OhSoBlessed

Don't lose hope! Although 60 are accepted (new students and those trying again), many potentials decide to wait until the fall semester. If you start the program in January, you have to go to school with short breaks in between semesters--this can lead to burn out. Some are not able to or willing to take this route and then makes another person on the waiting list happy to get their letter!

Hello, Heidi! Every semester will begin with a medication calculation exam. Most dosage calculations are not tricky at all. The ones we had to carefully calculate were DIGOXIN and pediatric dosages. But the DIG and pediatric calculations will come later in the program, so don't worry about it now. Tell me a little more about the pharmacology exam you are referring to. Is this the one you have to take at that EDGT website? This is the only time you will have to take the pharm test at EDGT (unless HFCC changed the program). Drug questions will then appear in your regular exams for the remainder of the program. When EOs and instructors introduce drugs, it is important to learn: generic/Brand names: metoprolol/Lopressor pharmacology class: beta 1 blocker (~olol endings = b blockers) therapeutic class: antihypertensive, MI chemical effect: decreases--contractility, heart rate, myocardial 02 demand, blood pressure, renin release therapeutic effect: decreases BP/angina; prevents damage to myocardial tissue side effects: hypotension, bradycardia, wheezing, depression, sexual dysfunction note on s/e: pay attention to the s/e your instructor points out. there are too many s/e to remember but read it once through but memorize the ones your instructor gave. safe dosage: 50-100 mg by mouth once daily initially, then look at YOUR patient's prescribed dosage. your instructor WILL ask you if this is a safe dosage. the SN must: take BP before/after administration; take apical pulse for one full minute/if pulse less than 60, withhold and notify MD; etc... special consideration: monitor as patient taking other antihypertensives. Hmmm...this looks like your pharmacology sheets you'll be completing for each patient! Your instructors will be asking questions, so even if the pharm sheets take a lot of time, you'll learn about the drug. Why is your patient on this drug? Is this a safe dosage? What time, how often, and by what route is the drug given? Is the drug given on an empty stomach? with meals? after meals? Should the medication be given or witheld? ex: BP 100/75 or apical pulse 58 What do I need to teach this patient about this drug? Personally, I made pharmacology cards with index cards, punched a hole in one corner, and placed a ring to hold it together. I would include the information I wrote above. Then I would take them from rotation to rotation. Instead of looking it up in the drug book each time, all I had to do was find the drug in my own set of cards. I probably gave too much information, but soon you will begin clinicals and start passing medications. This IS a good time to start! When do clinicals start? Who are your instructors? Enjoy this holiday weekend!

When I took the NCLEX, I did notice SOME questions stemming from the Pyramid Points. It IS helpful to review the statements with the pyramid next to it, but also use other methods to study for the boards. Good luck!

MN NursingStudent, You have got to be kidding...your clinical instructor wants you to MEMORIZE almost everything about your patient? She is being unrealistic. PERIOD! If she expected that from me, my stress level would be too high I wouldn't remember at all, and I would learn absolutely nothing from this clinical rotation. I did have an instructor once who expected us to know a lot about each of our patient (diagnosis, history, likely cause of illness, labs/procedures scheduled, results, nursing care for the day, home/current medication, etc), made us share all of this with our classmates the first thing in the morning after giving us 30 minutes to look up information. If we didn't mention what we should be looking or investigating throughout the day, she would ask. If we didn't have an answer, she would make us think about it then get back to us. But expecting you to MEMORIZE everything is just IMPOSSIBLE! For goodness sake, you are a student! Not even RNs practicing for a long time can do that!!! Try talking to former students of hers. They can give you good advice.

