michelios19RN

Our unit can hold 25. I can see this being a bit of an issue when we are full and have high turn around on beds.

This was very helpful. Thank you!

There are definite times when this is hard to do for the charge. They general try to split the floor with the NOC PCC. Several them will round as they are helping to answer call lights or assist with med pass or whatever. There are days when it has to be difficult for them to do. Rounding right now involves going around with a clipboard with focused questions but the PCC is being asked to create a note in the chart. Seems like more work, but we will see how it plays out.

Our charge nurse rounds on each patient daily. Usually they asking pt questions about specific topics like pain and if they are being rounded on hourly. The charge will now need to make a note regarding the rounding. How do you go about doing that especially if the patient has a complaint about a staff member or physician? I suppose I am looking for appropriate and inappropriate note examples to help my charge nurse out. I appreciate any help anyone can offer.

I used the Lippincott book and iPhone app, as well ATI and the ATI review course. I read rationales to my right and wrong answers. I also visualized. I wrote my signature on post it notes with RN after it. I told myself I would be successful even though the last couple days I was doubting. That test was hard. I'm glad it's over. ?

Good luck tomorrow!

Congrats to you and your hard work! Best wishes on your career.

Took the NCLEX today. 265 questions full of nursing goodness. I did the Pearson Vue trick and according to it, I passed. Can't wait to get my license number.

I take my test on the 5th. I've been using my Lippincott book, an NCLEX app, and ATI questions. I took the ATI Review class. I thought it was ok. I did pick up a couple things that I didn't know, but I am not certain if it was worth the money I paid. They do guarantee helping you until you pass the NCLEX. Hopefully I won't need their help beyond my first attempt.

Someone commented that their letter didn't say anything about the extra expenses such as CPR, ATI, immunizations, etc. You should be getting all that info during the orientation for your specific campus. As for working while attending school, would think that would be difficult. It's not impossible though. I feel fortunate that I did not have to be a mom, work, and go to school all at the same time (lots of awesome family help with this) but there were others in my class that had different situations. Several people would head to work after classes, others only worked on the weekend. I think in the end it comes down to doing what you know you have to do and that may mean working while going to school. You just sort of learn how to do it and stick to it until you finish. At least that's what the guys and gals that I am in class with are doing.

Does anyone happen to know the approximate cut offs for ASN and LPN Anderson are?

You are welcome for the info. Again, the school you will be attending may be giving you some of that information, but then again maybe not. I think it's nice being able to get a heads up. At the Anderson campus we were able to choose the brand and color of our scopes. I went with the raspberry Littmann Classic II. I like it a lot though I do find it heavy. Some of my classmates got the Littmann Lightweight. They tend to forget they have their scopes on. Others bought from the bookstore. The bookstore has a stethoscope and BP cuff set and they come in black as well as some colors. I recommend trying on some different scopes to see how well you can hear out of them before buying if possible. Another thing I forgot to mention is the cost of ATI. ATI is like prepping for NCLEX. ATI testing may also be tied to your final depending on your class and assuming other schools are doing what Anderson is doing. You should use it often. It is an additional cost, but at least comes out of your financial aid and not out of your pocket. ASN's can expect to be paying over 300 dollars (might be closer to 350? can't remember) and LPN's will be paying less due to being in school for only 3 semesters.

As someone who sat through the torture of waiting for the acceptance letter last year, I say congrats to all who got accepted for Fall 2011. At your orientation meeting you'll receive most if not all the information you'll need before you start school in August. There are a couple things that came as a surprise for me when I started at Ivy Tech last fall and maybe my experience can help you out a little. -First there was a cost for a criminal background check. This wasn't cheap and I had to use a specific company. This was paid out of pocket and had to be done before the first month of school was over. I think I paid 108 or 109. That kind of made me mad. -Get your stethoscope sooner rather than later. I regretted not using the great deal I saw at allheart.com. I could have saved 10-20 bucks versus rushing to Scrubs and Beyond the weekend for my groovy Littmann the weekend before the BP check offs. I knew I was going to need a stethoscope but didn't know when it was going to be needed. This is another out of pocket expense unless you want to get one from the bookstore. If possible, listen with one first and decide if it’s for you. -Don't forget to get a pin light. It cost a few bucks and you can get it in the bookstore. I don't recommend buying the ones that click (like a pen); I ended up breaking the bulb in my bag and have been bothered by clicking pen lights ever since. -White socks and white leather shoes -A little memo pad in your scrubs is majorly helpful and inexpensive. -You can reuse your red lab bag (I’m going to assume it stays red) from Fundamentals/Med-Surg to haul stuff to and from clinical. -Lose your extra piercings and cover those tattoos I’m sure that there is more but trying to think back to last year takes a lot of work. It’s amazing how quickly the first year flies by and how much you grow as a student nurse. Best of luck to all of you.

As someone who sat through the torture of waiting for the acceptance letter last year, I say congrats to all who got accepted for Fall 2011. At your orientation meeting you'll receive most if not all the information you'll need before you start school in August. There are a couple things that came as a surprise for me when I started at Ivy Tech last fall and maybe my experience can help you out a little. -First there was a cost for a criminal background check. This wasn't cheap and I had to use a specific company. This was paid out of pocket and had to be done before the first month of school was over. I think I paid 108 or 109. That kind of made me mad. -Get your stethoscope sooner rather than later. I regretted not using the great deal I saw at allheart.com. I could have saved 10-20 bucks versus rushing to Scrubs and Beyond the weekend for my groovy Littmann the weekend before the BP check offs. I knew I was going to need a stethoscope but didn't know when it was going to be needed. This is another out of pocket expense unless you want to get one from the bookstore. If possible, listen with one first and decide if it’s for you. -Don't forget to get a pin light. It cost a few bucks and you can get it in the bookstore. I don't recommend buying the ones that click (like a pen); I ended up breaking the bulb in my bag and have been bothered by clicking pen lights ever since. -White socks and white leather shoes -A little memo pad in your scrubs is majorly helpful and inexpensive. -You can reuse your red lab bag (I’m going to assume it stays red) from Fundamentals/Med-Surg to haul stuff to and from clinical. -Lose your extra piercings and cover those tattoos I’m sure that there is more but trying to think back to last year takes a lot of work. It’s amazing how quickly the first year flies by and how much you grow as a student nurse. Best of luck to all of you.

I'm currently working my way through my third round of clinicals and can say that I've had a pleasant experience overall. I feel fortunate that I've been introduced to nurses who are willing to answer my questions and allow me to actually participate in my clinical experience. Hopefully this will continue until I finish and then I hope to work in a hospital that is equally as helpful.