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Yes, I did get my results. I paid for the quick results that were available... I did the pearson vue trick and got the pop up.... and I passed!!! So the trick really does work.

Just wondering if you passed the exam? You mentioned you got the "good pop up" but I just can't seem to trust that, I'm so positive I failed but I did get the good pop up...

Hi! I was just wondering if you found out if you passed? Did the trick work for you? I just finished my NCLEX today and I have been an absolute wreck... I feel like I failed and I have been an emotional mess all day. I did the trick and the error message popped up but I just don't feel like that is a good enough indicator and was just wondering if it worked for you? Thanks

Hi, I don't know what area you live in or how bad the market is for new nurses around you; but I would take it! During my interview I was also given a tour and the Nursing Manger left me with the charge nurse for an hour on the floor...... and I got the job! So you have that to be excited about. I wouldn't let the hours worry you too much..... most likely your training will be during the day and if you have to work nights, you do it for a while and get your foot in the door...... If your working 12 hour shifts it will be OK.... you can do it! I'm not a night person either but I know that as a new nurse I have to put my time in:coollook: I would do whatever you have to do to get the JOB!!! Try the nights and if it doesn't work out great maybe the can give you 2 nights and 1 day shift..... Get in, and get along with everyone; so if you need something to be changed to fit your lifestyle better people will be more apt to do it! Best of luck!

Hello, I am a recent grad (August 2010) with my BSN and I will be starting on an Oncology floor November 1st I have a question for all of you who started out your nursing career on an Oncology floor: Did you use/ or could you recommend any books that you found particularly helpful starting out on this floor? I'm looking for a book that would really help me understand all the different types of cancer, medications, and nursing interventions.... I would appreciate any help or feedback. Thanks :bowingpur

Hello, I am a New Nurse starting on the Oncology floor too! I am super excited and nervous all in one! Glad to see that there are other new nurses on this site who will be starting out in Oncology as well :) congrats to all of you!

I know for students who live further away or might be unable to attend may possibly do a phone interview but I would confirm that or ask the programs Director.... just to be on the safe side :)

Thanks for all of the advice!!

Love-A-Nurse Thank you for replying to my message, I really appreciate it. This LTAC does have a variety of patients who are intubated with trachs, they do have cardiac drips that need to be titrated (but they have a room that holds 4 patients together who are on these drips), Hickman, DobHoff, Piccs, etc. and we also draw our own blood too! So the skills I would learn are amazing! However, it is a ratio of 7:1... each RN has 1 CNA... sometimes we can get 8 patients but the DON said she likes to keep it at 7:1... which scares me! I am afraid that the ratio is to high for patients who are so complex and don't want to risk my license or the care of one of my patients because I have too much on my plate..... Is a 7:1 ratio normal?

Thank You!

Thank you for your opinion, I appreciate it! I want to specialize in critical care and it's really difficult right now in the Philadelphia area for a new nurse to get into. I was hoping that I could spend a little over a year learning valuable skills that I could transfer into a hospital ICU floor.....

Hello, I have been reading through tons of messages regarding LTAC's and I was very happy when I read your message. I am a recent BSN graduate in the Philadelphia area and the market for new nurses is extremely tough right now. I am interested in critical care nursing and have an interview with an LTAC facility next week. Some people have told me that this isn't "real critical care experience" or that it's not going to help me get into any hospitals ICU floor.... Since you are experienced in this field would you be able to help answer some of my concerns? I believe that LTAC nurses are doing critical care.... right? If I wanted to work at a large city hospital would my LTAC skills prepare me for an ICU floor? And is the pay different at LTAC's than Hospitals? If you or anyone else could help me I would really appreciate it :) Thank you!

Hello, I am a recent graduate from a second degree program were I obtained my BSN :) I also have a BS in Business Administration as well. The market for new nurses is extremely tough in the Philadelphia area and I am interviewing with a LTAC facility next week. I am interested in working in Critical Care and thought that if I were offered this position I would learn a lot and be able to transfer to any ICU within some of the big hospitals down town. Is an LTAC hospital a good place for a graduate nurse who wants to specialize in Critical Care? I didn't learn much about LTAC's in nursing school and wanted to ask experienced nurses what they thought about this.... I would appreciate any help/ suggestions/ feedback Thanks!

