Faith25

Hello willbesucessful, I didn't get to read your response, just only my quote. My patient care performance exam is tomorrow. any pointers about the exam and the process.

hey willbesuccessful, I wanted to know if you did the advance standing to get into NUR105 for the fall 08. I have my patient performance exam scheduled in about 2 wks. I wanted to know if you can give me any pointers. How often did you practice for the exam? Was it difficult? Easy to make a mistake and fail? Were the instructors harsh? Did you finish everything by the end of April? Was it very competivive to get accepted? I know i'm asking a lot of questions but i'm freaking out and want this REALLY, Really BAD!

Thank You! I reviewed a total of 5 wks for the NCLEX EXAM. I graduated the end of January and took some time off then got my ATT number on Feb, 9th and just scheduled my test for March, 10. I told myself you have been studying for a week already and another 4 wks you will take the exam. I just told myself you will take the exam and pass just prepare by answering questions daily. Make sure you do at least 3000 question! You know you are ready when you are doing practice questions and you can answer the questions before even looking at the answer. Then you look at the answers and your answer is there. Also you know you are ready when you are scoring 75% and above on practice tests on the computer. Most of all you are ready when you feel CONFIDENT! CONFIDENCE WILL PASS THE EXAM AND MAKE YOU A NURSE.

Hey Guys I passed my PN boards last week and I finally came off cloud nine. :yeah::yeah::yeah::yeah:I'm going to share my tips because I WISH someone was as blunt as this..... This is what I did and what my test was like and how I passed..... 1. Do a minimum of 3000 questions. I did 4708 questions. 2. DO questions from Saunders Comprehensive PN CD 100 a day and 200 questions on the weekends in study mode. It's better from the CD because you can not look up the answers before you answer the questions. As you do the questions on the CD you gain more and more confidence in choosing the best answer. 3. Don't be afraid to get the question wrong because you will learn from that mistake and not make it again. People always remember the NEGATIVE! 4. If you see you have a weakness in an area or keep getting certain type of questions review your text. 5. A week before your test do a test a day AND GRADE YOURSELF. 6. I bought the Saunders PN flashcards and did them every where I went, especially at work on my breaks. I felt the flash cards were much harder and were very similar to the test. Do them towards the end of the exam. Don't be afraid to get them wrong. You'll learn. 7. On my exam I had at least 50% of the questions" choose the answer where the client needs further instruction" or "choose the answer which indicates the client understands." I had no calculations, 2-3 PEDS, 2-3 MATERNITY, AND 4-5 SATA. 8. I had lots of priority such as which client would you see first and which will you MONITOR first after you admit a pt. Think maslow's or ABC'S. also what is the MOST IMPORTANT thing you would do for a post-op pt. What is your INITIAL step in some kind of process. 9. I had lots of infection control questions. These are the GIVE AWAWYS and you need to get all of them right. Such as Isolation procedures for contact, droplet and airborne precautions. Isolation for TB, Meningitis, Mumps, Rubella. Know what PPE is necessary and INFECTION CONTROL TECHNIQUES. 10. I had a lot of therapeutic communication for depressed clients, suicidal and clients who didn't understand their diagnosis. choose the "Corn ball, sappy answer" 11. Had a lot of antidepressant, antianxiety, antibiotic, endocrine and renal medications. 12. You MUST, MUST, MUST I STRESS must, READ EACH QUESTION CAREFULLY AND SLOWLY. It is not how fast you can complete the exam but how many you get right! Analyze every answer and pick the one in which you are confident in. 13. You know you have PASSED when towards the end when the computer is about to shut off you are getting many questions right in a row and the last question before the computer shuts off, you are 110% positive you GOT IT RIGHT! 14. 2 days before the test I DID NOT LOOK AT ANYTHING NCLEX. I relaxed went out to dinner, watched a movie, was extremely confident and PRAYED A LOT. 15. Get a good nights rest and eat a good breakfast. Get there early and PRAY. PS- WAITING THE 48 HRS FOR THE QUICK RESULTS WAS MORE STRESSFULL AND PAINFUL THAN THE EXAM.:banghead:BUT THEN YOU BECOME A:nurse:

I'm more than likely going to lean towards the dialysis position. I like the fact that you said I will use mostly my assesment and IV skills. Also that a patient can go bad very fast therefore I can use critical thinking skills and act accordingly. When I did my clincals in LTC I thought it was dreadful and sad. The nurses kept their hears in the MAR and then picked it up to go and give the patients their meds. I thought to myself not me not now! Many people said it depends on your LTC facility but I think thats most facilities.

