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Thank you! I spent the $350 on a Hurst review course. I recommend it. That is all I would study and pay special attention to the test taking tips. What i feel is the MOST IMPORTANT THING to realize: you are going to miss about 1/2 of the questions that you answer- this is how the NCLEX works, you will get continually harder level questions and you will miss a lot of them- that is why most people leave the testing center feeling like they failed. Other tips: - doing nothing is not going to be the answer- they want to make sure that you are going to save the life of the patient. - Know your PPE -Don't focus too much on pharmacology. The people that got a lot of those questions were getting drugs that they never heard of before (just assume the worst when you read the questions and pick the deadliest answer) -Know the limitations of a LPN and a CNA -review you basic/general S/S of more common diseases and disorders (i.e. hypokalemia, schizophrenia, etc) - watch for flag words like always, never, whenever, etc. These are likely NOT the answer. I read each question and answer twice and I tried to actually picture myself in an actual hospital and experiencing that particular situation. I spent an average of a bit more than a minute per question. The questions are straight forward and usually only 2 or 3 sentences long. It was the possible answers that got a little tricky. I counted the number of SATA questions (I maked them on the dry-erase board they give you). The more you get, the better you are doing. Knowing thet, I felt very confident when I hit 10 SATA before I was even on question 70. The same is true for delegation- they are also considered a higher cognition level type of question, so if you are getting those types of questions, you are doing well. Good luck!!!

Perhaps NCLEX really stands for: N eed to C onsume L ots of E xtended-release X anax It was the best I could come up with... the "X" really limits you on possibilities Anyway, I just found out today that I passed (75 questions, 10 were SATA, lots of delegation). Good luck to all who are going to find out their results in the near future!

Remember, it is geared to change and become more challenging until you are missing nearly half of the questions asked to you (hence so many people feeling like they failed right after the test). Don't freak out! The tougher the questions, the better you are doing!

Recruiters lie (or at least bend the truth). Not all of them, but most. Sorry. Not trying to burst your bubble. The military really is a good thing and I am glad I joined. But you may have to do a little research on the websites too. I doubt the Army Reserves would be paying a 30,000 sign-on bonus for RN's if there was such a surplus. Definitely talk to the Army and Air Force recruiters, but take what they say with a grain of salt. They are the salespeople of the military, but don't be afraid to talk to them. Remember- you can always say no.

guessing here... -0.3 years, but that number will be positive really soon (assuming I pass the NCLEX)

Don't focus on the what ifs...you'll have a CVA (stroke) Here are a few tips off the top of my head: -Just know that this is one of the most challenging things that you are going to put yourself through and prepare to study like you have never studied before. -still leave a little time (usually very little time) for yourself to unwind -don't wait to the last minute to study (I'm still bad about this) -make as many friends as you can in RN school -get comfortable shoes! -don't make assumptions -the class is only as good as the teacher- you will have good and bad classes! -sleep, diet and exercise is still important -limit your study groups to no more that 3 other people. maybe less. -don't argue with your instructor -do practice NCLEX questions often! -have fun while you learn. Try to realize your strengths and what field of nursing you want to do. -you will not really make a bed the way that they teach you, but that is still how you have to do it while your in school. This is only one of many examples of how school differs from real world nursing, but while your in school, you will do it their way. It's not worth complaining about. - last but not least- wash your hands!

I have heard a lot of positive reviews for the Hurst Review course and the Mosby review book. Remember that frame of mind is also very important when taking the NCLEX- the test is geared to get continually harder until you are only getting about 50% of the questions correct (the cognitive level of the questions keeps increasing). That is why so many people feel like they failed even when they passed. Don't freak out - if you are getting hard questions, you are doing well! so try to relax when you are actually taking the test.

