mursedino

ok...... old fart - newbie 'the above op' = ? (other's post?) also, i haven't been in a study group lately, but yes they can 'work wonders' for the above mentioned reasons. while looking for study guides for nclex, i've noticed an actual trivia board game specifically for the nclex... gonna run it by my classmates... reviews for it look 'plausible' (everyone chip in $5 as well)... been thinkin of postin to ascertain whether anyone else has experience with the 'board/trivia game' oh, and ms. ladii... i forgot to mention that the particular school has an integral part in how well your lessons 'work'... i go to a local cc with a 97% pass-rate for nclex, however i'm amazed at how unorganized the whole program is...with the profs always retorting (to us students' complaints)... "you're a nurse now, you need to be flexible"....ugh! gl, dino

*in through the nose, out through the mouth *roll your shoulders *stand up and stretch hehe, sorry. not only do i hear you, but i am listening. i'm in level 1 (first semester) of a 2 yr. rn program myself. many say i'm anal, but anality has saved my bum many, many times. (even had my clinical instructor call me anal, but later said, 'i see why you are anal, with your life' {daddy of twin boys, wife with 'mental issues' and of course working}). hopefully, here are some tips for you that may help... -get a good organizer (i use a little school planner type flip-notebook), and use it religiously -schedule yourself time to study...everyday (i do it when everyone is asleep, either up late, or early) -drink lots of coffee (yeah, not healthy, but i've lost 15#s the first 6 wks of the semester -get a lablemaker, and label your class notebooks, class assignments to hand in, etc...keeps you organized, and you look professional -after classes that day, debrief yourself on the lessons and organize them (i date all handouts, hole-punch, and put in notebook - only what is upcoming on next test... when test is over, i pull out of notebook and put in manilla folder and label... i.e. NU128 - module 4,6,11). -most importantly, learn your own individual studying style...determined also by the prof (my classes are all taught by diff. profs, thus it's somewhat difficult)... but for one class i study only the notes and the text, another i only review the nclex questions for that individual test...and pick 'your style'...re-write notes? - tactile, highlight and view pix and videos online? - visual, etc. (look up learning styles, if your not sure of studying styles - ie. tactile, visual, auditory, etc.) -any research/writing assignments, start as soon as possible, but pace yourself... day one-do research to pick topic, day two-write outline, day three-enhance outline, day four-complete and print out BUT do not hand in yet...always read over your work next day (what you thought sounded good at 3am, very well may not be that good ) ---most, most important......... relax and breathe, once you've finished a test, forget about it....... your done, don't fret over it (i laugh when all my fellow classmates immediately after test gossip, 'what'd you put for this ?', etc).... it doesn't matter, you can't change your answer. again, i hope the tidbits above help...... and just remember 'it's not rocket science, it's just more important' dino

there are no qualifications needed, other than having a driver's license and a drug test. it doesn't pay well, but i wanted something 'in the field'...but i look at it this way, i get paid to study , and there is a 'nite differntial'. i only work pt (tues, fri. and sat. nites - 10pm - 8am), sleep is an issue, but it may just help when i'm actually an rn starting out (without seniority). gl, dino

i'm nearly done with my first semester of nursing school. i work pt in a group home (developmentally disabled kids), and once in school i changed my schedule to overnights. it's worked out wonderfully. it forces me to get my studying done, no distractions, access to computer, etc. another plus, is that for my training at work, i'm med certified, have cpr, regularly get my ppd, etc. another job i've had before is working in a liquor store...a great mindless, low stress job... that did have some downtime (in order to study). hope this helps. dino ps... i'll catch up on sleep this summer

i just spoke to a cna at a hospital (ecmc - buffalo, ny) who's in the nursing program i'm attending, on the topic. ecmc has a tuition re-imbursement program. she, nor i think it's a great idea.... crazy, i know, but here's why: - you have to give 3 yrs. to the hospital upon graduation (thus, no possible 'signing bonus') - added pressure to do well in classes (if you don't do well, you don't get re-imbursed) - they only pay tuition, as in nursing classes (no pre-reqs, books, equiptment, lab fees, technical fees, etc...ONLY classes pertaining to nursing and their tuition) - at any time they may (and she's heard the hospital has) request current grade status from your school. my friend is more interested in doing 'supplemental work' through an agency, directly out of the rn program because: - you get paid nearly double what typical rate is for rn per hour (what she proports hearing from peers at 'her' hospital) - great bonuses through agency work - you work a 3 month stint, then they 'rotate' you...thus a great way to gain experience, especially to determine what department you may prefer - many hospitals give preference to nurses with experience (obviously); again agency work is a great 'format' to gain such experience. ***mind you, this is what she told me (and what she's been told from nurses at 'her' hospital)... *third-hand knowledge? i'm just a simple nursing student (level 1, at that), THUS, warrants some research. i'm curious to see other postings on this subject matter, and frankly i couldn't see why a hospital wouldn't let you 'improve your knowledge, of one of their employees', especially since rn's are more difficult to find than an aa/unit sect. hope my rambling helped and gl!, dino

