xnmexicanx

I started my nursing career as a CNA, right out of high school at age 18. I worked at a long-term care facility for 2 1/2 years. It is a difficult job (as said earlier, you will be the one to clean up bodily exceretions), but it is very rewarding, especially if you are able to work in long-term care and get to know all of your residents. I also recently graduated from nursing school (ADN program), and I can tell you that being a nurse's aide definitely helped my during my clinicals. I also believe that it will continue to help me, through my career as a new nurse. I am no longer afraid of poop, pee or anything else that may come my way in that regard. I have learned how to work fast and efficiently to get the work done that needs to be done (I had 14 residents with one other CNA, and almost all of these people were non-ambulatory). I have learned how to better interact with people who have dementia (they are in nursing homes and hospitals, too), and how to bettter handle stress at work. I believe its a very good way to get a taste of some of the things you will encounter as a nurse. Good luck in your future nursing career!

When you said: "Everything I'm doing is for my parents and the money. I told my parents how I feel and what's going on, but they pound me about doing nursing and it's THE ONLY WAY. Both my parents are CLS (clinical lab scientist) and have very, very high expectations of me." It sounded like you are getting a lot of pressure from your parents to become a nurse. In order to really put every effort that you can into nursing school, you have to want it for yourself, too! Nursing is a great field, but it isn't for everyone. If its not a career that you feel you would be satisfied with, try something else that you want to do. Its not worth your time or your money to work for something that you never wanted in the first place.

I love cycling and weight training, too! I think it was what helped me get through nursing school sane and without that dreaded freshman 15 (though I can't say I didn't indulge in a little chocolate after a hard test).

Great post!

Good luck on taking your NCLEX. I know that you will do fine. I actually did not study at all before taking the NCLEX, and found out yesterday that I passed with 75 questions. Not saying that this will work for everyone, but in other words, don't feel so bad about not doing as many questions a day.

The trick worked for me. I was unable to re-register to re-take the NCLEX (same message "our records indicate that you already have an exam scheduled") after I took the NCLEX, and I just found out through the quick results service that I passed! Whoo hoo!

I passed! The trick worked.

I had two RSV questions on my test as well. Also one on polycyto...I can't even spell the rest of it because it was such a long word. Never even heard of it. The only thing I'd really remembered about RSV is that it is common in preemies.

What is it about the older style of exams that is different from today's exams? I was dissapointed with how many infection control and CNA responsibility/delegation questions there were--not that they aren't important, but because I saw little to none of this in either my textbook or my nursing school tests (including HESI and ATI). I actually wished that there were more questions about disease processes and medications, as I am much more experienced with these and have done well with them in the past.

Thanks for the info and kind words. I got 75 questions. I have also read about a "trick" on here, that if you try to register for the NCLEX after already taking it, and get a message such as "our records indicate that you have already scheduled an exam" it means that you passed, but if it takes you to the payment screen then you did not pass. I hope its true, because I got the "already scheduled an exam" message! I will find out today whether or not I passed (pearson quick results service). I have a tele floor position on nights waiting for me, and with a great hospital! Hopefully, if I pass, I can take the job and start doing what I've been working towards doing since I was 18 (I'm now 22). Best of luck to everyone working on taking their NCLEX or waiting for their results! One final note: I will let everyone know how I did and if the "trick" worked or not.

Yes. There were A LOT of infection control questions on my NCLEX yesterday as well. I had little to none of these types of questions in nursing school. Yikes. Scary.

Thanks for the encouragement and the support. It means a lot. :)

Wow! Congratulations!

Thanks for the advice! I am glad I'm not the only one stressing. I can't believe you had to wait 6 weeks or more for info on if you passed or not. That would be pure agony.

Yesterday, when I took the NCLEX in NM, the information that they gave me to read before I took the test said that the number of questions had nothing to do with the score of your test. Arrrgh! I have to wait one more day to see my results and it really sucks.