deveonag9

of course, i have been checking all night for my license number to appear on the state of michigan website automated website. i checked around 3am and it was not there. well after 6am and what do you know, it is finally here! it's official. i am an lpn. i can't wait to get my new badge. i was called in to work second shift today and i can sign lpn behind my name. i talked to the don (she called me in) and she said just bring my license number in. i am ecstatic. i can't eat or sleep. mixed emotions of excitement and tears of joy. i encountered some tough obstacles as went through nursing school (mom went into end-stage renal failure and is currently still on life support, became a single from co-parent, etc.). however, i still made it. if i can do it, anyone can. i feel so good because i am the first person in my family to graduate from college. i am glad that my mom pushed me to excel from elementary on up. i can't wait to go to the hospital to tell her. i am going to order two wall certificates so she can have one in her room. she is the reason why i am the person i am today. well enough said but thanks to all who replied during my crisis.

I live in Michigan and the same thing happened to me. Before I graduated there was no mention of the fingerprints. I was waiting frantically for my ATT and decided to call Pearson and they told me they were waiting on the State of Michigan. Once I called the state, I learned of the fingerprints. Soon after calling them, I got a letter from the State of Michigan. My letter stated 4-5 weeks too. However, I scheduled my appointment for the fingerprints and background check less than a week from the day I called them. It took about two days for the State of Michigan to get the results and Pearson sent my ATT a few days later. It was not 4 weeks. I hope this helps you feel better. :nuke:

I took the NCLEX-PN last week and all I can say is study, study, study those lab names and reference ranges. Put up poster boards or sheets of paper with the labs on the walls in your room. Look them over before bed, after making your bed, etc. Make up note cards with the lab names (include what abnormals indicate under the lab names but use small print with a pen and study this once you learn the names and ranges, you have to walk before you crawl) on the front and the reference ranges on the back. Study them as much as you can. Do you have an idea of which ones to study? If not, let me know. Practice writing down the lab name and reference ranges on a sheet of paper. Cross off the ones you get right. Continue doing this until you get them all right without looking at the answers. I was not good at it either but I have been working as a graduate and it is nice to know the important ones. I hope that this will help you because it helped me. I was sitting there taking the NCLEX-PN and thanking God that I knew lab values. You may or may not get them but they are nice to know anyways. :twocents:FYI:Use highlighters.I saw or read this tip somewhere a while ago and it helps.I think it keeps you alert. Good luck!!!!!!

I took my NCLEX-PN on 2-12-09 and I passed. I used the ExamCram Pearson Education textbook that included a cram sheet and CD, which cost about $30-$35. I would highly recommend this book since I felt as though my nursing knowledge was a little rusty and corrupted since I had been working as a graduate (TIP: Do not think real world, but think do think textbook for the NCLEX). I graduated back in Aug. 2008 and this booked helped put things back into perspective. I had to take a HESI exit exam that I bombed and it destroyed my confidence. However, I kept in mind that one of my nursing instructors said that was only one test. I took a review course in order to graduate and finally got the courage to sit for the NCLEX last week. I studied periodically up until about two weeks before my test. Then I went into full-blown NCLEX studying non-stop. No movies, no phone, no fun, etc. I studied the entire book from front to back which was about 19 chapters that included quizzes for each chapter. I also took two tests that were in the back of the book with rationales. I made note cards for things that I did not remember and brushed up in my week areas. I studied all the labs that the book recommended which mostly were on the cram sheet. I even put up poster boards and sheets of paper on my walls and boy did that help. During the test, it was as if I had a photocopy of some answers. Last of all, and the most time consuming but very, very, very helpful was the CD. First, you have to take a test so they can assess your weaknesses and strengths. Then (second), you can take tests in areas that you think you need help in. You cannot move on until you get the right answer or click that you want to see the answer. Either way you get rationales, which do help. During the last phase, (third) it was just like the NCLEX but not surprising since it is a Pearson book. You get five hours to answer questions and the tests stops on its on just like the actual NCLEX exam did. However, you cannot see rationales during this phase but it does tell you if you are above average, below average, etc. I took this about three times until I was above average. Before my last try on the third phase, I had completed 1000 questions including rationales from the CD. And yes, that included all of them but answering those questions and reading the rationales helps. Pay close attentions to the CAUTION areas in the book that include pertinent information you need to know. I am not positive but from what I can remember, all of my NCLEX-PN questions were covered in the book. I loved this book so much that I decided to keep it and review it on my on time. The book is titled ExamCram, NCLEX-PN Second Edition by Wilda Rinehart, etc. Pros: Too many to add but if you have any more questions I will be happy your answers. Cons: I do not remember doing any select all that apply questions but I only got two on the NCLEX anyways. I think there was only one question where you had to put things in order but I only got one on the NCLEX. Hope this helps!!:nuke:

I sat for the NCLEX-PN last week and I got 85 questions. That only included 2 SATA questions, quite a few meds that I was not familiar with, tons of prioritizing, and no calculations at all. I passed and you will to. Have faith and hang in there. I do not think that the types of questions are indicators of passing or failing. I did the same thing you did. I felt as though I did ok when I left the test site. However, once I got home the anxiety took over. I was checking my book for correct answers and trying to determine if I got more questions right than wrong. That only added to my anxiety. Do something to take your mind off of things. Good Luck! You can do it!