i just spoke to a cna at a hospital (ecmc - buffalo, ny) who's in the nursing program i'm attending, on the topic. ecmc has a tuition re-imbursement program. she, nor i think it's a great idea.... crazy, i know, but here's why: - you have to give 3 yrs. to the hospital upon graduation (thus, no possible 'signing bonus') - added pressure to do well in classes (if you don't do well, you don't get re-imbursed) - they only pay tuition, as in nursing classes (no pre-reqs, books, equiptment, lab fees, technical fees, etc...ONLY classes pertaining to nursing and their tuition) - at any time they may (and she's heard the hospital has) request current grade status from your school. my friend is more interested in doing 'supplemental work' through an agency, directly out of the rn program because: - you get paid nearly double what typical rate is for rn per hour (what she proports hearing from peers at 'her' hospital) - great bonuses through agency work - you work a 3 month stint, then they 'rotate' you...thus a great way to gain experience, especially to determine what department you may prefer - many hospitals give preference to nurses with experience (obviously); again agency work is a great 'format' to gain such experience. ***mind you, this is what she told me (and what she's been told from nurses at 'her' hospital)... *third-hand knowledge? i'm just a simple nursing student (level 1, at that), THUS, warrants some research. i'm curious to see other postings on this subject matter, and frankly i couldn't see why a hospital wouldn't let you 'improve your knowledge, of one of their employees', especially since rn's are more difficult to find than an aa/unit sect. hope my rambling helped and gl!, dino

howdy: i'm basically of a similar nature...was a commercial photographer, had been for years, but was always interested in medicine. now i'm a level 1 nursing student (RN). hmm, advice: finances: try to get placement in a hospital, many will help pay for your education. many banks now are unfortunatley, are disolving any student loans, (unless your able to get any pell/tap money). theoretically, nursing is a great 'bang for your buck' career. my 2 yr. degree will pay me more than my wife's phd gets her. do research on schools, the school i attend (community college - 2 yr.) )has a 97% pass rate on nclex, whereas the local expensive univ. (4 yr.) only has 81% pass rate. the school i attend, the instructors try to scare you, saying quit your job, say good by to your family and actually log the time we are in lab. i do work pt...overnites...a blessing actually, slow at night and that's when i can study! i do have twin boys, which try to understand, 'daddy has school too', but it's difficult. a few in my class work ft, but admit it's hellacious. more men are entering the field, and i'm surprised by the amount of old students (like me)... guess it's the economy...open the want ads, either go into nursing or learn to drive a big rig. i am the only male on my clinical rotation and it can be awkward (surprisingly not from pts, but from staff)... one cna tried to explain 'private area' to me being very flustered, i simply asked her,... on the count of three, let's say member together...after that, things were fine. and yes, tell one and your heard by all, all the staff at clinicals seem to respect me, and 'use me' - "muscles", but treat me fairly and appreciate my drive to learn, and especially my 'calmness' (us older gents are apparantly less 'spooked' or 'giggly' than the typical 19 yr. old female nursing student). i guess like anything in life, just try to stay organized and look for support where you can get it (fellow students, this website - i hope (i just registered 2 hrs. ago), etc.). wow, it's that late already, i best finish my careplan! hope i've helped. gl, dino

i'm a level 1 nursing student and find it interesting where my peers hope to end up (one hospice, one psych). i think you'll just have to wait after you've done your rounds at rotations and decide from there. back in the day, you applied as a nurse and was placed where needed. luckily now you're able to choose. i originally studied radiation therapy (just shy of clinicals), and switched to nursing (moved, thus easier to find position - i hope). mind you, my wife always professed i'd be a nicu nurse well before i even studied medicine and it's looking more like that every day... and yes, a relative rarity (i'm a dad of twins, the nicu they were born in only had two male nurses - and it was a huge unit - 54 "beds" i believe). gl, dino