HeatherTN

Hi all I have seen several posts from people who have used the Saunders NCLEX study guide to help get used to the exam style questions. I would love to get one but am confused, as usual :).....anyway when I look online I see that there is a saunders comprhensive study guide for NCLEX and also a question and answer study guide. I am leaning towards the question and answer study guide and found a used one pretty cheap on amazon...but what do ya'll think? Thanks Heather

I will always think of the kiddos :) They didn't ask for any of this but they are my motivation as I know they deserve better than this. I have heard several people say, and I believe it, it's better to have one parent who cares than to have to live with two people who are so miserable. Hugs and much love Heather

OMG....thank you all sooooo much!!! I love this site and all of the support it brings. I was feeling so overwhelmed earlier but you all are right......I don't think marriage counseling would work...actually I am not even interested in staying with him b/c he has no patience or interest in our boys at all so for those reasons alone I plan to divorce him. I would rather stay in the marriage thru nursing school, if possible, or at least be closer to the finish line :) As for my mother....yes she will be more available. She offered to help me with my laundry and will be picking up my son from school as well as watching my younger son three days a week so that is awesome!! And you all are totally right about making plans.....I have contacted a friend who lives near the college I will be attending. She and her husband have a small apartment on the back of their home and she'd be more than happy to rent to me and my boys. I knew I wasn't the first nor the last going thru this during nursing school......but I can't thank you all enough for all of the encouragement!!! I am going to remember things several of you have said to me to help me thru my weak moments once nursing school starts. I really am going to focus on the fact that I want to be able to take care of my boys no matter what my soon to be ex husband does or does not do about child support. So for that I am willing to give up sleep and yes I will go on welfare too if the situation becomes anymore unbearable. Thank you all again Heather

Hi all I am looking for advice or words of encouragement as my self esteem is in my toenail this morning. My husband and I have been married for ten years and have two little boys ages six and four. My husband has been unsupportive thru pre-req's well hell who am I kidding when I worked full time for many years with babies he was unsupportive then too and never even missed an hour of work when they were sick. So, anyway.....now nursing school starts this week and I'm scared to death about failing!!! I asked my husband to help out a little more while I do this and suggested laundry or picking up around the house and OMG....he went ballistic on me!!! I was in tears this morning talking to my mother about it and she made it clear that he would love to see me fail so he could throw that in my face too!! Obviously I do not plan to stay married to him and I am sure he feels the same way......this nursing program is accelerated and is only one year........please let me know if any of you think this seems too hard or if you have had similar experiences please let me know.....I just think he feels threatened by this.... Thanks Heather

I don't know anything about Knoxville hospitals as far as employment but did want to wish you all the best in your job search. I lived in Knoxville for quite a while and am just starting nursing school. There are several hospitals in the area though. St. Mary's, Park West (part of covenant health), Blount memorial, UT medical center. With such a large town I doubt you will have any trouble finding a good job :) Best of luck to you!! Heather

I think it sounds like you have a plan I had a girl in Micro class this past semester who was taking A&P I&II plus Micro and worked. She is married and they don't have any kids yet. She made A's in all three classes. So I think you can do it. Especially like you said your kids are older and more independent and supportive. The girl I mentioned above literally said all the time her social life was totally on hold and there were some tough weeks for her like when she would have tests in every subject in the same week....but thank goodness that only happened twice I think. I say go for it and get yourself in for the fall Good luck to you!! Heather

Thanks for your reply!! I can't believe you have four young children and say it's not that scary....that is truly inspirational :) My mom and husband do help some; well my mother helps out more than my husband. Part of that is his awful work schedule. But we have talked about him helping out a little more with laundry, dinner, baths etc...I still expect to do my fair share but I'm also expecting him to step up a little more than he does Hopefully it will work out that way. Take care and good luck this spring semester!! Heather

