KTeacher2Nursing

No, I didnt since I used pretty much every other resource that everyone said they used in order to pass the exam. IF I decide to take it again, I would hate to focus on Priority and Delegation questions only for everything else to be given to me on the exam. I just hate that I dont know what to study for. Nursing is a whole lot of information and putting it all in context with content, lab values, etc is too much for one brain.

So today is D day! I was an okay student in school making A's and B's, studied using Saunders, ATI, Exam Cram Kaplan, and the NCLEX study guide floating around herem I sat down to the NCLEX PN exam and got 13 SATA, 1 Math, 3 Exhibits, 2 pictures, 3 drag and drop and a WHOLE lot of Priority and Delegation questions. So when I got to #85 I said a prayer and clicked only to go to the next question. I ended up answering all 205 questions but was pretty confident that I still passed since others in my class passed at 205 and failed with less than 100. I rushed to the nearest Wi-fi hotspot longged on the Pearson, tried ro register and prayed.........and there it was the CC page. I did it multiple times and the same result. I secretly hoped that I was the 1% that had a false failure but I am pretty sure I failed. Now what do I do?!?!? Give up I suppose. I worked 2 jobs through nursing school, did all the suggested study materials since I felt the school taught me how to pass their exams not take the NCLEX. I feel like a complete idiot especially since the exam pretty much told me I am not competent and/or safe enough to be a Nurse. I'm tiried of fighting against the odds, preparing, and studying. My life is now on hold and I pretty much want to climb in the biggest dark hole possible and cover it with the biggest boulder possible. So again, what do I do now? I prayed, fasted, studied, practiced atleast 300 questions a day, and used practice materials that everyone said helped them. And yes, I feel horrible, especially when the least safest person in class passed with 85 questions. The pass rate for 2nd time takers is less than 40% so really what point. Vent overm

Taking the NCLEX-PN May 1st. I have the ATI series and the indicator stated about a 85% pass rate as a first time taker. I have been using Saunders and Exam Cram for content and questions since I cant afford anything else. The questions are easier to answer as you study the content. I really don't think a person can avoid knowing the basic content and still pass the NCLEX. Good luck everyone.

Jobs come and go but your health and mental well-being stays with you forever. With that being said, as a new nurse it does take awhile to "get into the swing of things". However, if you are that unhappy please don't quit until you have something else lined up. Especially with the points that you listed in the reasons to stay. Good luck in your decision.

I think it depends on the state and method used. As a teacher, I was fingerprinted electronically and during the high season it took about 3 days to come back. Now that I have graduated my nursing program I have been fingerprinted twice. On March 1st I was fingerprinted the "old fashioned" way with ink and now March 28th they still have not come back. I was electronically fingerprinted yesterday at about 2pm electronically and my background check came back 12 noon today. Yes, they were both Level 2. I say just wait and see and maybe use your exceptional speaking skills to get someone to hire you and put the orientated date out a couple of weeks so at least you know you will have a job.

For LPN's....... Pearson Reviews & Rationales: Comprehensive Review for NCLEX-PN®, 2nd Edition By Mary Ann Hogan, Julie Skrabal Published by Prentice Hall Copyright © 2012 Pub. Date: Dec 12, 2011 ISBN-10: 0-13-262141-X ISBN-13: 978-0-13-262141-0 Format: Paper

I HAD to work through nursing school as a Full-time teacher and PRN Home Health Aide. I am single, live alone, and my closest family is over 4 hours away from the town that I lived in. My advice: if you have to work be prepared for long days, late nights, and stress. Looking back on it, I have no clue how I was able to do all of that and finish the program. However, I prayed on a daily basis, stayed up late studying, and 5 Hour energy became my friend. When I first started the program I wanted to be like my classmates and shoot for high 90's on exams but mid-way through I was happy as long as my scores had an 8 in the 10's place. Im okay with being a B average student in the classroom however I made sure to excel in Clinicals since I am a hands on time person anyway. So unless you are right out of high school, living with parents rent and bill free, and the only thing you have to do is go to school, trust me it is going to get harder before it gets easier. Find the schedule that works best for you. If you have to, you may have to even change jobs.

I also think that it is a bad idea to wait until you take the NCLEX to look for a position. That is the worse move you could make in this current economy. I started looking for positions about a month before graduation. In my cover letter I letter them know all of the great things about me and to consider me as a Graduate Nurse until I take and pass the NCLEX. Trust me it put more pressure on me because in order to keep the job I have to pass the NCLEX or I have to stop working immediately and then everything is going to be for not. Some of my classmates thought I was crazy for applying for positions so early but 4 weeks after graduation I was offered a position and 2 days later offered another. They aren't full time but they are perfect for me, especially since I came to realize that I didn't want to do full-time right out the gate and preferred PRN or Part-time positions. Now some of these same classmates have taken passed the NCLEX but they aren't working as nurses. And a couple have taken to asking me to pass along any positions that I come across. Of course I obliged, but I sent them the ones that I was rejected for or haven't heard from in two months. I know it is a bit "shady" but in this job market I have to worry about my rent getting paid on the first before I can worry about someone else's well-being. I say ignore the nay-sayers and focus on these last couple of months of your program honing your job hunting craft.

