crok9014

Unfortunately I got the "The candidate currently has test results on hold. A new registration cannot be created at this time" pop-up which isn't the good pop-up but it's not the credit card page either which means there's hope but a longer wait. The anticipation is killing me! I am working as a GN in the ER and LOVE my job. I have to work tonight 7p-730a and same shift again tomorrow. It's going to kill me to have this on my mind

So I took the dreaded NCLEX today and besides leaving there feeling unworthy to be a nurse I am really kind of frustrated. The Air Conditioning was not working so the room was, in my opinion, very hot and became distracting for me. I had to take a break to get some air around question 84 and when the lady asked why I was taking an unscheduled break I told her it was really hot so I needed a breather. She then said she'd have to do a report on the fact that I said that. What the heck? Now my results are on hold for the Pearson Trick on top of being aggravated by the test setting. I am fairly confident that I failed and am afraid I am about to lose my job which I absolutely love because of it... I guess I can just hope for a miracle at this point. Thanks for letting me vent!

I would love for my hubby to work a 12-hour night shift in the ER with me... only problem is that he's a Corrections Officer and I definitely wouldn't want to shadow him for a day! :)

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! I'm SOOOOO happy for you!!! Your first clinical will be long term cre. I went to Presbyterian Senior Care. There are a few locations they can place you at. The second half of the semester I was at West Penn. I know people go to Forbes and Alle-Kiski too.

I just began this semester as well and completely agree with the read, read, read some more concept, however for me organization has been most important. In my program we take 4 courses, which all intertwine somehow resulting in having multiple binders but carrying them all all the time! Once you get your system down, it gets better! good luck! (TO ALL OF US :) )

I agree with much REIDESERT has to say! My oldest daughter will be 2 in April and my youngest is 10 weeks old. I started my RN Program 2 weeks ago and although I feel VERY overwhelmed, I am so excited as well! Whenever I feel like I must be crazy for doing this, I think of the vacation my husband and I are going to take the girls on after I graduate and how different our life wil be when I am all done. Organization is key... find a little corner to make "Mommy's space" where the baby can't get to. I squeezed a desk in my kitchen and a babygate blocking the girls in the livingroom. I sit there to do all my work but can still see what is going on. I began all my pre-req'swhen my first was 3 months old... and breast-fed her until I found out I was pregnant again. I too have the Medela Pump-in-Style and love it. I tortured myself the first time with a cheapie and my new Medela PIS is by far the best investment I made this time around!!! It takes me 10 min. to pump 5+ oz. so even if I don't get an official break I squeese it in whenever I can and have been making it work so far... even during clinicals! Tr to set aside and hour of playtime with your baby, it will relieve some of the "seriousness" of Pharm Calc and is good for ya!

At my school we must achieve a 98% in 2 attempts or we're out. I take it Feb. 26th... and am sooo nervous!!!

First a VACATION, then a house! Good to know my priorities are straight! :clpty:

Hello! Did you mean to say you are starting in Jan. 2009? Are you going to Boyce Campus? If so, I might be in your class! I just bought my NRN101 books today and they came to $625 including the tote. Make sure that if your are trying to buy used you get the correct edition... I can make a list of exactly what is in the package if you need me to. Do you have orientation tonight? I grew up in Monroeville (just outside Pittsburgh) but left for 6 years in the military, and moved back in 2007. You can send me a personal message anytime with any question you have. I lived in Japan for 3 years... where are you from?

I begin an 18 month accelerated program next week and have two very young daughters. Luckily, my husband is very supportive but has to work A LOT for us to be able to afford my venture. He is a correction's officer with a crazy shift so although he is supportive I feel very much like a single mother at times. Being that you may become a single mother yourself, Nursing School is the best thing you can do your yourself and your children. You will be able to provide for them and not have to rely on your husband to take care of you. Think of how great your self-esteem will be when you are making more than him in a career that you love! Just use his lack of support as motivation nd do what you have to in order to get through. It's only a year right? GOOD LUCK!!!

Where are you attending: Community College of Allegheny County - Boyce When does your program start: January 12th When are your orientation(s): January 5th What is your 1st semester schedule: NRN 101 - lecture Monday, skills lab Wednesday, and clinical Thursday How are you preparing yourself and/or family: trying to catch up on housework, talking to my husband A LOT! Will you be working fulltime/parttime/not at all: no "job" exactly, but have a 20 month-old and an 8 week-old, plenty enough for me :) GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF US IN CLASS 21!!!

I had the same problem getting into my A&PII class... they gave priority registration to those already in the program. I spoke with the prof. and we agreed that I could attend class "unofficially" because th school simply would not allow more students than lab seats but if somebody dropped he would sign me in. After what felt like wasting 5 Thrsday nights, I was lucky and somebody dropped! I would def. go in person though because I have found that a lot of prof's. don't check or respond to e-mail quickly if at all and I am too impatient! Good luck!

I encountered a similar setback when I didn't get accepted my first time last year. I was 27, just got out of the military and had a 3 month-old. I decided not to give up (luckily I have a very supportive husband although we are dirt broke!) and worked a year bringing my GPA up. I got accepted and start in 2 weeks... oh and now I have another baby... she's 8 weeks now! Don't give up yet... give it another year!

