dcgrrl

I didn't buy Kaplan's online qbank either...just the book and cd. I wanted to have a variety of questions and rationales to review because our nursing instructor told us to do at least 2500 to 3000 questions and we would pass NCLEX. At first I thought she was crazy but now I can see why she said that. Practice makes perfect. It worked for me. Try to stop worrying about your score and just continue to practice the questions and review the rationales. You will get better. BTW--really practice those delegation questions and SATAs. I got alot of those on the exam.

I think for me it was the q bank from NCSBN that helped the most but I also went thru other questions on my Kaplan book and Saunders. I did about 100 questions a day for four weeks and passed NCLEX with 75 questions. Besides NCSBN, here are all the. other books I used: Saunders. NCLEX. RN Examination Comprehensive Review Saunders Q&A NCLEX Review Kaplan NCLEX RN Strategies and Review 2011-2012

I know how you are feeling. I took my NCLEX last Tuesday and I was a nervous wreck. You gotta keep telling yourself that you are ready and that you have done everything possible to prepare yourself to be successful on this test....because you have. Good luck tomorrow. You're in my thoughts and prayers! :)

I did the NCSBN questions and found them to be more of a challenge compared to Kaplan and Saunders questions. I was scoring about 65% to start off and got around 75% as I went through the questions.I think you will be ready. I passed NCLEX with 75 questions last Tuesday..Just make sure you read and understand the rationales...that is the key. I used a combo of Saunders to review my content and NCSBN and Kaplan for the questions.

Great idea on getting a jumpstart on preparing for your RN program. Definitely review your AP stuff. I did and I think that made a difference. Some folks have already posted this stuff but here is what I am reviewing before school starts back: Memorizing the mechanism of action of the major drug classes (vasodilators, alpha and beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, CCBs, etc.) Don't fall behind on this. Otherwise it will be DRUG INFO OVERLOAD I tell you. Fluid electrolytes imbalances (know the normal ranges for your basic lab values, hematocrit, BUN, Creatine, K, NA, CA, etc.). Nursing drug calculations (I actually got a really good understanding once I was able to apply it in my clinical setting (it made more sense to me, guess). Manual B/P (those darn Kortokoff sounds!!!). PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE---that's what has been getting me through some of the concepts that have been harder for me to grasp. Good luck to ya!

Someone else may have posted this but; you may be struggling with critical thinking skills. It's not something you learn over night. It takes practice. I use Test Success By Nugent to help prepare me for the first yr in nursing school. It's an awesome resource: Amazon.com: Test Success: Test-Taking Techniques for Beginning Nursing Students (9780803618947): Patricia M. Nugent, Barbara A. Vitale: Books It helps you start thinking like a nurse. You'll get a better understanding of HOW to read questions, HOW to analyze the information in the question, and tons of practice questions relating to fundamental nursing skills. It also has a section that helps you analyze your test performance. You are studying but still getting certain answers wrong ...but why?? It is because you don't know the information? Is it because you can't recognize the distractors? This books will help you identify why you missed the right answer. Then, hopefully, you'll see a trend as to why you are getting the answers wrong. Also, what is the best way for you to learn? I need to write things out in charts and outlines. I also need to see animations of things if they are available. Check this site out if you don't know what type of learning you style you have: http://www.vark-learn.com/english/page.asp?p=questionnaire Good Luck!

My best friend is an OT and she LOVES it. We live in the MD/DC/VA area and there is a always a need for OTs. For this reason, she is able to negotiate her own schedule most of the time. She has a very flexible schedule and works primarily in assistive technology and early intervention. She rotates from working in schools, clinical settings, and home health. She has regular work hours (who does OT at 10pm or 12pm) and works on weekends and holidays when she WANTS to. Plus the pay is NICE. :) I agree with the above posters...follow your heart...whether it leads you to PT, OT or RN.

As far completing your prereqs, the amount of time it takes for you to complete the prereqs depends on the # of prereqs you have. HCC will have to evaluate your transcripts. After that is done,you will have a better idea as to how many classes/credits they are accepting and what you need to complete. I hope I worded that right....

Hi Nomadinusa: Here is the info you need to get started for the traditional RN program: http://www.howardcc.edu/admissions/apply/alliedhealth/rn.html Be sure to attend one of their information sessions. They are offering two in September. Good Luck!

If you want to read more on the subject of whether or not a person's name may have an economic impact on their socioeconomic status, you might be interested in reading Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything by Levitt and Dubner. The Slate website does a pretty good job of summing up this section of the book: http://www.slate.com/id/2116449 It's an interesting read and very thought provoking. Here's an excerpt from Slate's website: The data show that, on average, a person with a distinctively black name—whether it is a woman named Imani or a man named DeShawn—does have a worse life outcome than a woman named Molly or a man named Jake. But it isn't the fault of his or her name. If two black boys, Jake Williams and DeShawn Williams, are born in the same neighborhood and into the same familial and economic circumstances, they would likely have similar life outcomes. But the kind of parents who name their son Jake don't tend to live in the same neighborhoods or share economic circumstances with the kind of parents who name their son DeShawn. And that's why, on average, a boy named Jake will tend to earn more money and get more education than a boy named DeShawn. DeShawn's name is an indicator—but not a cause—of his life path.

