LightningBug

My recommendation is to stick with your schooling if you're a second year persuing an AA or AS. You're already so close to completion, and you never know what having your RN license may help you with in the future. If you're a BSN student, then you have some wiggle room to make those basics work toward your interest in imaging and drop nursing. Something to consider with using your RN in imaging would be Cath Lab nurse. Nurses in our cath lab have do have a bit hands-on nursing care, while assisting the cardiologists with heart diagnostics and interventions, but it is completely different from working on the 'floor'. If you haven't had the opportunity to have a clinical or any experience with Cath Lab yet, you may find it's a perfect fit for you. I am that 'lab nerd' mentioned above. First degree is lab, second is nursing. While in nursing school, I kinda' 'discovered' that hands-on nursing wasn't for me, either. I figured I could go back to lab or tough it out until I got my BSN and went administrative. Quite by accident (luck, God, holding my mouth just right?) I fell into a Point of Care job soon almost as soon as I graduated with my nursing degree. I am responsible for making sure that our hospital nursing staff complies with rules and regulations (all those competencies!) which keep our nursing CLIA license valid. Without that, our nurses would be unable to do any bedside testing, including glucometer readings, activated clotting time in our cath lab and ICU, amnio pH in maternity, etc. And we're looking at putting ABG's bedside in the not-so-distant future. What a ramble... I just wanted to share that having RN behind your name may help you in your pursuit of the 'perfect job' even if you choose another medical field to specialize in.

My sympathy to you. In your grief, you are reliving the last moments of your dad's life. In time, you will see the sum of his life, and not focus simply on his final moments. It is important to remember that he is at peace now, and he went knowing you were there for him. As mentioned by an earlier poster, take this experience with you, and when you walk back into your patient rooms, use your experience for good. Use it to be the advocate for your patients. Use it to help those patients who are dying to experience a good death... and not only them, but their families, too. You can be the one to make a difference for others, and when you do so, do it in remembrance of your father.

I haven't been back since I found out I passed at the end of September. New job is keeping me hoppin'! :) I did the 'trick' and it proved out for me. My name was on my state's board of nursing website before my quick results were even available to purchase.... so CHECK your online BON before you pay! I took my test on a Monday and a friend called me early, early Wednesday the same week telling my I was listed as RN. I walked out of that test knowing I had failed. I even got the final question wrong. As soon as I got back to my car I looked it up and was sick seeing that I'd picked a distracter instead of the right answer. So how you do on your final question is obviously no indicator, either. Good luck everyone who has yet to take that monster. :hug: Reminds me of the joke - How do you eat an elephant? ... One bite at a time!

Waiting... waiting... waiting....:anbd: A little over 1/2 way through the 48 hour wait for NCLEX-RN quick results. Don't know how you folks in CA keep your sanity! About 90 questions - including meds from Mars (certainly not any I've seen here on Earth), and since I'm very confident in lab values/meanings and dosage calcs, I got none of those, of course. Out of a random 3000 questions, definitely would've appreciated having at least one I KNEW on my exam. I expected to be crowned with a nurse-dunce hat on my way out the door. But I do have the 'good pop-up' at Pearson Vue. Not to think I'm special or anything, but I fear I may be the exception to the pop rule. We'll see... in another...ho hum... 19+/- hours. PS to Zucreb - I filled it out just as if I were applying to take it for the second time.

Good luck to you. My only thought is how can you afford NOT to take this opportunity to complete your ADN??? If you don't go, next year, or the next won't be any better.... Next year at this time you can be on the road to financial recovery by completing your ADN and passing the NCLEX-RN and beginning a wonderful career. Or, you can do nothing, and have nothing. Best of luck to you and your growing family!!!

Find your learning style? First day of my first nursing class we took a test to 'discover' our individual learning styles.... and we were then told to utilize our learning style textbook and APPLY it! : )

Rolling backpack or bag is the way to go. I too like LLBean's.

I love my Littmann stethoscope. Mid-priced at the local scrub store - I have seen them cheaper online. I also get my shoes at the local scrub store. I have had NurseMates. Some have been excellent, some have been shabby. Also like the watches that pin on the uniform. Better for hygiene, and nothing on my wrist that may scratch or bruise a patient. I use support socks (knee high), also purchase them at the local scrub store. White uniforms? Our college has us wear RED... ugh. My family calls me Mrs. Claus when I have mine on. I understand our college went to red after a student continued to wear polka-dot panties under her white scrub pants.