Yes, we had students who were mothers of small children and they did well :) It can be done but it will require the support of your family to help out when you need to study. If you stay on top of all your readings & assignments I'm sure you will be OK. However, there is a 2 year program available at Villanova if you feel more comfortable doing that. I do not have any children and I don't know how some of them did it... but they did :)

It's not just your GPA that is important... it's also your previous work experiences, and extracurricular activities you have done, so don't let just the GPA be a deciding factor to where you apply. There were 6 men in my class, however, there are 18 in the new BSNExpress class that just started. The program was wonderful but hard... but as long as you have the right focus I'm sure you will do well.

they accepted around 85-86 into our program.... there are about 79 of us left. I don't think anyone in our program had an undergrad gpa less than 3.3.... your in a room full of some of the best of the best... and it's a great way to enhance your learning. Some other 2nd degree schools in the area are: Jefferson, Drexel, Newman, West Chester, Harcum... hope that helps.

Hello, I am a current student in the BSN Express and will be graduating this July. My class had around 85 students.... they only accept around 15-20 in the alternative program (2 year). On the housing topic..... there are plenty of apartments available in the Villanova area (Bryn Mawr, Ardmore, Conshy, Manayunk). Make sure you don't make the wrong decision and live too far from campus..... your commute to clinical sites could be far... and when you have to be on the floor by 6:45 am and you have a ton (and I mean a ton) of work to do when you get home.... you don't want to spend your time commuting. If you send Susan Leighton an email about your housing concerns she will help you. We had a list of names of people looking for housing and that's how a majority of people found roommates.... hope this helps :)

I was very surprised by the negative comment left (by AU-RN) and am delighted to see other RN's standing up for nursing students. I am also a nursing student and I will be going to Haiti in March to help. Just because I am not a RN yet does not mean I am useless. In order for the experienced MD's and RN's to work efficiently under such extreme conditions require the back bone of support to help facilitate their work. I am going with experienced RN's who will be using my service to help them work better and quicker... so that as many people who need the help get it. In case you forgot.... the average person wouldn't understand the medical language or the name of supplies and equipment that will be needed. Nursing students can help! Not everyone there needs surgery. I am happy to hear that anyone would be willing to leave their home, pay their way, and go to Haiti to help those in need. Never let anyone....ANYONE... ever stop you from doing what your calling is. Those who put people down obviously do it to make themselves feel better and more important. Kudos to the nursing students.... your on the path to many opportunities

Thank you to both of you. I will re-post on the correct board. I wasn't sure if experienced nurses browsed the student sections to offer/help answer any questions. I'll look into VBAC, thanks!

Hello, I am a current nursing student taking a grad level research class. I would like to write my research proposal on something in the obstetric field. Since I am still an undergraduate I am having a hard time selecting something to research since I lack expertise in this field. If there are any nurses who currently work in Obstetrics (NICU, Nursery, etc) and you have any helpful ideas on something you have run across or thought of some changes that would benefit this field... my ears are open! I would appreciate any help or feedback from experienced nurses! Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

Are you taking the Pathophysiology class online?

That would make more sense.... I wonder why the student told me that? She said they had 40 day/40 night... but the night wasn't late it was around 2 or 3pm. I'm sure your right because I thought that was weird when she said that. I would like to get more info regarding the schedule I was going to call but I am going to wait until I get the packet and see what it has to say. Are you getting a loan for school? I am in th process of looking into it right now... I have to get enough to cover my car payment and insurance too.

Congrats!! Well that is going to be a hard decision! Both are great schools and excellent programs. I have not seen the John Hopkins campus so I can't give you a fair assessment. But I do know that Villanova has an unbelievable Nursing school. The facility is brand new and I fell in love with the place the second I was there. Have you visited both campuses?

Hmm... I could be wrong. During the open house a current student told me that they divide the total students into day/evening sections. I could be completely wrong, but I thought that was how they did it. Maybe they just rotate some of the classes or clinicals....? I guess we will just have to wait and see.... ahh I hate waiting!