tabbeycatt

I'm a new grad on L&D, too, and am having this SAME problem. I think I was doing the same thing as you, Steph.

Just an update.... I graduated in May from Southern! I JUST passed my boards on the 16th! :caduceus: Reading my old posts seem like it was an etenity ago. Nursing school was tough but I really loved it. I miss my classmates and instructors already! Anyway..... getting ready to start my orientation for work tomorrow. I'm really excited and look forward to starting.

I honestly thought the HESI was harder than the NCLEX. I scored 1112 on the HESI. (our cut off was 900) I think if you passed the HESI then you will be fine on the NLCEX. Also... I took an online Kaplan course. I found that the Kaplan questions were similar to the real thing. I was SO nervous when I took my boards. I don't think there is anyway around not feeling that way. My advice would be to take a break when ever you start feeling anxious. Go to the bathroom, splash some cold water on your face if you need to, take some deep breaths to clear your head. If you can, go outside and get some fresh air. Then go back into the test KNOWING you CAN DO THIS!! In the meantime... I would just practice taking questions. I have taken so many *practice* questions that I honestly can't remember which questions were *practice* and which were on the test. Best of luck to you.

I just found out last night.... I PASSED!!!!!!:balloons: I'm so happy! The wait just about killed me. Congrats to those who have passed and best of luck to those of you who are waiting!

Cardiac, Have you gotten any news yet? I just took mine this morning and feel EXACTLY the same way. I didn't have any math questions, a few drugs, and some priority ones. I felt like I focused on each question thinking.... okay is this a "lower level" question or a higher level one. I got so wrapped up in that way of thinking that I think it has hendered me to the point of failing. I was done in less than an hour also. I feel sick and wish I just knew for sure. I hope you passed. Please post when you know.

:uhoh21: I really have no words of wisdom about your current situation. I just hope it all works out for you. On the flip side...I know that you have 20 years in ICU and you have your advanced practice nursing degree.... but your role was an "RN" at this facility. I have to agree about practicing outside your scope. I know your qualified but just imagine the legal ramifications the hospital would be up against had the pt's family said that you misunderstood their wishes.... or they changed their mind.... I would have involved the doc and had papers signed, sealed, and delivered and let him remove the tube. With hindsight being 20/20 and all... would you make the same decision if you had it to do over again?

Kev, Boone County, WV would be the place for you! I live in Madison. (Boone County) It is VERY small, very rurual, everyone knows everybody kind of place. I'm about 30 minutes from Charleston. Boone Memorial Hospital is in Madison but I am choosing to work in Labor & Delivery and BMH is so rural and small they don't deliver babies there anymore. I would also recommend to live in Madison and maybe work at Logan Regional Medical Center. I did my ER clinicals there and really liked their ER. It is also about 30 minutes from Madison. The ER at BMH is A LOT smaller then LRMC. If you wanted more trauma type stuff then I would stick to working in Charleston. If Boone gets a really bad trauma then the pt is usually shipped out to there.

Hi everyone. I'm a 2nd year nursing student counting the days till graduation (May 13th :balloons: ) I'm not sure what area of nursing I want to start out in. When I first started the program I really wanted to do Labor & Delivery. I have enjoyed all my rotations but L&D was the most fascinating. I don't know if I need experience on a Med-Surg floor and then go into a specialized area or what? My question to all of you is... "What made you decide to be a Labor & Delivery nurse?" And how did you pursue getting a job in this area of nursing?

Same here for me, inodou. We also have to pass an exit test our very last semester or we don't graduate.

Best of luck to you. Mountain State is a good school. I have heard it's kind of expensive though. I just started back this past Monday. Boy am I overwhelmed! We are having a 22 chapter test this monday on Growth & Development. I am stressed out this week end. There is just so many things to remember...milestones, Erikson's stages, Piaget, Freud, immunization schedule, types of play, ugh... and the list goes on.

