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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello everyone, Third semester is over! Now the waiting begins for our final grade results. Exam was on Monday. In the past two semesters, the instructors have called students who failed, this semester it was hard to get a straight answer from them if they would do that. So, I wait.....

Hello, everyone, looking for help, and encouragement. I just took my third nursing exam for the semester (we have four exams and a final) and got a really poor grade! For test number four I need to get an 80 to get my grade to a passing average going into the final. Any study tips or ideas how to study (not more, but well) would be so appreciated!!!!!!!!

I have had the same experience, some nurses have been very willing to help (I find male nurses the most helpful) and teach you things, but for the most part they are cold and downright rude. I do my clinicals at a "teaching" hospital so they have many students there, and while I can understand that students can at times get in the way, we have to learn some where. A nurse on my peds rotation was so rude to me that had I not been there representing the school I would have given her an earful. I have thought that I might (when school is over) write the hospital a letter, but then again perhaps I should just let it go. I have learned that I definitely do not want to become one of those nurses.

I also just took my micro test(only 3 total in semester) and did poorly, I do not want to drop the class as it is neccessary for the nursing program, I am going to put in more effort for the next two, and try to do well on my papers and lab notebook, hopefully that will be enough to pull me through.

Hello out there, this question is for any SMCC graduates, I am finishing the second semester, and still hanging on by my teeth, grade now hinges on the final. Last semester I found that our final was "easier"(if you will) than the rest of the scheduled exams, any thoughts on the second semester final? (maternity and med-surge) Thanks

I know how you feel, I am personally against abortion. As a nurse that does not mean that I would not treat a sick woman who has had an abortion or judge her for that ; however, I would not participate in helping to perform an abortion, and as a nurse I would not work in a situation that would require that I do so.

I am in my second semester, and working weekends also, just as someone has already said on this post if you can find a weekend job take it. I do think that not working would certainly be easier, but if you have to do it and grades do not suffer, it is possible. You have to make nursing your priority during the week, get your studying done before you do anything else.{i.e. laundry, housework, car washed, and even walking the dog}

Does anyone out there have any idea's on how to remember the IV rate formula's? Second semester starting on Monday, and these calculations will be our first test, I would like to find an easier way to remember them. Thanks.

Hello, I am in my first semester at SMCC, and in two weeks we have our final. I have to agree with you, this semester was brutal, and I also agree that if you can not handle tough no nonsense instructors they will eat you alive. Today we had instuctors from second semester come in and talk about their class, I find myself getting the nerves all over again!