I'm in NY, and there was a posting and I applied and I got it. I know there are alyways openings in LTC but when I did my clinical rotations in LTC I felt like this was not a place where I wanted to be. It felt dreadful! And very sad!The nurses just kept there heads in the MAR and then picked there head up to get ready to give meds. I thought to myself not for me. I was told by the nurse manager of the dialysis unit that the LPN will be trained to do IV push especially with Heparin.

WOW, you really nailed it! I can really sense you know what you are talking about through your experience. It loks like I wll be leaning towards working in the dialysis center. It is a very busy outpatient dialysis center full tome with 4 10 hour shifts. I don't know what i'm getting into but i'm willing to learn.

I don't really now what active treament means but I was told it is a busy outpatient dialysis center. It is a full time job and I will work 4, 10 hour shifts from 2:30-12:30, no sundays, every other Sat. and no holidays. The services at the clinic include; Chronic Renal Dialysis, Home Dialysis Training, Nursing, Nutritional, Social Work Service. Don't really know about much i'm getting into but, willing to learn.

For the dialysis position I was offered 43,579 with 3,000 night differential as an LPN in NY. For the LTC I was offered 40,000 with 2,500 night differential. Both offered benefits and orientation. For LTC the orientation was 3 wks, for dialysis orientation is 10 wks. People say in LTC you can make more because they will always need you for overtime vs. dialysis.

Thank you everyone for your posts. I've been reading all of them and they are very helpful. It seems that i'm going to lean toward the dialysis position because it's dealing with more speciality care and not just giving out a whole bunch of meds. Also it will look better on my resume when I'm ready to apply for a future hospital position. Wish me luck.

Hi everyone, I just finished my LPN program and I have been offered two jobs one working in outpatient dialysis and the other is working in long term care. Can anyone give me some insights about the pros and cons working in either dialysis or long term care. Which one would you practice most of your nursing skills? Can you loose your skills in one or the other? When transitioning to a hospital as an RN which one is more recognizable as good nursing experience? Is dialysis boring and the day drags? Is long term care really hectic and just giving out a ton of meds. I know i'm asking a lot of questions but I need help in choosing a job in which I will be working for at least 1 year. Your help will be yvery helpful.

Hi everyone, I just finished my LPN program and I have been offered two jobs one working in outpatient dialysis and the other is working in long term care. Can anyone give me some insights about the pros and cons working in either dialysis or long term care. Which one would you practice most of your nursing skills? Can you loose your skills in one or the other? When transitioning to a hospital as an RN which one is more recognizable as good nursing experience? Is dialysis boring and the day drags? Is long term care really hectic and just giving out a ton of meds. I know i'm asking a lot of questions but I need help in choosing a job in which I will be working for at least 1 year. Your help will be yvery helpful.

Thanks a lot! So you recommend doing Saunders and I should purchase the flash cards and do about 50-100 daily? Also I should definately get a Kaplan review book closer to the testing date?

Hi nursesarah001, I completed my PN program on 12/22 and planning on taking my NCLEX exam in march. If you don't mind can you share how you prepared for the exam, all the books you have used and how many questions did you do a day. I have Saunders comprehensive review and the Saunders Q & A book. Also are the NCLEX questions anything like the questions in the Saunders's books. Ex such as disease processes, and medications. Help I need studying tips. Thanks.

:welcome:Hello everyone, I am new to the forum and I just got accepted into a 12 month LPN program. I start on Jan 28. 2008 end in Dec 08 and already being fitted for my all white uniform. I am so excited that I joined to receive and be inspired by other students and nurses. Looking for any insider tips and what to expect for my year ahead.:balloons: