Dani3176

Depends on if it's something we've gone over in class yet. If we have then yeah 90% plus...if not then around 76% give or take. I agree though they should have started sooner! Our school likes springing off the wall bull at us at the last minute too. Just look at it as you've made it this far and this is one last hurdle! It is kind of time consuming that's my main gripe..but I do think it helps especially if you read the rationales. Yeah, I'm sure too a lot of people will cheat. I don't know how I feel about that but kids in my class do it too and sometimes they almost force you into it when you know you have to get stuff done but don't know how in the world it will happen. But, I promise you will learn better if you answer them and look over rationales. I hope this helps some...I definetly understand.

Here I go on my soap box again! lol To me grades are very important so I get so aggravated with people in my class that stress because they're right on the pass/fail line or the ones that are only interested in maintaining a barely passing grade. That's fine if that is all they are capable of...but most of them that are doing that are the ones who roll into class Monday morning with a hangover or trying to cram for tests before the teacher walks in. The reason I get so ***** is because you're grade is a reflection of how well you get the info...what "wisdom" you can impart to future patients. I don't want a nurse caring for me if I have cancer and she's clueless about what I have, what to do for it, what meds or alternative therapies I can pursue when my life is on the line and I WILL NOT DO THAT TO MY PATIENTS!! whew..much better! lol

You're very welcome!!

I have to say relationships. My husband complains because we don't watch tv together as much as we used to, he and friends gripe because we don't go "hang out" anymore and when we do I usually have a stack of notecards with me!! I've even studied thru a friends wedding!! lol We have to plan everything around how busy my schedule is and how many tests I have to study for that weekend or if I have a paper due. It's very hard...it makes me feel torn...heck half the time I don't have time for me either! I used to love the girly stuff but now I don't make time for my nails, hair or clothes like I used to. Most of the time I drag to school with bags under my eyes, my hair moussed into curls instead of straightened and I'm lucky if I manage to smear on some chapstick..forget the lipstick! lol (P.S. one hint if youre husband is fussing buy him an XBOX 360 then he won't complain while you study!! lol)

If youre trying to save money buy a cheap one for clinicals but you will eventually want to get a Littman of some kind. I have a cheap college bookstore one and I can't hear a lung sound to save my life!! You can always do like I'm going to do and go cheap for now then ask for a Littman for a graduation present!!!

I graduate in August. We have a month break coming up in May so I think we have about 10 weeks left total or something like that. I totally agree with what you said Jason. It has absolutely been the slowest/fastest year of my life. It has been a whirlwind since I got my acceptance letter..but lord what a ride. I remember being in CNA class (which was a requirement to get into LVN school) and hearing "big" or weird words like Foley's, hematoma, pressure sore and NG tube and thinking to myself that I couldn't do this. I had no med background and it scared me to death because everyone else in CNA had worked in that role for years and knew what the instructor was talking about. Then my first semester having A/P I definetely thought I couldn't do it. I remember looking at names of bones, muscles, etc and literally crying because I was so overwhelmed and just knew I couldn't do it. Now I've got 2 weeks left of my second semester, then a month break then a couple months to be done!!! I can't believe it sometimes. It seems like it dragged by while I was there but looking back it flew. Now I sit in class and hear those "big, scary words" and grin because I know exactly what they're talking about. I've done awesome grade-wise and even annoy people watching tv with me because I can tell them what a drug commercial is for and side effects...lol. I watch shows and hear them talk about a medical diagnosis and can rattle off what it is. I'm so proud of me!!! I don't think anyone else truly gets it unless they've "been there and done that". Congrats to us all!!! We've almost done it!!!

We have the NCLEX practice book and cd, probably the same one you have. Our school makes it a requirement to take these tests to prepare us. Every single monday we have to turn in a set amount of questions we answered with our score for homework. 1st semester it was 100 a week with a score of 65 per week. This semester it has been 250 a week with a score of 75 or better. Our final semester we have to turn in 350 a week with a score of 85 or better!! It stinks...very much. It's very time consuming. I hate it with a passion...but it does help tremendously. But don't just answer them...read the rationale behind each and every one of them...know why that is the best answer and what they based it on. I'm not saying do this many like we do or else...but I am saying it makes a world of difference.

