2CareerRN

I think many of us have been there...The first year is just tough and letting things roll off your back is all you can do at times. Please don't take it serious with the nasty ones and never forget where you came from...There will be a time when you will be there for someone else but it takes time :)

The CPNE study guide is overwhelming at first but once you start to break it down it does gets easier and like LunahRN says, read every word!!! The workshop will help you no matter how you look at it. It really helped me to have a mock room in my home. The careplans are big and you really need to have them under your belt rather then starting an IV. The CEs will be your best friend! You will have a lot of questions as you study so be sure to have your support system like Excelsior online groups. Good luck!!!

If I knew what I know now back when I started taking courses, I probably wouldn't have gone into nursing. Yet, I am here in nursing doing the best I can to provide the best care I can. I can't say that I LOVE nursing now but I don't Hate it either. I am getting experience and am hopeful that someday I will find my niche in the nursing field. I can't change what I have done but I can change what I will do... But for those who do not like nursing, if at all possible find something you like and go for it...you deserve to be happy!!!

Do what makes you happy!!! :)

pharmgirl wrote my words...great advice. During your transition, keep an eye out for a potential mentor. My mentor is someone I trust and has been in nursing for many years, she has helped me more then I can say. Good luck!

I did the same as Lisa. I Paid and scheduled each test, you will study knowing you just forked up $200+ for a exam. There are some study notes out there that might help you made by past Excelsior students (I think one was Lisa arends), you can search the net. Also, look for study guides on Ebay as someone mentioned. Good luck and "Just Do It!":D

LOL!!! Keep us posted!

I worked as a medic for 16yrs before getting my ASN at Excelsior. I used TCN. I didn't know better at the time but they did get me started. Some of their modules are good and help you pass the tests but others do not have all the info needed to pass some. If you want check out a module, look on Ebay first. Excelsior will tell you what you need to do and they are very helpful. If you are going to pay 4, 6 grand for TCN modules it would in your best interest to buy text book required by Excelisor instead. You will use them in the further while you work as a nurse. Good luck and PM with any questions...

A grid are boxes that people make with their mnemonics (for the most part). When you prepare for your PCS, you are allowed and encouraged by the CEs to make a "Grid" on the back of a blank page. The grid allows you to organize your thoughts (the critical elements) and write them down in form of a mnemonic. Then as you do the tasks, you cross them off. If you didn't cross the task off then you have forgotten something which could cause you to fail a PCS. Like some have said, you don't have to use a grid but I would definitely come up with something that will help you organize the tasks you need to do. As simple as, "washing" your hands may seem, it is a failure if you don't do it so sometimes coming up with a mnemonic to make you remember it is just beneficial under pressure. Believe me, the CPNE is all about stress and pressure so you need all the help you can get. The grid is also good to use when you are documenting. Even though you have done a task you must document that you did it at the end of each PCS. It's very hard to explain but once you do it a few times, it's will come naturally. Good Luck with your studies! Attached an example..but you need to make your own mnemonics because you will remember them better... :) Sample GRID.doc

I too used TCN. It is expensive and if I knew what I know now I probably wouldn't have signed up with them but I didn't know. I can't really say anything negative because it got me started on nursing while I worked as a medic (I am an RN now). If anyone did sign up with them, use the modules, they do have a lot of info that do apply to some of the tests. If anyone didn't sign up, do your research first and see if you can do without them, you probably can. Like Lisa S said, use the free study guides form Excelisor, you really can't go wrong there because they provide all the info for all the tests to be studied. There are routes you can take that are cheaper too for example: CLEP tests. Even if you CLEP it, you still have to find the materials to study to pass the tests. It really is about what works for each person but if you are broke, do not use TCN, it's better and cheaper to buy the texts books that you might use for years to come for the exams. There are many study guides out there, however, Excelisor is the most accurate. Just my 2cents.

Being a new grad can be hard. I have heard from many co-workers from a newer nurse of 1-5 years to experienced nurses 15+years who tell me the "1 year" mark is crucial. Once we hit the 1 year mark, things will just click and the blues will be much less. Well, the times you feel "stupid" maybe think differently...maybe say to yourself, I just learned something and it will get better. Hey, I am still a new grad and I am trying every avenue to keep my spirits up and keeping myself from feeling stupid. Doesn't mean I don't still feel it at times and I do think it's just part of being a new grad. And really, you are in the ED my friend...much much to learn! Keep up the good work :)

It's always good to vent! Is there any way you can talk with her; try to explain how you see things and how you guys can come to a compromise. If something isn't done about this, you will no like your job. That would stink.

Steve's post is exactly what I would suggest. Please continue on and try out the CPNE before going to another program. If you put your time in, it will show at the CPNE. You can do this!

Like any other language, if you don't use it after studying it you lose it. I took 3 ASL courses plus deaf culture for my own benefit and have only used ASL 2xs since then in my nursing career. Since I don't sign regularly with the Deaf I would need go back again to refresh and learn again. What ever you decide it's a beautiful and difficult language to learn but worth it for your own knowlege.

It is such a feeling to finally pass the CPNE, I did about a year ago yet it feels like yeterday...celebrate your success!

