AshiPanda

Congratulations, becoming a nurse was the best thing I ever did for myself. I hope you find it the same for you!

STAY IN IT! Take whatever that teacher throws at you and roll with the punches. They are being strict because 1) you're taking care of HUMAN BEINGS, and 2) when you get watched by STATE while working, you better do it perfectly or you'll get fired probably! If she reprimands you, just play nice and dumb and ask her how she wants it done. Usually even if I know I'm doing it right or I have my own way of doing it, I give them their little spotlight and let them make their point, then move on with my life. Everyone is happier that way. Nursing school is SO stressful, I know, trust me, I got out less than a year ago... ...but it's all worth it in the end! So cry those tears and make the best of it :) 'Cause it doesn't matter later! You can do it!

Here in Sarasota FL, they require a little general school entrance exam that tests basic math and reading (and I think science), but it's easy. Then you must take their online anatomy and physiology test. I have a friend entering now, and now they require some kind of HESI test or something...this wasn't present when I went through the class. LPN generally doesn't require an associate's degree or anything though, lol.

It sucks, but it's not the end of the world. I was kicked out halfway through my LPN program due to being ill and missing an accumulated eight days. Just wait your penalty time, repeat what you gotta do and finish up, because it's WELL worth it in the end. I am now working and enjoy my job.

I worked like 30 hours a week roughly while in nursing school. It made it more difficult than it needed to be, but luckily I can get away without too much studying. But, hey... I had to work... Passed NCLEX first try though w/ the minimum number of questions. So it's definatley doable.

Wow, that's nice... I can't even get an agency to give me more than $20/hr so far. My full-time job (and I will get benefits) started me at $19/hr.

I used the Exam Cram by Pearson and a lot of the questions FROM that book I saw on NCLEX. I studied that book for a few days before the test and I passed with 85 questions! Good luck!

Stopping at 85 means you either passed with flying colors, or failed horribly... I would think if you weren't doing so good, it'd let you go on more to evaluate you further. Mine cut off at 85 and I passed. Did you think you knew most of the answers? If so, chances are you passed.

To me, LPNs are just as much of a nurse as the RN. The RN imo just gets paid more, can boss you around, had a little more schooling, and can give certain (very few) meds that the LPN can't. I am a LPN and I don't feel belittled at all when standing next to a RN. If people ask my occupation, I just say, "I'm a nurse," not "I'm a LPN." Don't let anyone tell you LPNs are worthless, 'cause we're not... WE FREAKIN' ROCK!

You'll be fine! I only had four days orientation as a new nurse and I do fine on my own. You figure out things as you go, ask questions, and just do your best! There is always someone to ask, just approach them politely .

I had like a 94% average in my LPN class, and I used Exam-cram book by Pearson to study for NCLEX-PN and I passed w/ the minimum number of questions. A few of the questions I got on NCLEX-PN were word-for-word out of that book. I just tried to read over as many practice questions as I could... and you also need to understand concepts, Maslow's hierarchy of needs also comes in handy. And you need to know how to prioritize was my experience with NCLEX-PN. Good luck, it really isn't that bigga deal.

Maybe a lot of the problem is that you are a floater nurse? I find it really hard to get anything done when my patients would constantly be changing on me... I asked another nurse about the med times thing, and she said unless it's heart medications or things of the sort, she gives them all at one time.

If you don't have to work while in nursing school, I wouldn't. xD Woulda been sooo nice. Buuuut, if you got the hang of it and you're bored, why not get a job?

Hey... I went through a one year LPN program. The first part of the program is the CNA portion, then you are eligible to take the board exam for a CNA certificate. This would allow you to get a job in the hospital setting as a CNA (in FL, hospitals start CNAs at like $12-13/hr.) Then the rest of the year was the LPN portion. How our schedule went was we were at school Monday-Thursday. Mon and Tues were theory, in the classroom from 7:25A-2P. Wednesday and Thursday were clinical days from 6:30A to 4:30P. And the whole tuition costs like $3,400 roughly (there is a online anatomy and physiology course you take for like 2 months before you actually get into the CNA and LPN portions and it costed like $400 (hence I added it to the $3,000)^^. Down here... single moms could definatley get financial aid to cover the whole course with the PELL grant! I'm not sure where you live... but I just wanted to tell you how my course went to give you maybe a comparison. There were a lot of single moms in my class that did it and graduated (though I know it was tough for them at times and I know they had some family support to help with kids at times). It's tough, but if you wanna get outta the job you have now (which was also my deal), you just gotta go and do it! Also, this LPN program is able to bridge into RN through a community college here. It was purely one year of HELL for me (I paid everything outta pocket). Between school and two jobs, my time spent outta the house was nearly 70hrs per week... But life is SO much better after nursing school, I love being a nurse and it's SO rewarding... I love the job and I can finally afford to live XD. Good luck and I hope you decide to do it! =)

