FL-Nurse

Yep, same thing here. Next week I have 4 days of hospital orientation. Then I go on the floor for 12 wks of orientation. It will actually be several weeks before I get to my unit...they have a 'new hire' floor that orients you for the first 6 wks. Should be interesting! Hope we survive!!! It seems so weird to think I don't have my instructors or school to fall back on anymore! It's the real deal now! I almost feel like nursing school was just the prerequisite to start the REAL nursing education, if that makes sense. I feel like I just know enough of the basics to begin my REAL learning/education. I will be so glad when I can achieve some level of comfort, because just thinking about it all now gives me knots in my gut! Good luck to you! PM me if you want and let me know how things are going!

Hi, I graduated in Dec with my ADN-RN. I took boards middle of Feb and just accepted a position on Monday at the local hospital. I start orientation on monday which will last 12 wks. I am excited but nervous! I can only imagine how stressful it is going to be this first year, and I am just trying to prepare myself from the culture shock of going from student nurse to RN. How is everyone else doing in their new jobs? Any suggestions for how to survive?! Thanks!

Congrats! So happy to hear the GREAT news!!!!!!

Did you get your results yet??? I took my test at 1pm on tuesday and my results popped up on the BON at exactly 8:30am on Thursday morning. Pearson results weren't available until several hours later at 1pm--exactly 48hrs after the test. My girlfriend that tested on Friday got her results on Wednesday morning on the BON but that week Monday was Presidents day, so I think the holiday threw it off by a day. Hoping you have heard GREAT news!

You will most likely show up on the BON on Tuesday morning. You can get it off Pearson Vue on Sunday after 8am though. Hopefully you have gotten your results already because it's 8:30! good luck

Kaplan is a great program, but it can be overwhelming because there is alot of info. This is how I approached my study using them. First I watched the content videos. While I watched/listened, I would have my book opened and followed along while highlighting and making little notes. My butt got sore sitting in front of the computer for so long, so I finally just turned it up really loud and laid on the couch and followed along. I didn't feel the need to sit and stare at those lovely women for hours at a time! LOL! I would try to listen to one section per day...usually it took several hours to get thru a section. Then in the evening I would do some Qbank questions on just the area that I covered. Maybe like 4 25 question tests. I broke it up so I dind't make myself nutso. I could usually finish 25 questions in about 20 mins so it was easy to sit down and concentrate for short time spans. Then the next day I would go at it again. by the time I had covered all the video content, I had gone through the entire book from cover to cover and had done a good portion of Qbank. I started doing 50 question tests with all areas and my scores were almost always way above the recommended 65%. Then I had the week long class to attend. This helped to refine my skills at dissecting the questions. I took the diagnostic and readiness tests and scored mid 80's on both. When I returned home, I finished up Qbank and began on the Qtrainers. My last 3 Qtrainers were in the 70's. I finished this up about a week before I took NCLEX. The weekend before the test, I covered alot of the content review videos AGAIN...I would turn them on and listen while I was cleaning up or whatever. If it was an area I felt weak on I jotted down some more notes and rehighlighted just to have it fresh in my mind. 2 Days before I wrote out all my labs and made sure I knew the ranges. And the day before I went to lunch, movie and shopping with my daughter. I tried not to think about the test at all. All that said, I don't know that the content really helped me that much. I knew most of it, but it was a good refresher. But as you are all aware the NCLEX expects you to not only know the knowledge-- they want you to be able to figure out how to use it and apply it to any given situation. I think that is how the Kaplan strategies come into play. They help to give you the skills to answer questions even though it may be a subject you are clueless on. Unfortunately, as much as I prepared, I walked out of that testing center feeling like I bombed it. The wait was sheer torture. I don't know how to tell you to avoid that! Just know that the more you prepare, the better your chances of passing the first time. Go in feeling that you have done all you can do to prepare and pray that in 48hrs you see the beautiful sight of the word PASSED! Good luck!!!!!

I had 12 SATA...much too many!!!!!!!!

Holy cow! I am in disbelief...I had filled out my re-take application and emailed my instructors that I was sure I failed it! I still cannot believe that in 75 questions (when only 60 count) that they can assess my knowledge base. When I took the LPN test back in the stone-age we tested for an entire day over every area of nursing. I felt like it really assessed my strength/weak areas. This just...I dunno. Totally had me freaking out. I spent entirely too much time and energy trying to assess the test while I was taking it. Was it giving me an easy question because I just got the last one wrong? Were these passing level questions?? I thought for sure most of my test was below passing level...it seemed like fundamental stuff. It made me panic and start to second guess every answer and I started changing answers. Ugh...was one of the most unpleasant experiences of my life! I have been in hell since I took it on Tuesday. I am so glad this nightmare is behind me. Congrats to all those who have taken the NCLEX and passed. And good luck to all those waiting to test. Just relax and breathe and do NOT try to figure out the questions once you leave there...you'll make yourself insane! Get Kaplan strategy book if you haven't yet...it's worth the $$!!

Congrats! You earned it!

Yes, I had in the 70%'s on every section when I completed all the Qbank questions. I got 80's on both the diagnositc and readiness exam during the weeklong Kaplan review class. I got 73 on qtrainer 6 and 74 on qtrainer 7. I test well normally and I usually have a little NORMAL test anxiety...what I experienced yesterday was anything BUT normal. I just could not calm down and focus and I started switching answers and reading into the questions and just doing everything i know NOT to do. I could kick myself....it's so disappointing. I keep going over questions in my head and i know I got several wrong...and those select all that apply are not ones i am counting on getting right--since statistically I didn't do well on that type of question. The worst part is the ones I got wrong were EASY questions...dunno why I was making them difficult! So I know in my heart I failed...still going to be heartbreaking to see that big fat F word. Its just been a rotten experience all the way around. I feel like I have PTSD! So I need to work on how to remain calm and confident in the test. I just worry that after one fail it's going to be hard to forget this awful experience! I don't want to go in there and have a repeat nightmare!

I think Kaplan is a great review. the questions are similar. And the strategies they give you are essential. My problem was staying calm enough to think clearly. I definitely recommend the program though. I just need to figure out a way to not freak myself out...second time around is going to be even more stressful for me I am afraid...

I wish you both the best of luck! All I can say is rapid results aren't rapid enough! I am about 26hrs out from taking the exam and I haven't been able to eat, drink or sleep. My nerves are fried. I know I failed it and I am just in shock that I let myself get so nervous in there. Not a darn thing I can do to undo it now. Stinks to sit in the comfort of my home and rethink questions and go...what the heck was I thinking when I picked that?!?! Keep busy until you get your results...I bet you both did GREAT!

Crossing my fingers and toes for you!

Laurakfels, I am so sorry to see you didn't pass. I am waiting for my results and am sure tomorrow I'll see FAIL listed as well. It's very discouraging and upsetting, but hopefully we can manage to take something positive away form this experience! I feel like I have PTSD after yesterday....I need to get past the shock of everything and get a gameplan together for round 2! Good luck to you!

I don't have that exact CD, but I have the Saunders Q&A 3rd edition CD from the book. I went and checked it to see if it was compatible and on the front of the disk it says WIN/MAC so I am assuming this CD is. Maybe someone who had the CD you are looking for can look at the CD on the front and see if it's on there to let you know... Sorry I couldn't be of more help! Good luck!