To clarify things to all. Please help me by answering some of my questions. FYI: *I have been working as a graduate nurse. *My pay was increased to LPN pay once they recieved a copy of my "unofficial" results. *I have not worked as an LPN but they have called me to come into work. *I have not signed my name and put LPN behind it. *I understand that signing LPN would be fraud. *I filled out applications with hopes that I will have a license number once my app is reviewed. *I am not calling but using the automated website to check the status. *I am not awaiting the actual paperwork but checking the status of my LPN license online.

Thanks, I guess I should calm down until Friday or the begininning of next week. By the way, I have not signed LPN as my title on any nursing documentation. I think that would be fraud. That is not what I meant. I have not even worked since I got the "unofficial" pass results. I need some more hours and that is why I am eager to find a job.

Thanks but I did not mean that I signed my name as LPN for my title. I put nurse extern or graduate nurse, which I have been working as. Although I did officially move up to LPN pay at my current job. I believe I read an NCLEX question somewhere that asked about a graduate signing LPN and I think the answer mentioned that would be fraud. To clarify things I meant that I wrote or checked LPN as the position I was applying for on applications. I explained my situation to each employer and almost all including a nurse recruiter said that it was ok. She mentioned that if I am considered they would hire me and I could start once the state issues me a number. Your advice is appreciated though but I need work and I can't sit around and wait on the license number to show up. Or I might night have a place to sit or live. My current job is only part-time and I need full-time work.

I know the feeling but you need to hang in there. I think I did read that it takes a while for Cali' s BON to issue results, etc. Try to do something to keep busy. I babysat my nephew to keep my mind off of things. It did help me until he went to sleep. Then I found myself searching the internet for answers again. Anyhow, back to you. Did you check with your previous post office? Did you know that it takes longer to get your mail when it forwarded? And sometimes mail from the state cannot be forwarded so it goes back to the sender. Call until you get some answers. If all fails send the M.O. and letter.

I did not open anything the night before the NCLEX exam either. I just and went to bed early although I kept waking up afraid that I had overslept. I drove 1-1/2 hours to the test site with hours to spare because I did not want to risk losing my $200. I ate at one of my favorite restaurants that are not in my city. That helped with some of the anxiety. As I sat in the car and waited for my time to go in, I wrote down the names and lab values that I thought I should now. I compared them to my book and they were correct. I went into the test site nervous but with some confidence. My "unofficial" results say that I passed so I guess that is a good tip.

I graduated from nursing school Aug. 08. I finally got the courage to take the NCLEX exam on 2/12/09. Before graduating, I bombed the HESI exit exam, which seemed much more difficult then the NCLEX. That destroyed my confidence and I was wondering if nursing was cut out for me. I got it together and took a one-day review course in order to graduate. I studied for the NCLEX exam using the Exam Cram book/cd by PearsonVue. This past weekend on Saturday exactly 48 regular and not business hours after I finished my exam, my unofficial results were available (why do they put us through agony by including business days). I had my 7 year old read the results and I practically and threw him on the floor when I jumped up to celebrate my "unofficial" results. My STATUS had finally changed from delivery successful to pass. :yeah:My neighbors probably thought someone was fighting. After a few days of obsessively checking the PearsonVue and Michigan BON website, I finally felt some relief. Well that was until today. The Michigan BON website has not issued me a license number. When I went to my current job today with "unofficial" pass results, they seemed surprised that I did not have a number on the MIchigan BON website. Should I be worried? Now I am obsessively checking the Michigan BON website. Is anyone on here from Michigan? Can my unofficial results be wrong? When or what time is the Michigan BON website updated? Please help me! I tried to calm myself down by looking for a new job all day. However, that only caused me more stress when I found out that all of the employers wanted a license number and expiration date. Anyhow, I did stay optimistic and continue to hunt for my new employer ( I also liked writing LPN). I explained that I had a copy of my "unofficial" results and most of the receptionists took a copy. Any advice, help, or words of encouragement would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!!!!:bowingpur