Nurse2B2005

Hello, I'm thinking of relocating to Virginia, either Loundon County or Fairfax. What is the job market like out there for hospital nursing? I have almost 3 years experience on a renal/cardiac/tele floor. What are the staffing ratios in Virginia? And base pay for PM shift? Thanks!

Just saw this post, didn't realize it was over a year old . . . but I am in a similar situation. I signed a contract for 2 years in June, only because my hospital employed another training agency to come in and do a 6 month orientation for new grads which included classroom and skills lab training time. I'll withhold the company name that was hired to do the training - PM me if you want it. Anyways, at the time, I figured 2 years was a piece of cake - I was able to get through nursing school - so 2 years would be a breeze. I love my job, love the floor that I am working on - but at the same time, I didn't think about other 'life circumstances' that would make it hard for me to keep my contract. (i.e., illness of parents). The actual 'contract' was just a piece of paper that I signed stating that I would owe $12K prorated if I did not stay for 2 years. That's pretty much it - no other fancy schmancy legal terms on there. But what if I have to leave for family emergencies, or to just quit and take a per diem job elsewhere to take care of my ailing parents??? Am I realisitcally liable, and does it look bad on my resume???? Unfortunately, I didn't consider that I would have other life issues that could interfere with my employment there when I took the job. I am reluctant to talk to HR or my Director about it until I know for sure if I cannot meet my 2 years. But with the way my mother's health is declining, I will need to take care of her at some point in the near future (she lives in another state.) Any feedback is much appreciated.

I think you can click on her user name on the left side and it shows you all the updated blogs.

I know it's frusterating. A bunch of us took the test on the same day and we all found out within a few weeks of each other. Needless to say, whoever didn't post as quick as the others sure felt like they had failed. As for the IP issue - I have seen 3 people in my new grad program leave work because they didn't pass the boards. All of their IPs still show up on the website when you do a search for them. I don't think th BRN automatically takes theirs down because they failed, because their names are still up. Anyways, best of luck to you. The waiting game stinks.

YES! I had to go back and watch that too! The son was holding hands with an Asian man - I love the diversity that the creators depicted. Also, I had to go back and 're-wind' to see that it looked like Brenda had re-married and was pregnant again. One thing I noticed was that it didn't look like Claire was aging at all until she was 102. I don't know if they wanted her to appear youthful throughout the years, or if that was a symbol of something else.

I watched the show faithfully since the first episode. Many of my friends didn't like it as much as I did and would just say "that show is too depressing and dark". I did think it was dark - but I could also see myself in each of the characters. It's about struggling to come into your own. What I loved about the final episode is that each character finally came into their own. In a way, I could relate to everyone in the episode in some small way. From my point of view - each character faced tremendous guilt and that is why the father Nate, or the brother Nate would come back and "harass" the character. It wasn't until each character was at peace with themselves that the departed would quit coming back. That was a powerful lesson to me - let go of the past guilt in anything with your life. It is then that you are truly set free. At least that is how the show spoke to me. The final 5 minutes of the show were beautiful. I think it was extremely well written. I read a spoiler for the show that talked about how everyone dies in the end - and the ending truly surprised me. I was waiting for Rico to come back and set the house on fire. I had no idea that they would write the ending so well and it would be nothing like I originally thought it would be. I went back and watched the ending a few times (thanks to DVR!) and each time I marveled at how the show finished and didn't leave you wondering what happens with everyone. The ending definitely satisfied me! :) I was depressed when Sex in the City ended, and now, I am finding myself sad that another great HBO show is over.

I just started work and am only 2 weeks into the job, so I don't have much to complain about yet :chuckle But, I was hired for swing shift, and that was what I requested. I am in a 6 month orientation program and orienting on the day shift for 6 months, and then I move to swings, which I can't wait for, since I am not a morning person. I would say that half of our new grads (out of 45) were hired for days, the rest swings and nights. I don't know of anyone that got a shift they didn't want. As for the working conditions, I think I am very lucky to be in a 6 month orientation. Everyone is very supportive so far - but as nursing goes, I am anticipating some good days and bad days. Best of luck to you!

Congrats to you!!! :balloons: Go out and celebrate!

congrats to you!!! :balloons:

Great news! Congrats to you!!! :balloons:

Congrats dmg213 and anita2812!!!! Way to go!!! :balloons:

On the front of our program we put a picture of our class in white scrubs. On the top it had our school name, Registered Nursing Program, year, etc. That might be a thought for you, unless you already have a class picture to put somewhere else in the program. Good luck!

Hi Jamie! I think that you are studying just perfectly! Your scores on your 100 questions that you are doing are in line with what everyone else is doing on this site. I would keep reviewing what you feel weak in, and study lab values to a "T". Right before I took the boards, I almost purchased the mosby RN cat, but decided against it - I still passed with 75 questions. Keep doing the 100 questions a day! Most recommend answering 3000 questions before you sit for the boards. If you absolutely HAVE to study something else, I would go with Saunders Q&A. Best of luck - and keep us posted! :)

Congratulations!!! :balloons: :balloons:

Congrats!!! Great Job and great news!!! :balloons:

I really think it depends on every individual. I studied utilizing Saunders, Kaplan, Hurst, etc. My goal was to answer at least 5000 questions before I sat for the boards. Everyone is different though. Some posters on this board recommend doing at least 3000 questions. I did roughly 6 hours a day on some days, and less on others. I had a calendar by month, and everyday I wrote on there what I was going to review to keep me focused.