I can tell (by reading your other posts) that you really have been mulling over this decision. I know you must feel a since of relief that you have been able to make up your mind. Best of luck to you in radiology school.

I would definitely speak to an advisor in the nursing program. They would be able to give you accurate and straightforward information. I'm pretty sure you've seen this but just in case you haven't, these are the minimum RN program entrance requirements from HCC's website: http://www.howardcc.edu/admissions/docs/allied_health/NursingProgReqs.pdf

Have you visited http://www.discovernursing.com/? Under their section called "Profiles in Nursing" they highlight an array of careers in the nursing field that are not necessarily related to bedside nursing.

If you are trying to begin your nursing career sooner rather than later you should consider an ADN program. These programs can be a more economical way of getting your degree if you live in state. Of course everyone's situatuion is different. Most community colleges have articulation agreements with state schools that have BSN programs so that you can further your education and obtain your BSN. I'm not sure where you live but MD and VA both have community colleges that offer ADN programs. I'm not sure about UDC. Start with researching area schools to learn what there requirements are for their RN programs and go from there.

I thought I missed the uniform fitting so I went ahead and ordered my uniforms online about two weeks ago. My stuff is on backorder and I won't be getting it until some time next week. I got a little worried when I didn't hear anything since they stated the deadline to place uniform orders for Fall 2010 was July 5th. Did you get the letter they said they would sending out to us by the 1st of July? I called last Thursday and they stated they hadn't sent anything out yet.

LOL!!!! That's what I get for not paying attention! But I'm totally glad you've been offered a position.

Check under the thread "Maryland Hospital Starting Salaries". It has salary info on Holy Cross.

Iridius, I'm sorry to hear that you haven't found a job yet. Here's a position at the Kennedy Krieger Institute that might be of interest to you. It says that new graduates are welcome to apply! https://jobs-kennedykrieger.icims.com/jobs/6816/job

PatMac10, I surely wish they had more programs like that around so that we pre-nursing students could really explore whether or not nursing is the right career for us. It sounds to me that the S.C.R.U.B.S. program only increased your enthusiasm and interest in the nursing profession BTW--what does S.C.R.U.B.S. stand for?

As I was tucking my middle son into bed, he told me that he didn't want me to go to school anymore because I'm not home to play with him in the evening. ...and that was just getting through my prereqs!!! I felt so bad. I told him (while holding back my own tears) that even though I'm not home when he goes to bed most nights, I come into his room every night and kiss him all over his face, give him a big hug and lay beside him for a few minutes. I'm not sure if this routine is more for me than it is for him but he has awakened a few times to see his mommy right beside him. I think it's a level of comfort that we both need.

Yeah, I love dosagehelp.com. I'm signed up to get daily dosage problems too. They even provide step by step solutions on how to solve a problem if you answer it wrong. On eagles wings-Did you check out the Mathy sticky thread here on allnurses? They have great resources on there too--much of them free.

First let me say, I really enjoy and appreciate reading folks' experiences on topics like this because it really helps me know what to expect and try to appreciate the journey ahead. With that said---after reading dozens and dozens of threads here on allnurses about what to expect in nursing pre-req classes, and what to expect in nursing school, and then what to expect when I actually become a nurse.... I've found that there's a basic trend: People usually think that whatever they are going through at that moment is the hardest thing ever and worst than what they went through before. I know this does not apply to everyone...but think about it...hindsight is 20/20 because you have the beauty of insight and comparison on your current situation. Once you go through something successfully, you usually can look back and say "yeah...that was hard but what I'm doing right now is reallllly hard..." I'm thinking the same will apply to nursing school. It will probably feel like hell on earth trying to write care plans, going to clinicals, passing labs, etc. and all of this on limited sleep. But, once we become a nurse, We'll probably be thinking "nursing school was hard but it doesn't even come close to being as hard as being an acutal nurse..."

For lecture: Pencil and paper. It seems as though the words and concepts stick better when I am forming the letters. To reinforce difficult concepts: I'll type my handwritten notes and paraphrase them into a summary--this helps it sink in even more.

I sent you a pm.

I know you ultimately want a BSN (so do I) but what's wrong with the ADN route? Why not stay at BCCC get your ADN (you can sit for NCLEX in 2yrs) and then finish out at a4yr state institution for your BSN? Perhaps you should sit down with the advisors at Coppin as well as your present institution to explore ALL of your options.