I got the Palm TX on Black Friday from the Palm store... they had a special that was $100 off a $300 purchase. The TX was $299 so I bought a car charger which took me over and got the discount plus free shipping. I'd check their site to see of they have any after Christmas sales. I purchased Constellation from Skyscape as well based on what I've read on threads here but haven't used it yet... I start clinicals in January.

I tried finding used books as well, but when I sold back my A&P books this semester, the buy-back guy said that he was only allowed to buy back 2 of the NRN101 books meaning everything else will be new this coming semester. I'm not positive on that but just wanted to let you know before we run out and pay for used books that we can't use. At registration they explained that it is really hard to keep up with the wrong editions. ANyway, good luck and let me know if you learn otherwise because I have a 20 month-old, a 7 week-old, and after the holidays any $$$ I can save on books would be great! :)

So I know this has been asked before, but the earlier posts I found are a few months old now and with the way technology changes I'm bringing it up again! What digital voice recorder do you use and why do you love it if you do? I used everybody's opinions in making my decision in purchasing a PDA so I'm hoping you all can help me again! Thank you!!!

Great question... I was just logging on to ask the same thing ! I'm hoping the watch and lab coat combo will do the trick for me!

Does ANYONE have ANY tricks on how to master Pharm Calc??? I am absolutely terrible at math and the girl that used to tutor me (which is what got me through Pre-Calc.) just failed out of nursing school over a Pharm Calc test! I am so shocked, scared, terrified since the military is paying for my education and if I fail out I owe back a ton of money not to mention the fact that I would be DEVASTATED!!! I have been a medic in the military for 7 years now and I am finally getting ready to begin the RN program I have been working for years to get into. Please, please, please... any advice on how I can start preparing would make my day! :) Pharm Calc is not taught in our program... we are expected to learn it outside of the classroom and have an assessment early in our first semester... I'd like to work on it over the next few weeks before the program begins. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!

I am in shock right now! I just found out that my NRN 101 books are over $900!!! This is on top of the required PDA and Littmann stethescope that I still have to get too. Of course they upgraded to some mandatory new editions so buying used on-campus is out of the question. Has anybody out there found a store/website that sells newer edition used nursing textbooks? They haven't even finished the final book list yet and we are required to have them by Jan. 5th so eBay won't work either (cutting it too close on shipping time). Please share where you get your books!!!

GOOD FOR YOU!!!! I recently wrote a post asking other moms (I have a 19 month-old and a 1 month-old) for advice on how they do it and the response was almost overwhelming! People like you inspire people like me to keep working hard! My husband works such long hours I feel like a single mom with the chores that go along with a husband lol! I thought that I might be crazy beginning a fast track RM program in Jan., but I'm using stories like yours as motivation that I CAN DO IT! NOW GET OFF THE COMPUTER AND CELEBRATE!!!

I just want to thank everybody that has responded for telling their stories and giving me a little more hope! When I wrote the original post, I never expected so many people to share their stories with me! It's nice knowing I'm not alone in this... I really wish there was a web site like this dedicated to military families because I sure could have used a little extra support like this when my husband was away for training all summer. You have all been more than helpful and I really hope the advice keeps coming in! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Thanks! My husband is really supportive which is nice but he works from 2pm-10pm with a 1 1/2 hour commute 6 days a week... needless to say I have very little un-interrupted study time but I'm managing! I had all A's and B's before baby #2 came along but fear this is going to be my first C (or D!!!)... somebody told me that C stands for "continue" so that's what I'm shooting for! Good luck to you when you start... maybe I'll have some advice to pass by then!

I am starting a Fast Track RN program in January and am getting REALLY nervous! I got out of the military (Active Duty) when I had my first baby 19 months ago and went back to school to complete pre-req's when she was 3 months old. I just had my second baby 4 weeks ago and have my A&P II final next week. I am soooo stressed! I stay at home with the girls all day but seem to get less studying done than I did when I worked full time! Any other mommies out there making it through this crazy program with babies? If so, please dish how you are doing it!!! How are you keeping a clean house, happy husband, and heatlhy children all while studying like a madwoman??? :typing Did I even mention the lack of sleep? :smilecoffeecup: HELP!!!

I have a 19 month-old and a 3 week-old and am in a Fast Track program. My girls are my world and I am doing this for them. My husband woks very long hours and has an hour and half commute each way. We do what we have to, make adjustments when we need to, and I can't imagine my life any other way! Kids are AMAZING and you never know how long it might take to get pregnent (2 years for our first and 2 weeks for our second!) so go for it and things will all work out as long as you remember why you were going to school in the first place. GOOD LUCK!!!

Hello! Well, I went to Boyce right after high school in 1998 and screwed up pretty badly! My grades were terrible and then I joined the military and was away for 7 years. I came back in 2007 and decided to start working on bringing my GPA back up. I spent a year re-taking all my previously bombed classes as well as Human Growth & Dev. (online), Biology, and A&P1. I managed to get a 3.3 and did decent on my NET test. I would try to get A&P under your belt if you can because you get a little extra on your score for having it. Let me know if you do and I will tell you which instructor I recommend. Anyway, it was my first time applying and I got in so I didn't think it was too hard, but I was really stressing out about it! :) I applied in August and just got my letter yesterday so it takes a little while. When you turn in our application (I took mine to North Campus and handed it in person) you can ask and they will tell you when to expect a letter. I had a three-month-old when I went back a little over a year ago and am expecting baby #2 any day now so if I can do it anybody can! GOOD LUCK!!! Let me know if you have any other questions!