Sorry to hear that you didn't pass. I am glad to see that you have re-scheduled. I think it would be easy to not want to take it again, and I think that it shows dedication and preserverance that you went ahead and re-scheduled. Best of luck to you!

Hi PrettySam! Mine was actually pretty quick. Since I took it on a Thursday and my name showed up on the website the following Tuesday morning, they issued my license on Monday the 11th. That is darn fast for California, at least IMO. Our school sent in our transcripts in one big envelope in the beginning of June. I really think it just depends on where you took the test and when the board gets to your test. Some classmates took the test in one center, and with all of them, their names post in one to two weeks. Where I tested, it processed quickly and up on the website in 5 days. (And this seems to hold true with the 25 people that I know that tested where I did, sounds coincidental, or that center is efficient.) But they do have to have your file complete before they issue the license, so you might want to check up on that. Hope that helps!

It varies. I took mine on 7/7 and the results were on their website on 7/12. Others in Ca can seem to take weeks.

Rain - I'm so happy for you! That is QUICK! I'm glad you didn't have to wait long for your results! Best of luck to you!

My highest score on Kaplan was 71% and that was just on 1 test. On the others, I was anywhere from 61ish to 65ish. You are ready!!

1. All of my friends who have already taken the exam tell me to not even bother continuing to study because it was useless to them.....everything they knew was not tested on and everything they didn't know was tested on a lot. I felt the same way too - but in reality, you always want to be prepared for what they do ask you. I feel like I wasted a ton of time studying for things they never asked me, but the end result, I am hoping that it sticks in my brain and I can use it when I am orienting on the floor, or that it will come back to me in the future if I need it. If my computer does not shut off at 75, I will panic. If it does shut off at 75 I think I will be certain I bombed it really bad. (???) Don't think about the number of questions. Focus on each and every question. When mine shut off at 75, I wanted it to keep going. However, if that had been the case, I think I would have freaked out if it kept going, because that would mean that it hadn't deemed me competent yet. It's a double edge sword. Just answer every question to the best of your ability. Read all the posts on here - it's rare that one fails at 75. But everyone that passes at 75 can attest that they felt like they had failed. No sense in worrying about that until you come to it. 3. I have too much riding on this exam. (Leaving a really good job to start a nursing career) If I don't pass then I have to re-plan my immediate future. A lot of us felt the same way. I had a job lined up that depended on me passing. No matter what, don't let that get the best of you. Focus on the here and now. 4. No matter how much I study I feel like I don't know ANYTHING. You know a lot more than you think :) 5. My school has had 100% percent pass rate the last few years, thats a lot of pressure...... That's even MORE reason for you to feel like you are prepared!! 6. Sometimes I'll take a review exam and do really well, and other times I fail horribly. I feel like I don't know anything I just sporadically get lucky. Read some posts from others. Everyone scores anywhere from 50-80% depending on if they are having a good day. Remember, you need to get 50% on the NCLEX and 50% wrong. 7. I am under so much stress, I am starting to sound like a maniac...( I thought once graduation was over it would be a piece of cake) DOES THIS FEELING EVER GO AWAY? The feeling will go away once you find out you pass. Trust me, the feeling gets worse after you take the test until the day you find out. 8. Given the opportunity to do it all over again, I don't know if I would want to have put myself through this. I said the SAME thing!!! But now that it's over - it's all worth it - and I would do it again! Once I finished NS, I noticed all of the things I have missed out on. I've been a terrible girlfriend, daughter, sister, friend, etc...and I feel so guilty if I missed out on so much only to fail a REALLY important test...and have nothing. You haven't been a terrible anything. If anything, you are wonderful and dedicated because you reached for a dream that is about to come true. It's there for your taking. Prepare yourself well, take some deep breaths - and walk in there like you own the test!!!! Take comfort that you are not alone in all your feelings. We have all been there in one way or another. Best of luck - and keep your chin up!!!!

Hi Jen2! On the Kaplan trainer cd, I never scored above a 71% on the first try. 71% was also my highest on just one test! The lowest was 61%. I went through every rationale on the cd to make sure I understood why I got every one wrong, and why each one was right, as well. That is the key to studying. I had very similar grades as you - I think you are doing well to prepare yourself for the test. I also utilized Saunders and scored between 70-80% on a good day :) The NCLEX is a very anxiety ridden experience - the preparation/studying for it, the actual test taking portion, and especially the waiting period for your results. I visited these forums quite frequently before the test, and I would definitely agree with the people who say to take the day off before the test from studying. If you have to study, just go over lab values to make sure you memorized them. You brain needs a breather the day before the test. Please keep us posted!

Congrats!!! Best of luck!!! :balloons:

I used both along with a myriad of other things, esp Saunders for content review. Had I not have taken the Kaplan review with the Qbank, I think that I would have been surprised when I sat for the nclex. The way that the questions are worded is very close to Kaplan and ncsbn combined - although I thought the questions on the boards were harder. Hope that makes sense. Good luck to you!