Wow!! I'm so glad I quit tossing this around in my own head and decided to post about it :) you all really have great ideas!! And you are right after feeling soooo exhausted after the pre-reqs it was tough thinking about NS. After reading all of your posts I'm feeling like maybe I can do this :) Heather

Ok....you all are really making me feel better :) I really want to do well and I don't mind putting in the study time...I just get to feeling overwhelmed b/c my kids are so young......I just need to focus on what I can do to help study more efficiently since I won't have much study time :) Hugs!!! Heather

Ok...thanks both of you!! You are both right..I just need to quit freaking out b/c my study time will be limited.....you both had great advice and I appreciate it!! I will focus more on the things I have trouble with and get an NCLEX study guide and the tape recorder idea is great too!!! Thanks and hugs Heather

Hi everyone.... Well I have been accepted to a nursing program that starts this January....everything seems to be all set..I have done pre-reqs, student loans approved, etc....However, I'm truly scared to death!! and now in my weakest moments I'm having second thoughts. Not about nursing school that I want more than anything. but here's my dilema. I'm 39 soon to be 40; so I really want to do this now and not wait. I have two little boys ages 4 and 6; my 6 yr old is in school all day but my younger son is just turning 4 in like two weeks so he is not in school. I didn't get enough in student loans, like I'd hoped, to help offset childcare for my younger son. So, I'll be relying on my mother, my husband, and a mother's day out program for an extra day of study. My question is this.....is this enough? Please tell me how hard this is going to be....how did it compare with A&P I&II and Micro as far as study time etc...... Thanks in advance :) Heather

Oh how funny you put graduated in 08 :) I am sooooo happy for you and yes I did PM you and probably will again if that's ok. I know I do have alot of questions and I guess it is the fear of the unknown and also the fact that so many people end up dropping out of NS that has me scared :) Of course I remember this same feeling before I took A&P I; and I made a B; so that is not so bad.....I just really want this and want to do well. I have a friend currently in nursing school and I think this first semester has flown by for her; and she says the same thing you did....study study study :) Thanks again Heather

RNOO7 Congratulations on graduating!!! You must be over the moon!! Are you working yet or interviewing anywhere? Well thank you for saying to sit up front I will certainly try and do that....that sounds like good advice. I like to sit towards the front anyway b/c like you said it's easier to pay attention to the lecture. And speaking of the "lecture" portion how was that? That is what I am most nervous about to be honest......my worst fear is that I've come this far and won't cut it on lecture exams.....that really scares me. So....are the lecture exams modeled after lecture notes, the book, nclex questions? Which site were you at? And did it feel like it went by fast? Okay I know that is alot of questions...please answer when you can Thanks and take care Heather

Yeah that would be awesome!! My friend who is attending Cleveland state likes the program but always says she has to get there really early in the morning on lecture days to get a decent seat :) Take care Heather

Well....good luck good luck good luck!!! I am sure I will see you there!! I'll be the one who looks lost LOL!! Do you know how big the nursing class is? I have been curious. I have been taking pre-req's at Cleveland State and their current nursing class is around 100 people. Take care Heather

I know it is exciting!!! That is great your husband sounds like he'll be a great help....between my husband and my mom I think I'll be okay too. Is the Anatomy and Physiology two separate courses at LMU? I have taken A&P I&II and am about to finish Micro...... I will also be at the Alcoa site Take care Heather

Yeah!! I'm so glad to hear from someone starting in Jan at the Blount site!! I have ordered my dosage book and it should be here the first part of next week...that is awesome you have finished the first chapter!! I had to miss the advising appt yesterday as I am finishing microbiology....I was also getting my physical, drug test, and hep b vaccine....they said they would have me meet my advisor on 12/4/08. I also have little ones ages 3 and 6; that to me is going to be the biggest challenge...balancing being a mom w/studying my behind off!! Do you have lots of help/support? I know that will be tough working also. But I'm sure you'll do fine :) Are you planning to attend the 12/4/08 advising/registration etc? Take care Heather