@Original Poster.... I can sympathize and empathize with your current situation. As a recent graduate, I came across great nurses and horrible nurses. Some nurses love having students others don't. Some nurses remember what it was like to be in nursing school and others think they came out of the womb as a nurse. I had a similar experience that you had, and I didn't waste my time because the nurse saw me as a burden. I ended up helping the CNA's and this gave me the best opportunity to do full Assessments and practice writing them up, of course with the instructors permission. I had a nurse that one of my classmates claimed didn't like students but when I was on her cart taking over her patients she let me know that she didn't want that particular student because she didn't "know what she was doing, didn't know the meds, and was too slow", which is why she gave people the impression she didn't want a student. All I could do was sit there and listen as I was double checking my MAR and patient. Since it seems like you are still in clinicals (going to school), I would go to the instructor that is there with your group and let them know what is going on. Please do not take it upon yourself to confront any nurse as a student as that is the quickest way to make enemies and make a smaller problem a much bigger one. If you are in the last part of your program and are doing your Preceptorship, then really at this point you should be relying on your skills and knowledge and ask the nurse if you have any questions/need clarification. If for whatever reason you feel uncomfortable with this nurse today then all you can do is make the best of it, take something away from the experience, and talk to your instructor and they will and should find another nurse for you the next time you are at clinicals. Clinicals are suppose to be a learning experience to practice your skills and knowledge not a popularity contest to try and win nurses over. Remember you are paying to be there the nurses are paid to be there, therefore, approaching situations and people in the appropriate manner is always going to work out in the long run. If this particular nurse doesn't want a student, that is fine, let your instructor know and move on. At the end of the day the only actions and reactions you are in control of is your own. Sometimes you just have to cut your loses and keep it moving.

Correctional Nursing....lots of people over look it. Inmates and detainees need healthcare as well.

I would say be prepared for anything. I went on one interview this week where the DON walked out the room. came back a few minutes later, and asked me "Tell me about MYSELF". On the inside, I was like, Really?!?!?!?!?!? That took me by total suprise. I have NEVER had anyone ask me that, its always the other way around. Just be open, and honest and show your true personality. I used a bit of humor telling a couple of stories from my Clinical expereinces and I left there with a PT offer. They have your resume so they are interested. Getting the interview is the easy part, making yourself stand out above other applicants is the hard part. You want to make an impression, even after the interview make sure to send them a "Thank you" email.

I would say, think outside of the box and do not limit yourself to just the hospital. I graduated from a Practical Nurse program in January 2012, have yet to take the NCLEX, and the only healthcare experience that I have is working as a Home Health Aide PRN maybe 12 hours a month, but have been offered two positions: one as a Correctional Nurse and the other as a Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse this week as a Graduate Practical Nurse. Both positions are part time 24-32 hours weekly/12 or 8 hour shifts respectfully. When I started appling for positions in January I was only going after Full-time positions preferably days. So I started applying to other places besides LTC's for non-traditional positions. Make sure you have a dynamite Cover Letter that gives them a reason to look at your resume and talk to people. I have an interview next week for a position based on someone passing my resume and cover letter along to a facility that would hire GPN's. Part-time, PRN, no benefits positions are not ideal but if you prove yourself you can roll it into a Full-time, benefited position. I have two nurse friends that started out as PRN LPN and RN and are now full time employees after about 6 months. Keep your head up something will come up. It may not be the one you want but something is better than nothing in this economy.

If it is only asking you to place a number either put in all zeros or try to leave it blank.

Another day, another school...ITT Tech College in Jacksonville...RN Program......I guess I am just going to have to leave the area since it is way to saturated.

The previous poster is 110% correct. None of the public or JU have waiting lists. For a matter of fact Florida universities do not have waiting lists the majority, if not all of them, now have a point system. This poisnt system is the ranking that is used to offer applicants admissions. It's very clear to me that you have been mis-informed, have research issues, or would just rather not accept documented facts before trying to negate what someone is trying to tell you. Allnurses is a great place to find localized information. Why don't you try searching for information on the local schools first. If you don't want to do that then Google is your friend. If that still isn't good enough contact the Nursing Department at the schools. They are for the most part very good at answering questions. They even have Application Packets that has all the information that is need to apply. Again no one is knocking the fact that you chose to go to Virginia College, however, posting mis-leading/incorrect information is the exact thing you wanted to point out that other posters where doing to your school. You can be Pro Virginia College without being Anti every other college.