I forgot to add something I would highly recommend... It's never too early to start using the NCLEX prep books during your studies. Nursing textbooks provide a tremendous amount of information, and you WILL find yourself asking, "How am I supposed to remember all of this?" The NCLEX books provide outlines, and I found it easier to understand and "pull out" the important information. Saunders, for example, also places triangles next to information often tested on the NCLEX. And those highlighted questions DID appear when I took the boards. Invest in a NCLEX prep book sooner than later. Use it as a supplemental study material. It will help you to take exams in school, too. Just remember--the lab values and other info may differ slightly from what your instructors and nursing books state. You MUST memorize the values given by your instructors or as stated in your nursing textbooks. If I think of other hints, I'll post it here.

miMommyof3, Veruka, and amybethf, :welcome: to HFCC's nursing program! I remember what it was like my first semester at HFCC! I started the program in January 2005 and graduated in May 2006. The first semester is critical in many senses. Get a good foundation, learn the basics, pay attention during labs, start making pharmacology cards, form good study habits (and groups if you like studying with buddies), get to know your professors and use them as resources, ask questions, answer all the EOs, work at a hospital if you can, and DO NOT GET BEHIND IN YOUR STUDIES AND READINGS! It's hard to catch up once you are behind...I worked full-time while going to school, and I learned my lesson. HFCC's program is fast paced, time consuming, and requires soooooo much paperwork (nursing care plans, pathophysiology papers, assessments, etc.), but in the end it will pay off! Good luck to you! I look forward to reading your entries!

I completed an ADN program in the state of Michigan, and our school had a first time passing rate of 87%. It used to be over 90% a couple of years ago. Those not passing the first time around said they did not study for the NCLEX at all, felt overconfident after graduating and had no need to study, and some just weren't good test takers. I haven't known anyone from my school failing the NCLEX more than once. Our school required a passing rate of 80% or more for each nursing course. Our exam questions were similar to NCLEX style questions, so I think many of us were more prepared than other schools in Michigan.

When I started the nursing program, I already had a Bachelor's Degree in education. I had to work full-time while going through nursing school, so I chose to go backwards as far as schooling goes and get an Associate's Degree in Nursing. Basically I just had to take the two A&P classes besides the nursing courses and clinicals. It took me one year and four months to complete the ADN program.

We started out with over 360, and a year and a half later 169 graduated from our ADN program. I don't know about other schools, but our exam passing rate was 80.00% and above. Therefore, we had many students ending the semester between 75% and 79.99% and failed out of the nursing program. And the instructors never rounded up. It was heart crushing for those ending with a 79%...

I finished the ADN program in Michigan back in May 2006, took the NCLEX in June 2007, and passed without having to answer bank questions. However, I did review values. Now, I did have to answer 225 questions :uhoh21:, but I went in thinking this would be a practice round. Never did I imagine passing after being out of school an entire year before taking the NCLEX. Some of us are good test takers and others are not. Some of us may need extra hours of studying and for some of us we are able to retain and apply what we have learned. I would never recommend taking the NCLEX without studying for it some though, unless you are that confident.

Hmmm...you still haven't heard from them yet? The licensing application did say the NCLEX results would be mailed within 10 business days. If it has been more than two weeks since taking the NCLEX, I would write a letter since they do not accept phone inquiries. I hope you get your results very soon!

I hope you had a wonderful time traveling! Well, I can totally relate to your situation. I graduated from nursing school in May 2006 but took the NCLEX at the end of June THIS year. My problem was I was so burned out from nursing school and working full-time. After graduating, all I wanted to do was travel which I did and continue working. Every time I pulled out books to study, I just could not do it... SO I just finally got myself to sign up for NCLEX and just take the test without studying. AND I passed the first time around with 225 questions. I was shocked since I thought I would fail for sure, but on the exam day I did take my earplugs with me and read every question carefully. Hopefully, you are motivated and will hit the books and your notes from school. Good luck to you!

Hi! I took the NCLEX in Honolulu on June 28, 2007, and the results were mailed on July 2. Don't look for your name on the BON website either...it won't show until you have paid your fees ($140) upon passing the NCLEX. The waiting period is tough...I know the feeling! Best wishes!

:balloons: congratulations!! i'm so happy for you, rubyslippers!