Thanks sooo much for your reply!! I had figured it would be all of the things you said....disorganized wild bumy ride :) I figure by the time I finish the "dust bunnies" will have had complete run of my home LOL!! Do you have kids? That to me is going to be the toughest....I think......I have a 3 yr old and a 6 yr old.....my 6 yr old is in school and my 3 yr old will be in pre k next fall.....so I keep thinking it will be a little better for me once I start that third semester....just keep my head above water until then :) I appreciate you offering morale support and I'll probably need all the "cheering on" I can get :) If you don't mind me asking what area of nursing do you work in? Right now I think I'm interested in either L&D or NICU.....of course that could change.... Thanks and congratulations on your graduating!!!!!!! Heather

I totally agree w/all of you and personally I cannot wait til "animal testing" is a thing of the past!! Our professor for A&P I stated that the cats come from Mexico where obviously the laws are more lax on this sort of thing!! I took A&P II online and personally loved the online lab and dissections....they were animated but I personally got more out of it b/c if I did not understand something or felt I needed to do it again I just simply hit the "clear/restart" button.....in the lab you get one cat one chance......so I got more out of the online lab...... Take care all Heather

I am also an animal lover and have a huge soft spot for cats....I don't remember a time in my life when I didn't have at least one cat....currently I have two that I have had for over ten years so yes the cat dissection was tough for me also....the worst part for me was skinning it, so my lab partners and I decided to divide up the work. One of the other girls skinned it and once it was skinned it was so much easier on me...like several of the others have said it looks less like a cat at that point and was more technical. So after it was skinned we divided up the muscle groups and then I labeled them and photographed them for our group......and before I knew it A&P I and the kitties were behind me thank GOD!!! Our class was also chosen to go to a cadaver lab for human dissection and to be honest that bothered me less.....b/c they got to choose to donate their bodies to science so that was more interesting to me and wasn't so sad for me. Just wanted to wish you all the best!!!!! Heather

Thanks for replying I was just curious as to how competitive it is to get in and do they have waiting lists? I just cannot decide if I want to go ahead and go on to nursing school here or wait til we move....our home is currently up for sale so I'd hate to be halfway thru a program..... Anyway...I think I may just go ahead and try to go to nursing school here in TN and maybe the time I am finished our house will sell...and if not I can always rent :) I used to live in Fayetteville and am anxious to move back to NC Thanks again and good luck to you!!! Heather

Hi... Well I just got my acceptance letter to LMU for spring '09; and to be honest I am scared and excited!! I really wanted to know what all you currently attending or graduates of LMU thought/think about their program and what your schedules are like....I have two little boys ages 6 and 3; my 6 yr old is in kindergarten but I'm needing to weigh my options for childcare for my 3 yr old. I was accepted to the Blount county site so I realize that means summer school but that's okay with me. Anyway I really am curious as to whether you go everyday or how the week is split up...any help would be appreciated Thanks Heather

Hi all my family and I are thinking of moving to NC and I am currently in the process of applying to nursing schools......do any of you know anything about Alamance county community college or Forsythe county tech community college? Thanks!! Heather

I am sending you big hugs.....any one those things on your plate and going to school would be tough. I have two little boys and am married and don't work and it's tough. So I know it's extra hard on you. I agree with one of the other poster's and maybe you should think about cutting back on your classes or taking out a little more financial aid to help with living expenses. When you finish you'll have a great job and bright future!! I wish you all the best Heather

Thanks for the replies......I am not a "license holder" I do however have BS but not related to nursing. K1207-that is the program I was thinking about applying to....I have looked at their website and I believe their first class will be starting this spring. I also read, like you pointed out, that once accepted the student is assigned a "home base school" and that is who clinicals are done thru..... I have two little boys, ages 6 and 3, so that is why I am interested in the online course of study.....my older son is in school until 3 pm everday and my younger son could be in daycare....... I was just unsure of what the schedule was for exams, clinicals, etc.....guess I might try the RODP website for that Good luck to all of you Heather