I currently wear bilateral BTE hearing aids. My right ear is my better ear and my left is just useless in any case (I wear bilaterals to balance my equilibrium :)). I use an electronic lipman stethoscope with volume control. I take my right ear out and can hear lung sounds and heart sounds. I put extra effort into hearing them that sometimes I catch issues quicker then someone who isn't deaf or HOH. As far as hearing someone while the stethoscope is in my ear, I just tell that person that I can't hear with the stethoscope in my ear. How many medical professionals do you know that can hear the patient talking to them with the stethoscope in their ears? Not many in my experience. I did consider and talked with my Audiologist about getting holes drilled into my ear molds to accept smaller diameter stethoscope loops but that would cause more feedback and decided against it. I wear scrub pants that have a large pocket on the right leg for my report paper and a smaller one inside the larger one which is dedicated for my hearing aid. These are the two things that I can not afford to lose during my shift and it works out perfectly as long as I don't get clumsy. I worked on an ambulance as a paramedic for over 16yrs and I had a similiar method with my cargo pants and at that time I wore bilateral ITEs. I did fine with that too. I have longer hair and it was easy to take out my hearing aid after turning it off to prevent feedback and slip it effortlessly into my little pocket. Most people do not notice and if they did, they wouldn't say anything because it is just not a big deal. I have more issue with co-workers not facing me while they talk to me then anything, that is when I need to educated so that I can get my job done. Just because someone can hear 100% does not mean deaf/HOH person can't too they might have to rely on other things to add to their hearing, like lip reading. Most hearing people don't understand and why would they unless they are educated? Nursing is stressfull enough and I don't want my deafness to add to that stress if I can help it. I hope everyone finds what works best for them because there is a way!!!! Good Luck!

You are not alone, I think all new grads feel something similar as you, I know I do. It takes time to build confidence with hands on experience. I agree with the procedures and polices, they are your best friend. If you follow them, you can't get into trouble. Good luck and keep us posted.

Nursing is my second career, I am still a new grad. I don't exactly feel the "nurses eat their young" thing. I have, however, had honest nurses tell me how it is and what I need to work on to be a better nurse. During my orientation I have been pulled into rooms by experienced nurses behind closed doors telling me exactly how they felt. A couple of times I cried (funny, I am not a crying type) but they would get me the tissue. I would still walked out with my head high determined to prove myself. I just don't think any experienced nurse (preceptor) wants to see us fail especially if they put a lot of time on us. I was fortunate enough that I had a very experienced preceptor who was hard core. She wasn't going to allow me to slack or learn any "tricks." She was very intensed at first and then let me go on my own. If I screwed up, she had no problem telling how my screw-up could have effected patient care. I learned so much from my preceptor that I asked her to be my Mentor. Best thing I have ever did. No matter who we deal with, we can only do our best. And for some nurses, our best won't be good enough...learn from them.

Venting too... I am so glad to have found this trend. I am currently feeling this way - OVERWHELMED! I have been on a cardiovascular surgical unit for 5 months and work nights. At times it's not bad when I have everything organized and stable patients. It's when I have 5-6 pts who are not so stable and require many assessments/meds/interventions. Giving reports to the day shift can be very challenging since they are detail oriented. I have 5-6 pts to their 3 so it's understandable. I do find myself saying, "I don't know" and that is when I feel incompetent. I can't know everything but I try hard to get as much info down on my assessment sheets which I am forever changing in hopes to be more organized. I was oriented by a very good preceptor who didn't give up on me. She is my mentor today, thank gosh I have her. Yet, when I see her I can't think of questions to ask (we work opposite shifts). I do my best to ask as many questions during my shifts. Sometimes I am so busy I don't have time to ask the questions that just pop in my head. Then I would forget them. The biggest overwhelmed feeling I have now is the stress of "did I do everything!!! - (give all meds, document everything, tell the day nurse this or that, and etc). I try hard not to think about these things at home but it's so hard. Now of course that interrupts my sleep and that doesn't help with working nights. I try hard to stay upbeat and happy...but there are days when I get the attitude from another nurse who knows I am new that I have a hard time holding my composure. I am in my 40s and this is my second career so it is just hard at times. I have to constantly tell myself that I am new and they are experienced. I just wish all the experienced nurses would love to teach but the reality is - not everyone wants to teach. I am okay with that, I just have to keep telling myself that (keeping my mouth shut!). Being overwhelmed is frustrating. I do think I have some anxiety now and I did cry a few times during my orientation but for the most part, I am getting very tired... When I first started my job, I would come home every day and study something. Searching the net, looking up anything and everything in drug books, nursing manuals, pathophysiology reference and etc. I ordered many discs on critical care...then it's like I just stopped one day. My brain is full and the more I read the less I know. I only look up stuff at work but the "homework" not so much...Did anyone else does that? If someone asked me now if I like nursing, I would definitely tell them to ask me in 6 months...it's tough but I feel like it will be rewarding at some point...

these videos are awesome! and so the truth...:lol2:

congrats!!!! what a feeling huh!!!

nurseamber t, now that you have signed up with them it won't be a total waste of money, but don't just utilized their modules alone. be sure that you look at the ec study guide and check if there is anything that wasn't covered in the tcn module. i did well enough with sociology and across lifespan using just tcn modules. i used both tcn and other study texts for micro and all my other nursing courses. the one thing i can say that was good with tcn is, they did encourage me and got me started on my nursing degree. and don't forget, many people absolutely loved tcn because all the material is condensed. they just may not cover everything. good luck...

his dvd will help you soooooo much! best $$ i have ever spent!

prior to the lab stations you are given 15 minutes to look at equipment. touch, open and make sure you are familiar with the syringes, abdominal pad, injection sites and etc. i failed the wound station because they had a different 5x9 abd pad then the one i practiced at home!

awesome! good job dawn gn!!!!