering about is their online review for the NCLEX, it has content, practice questions, etc....just wondering if anyone has taken it and if it was good or worth their money. This is the website for it: http://learningext.com/hives/534b38552a/summary

Has anyone used this to study for the NCLEX? It's an online NCLEX review created by the NCSBN (national counsel of state boards of nursing). I heard about it through a friend, but had never heard of it before now. I posted a question a couple days ago about the Hurst review course and am just trying to figure out the best (and cheapest) way I can prepare for the NCLEX. This one has a timed subscription to the online campus and it's $50 for 3 weeks access, which is way cheaper than the hurst review. Have any of you had success or heard of success with this program? Any imput is appreciated! Thanks!

Thanks everyone for the responses! I am still considering my options. Our school offeres a 3 day HESI review for the NCLEX and some have said it is good but others not, so I'm just not sure if I want to risk it. I like that Hurst has a guarantee if you don't pass the nclex you get your money back, makes me think it must really be working.

We are being offered the Hurst Review for the NCLEX, but it is $350 for a 3 day review. I'm wondering if it is worth the money...any advice would be appreciated! Thanks!

I am graduating in May and just got a job as a PCT at a hospital. The manager and many other nurses have told me that in their experience nurses who were techs/CNA's before they were nurses have generally become better nurses and have a much better team approach to the job since they have been on the other side before. I'm sure it helps in nursing school too, but look even further down the road and it will help you in your job as a nurse also. Go for it!

I sooo owe my husband after this is over too....He is working 2 jobs and sacrificing much time with me and the kids and has just put up with so much with me being in school. I also owe my mom big time for helping me watch the kids when I need to study on a weekly basis. I couldn't have done it without those two!! You sound like a great dad and husband to be so greatful for your wife!

I have never told another student that they are lucky they don't have kids...Personally, I'm not upset about my situation being in nursing school with kids at all. This is the way that worked for me best, as stated earlier. Nobody on this thread said anything about people with kids having it easier until you came on here and assumed that's where we were coming from....Almost as if you were offended and had to prove to us that just because others don't have kids that they have it just as hard. But nobody was saying you didn't. The girl wanted advice from people who are in a similar situation. That's not limiting the advice, but getting better directed advice that would be more compatible to her personal situation. If she came on here and just asked a question to any student the advice may not have been good for her. A young college student still living at home with parents is going to have a much different study schedule and coping strategies than a student who has kids and his/her own home to care for along with going to school. If somebody asked "Students who have full time jobs and go to school how are you handling it" would you have gone on there and preached to them about how other students who don't work full time have just as many struggles??? Nobody is elevating themselves because we have kids. In fact, the untraditional students are the ones who are a little older in age and have children, we are the minority...many times it feels we are the ones who are different. I appreciate that you have a tough situation and I feel taking care of a totally dependent adult 24/7 would be a lot harder than having children. So I feel for you and definitely don't discount the struggles you face. It just came off a little preachy that's all.

I really wanted to find a good study group, because I also learn by explaining and teaching things, it helps me to process the information...I just didn't find the right group, found great friends, just not great study partners. I think the people you are studying with is what makes it or breaks it. You all have to be just as prepared and motivated otherwise it just doesn't work.