Hey, I'm a new LPN as well, working in longterm/rehab care. I just started about two weeks ago, had four days orientation before they threw me on my own. I think I just have about 18 patients though, but girl...trust me... the first two days I don't think I got to ANY treatments... the meds took me forever because I had to really check them 'cause I was new and just getting to know the patients. You slowly start to remember what you're pulling though so you can just kinda glance at the MAR, check for new orders, you remember how each patient takes their meds... once you get to know the patients and if you get a good report, that's HALF the work in my opinion. Now I get everything done usually on time! You'll get there! Ask whatever questions you need to ask of your coworkers, even if you may be bugging them a little. They were in your position once, and you're doing NO wrong asking for help or advice, it's in yours and your patients' best interests! Just remember that this is what you want and you'll go to whatever reaches you need to do finally get pro at your job ^^. That's where I'm at right now... whatever it takes, I wanna be the best nurse I can! Good luck! If you ever wanna chat, I don't mind at all!

Here in FL, I do trach/PEG/vent/suctioning care everyday I work ^^. I'm an LPN ;D Maybe you can find the answer in the Nurse Practice Act? I don't know :3!

I don't know, lol. I work with a nurse who yells at the patient when they start acting up and they listen to her.

CNA's scope of practice is under the umbrella of the nurse. Of course you can do CNA work, you're more than qualified...

30 patients? What the heck? Do you work night shift or something? I work 3-11 and I've had like 16-18 patients and it's really not that bad...I mean I work my butt off and never take breaks, but it's still doable... I am a new LPN, only been at this job 2 weeks with just 4 days orientation o.O;

I had a ton of crap going on while I was in nursing school... things going on at home that made me so depressed that I was physically sick, missed so much school, got kicked out... I went back in though, repeated some of my schooling and then graduated. If I didn't have all the crap going on, I think I would have really liked nursing school. I think I really didn't enjoy that year or two of my life though. xD But I'm glad I did it, 'cause I love being a nurse ^-^ Whatever comes your way, don't let it stop you. =)

I was told I'd get two weeks. Well, after four days, they threw me out on my own. My first two days on my own were kinda rough... my med passes took forever and I never got around to my treatments (dressing changes and such) and I was there til an hour and a half after my shift was supposed to end. But today (the third day on my own), my day went great...got everything done EARLY. You'll be ok, have no fear...things'll be rough in the beginning either way... following someone around and doing it on your own are totally different ^^;

Congrats! I just finished in January, got licensed in February and now I'm working and I love my job =) NCLEX was no sweat, just study a bit Get one of those NCLEX books if you want, some of the questions I got were word-for-word outta the book I had. XD

We never got to study our patient the night before clinical... this is really strange. >.>; Make a suggestion to your teachers or something that this doesn't work very well or something. My school was ALWAYS open to what the students thought. If something is not working, they got rid of it for the future classes.

I work in a facility with a lot of ventilators...these people have COPD, CHF, a whole in their throat and a machine attached to it! Sometimes they feel like they are just drowning. So you see these patients getting Ativan quite a bit. I've seen some of the nurses using Ativan as pretty much a sleep aid too though... the patient wouldn't have a PRN sleep med ordered so they just give Ativan. It works though whether it's a pseudo effect or not...soooo... hehe.

The CNAs don't have to like you... but they NEED to do their job and take care of their patients. If they are not doing this, then I would talk to the DON or something. But yea, times are tough right now... it took me so long to finally get into my LPN job, I would for now stay where you are because it sounds like a permanent job. They don't sound like they plan to lay you off... the economy sucks butt X3.