alexillytom

If you took the Kaplan course, in the back of the book, there is a chapter on pharmacology. It has classifications, common drugs, side effects, and nursing considerations. It made studying drugs much easier for me. I had tons of drug questions. I know that book helped me identify three drugs I wouldn't otherwise have known. Now, I don't know if I got the correct answer but I did recognize the drug. I don't know if I would spend a whole bunch of time trying to study individual drugs. Stick to the classifications, common side effects, and nursing considerations. I didn't try to memorize anything. I just read a few pages in that chapter before going to bed.

Honestly, I thought the Kaplan questions were much easier than the actual NCLEX examination. However, I did find them to be very useful. I made sure to review every rationale whether I got the question right or wrong. A lot of the ones I got correct were lucky guesses. I did 99% of the questions on Qbank and all of the question trainers. After a while, I started catering my tests on Qbank to only include the content that was most difficult for me. I would then use the Kaplan book to refresh my memory on my weak areas. Because we didn't have a mandatory pharm class, I spent a lot of time going over that section in the back of the Kaplan book. Initially, I tried studying using Kaplan, Saunders, and my notes. It became too much. I decided to narrow my focus and commit at least one hour each day to either reading or answering questions, using Kaplan. I often spent about three hours per day but never less than the allotted hour. I didn't use the "tree" thing that they teach in Kaplan. It wouldn't have been useful with most of my NCLEX questions. Fortunately, access to their questions and that wonderful book were invaluable. I graduated with two wonderful ladies. They both have severe test anxiety. One passed NCLEX with 265 the other with 91. You can do this. You didn't complete your nursing program without the knowledge to pass NCLEX.

I graduated in May but had three job offers by the beginning of April. One of the positions wanted me to start right away as a nurse extern then move into a GN position directly after graduation. When I asked about the use of the GN title, I was told that NJ does not recognize it but hospitals are offering positions that are the equivalent. Keep plugging away. There are plenty of opportunities in South Jersey.

Thanks everyone!!! I'm taking a semester off so I can learn as much as possible about my new position. After that, I'm going back to school to earn my BSN. It feels so good to be able to call myself a nurse.

I wanted to share the good news. I found out I passed boards yesterday. I am officially a registered nurse!!! Yay me!!!!!:balloons:

Thanks for the info. I am doing my clinical rotation there and for the most part, on my assigned unit, the nurses seem relatively happy. Starting in June, the starting pay for new nurses is $26.44/hr.

I'm interviewing at Virtua Memorial Hospital

Good morning all, I'm interviewing this Friday at Virtua-Mt. Holly. Would anyone know the starting pay for a new grad? How are the benefits? Thanks

I will be graduating from BCC in May. There is no waiting list to get into BCC. You have to keep reapplying until you get in. I was accepted into the nursing program on my second try. Generally speaking, if your pre-reqs are complete, you've taken the NET exam, and you meet the eligible GPA requirements, you have a good chance of getting accepted. It seems to me that it's easier getting into the Fall/day program than the Spring/night. I knew plenty of people that couldn't take day courses and clinicals because of family obligations. They only applied for the night classes and had to wait quite a while before being accepted. I applied for day or night. I didn't get the nights but was accepted into the day classes.

Kudos to you Sharon! If the research is there that proves this may be a viable way to decrease the spread of AIDS in any country, it deserves further investigation. My cousin died from this horrible disease and my uncle suffers from it today. As Sharon stated, it is truly a long and painful death. I am currently a nursing student and have witnessed a few circumcisons. I have never seen a baby pass out. As a matter of fact, they barely even whimpered. The babies went immediately to their mothers. A couple of those mothers were breastfeeders and had no problems nursing their babies afterwards. I am also a mother of two wonderful boys. They were both circumcised. They were happy and content babies and are extremely happy and well adjusted boys.

Negatives: 1. WEIGHT GAIN 2. Majorly upped my stress level 3. Huge, huge drop in income ---> negative effect on my credit rating 4. Total lack of interest in sex. (who has the time?) 5. Loss of contact with my pre-nursing best friend. We try but..... 6. Introduced me to the unbending, all-knowing, GOD-complex, worship me attitudes of some instructors and nurses. I never heard of nurses eating their young before starting school but now, I get it. 7. Learning to live in a not so clean house. 8. Clinical instructor from the first half of my second semester made me feel totally incompetent and suggested I pursue another profession. What a demoralizing experience. She didn't like me from the first day of clinical. I didn't give her the accepted reason for attending nursing school. "It was a calling from GOD....." Positives: 1. I know some stuff!!!! 2. First semester clinical instructor told me that I'm going to be a great nurse but I didn't believe her. Clinical instructor from the second half of the second semester told me that I'm going to be a great nurse and the nurses on the floor wanted to hire me. I still didn't believe. My clinical instructors from third semester told me that I'm going to be a great nurse and NOW I BELIEVE!!! I impressed myself this semester. My confidence level is pretty high right now. 3. Showed me how WONDERFUL my kids are. They never complain. They TRY to let me study. They ask me questions about MY DAY. They are proud of me. 4. Made me realize that I would be a pretty darn good psych nurse. I'm not sure if that's where I'll end up but I felt really helpful at the psych facility. Although, the nurses there were some of the worst I've ever seen. Really, they were like something from a bad movie. Pretty scary. 5. I learned that I'm made of some tough stuff and that the ghosts from my past have no impact on my future. 6. I lost almost all of the weight I gained during the first two semesters during the summer break so, nursing school reinforced the importance of working out regularly. Now, I'm on winter break so I can up my workout routine. 7. I've made some wonderful friends. 8. Nursing school has taught me that I don't have to have an A. If I study hard, and know the material, but still get a B, oh well. I finished this semester with a B+ and I'm happy.

Unless they've changed their policy since I was admitted, I'm pretty sure Burlington County College doesn't have a waiting list. You have to fill out an intent to enroll form by a set deadline. If you don't get accepted for that semester then you fill out another form, at the appropriate time, for the next semester. Those admitted for the Spring semester are night school nursing students. If admitted for Fall, then you are a day student. The more prereqs you have completed the better your chances. We do have some new high school grads who are taking prereqs and nursing classes at the same time. I initially applied for the evening classes and didn't get accepted. I finished up my prereqs, with the exception of a Micro lab class, and was accepted for the day nursing classes. Good luck with your studies rbytsdy.

Well, I gained over 20 pounds stressing about getting accepted into nursing school and then trying to be the best nursing student I could be. I studied constantly, ate the wrong foods at odd hours, slept very little, and never worked out. I felt miserable. I'm now going into my third semester and have made some pretty positive changes. I have implemented a mandatory "me" hour everyday. I use that time to work out and listen to my favorite music. I get on my elliptical machine and groove to old school hip hop, disco, Motown, and 80's music. I feel alert, alive, and refreshed afterward. I have also started taking a multi-vitamin and eating more fruits and vegetable. Most importantly, I don't snack late at night. I went to the doctor's yesterday for my PPD and found out I am down 17 lbs. I was pleasantly surprised to say the least. Going back to school will be a real test. I have made myself a schedule so I can keep up with my "me" time. 9pm-10pm is my time. My youngest child is in bed by 8:30pm and my older two know not to disturb me when I'm working out. Luckily for me, I do very little at my job so I can get the vast majority of my studying done at work. I refuse to revert back to my bad habits. Besides, I'm looking pretty cute these days...

Count me in too!!! I have gained about 30 pounds since I started school about 3 years ago. I am also an alumni of WW. I first joined about 15 years ago and lost over 30 pounds. I wore between a size 4 and 6. I didn't like being that small, it just wasn't me. Then the kids started coming. After my third child, I went back to WW and got back down to a size 8 and loved it . Then I started college and the weight started creeping on. When I was taking prereqs, I gained about 15 lbs. My first semester of nursing I gained 10 more. I picked up 5 more by the end of last semester. As soon as school ended, I started making use of my elliptical machine. I use it everyday for about 45 mins. I have also started adding some weights and resistance training. I am also very conscious about everything that goes in my mouth. I can't afford to go back to WW but I have my information. The FIT channel is also very helpful and motivational. I have lost about 8 pounds since I started my program. I don't know how many inches I have lost since I started because I just started taking measurements. My body, especially my abs and butt, are more toned. Today I wore a pair of my size 12 capris and I must say, my tush looked pretty good. My 19th high school reunion is in October and I have this wonderfully sexy chocolate brown pantsuit my godsister gave me. Its a size 8 and I plan to be in it. Good luck to us all.

This past semester had to be the absolute worst for me. I had the instructor from you know where. From day one, she just didn't like me. Initially, I was really thrown by her behavior. My instructor yelled at me, shoved me, and was just nasty. I never understoood why. My classmates noticed that she rode me extremely hard also. They would make comments about her attitude towards me. It started to effect my confidence and I questioned whether I would be able to make it through the semester. Then I got over it and ended my pity party. I performed my duties efficiently, made sure my assignments were as close to perfect as possible, studied my behind off, and ignored her hatefulnesss. At the end of the semester, my test and quiz grades were good, my performance evaluation was glowing, and I'm moving on. In the end, all that really matters is how you respond to the pressure. Failure was not an option for me. If I didn't get what I needed from my instructor, I made sure I got it elsewhere. I wasn't going to fail because of someone else. I've learned that caring about my education may not be my instructor's highest priority but it darn sure is mine. Please don't get the impression that she was somehow motivational. The simple and plain truth is failure would have resulted in some serious financial hardships for my family. I just kept thinking about trying to pay student loans, on top of our already mounting debt, without the benefit of a higher salary. We've invested far too much for anything less than graduation and passing NCLEX to be the end result. I hope things get better for you.