Gerry1888RN

Probably Northern Arizona University would accept international students. I think the tuition would be about 20k/year, and you would have to pay about 3k for books and health insurance. You would have to come up with some extra cash for housing and living expenses, but you should be able to find a job on-campus after one semester and work 20hrs/each for minimum wage. You might be able to get a scolarship from the college after one semester also. I'm here on a student visa, and I graduated from nursing school, and I passed the NCLEX exam, so I now have a US RN licence and I am working full time making ok money. All you need to sit the state boards is a social security number and an OPT work permit card. OPT only lasts for one year, but you will get paid and you get some experience. It's a good idea to go straight for your BSN. I only have an ADN, and when I leave the US to back home to the UK this summer, I wouldn't be able to work as a RN as I don't have my bachelors degree. ADN's are the equivalent to toilet paper in most countries other than the States.

I think "Freetopayattention" has a point. I work with some really good LPN's, and I can't tell the difference between them and the RN's I work with, but I think they should try and get their RN licence. I think sooner or later they will change the rules, and maybe do away with the LPN's. In the UK, there used to be "enrolled nurses" and they were the equivalent to American LPN's, but they were done away with about 10-15 years ago. I think there are some still working in some hospitals, but there is no new training. Also, I think Canada now requires their RN's to have BSN's, and all their LPN's to have the equivalent of an ADN. Maybe America will do the same in the very near future.

Interesting to know that it's not uncommon to have an LPN in charge of RN's in LTC. I work in a sub-acute LTC facility as a new grad, and one of my charge nurses/house supervisor is an LPN. She's a great nurse, a good person, been with the facility for a long time, and has years of experience, but I didn't think LPN's were allowed to supervise and delegate to RN's. She is also in charge of experienced RN's which makes even less sense.

If I was you, I would spend 2 weeks reviewing all the material that you learned from school, including your notes, and then do practice questions. I passed my NCLEX 1st time with 75 questions and I really feel that it was because I did so many practice questions on the computer. I also read basically all the rationales behind each question and took notes as well.

I guess if the LPN's do not like the fact that a new grad RN is in charge of them, they should go back to college to get their RN license.

I did all the practice questions and a lot of case studies on the evolve/HESI website and I did feel that it helped me a lot. I took the HESI exam twice. The first time I scored 850, and the second time I scored 980 or something. I passed the NCLEX-RN with 75 questions and I really feel that it was because I practiced HESI type questions as they are harder than the questions that you will get in a nursing school exam. I know of a couple of girls that did poorly on the HESI test that also failed the NCLEX first time so I would practice HESI test questions if I was you. Also, do as many practice NCLEX questions as possible with rationales from different sources.

I think that it is not a good idea for new grad RN's to only look at new grad hospital programs. There are many LTC/SNF's that will hire new graduates. I graduated in May this year, passed NCLEX in June, and started my job in a nursing home this July. I'm getting lots of experience there. I only applied for about 3 jobs in total after I graduated before I got offered my current position. I think that most new grads can get a job as an RN if they really did want one. Also, don't knock nursing home experience. 1 year as an RN in a LTC facility is better than having 1 year of non-nursing experience post graduation.

I'm a new grad RN, and I have been in a LTC facility for 4 months now. I got the job by giving my resume to one of the weekend nurses, and she placed it under DON's door. The DON gave me a call as soon as she got it on Monday morning. I think I did a good job typing up my resume and stuff. I was offered a job on the spot at my place of work as I dressed nicely, made a good impression, and brought along my portfolio from nursing school. I think most facilities don't care whether they get a a RN or LPN to do the same job. The most important factor is that they are good at what they do. However, LTC facilities will always need RN's working the floor as there are several tasks that LPN's can't do such as hanging IV abt from a PICC, and initial assesments etc.

I have just finished my first week as a new grad RN at a sub-acute LTC. I sort of enjoyed it, and I'm starting to really know the residents. I also have pts with picc lines, g tubes and stuff, so I am doing more than just passing meds. I will still be working with another nurse for the next few weeks before I go on nights. I think you should ask for more orientation.

I had around 10-12 SATA questions, and one math question. I think it is a good sign if you are getting several SATA's, but if you are getting any more than 2 math problems out of 75 that could be a bad sign.

Beta-Blockers such as metoprolol, atenolol (most end with olol) etc may cause bronchoconstriction. Use these drugs with caution in patients with asthma and other respiratory conditions. Laxatives: Aluminium=constipation! Magnesium=diarrhea! Asthma: Give broncodilator before steriod (albuterol before beclomethasone etc). Statins (Lipitor etc) can cause rhabdomylosis=muscle wasting! Acetylcysteine is the antidote for acetaminophen toxicity (Tylenol). Don't give "Spironolactone" to Pt's who have high potassium levels! (monitor urine output)

Hi there, I am a foreign student as well. I'm here on a F1 student visa, but was able to take my NCLEX and get the OPT card as I have an SSI#. You can apply for a social security number as a foreign student if you can get a job at your college. However, I'm not sure what you can do now to get a SSI# as you have graduated from school. If you are an ADN graduate, you can do a RN-BSN

You passed! I did the exam 2 weeks ago and I did the PV trick and got the good pop up. Finished the exam in an hour with 75 questions. I thought the exam was not bad also as most questions can be eliminated down to 2 questions.

I'm a new grad also, but I have not started my job yet. I'm a bit scared of making mistakes too. However, at least the mistake you made did not harm your patient. For example, if you gave your patient insulin when he/she has low blood sugar, it could kill them! But missing an insulin dose will only raise their blood sugar, and should not cause them severe harm in the long term. Just make sure it's documented! I had to take my diabetic cat to the vet this evening as he was very ill, and the vet told me his blood glucose was 27! I feel bad because of that as he was acting strange for several days and I should not have given him insulin before checking his sugar. Hypoglycemia is a lot more severe than hyperglycemia.

I think I did just over 4000 with rationales in the space of 5 weeks. I downloaded CD questions onto my computer. I didn't look at, or buy any NCLEX review book. I did look at my class notes for a few hours a day for 3 days or so before taking the NCLEX. Review books can be a waste of money for some people. Passed with 75 questions in one hour.