Jag815

I recently completed the LPN to RN program and have been doing phone triage for the past several yrs. My current employer has a pension system and I need less than 1 year to be fully vested in it. Now that I've renewed my clinical skills, I want to keep up at it and am considering going into bedside nursing. Has anyone gone from ambulatory care to bedside? Was it a difficult change? Have you regretted it?

I was accepted to William Paterson's RN to BSN online program. Looking for feedback good or bad from anyone that attended/graduated from this program. - Is this program doable to complete in 12 months like it advertises? - I know a semester is 7 weeks long. Can you take more than 1 class during that time? - How many classes did you take each semester? - Are classes difficult? I did the LPN to RN route and was always told that's the hard part. BSN is easy. Thanks in advance!

I'm considering applying to this program. I considered it years ago and didn't bc of cost (at that time it was 19k). Even though it's increased since, I find myself going back to this program. Those of you who have graduated, how is your grade calculated? Do you have quizzes daily? Is your grade primarily made up of unit tests only? And are tests made up based on powerpoints? I know that it's an accelerated program, but I fear that so much info is gonna be thrown at us that we won't be able to absorb it all.

I recently completed the LPN to RN challenge program at Brookdale. Unfortunately, I only tested out of 160 and 161 (I hoped to have also tested out of 162, but that didn't happen). I will be taking 162 online evening in the fall. I'd like to know if anyone could tell me how the online program was. My first choice was to do evening classroom instruction, but unfortunately that was not available so I resorted to the online track. I've come to peace with this decision, but find myself questioning if I made the right choice. I also work FT and have a family. If you did the online program: 1) Was it difficult? 2) Did you regret doing it online? 3) I know they don't want you to switch tracks during the semester. I was told that they will allow you to switch tracks for the next semester. Is this true? 4) Which clinical site is best to learn at for ONLINE students? Any feedback received is appreciated!!

Thanks for responding, 2bnurseplease. I saw that posted on the BON's site also. It's very vague and talks about the requirements to open a school, etc. It doesn't go into the scope of practice.

I got my LPN license in August (2010) and was hoping I would've been sent a Scope of Practice with it. I've tried to look on the BON's website to see if it's posted on there and it's not. What is posted on there is an algorithm guideline, which doesn't explain what the scope of practice is. I've contacted the BON and am waiting for a response back. Not sure how long it'll take, but I was wondering if anyone had a Scope of Practice they could forward to me. I'd like to have it so that I not only protect myself, but so that my facility doesn't have me do things that I'm not supposed to be doing.

Does anyone know of any sites that are accredited by NJ for providing CEUs? Of course I'd like to obtain all of my CEUs for free, but if I need to pay for some of them too, that's okay. I found a few sites (ie. advanceweb.com, medscape.com and ceu4u.com) that have interesting courses, but am afraid of taking them only to find out later that they're not accredited and that I have to take the course elsewhere. My license renewal is due in 2012 and I wanted to get a start on satisfying the CEU requirements. Any help provided is appreciated!!

I'm a new grad LPN working in LTC and I got only 1.5 days of orientation. I asked for more time and on the 3rd day, they had me orienting with a new grad RN; it was our 3rd day for both of us. It was like the blind leading the blind, but we managed to get things done. I'm still there, ask a lot of questions and am learning more and more each day.

I'm in Central NJ and my LTC facility (privately owned) pays the following for new grads: LPN = $25/hr RN = $33/hr CNA = ? Both positions get $1 shift differential and time and a half for holidays (only 3 are recognized as holidays: Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day).

Thanks so much EVERYONE!!! You all hit the nail on the head of how my typical day is. I work the morning shift (7-3) and that 3 hr window between 8 and 10 is nuts!! If I'm done with those meds at 11:30, I'm thrilled. But lately it's been 11:45. Throughout the day, I'm speedwalking (I thought I walked fast before, here I'm really speedwalking) and sweating like a pig. Aside from trying to be safe, I feel like I have the pressure on me from my superiors to speed it up and be in compliance and that's what I think is making me feel overwhelmed. I'm only there 2 days a week and I'm trying to do the best that I can. Although everyone tells me I'm doing well, I feel like I'm not (because of the speed) and am afraid of losing my job because I'm out of compliance.

I'm a new grad (LPN) and have been working on a LTC unit with 25 beds for 2 weeks. I'm still feeling overwhelmed with the amount of meds I have to pass out, but am slowly getting passed it. My question is... how do you balance your med pass to be in compliance? I'm still trying to build speed, get into the "rhythm" and find that I'm still going over my time. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

I'm feeling the same way, luvmydogs84. I, too, am a new grad (LPN) on a LTC unit with 25 patients on my floor. I've only been there 2 weeks and am feeling overwhelmed with the amount of meds I have to pass out. Not sure if I should stay here until I find something else OR leave and continue looking. Everyone I've talked to says that I should stick it out for a little while longer, but I'm in a constant battle on what to do.

I would ask your school if they have any testing modules available through ATI. If they do, they should be able to give you the ID and password. My school made that available to us shortly before we took our exit exams and it helped greatly! Best of Luck!!

