GottaBeanRN

Well, the wait is over.... I PASSED!!! Thank you all for your prayers and good wishes. This is the best feeling in the world!!! GOood luck to you all!

Hi everyone... So I took the NCLEX yesterday and it shut off at 86. Has anyone ever heard of someone failing with that #? I know the whole number of questions doesn't matter... but I can't help but ask. Any info???

I graduated 12/04 also but I interviewed with CHOP in Aug. The hospitals may have filled the new grad positions. Some have specific orientation dates which may have passed. Keep looking and don't give up... esp. if you passed NCLEX already.

I'm so happy that you finally found out!!! Great job and Congrats!!

I really enjoyed the class. I also had the Kaplan book that they sold in stores but I felt that the class really helped. Also, if you sign up you have access to A LOT more study questions at the center b/c they allow you to use the ones for internation nurses which are great. There are also stream lined videos which go over the content. I would pay for the class if you can afford it. Put it this way, it'll end up paying for itself over and over again once you pass! (by the way I couldn't afford it and I did it anyway).

I am so happy to see that you guys are also getting lower scores on the questions (no offense)!!! I was starting to worry! I bought the online question review which I really really like!!! Still scoring on the lower end but I like it!!! :-) I just can't wait for this all to be over (1 week)!!!!! PICURN... did you pass? I saw a lot of posts from you and I am just waiting to see THE ONE!!! good luck I am sure you did fine w/ 75 ques!

Thank you all for your replies. I have 1 week to go!!! WIsh me luck and good luck to all those taking THE test! :)

HI all! First of all, congrats! I am scheduled to take the NCLEX next week and am starting to flip out. I have a question for you all... do the questions that are offered by Kaplan reflect the types of questions that are on NCLEX? I completed the Kaplan program and am now simply studying questions and occasionally some content. However, I am using only the Kaplan quest. Just hoping that I am Ok with that. Any input??

HI there, I am also studying for NCLEX. Ever since my first day of nursing school, I have been told to memorize all lab values. You definetley need to know them for the boards. They will not ask you upfront questions about them but you will need to recognize normal and abnormal values in order to implement your nursing care. My suggestion... know all your values! Good Luck

Thank you all for your input. I am planning on taking Nclex in mid-Feb so hopefully I am doing something right. For those of you who took Kaplan and Nclex do you feel that the questions resembled eachother? I am doing the Kaplan course and in class I am getting the questions right so I hope that's OK. I don't want to boost my confidence and then hear that the questions in Kaplan were nothing like Nclex. Good Luck to all you guys!

Hi All! I am trying to study for this dreaded NCLEX and just wondering if anyone else is feeling the same as I. I am taking the Kaplan review which is great and I am devoting lots of time to study. However, I feel like I am doing soooo much content review but if I don't I won't know it. I just graduated and feel like I don't know a thing!!! This is horrible! I really feel like i am not getting anywhere! Can anyone help? I study A LOT but am not sure if I am being as effective as i should be!

An accelerated BSN program is for people who already have their Bachelor's degrees (like yourself). The only 2 schools in NJ that offer this type of program are Fairleigh and Seton Hall and they are really expensive. You would get the degree in 13 months straight thru. If you went to a county college you would receive an associate's degree in 2 years depending on what pre-reqs you already have. There are also diploma schools such as Mountainside that you could look into. I don't know much about them. Just a little advice... yes there are a lot of jobs in nursing but it is not a career for everyone. Make sure you are doing it for the right reasons. It is a lot of work! Hope this helps.

I would sell it for $40 plus s&h. i just looked on alheart.com and it is currently on sale for $62.99. If anyone is interested PM me. I will only accept a check, and once I receive it I would send the stethoscope out immediatley. P.S. I would sell it on ebay but I don't have time to sign up and worry about it. I would rather just sell it to a nursing student on here.

Hi, I couldn't help but read the thread... I am a nursing student who is graduating in Dec. and going into Peds. I currently own a Littman Classic and am looking to sell it only because I need a Ped stethoscope. My stethoscope is in MINT condition. This is really horrible but I didn't use it much during my rotation. It's black and I have an extra set of earpieces. If anyone is interested PM me and we can negotiate a price. This would be perfect for a nursing student!