Sounds like you are a sure in! How many students do they take in your program? My school accepted students on a "point system". You had to take the NET and score at least 100 to be considered. Then you got points for your pre-req's as well. Like an "A" was worth 6 pts, a "B" was worth 4, and then a "C' was 2. Those who had the top highest total scores got in. They also gave you extra points for ACT scores and if you had a previous degree or was a CNA. I remember the day I got my acceptance letter. I cried. Heck... I cried when I got my scores from the NET. I thought that test was so darn hard. I just knew I had done terrible on it. I'm both excited and nervous about this upcoming year. They told us our first year we were like babies. We were only getting the milk. Now the second year.... it's meat & potatoes. :chuckle Keep me posted on your progress. If I can help ya out in any way just holler! :)

^ Aw, thanks! :) I definately want to go further and get my BSN. Possibly even my master's one day. But I'll probably work for a year first before I pursue my BSN. WVU Tech has a program to complete your BSN in like a year and a half (I think) and I have heard that you can do a lot of it online. So I guess we'll see what happens. I'm so excited that I only have 2 semesters left. I have Med-Surg this semester and then next it will be a continuation of Med-Surg and some kind of class called "Trends" (I think) that is like a role transition class from being a student nurse to a nurse. (er' something like that from what I've been told) So I am 3 classes away from my degree. When I look at it like that.... it keeps me going. Nursing school has been by far the toughest thing I have ever tried to do. It's unlike any other college major. (so much different from my business degree) I have to constantly study. You live and breathe this stuff. But the reward at the end will make it all worth it. I'll keep my fingers crossed that you'll get into your program! I think you'll be so glad you got your pre-req's out of the way before you start your nursing courses.

When I had my little boy in 2001 I decided to quit my job (banking/accounting) and stay at home with him. I knew I would eventually go back to work when he started school but I just couldn't see myself sitting at a desk all day anymore. He was my inspiration to become a nurse. Initially I wanted L&D and I still would like a job in that area but I'm okay to explore some other areas that I am now interested in. I really liked working in the ER. My sister had a premature baby in May and the NICU @ Women's & Children is amazing. They took such wonderful care of him. I'm kind of interested in that area, too, now. So I'm not sure where I'll end up. So what classes are you taking this semester? I took all my pre-req's (except 1) before I got into the program. I thought it was a lot easier to have those out of the way. You devote so much time to your nursing courses that the other classes kind of take a back seat to those. There were some students who took them right along side of the nursing classes and I wondered how in the world they kept up. Nursing is HARD. I love it but I have to study. I wish I would have paid more attention in my A&P classes, too. Because those cranial nerves will follow you ~forever~. Know them now or know them later-- my teacher would say. And he was right. This is an exciting time for you. I wish you the best of luck getting into your program. Do you have to take a pre-entrace type exam? I had to take the NET test. I think it is great that you are volunteering in a hospital already. If you get the chance try to extern as well. It really has made a world of difference for me. :)

I work on the floor (Med-Surg-mostly geriatric pts) and my job is like a CNA's job. This summer has really helped me with my communication skills. I use to get so nervous in clinicals just walking into a pt's room. Now I feel like I know what to do. I know as a nurse I will value my CNA's. I have learned they are your "eyes and ears". At Boone I can't really do anything invasive but I externed in the ER @ Thomas and I got to do Foley's. Are you working? What school are you going to? I start back on the 22nd. I can't wait to get this over with and start my *real* job. :chuckle Just 2 semesters to go!

Hey wverrn! I'm in the southern part of WV, too. Madison/Danville area to be exact. I'm still in nursing school and will hopefully graduate May 2006. What hospital do you work at? I externed in the ER a couple of times @ Thomas and LOVED it! My first love is L&D but I think I would like the excitement of the ER. It's hard to tell where I'll end up after I graduate. That 's why I love nursing... it's such a diverse field. Anyway.... hope to chat with you guys!