Hi Board, I graduated LPN school in June and took and passed my boards in August. I got a job as a Med Nurse on a LTC unit, have been there for only 1 week and am feeling a bit overwhelmed . I was very honest during the interview and told my employer that my experience administering meds was only a 1:1 ratio (1 patient to 1 student). I was told by the DON and ADON that they will mold me and train me and that they won't let me give meds on my own without help until they feel and I feel that I can handle it. I'm still in training (not sure how much longer for), but from the feeling that I'm getting... I think my employer was only expecting to train me for 1 week and then have me hit the ground running administering meds to the entire floor, which has 26 residents. Anyway... I'm really hustling my butt off! And that's with giving meds to 14 residents and being about 20-45 minutes over the alotted time frame. I know that I'm out of compliance, but that's because I'm trying to do the right thing by being safe (wearing gloves when I'm supposed to and washing my hands in between patients) and checking my meds 3x before I open them and give them to the patient. I know that I can do the job and in time will build up my speed, but right now I'm really feeling like I'm never gonna get there and my boss is looking at me like "speed it up and do it real soon". Any advice??

I did my clinicals at Alameda in Perth Amboy, Raritan Bay (Old Bridge & Perth Amboy), Robert Wood (New Brunswick & Rahway), Summit Oaks Hosp, JFK Hartwyck and St. Peters. The experiences were very good overall, but it also depends on when the opportunities present themself. There is no homework, HOWEVER you have quizzes just about everyday. Depending on how well you retain the info and understand it, you may or may not need to study. Passing grade is 75 and quizzes represent 60% of your total grade, but try to maintain a quiz average of 85 or higher. Most of my classmates and I studied are a***s off every night to maintain a high quiz average. As I've told everyone I've spoken to (friends, family, etc) I have NEVER studied as much or as hard as I did in college as I did in nursing school. I've never been one to study, but for nsg school you simply have to. There were many times when I was tired and felt overwhelmed, but I pushed myself to do it and I did.

Hi Everyone, I graduated from Middlesex Cty Vo-Tech's day program this June (2010) and passed my NCLEX on the first try. The program is very good (and stressful), but I did learn a lot. And it is true - you will lose students during your first semester. I lost a little more than half of my starting class.

Congrats Sky!! I, too, believe you provided us with great advice and encouragement. Just out of curiosity... did you have any previous experience in the medical field? I'm graduating in June and have been pondering on how to do a resume. I have no previous medical experience; only in HR/Payroll.

I think the question is straight forward. Are you sure you posted your response in the correct area? He/She already has a BSN (Bachelors of Science in Nursing). Therefore, assuming they've taken and passed the NCLEX, they have their RN license. Once you have that, you don't need to go to an accelerated program. The accelerated program is only for those who have a Baccalaureate degree in a non-nursing field and wish to pursue a degree in nursing (BSN). A School Nursing certificate is separate from your license. In order to practice as a school nurse, you must be a licensed RN and possess a school nurse certification.

I would try your local library. They always have study guides for every test under the sun. If for some reason they don't have your test available, try the state library http://www.njstatelib.org/CyberDesk/Newsletter/Link_2nd_quarter_2005.pdf

Here's a list of schools that offer the certification program: http://www.njssna.org/certificationReq.htm I plan on returning to Kean University once I get my RN. If you decide to enroll in their program, I highly recommend taking any class with Dr. Bowe. She's a great professor!

hi lauren, i know of a professional resume writing service based out of monmouth county, nj. i've never used it, but i have 2 close friends who have and both have said that they would highly recommend him (everyone calls him "resume rob". here's the site: http://www.creativeedgeresumes.com/ i believe he may be a little pricey, but knowing of 2 people who landed jobs immediately with his service, i think the cost is worth it. i plan on using him when i graduate from nursing school next year. because my degree is in a non-nursing field, as well as my work experience, i don't know where to begin to incorporate all of that in with my clinical experience. good luck to you and keep us posted on how you make out!

I'm so glad that I found this thread. These notes are going to come in handy for me in a few weeks!!! THANK YOU SO MUCH for posting this info!!!

I've been accepted to start the LPN program at Middlesex County Vocational in February. (I've been applying everywhere like crazy (since there's a waiting list to most programs) and I'm really happy to get into a program finally). Just wanted to see if anyone here will be attending the program as well. If you've already attended, any feedback you can share would be greatly appreciated.

I've applied to UCC's LPN program and am now just waiting for a response on my acceptance. I know it's an open college program, however since it's difficult to get into most nursing programs (because of the wait), I don't want to have the mindset that I'm going to get in until I actually see it in writing. Anyway, I have a few questions about their program that I'm hoping can be answered by those of you are already in the program or have graduated. -Do/did you like the program? -Do they offer night classes? -How's the staff? -Do you feel the program has prepared you to take the NCLEX with confidence? -Where do they have their clinicals? -Once you graduated, did it take you long to find a job? If so, how long? -Would you recommend the program to others? I'm still new to this area so I apologize if I've asked questions that seem stupid. If there's anything you can share about the program that I may not have asked, please do. I'm all ears!! Thanks in advance!!

Me too.