Good Luck with your interview! What area are you looking into? I had an interview with Monmouth Medical over the summer (which is also apart of St. Barn's) and it was OK. I am looking into Livingston now. Wish you well and let me know how it goes!

rmcgrog, Just wondering if you are a new grad? I will be beginning at CHOP as a new grad in Jan and would love to talk to you to get an insider's view. Hope to talk to you soon!

ER1010, Just call the nursing recruitment office at CHOP to set up a shadowing day. I recently accepted a position there and they were extremely helpful with that.

Thanks to all of you for your informative responses. I really appreciate it. I still have not made a decision but believe me I can not stop thinking about it and doing my research. There are other factors, important factors, that come into play with my decision. But I thought I should begin with the pros/cons of both hospitals. To me, I know I would learn a lot more at the large teaching hospital and become a great nurse. However, the other hospital seems to offer great things as well. I guess I just have a lot of thinking to do. But thanks again and I am still open for suggestions!

Hi Canoehead, Thank you for getting back to me. I was just wondering what types of things do you think I would learn at a smaller facility? I thought I would learn more at a huge children's hospital as opposed to a smaller one. I am nervous about being intimidated. But I suppose everyone is. I am just so tossed b/n the 2.

Hi Peds RNs, How are you? Just a quick question. I will be graduating in Dec. 2004 I have decided to become a pediatric nurse. OK, so here's my dilemma... I have absolutely zero experience as my peds rotation in school wasn't really beneficial as seeing I had one patient. I also didn't have the greatest classroom experience in the area. However, I am not going to let that stop me. I am a hard worker and decided that I will pursue this career path. Anyway, I have recently been offered 2 positions and am tossed up b/n them both. The first position is at a small children's hospital where I would be cross trained in the PICU and Peds dept. I was excited about this and thought it would a great idea. However, I was also offered a position at a reknown children's hospital that has an incredible reputation. It's a HUGE hospital and I know that I will learn a lot. It will be tough but I am ready. And this position would be on a med-surge type of floor. What should I do? Should I begin my career in a small hospital where I know I will be comfortable b/c of the size or do I go to a hospital where I will become a fantastic nurse. BTW the big hospital would involve me relocating which I could do but still something to consider. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance!

Hi All, I was recently offered a position at CHOP. I was just trying to get some "insider" info on what it's like to work there. I would relocate to work at CHOP so I am trying to make an appropriate decision. Also, I will be a new grad and from what I hear/read CHOP offers a great orientation and floor experience. Any input would be greatly appreciated, seeing as how I am really tossed up! Thank you so much!

HI there, So funny.. I am also looking into a position at CHOP. I'll be graduating soon and it seems like the best place to learn. I know obviously that the CICU would be intense but why do you think it would be. Just wondering if something was mentioned in an interview etc. How much are the benefits? and what are city wages? I am from out of the area and I have never heard of that. Thanks for any input!

Hi there PA Nurses? Any of you guys/gals work for CHOP (Philly)? I am considering applying as a new grad. Any input would be greatly appreciated! Thanks

I'd love to hear everyone's opinions concerning unionized hospitals vs non-union. I'll be graduating in Dec and debating about which to apply to. Thanks

Hi NJ! I'm a nursing student who will be graduating in Dec. '04. I was just wondering if anyone has any advice as when I should begin to visit hospitals. I attend a school that is out of the area therefore I would like to at least attempt to secure a job before I leave in Aug. I am currently participating in an externship program at a NJ hospital however obviously it is not guarenteed that I will be hired. I also want to do my research before accepting a position. I am really interested in the Merdian Health Care System (down the shore) and also St. Barnabus in Livingston. How do I approach this? I am assuming that I contact a Nursing Recruiter but do I approach it as an interview situation or more like a casual meeting? My goal is to learn about the hospital and what it offers nurses so I can make the best decision towards a job. I just hope that it's not too early that I do this but once August comes I will not be back home in NJ until I graduate! Any input would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!