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One of the best tools I've ever invested in as a nurse is the Illumivein light. It doesn't replace skill but it is a great tool to reassure that you found a good vein before poking around. I use it in ICU all the time and it works wonders.

As a male nurse, I wouldn't go for it. Although I like nurse related items this wouldn't be something I would spend money on. This is something that I feel a lot of new graduates / students would be into and targeting just males I think would be challenging. Besides, there is already a nurse subscription service (NURSELOOT)

How so? PM me

I actually have one and love it! Although nothing will replace true IV and phlebotomy 'skill' the Illumivein is a tool to help you find something on a hard stick patient. I work ICU and have had countless experiences where I was able to get a line in first shot using the illumivein... this is after 3 or 4 other nurses have failed.... Really does come in handy.

The program is designed for full time working RNs. The courses are setup to be one day a week/ online up until the community portion where you will have to take up your own time on different days. I am about halfway done with the program and so far every course has been nothing but papers and projects. No major tests to worry about... Professors for the most part are okay. One we had a little trouble with but the entire class ended up with an A. As far as how long the program takes, it can be as short as 1 year and a half depending on if you want to push through it and take as much as you can at once. However, you can spread it out longer if you wish.

As an LPN you can challenge into I believe the 3rd semester of the program. I hear the exam to challenge is difficult so make sure you study. I did not go in as an LPN but I had many classmates that did. It helps being experienced as you will be familiar with a lot of concepts.... however many LPNs think that they will come in and no everything (especially the ones with years of experience) Yes they do know a lot but they find out really fast that there is a big difference between how LPNs are trained to think and how RNs are trained to think. Everything turns into much more critical thinking while apply more in depth detail. Overall the Brookdale program is very challenging but very rewarding.

Just graduated... What questions do you have?

You have your choice of Riverview Medical Center, Jersey Shore, Monmouth Medical Center, and Centrastate. The wait for me was two years but I hear now it is about a year or less.

I just graduated in December and I am very familiar with the program. The program itself is designed to be a 5 semester program. Since there has been a waiting list most students get all of the prerequisites done before the program so that it is literally 1 nursing class each semester.... These classes are around 7-9 credits each. The program can be very intense and anymore than 1 class at a time would be near impossible. There are two side nursing courses that must be taken in the summer as well. If you do the day or night track you will have class once a week. The first semester you will not have clinical but you will have 1 day in the lab. After the first semester you will have to do either two days of clinical (6 hours each day) or a full day Saturday clinical. From the 2nd semester on you will also have labs to do on your own each week. These are what they call either a skill test out, peer test out, or simulation. They can be very time consuming as you are required to go to the lab and perform a certain amount of practice time depending on the lab skill. Then you must test out with an instructor. On top of this you will have to put in hours upon hours of study time. You will learn very fast that a nursing exam is nothing like any other exam you have taken. Preparing for these exams is very challenging and will take a lot of time. CNA, PCA, and Home Health Aide courses have always been okay. Medical Assistant is not usually accepted because it does not give direct patient care which is what they are looking for you to know before the program (bed baths, changing diapers, bedpan, etc..) My friend was turned down with his Medical Assistant from lincoln tech..... The program is very intense and will require you to put your life on hold for a bit. Working full time still is possible and I have seen it done but it is very very challenging. Most of my graduating class were in their 30s-40s with kids so your situation is possible but you must be dedicated. My class started with around 200+ students and we graduated with only 40. If you have any other questions please feel free to ask.

I've known PCAs in my hospital to have worked for a few months while they waited for RN positions. Everyone seems to say that you have around 6 months to still work. I wouldn't say anything until you find an RN job.

NJCU has an excellent program. No hospital cares where you got your degree. They just want to know that you have some kind of BSN, your license #, and any experience. I'd go with NJCU 100% .... BTW the same lady that started the accelerated program at Seton hall. She left and started it at NJCU.

Stop calling them and got down there. When you call it goes to a call center (not the BON). They give you the same generic nonsense. If you go down there you will leave with your license number in hand. I took my test on Feb 12. I went down there March 7th with a classmate and we both walked out with our numbers. Physical license came a few weeks later

Of course they scared you... They want you to take the class! You will need to prepare for the nclex but that doesn't mean you need to drop $350. You can purchase LearningEXT.com or NCLEX10000 for much less... I took hurst and felt it was too easy/basic.... Everything we went over I already knew. I didn't look at the book once after the course. The course was only good to force me to study for 3 days straight and for the practice tests.... but the fact that they guarantee you pass made me feel a lot better.

Took the test on the 12th. Got the good popup.... Quick results today... I PASSED!!! Still works!

I did not pass 1 med until my preceptorship. This was due to our hospital switching over the a computer system from paper. They made a policy to restrict medication passes with students until the hospital gets re situated.... When I got to my preceptorship only the first pass was a little shaky due to the fact that I've never actually passed meds. After that one it turned into a breeze and was no big deal.