vamores

Do not take Kaplan. I have not met one person who said that it helped. They only talk about strategies. And if you do not have a foundation on the basics then you will not pass. Take a review like Excell nursing review which is 10 days long and they will teach you things that not even nursing school did. Also only stick to one book for a review, like Saunders. I passes with 75 after the review and going over questions in the Saunders book. When I took Kaplan I got a substitute. They just choose anyone to teach. Excells instructors all have been teaching with excell for 15 to 20 years. They are all specialists in their field and and hold masters degrees. The instructors are all the same people. On the board exams you will get a lot of priority, infection control, delegation.

Just a little advice. Take a review and by review I dont mean Kaplan. They are widely known because they have the resources to put themselves out there. I took a ten day review from from Excell nursing review and it was the best money I have ever spent. They go over everything you need to know on the exam, including priority and infection control, and how to prioritize giving the meds. They have several instructors that go with each category that they go over. The instructors are the same all the time and are specialists in their area as well as having masters degrees. Some have been teaching for over 15/20 years. People know of this review by word of mouth. They travel all over the united states and teach. I took Kaplan as my first review because everyone did it and I got a substiture because the original person could not make it. I also felt that I learned nothing. So I failed the 1st exam at 75. I took Excell and then I passed with 75. Most my questions were infection control, delegation, priority meds, prioritizing, ect. this is long but hope it helps.

I utilized family and got student loans. I ruffly got 3 hours of sleep per night and there were times that I wanted to quit, but I would look at my 3 month old and say that this is towards a better life for us. My son and I stayed in three different residences and I was practically living out of a suit case in my car. My hair was falling out and I had nose bleeds everyday because of the stress from school, lack of sleep, and being a new mom. If you want something bad enough, then you will find a way.

If anyone has any ideas out there for me PLEASE LET ME KNOW!!! Ok I just passed my boards this December and I graduated in 2007. I decided to take time off so that I may reconect with my son. I figured I could spend time with him and then take the boards later and I would be able to find a job because of the shortage. Boy was I wrong. I have extensive back ground in the healthfield, and some jobs that people have told me would help in getting me a job as a nurse because it looks good. What is my experience? CNA, phlebotomist, worked for Americorps and was part of the umbrella project in Marin County. During my externship I wanted more than just Med/surg experienced so I also externed in special procedures where I was able to handle concious sedation medications. And instead of an AA degree in Nursing I went with a BSN, which cost me more money. Any how to make a long story short I have been denied because I did not fit requirements or Im not a 2008 graduate. 80% of my classmates who have jobs got in because of a relative or good friend who was friends with the floor manager. I guess its who you know, not what you know. And as far as a BSN being better than an AA, not true. Because my AA nursing friends got their jobs because of a friend.