I would contact the NY state board of nursing. They have a number just for questions concerning practice issues. contact: NY State Education Department Office of the Professions State Board for Nursing 89 Washington Avenue Albany, New York 12234-1000 Phone: 518-474-3817, ext. 120

Typically, the hiring manager will only be notified if you fail your drug screen (without a proven medical excuse). At least, that was my experience as a hiring manager for a blood collection center. I also take Adderall 20 mg XR. I also didn't even know I had ADD until nursing school. Basically, it helps me focus my attention on the books better. I have not seen/heard any repercussions from anyone who takes this medication as prescribed. It is also something that you will likely discontinue after you complete Nursing School. Important side note- I recently discovered that I test better if I don't take the medicine on test days. Don't know why, but after 4 consecutive "A"s, I don't question it, I simply don't take an Adderall on that day. YMMV

I completely agree with Gregoryt9. My brother served in the Army (4yrs) and I served in the Air Force (6yrs). He had more deployments but he was with a special ops group. I was assigned to weapons attached to a special ops unit and traveled a lot less. The food was definitely better in the Air Force and I feel that they are more geared to a family lifestyle, BUT country definitely comes first. I would never suggest the military for anyone who wants to start a family. I didn't know of ANY marriages that lasted longer than 5 years. It was sad. My niece, however, is now married to a military man and she is at the 5 year mark and still going. But I honestly consider that a rare thing. The Air Force usually has better living arrangements, better hours (more like a typical job), and less travel. The Army might have better school benefits (i.e. kickers). Both would be a great experience, but I would suggest only signing up for 4 years. In the grand scheme of things, that is not very long. It will fly by. ANOTHER THOUGHT- the Army Reserves is offering a $30,000 sign-on bonus to RN,BSN for a 4 year commitment. They have good education benefits (just shy of $2,000/mo) and its only 1 weekend a month/ 2 weeks a year.

Something to consider- the NCLEX is being revised and will be more difficult. This change will begin in April. Maybe you should try to get you test date for the end of March. Unfortunately, I don't graduate until May Here is some more detailed information: New York, NY (December 16, 2009) – With the December 10 announcement by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) to raise the passing standard on the NCLEX®-RN exam, aspiring nurses in the class of 2010 may find the upcoming exam more challenging than anticipated. The executive board of NCBSN votes on the passing standard every three years and in the past 15 years it has voted to raise the passing standard four times, with the latest vote impacting this year’s graduating nurses. The change will go into effect in April 2010. In 2007, the last time the NCSBN raised the passing standard, the higher passing standard translated to a drop in pass rates by around three percentage points among first time, US educated test takers. With approximately 140,000 first time, US educated test takers forecasted to take the NCLEX®-RN exam in 2010, this could translate to over 4,000 more nursing students failing the exam in 2010 than 2009. According to the NCSBN website, “With the increase in the passing standard, there is an anticipated decrease in pass rates. However, over the course of a year or two, the pass rates tend to return to the level prior to any passing standard increase.” “What nursing students should understand is that while this will make the test somewhat harder to pass statistically, the questions themselves will not become any more difficult,” said Barbara Irwin, director of nursing, Kaplan Nursing. “But the increasingly tight job market for nurses means it becomes even more critical for test takers to prepare for the NCLEX®-RN exam thoroughly. In such a competitive market, test takers will want to pass the exam the first time to make themselves as viable as possible for good positions. The good news is that at Kaplan Nursing, over the years we’ve seen that as the bar rises, aspiring nurses will rise to the challenge.” Among other changes to take effect in April 2010: • The Management of Care subcategory currently comprises 13% - 19% of the exam; this will increase to 16% - 22% of the test. • Reduction of Risk Potential subcategory currently comprises 13% - 19%; this will decrease to 10% - 16% of the test. • A newly designed test interface will launch, including a changed font and reshuffled button placements.

15% off at The Walking Company. good place for shoes. I live in Birmingham, AL. I am not sure if they are a chain or just a local company.

it all depends on the teachers. Unfortunately, I have NOT liked most of my NS experience. But this is my last semester and I finally have a great teacher! What a difference that makes!

you are in the shock and rejection phase (according to a textbook), but that many patients could put anyone in shock! There are so many aspects to nursing that I would suggest you keep looking and try something other than nursing homes. I know- easier said than done. Just don't give up and don't sell yourself short. Call the nursing recruiters at the local hospitals and ask if there are any openings EVEN THOUGH they don't have any posted. A few local hospitals here in Alabama do paid internships floating between 3-4 different departments, a few weeks at each one, and then they put you at the top of the hiring list and you get the next available position. Be proud of yourself- you are in a much more stressful position than most new nurses and you still have your head above water, you recognize that you need something that is challenging on more of a personalized level (say 3 or 4 patients, not 34) and you are doing something about it. Just don't give up!