Change your attitude about the way you look at it. I had sooooo many problems with math in school..I even almost failed a grade because of dang algebra. Before school started I knew I had reading and grammar down pat but I was so afraid of math. I went to the library and got a big blue book called College Mathematics and read it and took the practice tests until I got it. It increased my confidence so much that I like math now since I was really proud of me for "getting it". I made a 94 on the entrance math and a 92 on the college math test. Then in Pharm I had 100's on all of my calculations tests!! I'm proof you can do it.. I had to look at it like "that was then and this is now" and I will conquer this!! I love calculations now!! Try finding that book..it made it so simple and when you get more confident in yourself you will have no problems. I know you can ace this.

I graduate in August thank goodness. It's been a long/quick year...lol. When you're near the end you'll know what I mean. I made the Presidents list the first semester with a 4.0 and will do it again this semester. Only one to go!!!! I'm so ready to have my life back and to actually get paid for the hard work I do at clinicals! lol We started with 40 students and we haven't lost too many...I think we still have 28 of us left.

I'm in LVN school now and will graduate in Aug. I went LVN first because it's only 1 year compared to 2 or more for an RN. It's been very very hard money-wise because my husband is the only one working so the year program was about all I could do for now. I have met a lot of LVN's too who you couldn't pay to be an RN...they just love the LVN role. So, you have to look at if you can afford a longer program and what is your end goal. I plan on working, getting good experience while doing the RN program online so that may be an option for you, too.

Not every school has a problem with tattoos. Just about every girl in my class has one. During clinicals we are told to cover them up somehow but one on your ankle can be covered by socks which most every program requires anyways. Not sure about the piercings though. We can only wear studs in our ears and no other jewelry on other body parts or piercings except a wedding ring and watch.

Prevention is the best medicine. If you always remember to appreciate your nurses you won't have to worry about all the things that we gripe about. Nurses are the ones who are there on a day to day basis with patients, we get to really know them and sometimes because of this they are more comfortable telling us what is going on. They also know that we have more time (not much but a good nurse makes time somehow) for them. Since we get to know them so well especially in long term settings we notice more things that could be wrong than a doctor who just pops in for a few minutes to check in on them. Remember if it wasn't for us you wouldn't have all that great information to even know what to start treating! Appreciate nurses because we're the ones that have to clean up wonderful body products that most doctors don't have to even mess with! I'll get off my soap box now...lol.

Our college makes us take 2 hesi's at the end of the first semester (Pharm and Nursing Fundamentals) then 1 second semester (Maternity and Pedi) then a comprehensive Med/Surg Hesi at the end of the 3rd semester. So, I feel like I have a bit of experience with this test. It may sound hokey but if possible suck on a peppermint, it's shown to increase short term memory as well as boost mood. My whole class does this before every single test and especially the Hesi. I'm not sure if you pray, if not disregard this entirely but I always pray before because I get so freaking nervous so I ask Him to calm me down and tell Him I did all I could humanly do by studying so now please just help me remember everything I read kind of bring it to mind since I'm bad about blanking out when I ge nervous. We also have to turn in practice NCLEX questions for homework. This semester they make us do 250 A WEEK with a score of 75 or better!! Our last semester we have to do 350 A WEEK with a score of 85 or better!!! It's an orange NCLEX book from Evolve at Elsevier with a cd so it is great practice. I hate having to do this many NCLEX questions a week but it definetly helps!!! Try some of these ideas...I have really awesome grades so I can't be too wrong...lol. (That is not a cocky remark I just want you to see that what I'm saying can help you.) You can do it...if you increased your score that much between tests and you still have 3 tries left I definetely would not worry. Now if you made a 150 or something I'd be scared for you!!! j/k I know you'll do it!!

I'm still in nursing school for LVN and will graduate in August. I'm off to a wonderful start in the dumb comments department but I think the best/worst was last week. I've done my CNA and both semester clinicals at the same nursing home so I know the residents pretty well. Last week though they had a new woman and I was having a great day and chirped to her "How are you doing today?" she replied,"I'm doing pretty good.....but...I don't know where I am." Me, being the wonderful, empathetic, helpful "nurse-to-be" leans down, pats her arm and sweetly informs her that she is in the nursing home. She looks at me like I've lost my mind and says, "Well, dear I KNOW that, I meant I didn't know which hall I was on since they all look alike!" Talk about foot in mouth...I wanted to hide in a corner!!

I have 4 months left until I graduate in August from LVN school. Does anyone have advice on how long to wait to take the state exam...I'm scared! lol Some people have said it's not bad but then others have horror stories so any advice at all would be appreciated. I also want to know what the difference is between RN, BSN, ADN and I even saw an online program for AS in nursing!! Can someone please clear this all up? I want to work as an LVN for a couple years while doing some kind of online program to be an RN but I just don't know what to sign up for!