critical thinker

Graduated from SMCC in '09, great program, the work is tough, get together with some study partners help each other, and you will find in the end it was so worth it, Good Luck :)

"I know it's embarrassing, but, I have to document, did you have a bowel movement today?

I find the same thing when you say "I work in geriatrics" many nurses believe that is not "real" nursing?

When (regardless of what "book" or "program"you are using) doing questions, review the rationales of the questions you get wrong, understand why the right answer is right, and review the strategies of how to come to the right answer, this tactic is what help me the most I believe, Good Luck!

I have been a nurse in LTC for a year now, and I must say that it makes me NUTS that some others do not consider us "NURSES" unless you have done your tour of duty in a hospital, and I have read on some posts that hospitals don't even consider LTC as experience? Really! To all the dedicated LTC/Skilled NURSES out there I think you are all wonderful!

Hello, Curious as to how other facilities do their admission procedure, do you have an admission coordinator that handles most of the paper work, or do the "floor" nurses handle to whole thing? Thanks

When you start to study for the test re-take, review the questions that you get wrong, review the right answer, read the rationales, and strategies for why the right answer is the right answer, this will help you a great deal when doing the test, breaking down the information given, and hopefully coming to the correct conclusion.

Any ideas on when you are no longer considered a new graduate? I have been working as a RN in LTC for 7 months, while I am feeling comfortable in my job now, I still feel as though I am a new grad., I recently applied for an "entry in to practice" new grad med/surg position at a local hospital (have not heard back at time of this entry).

I became a RN in June of 2009, my job is working full time in a Long-term care facility, I previously worked there as a CNA before becoming a nurse for several years. My question is do you miss something as a nurse in you never have hospital experience? I ,at times, feel as though I need to do that 1 year of Med-Surg to get the skills down that I need, for example I have only had one patient that required IV antibiotics, so I have not used an IV pump since nursing school, and I have not done a sterile dressing change since nursing school, as you just do not always see this in my LTC facility. I spoke with a nurse that had 30 years experience who told me "you need to work where you are comfortable, and maybe a hospital isn't for you", my first love is geriatrics, and I enjoy my job, but, I am questioning if I should be looking for a hospital?

I think you should while studying, focus on why a correct answer is correct. Everyone's experience is different, I found that the exam is more about critical thinking, and knowing how to come to the right conculsion.

I too, took a job in skilled LTC, "the year in Med-Surg" was not going to happen for a while, where I live there are no hospitals hiring; however, I have still applied to some for perhaps a per-diem, and at least get my foot in the door. I have found that a lot of nurses "poo-poo" on long-term care, but geriatrics is something that I do enjoy, and it was a full time day postion with no weekends.

continue to do the cd's, read the rationales(if they are offered) understand why the answer was chosen. Also, on the NCSBN web site they have a test plan for NCLEX exams (I would not print it all out, unless you want to, there are several pages). they give examples of potential questions, and when I reviewed it I realized that I did not understand how to do the math question that was given as an example, so I dug out my dosage calculation book and figured out how to do the problem, and luckily I did, it helped me on the exam. I believe that the test guide is from NCLEX '07, but it is still helpful.

I used the Saunders CD, and went through most of the questions, and like most people write on this thread, read the rationales(they help you understand why the answer is right). I also did the NCSBN on-line review for three weeks. I passed my NCLEX on June 18th, and I have to say that doing the questions is what I feel helped me the most.

Thank you for that response to the ERI question, I too just took the pre-RN exam, and did not get the one point above the national average. I have been very discouraged because of it, so it is nice to see that you passed your nclex exam the first time, it gives me encouragement.:)

Finally got results!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I made it to the fouth and final semester!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!