mitenz

Hi....hubby got transferred to MKE.....I am a LPN with almost 2 years of hospice Inpatient Unit and home healthcare experience. Where would be my best avenues to look at for applying for jobs in Milwaukee? Any advice or tips would be much appreciated. Any suburbs you would recommend to live in? Hubby with be working at Mitchell Airport so something that is not too overly far away. Also what is rush hour traffic like there? Here in Phoenix it is a nightmare. Thanks in advance for any input!

For the final I reviewed all my handouts and NCLEX questions. If there was something I didn't know, I went back to the book and reviewed it. If you keep reviewing the handouts from class and do at least 50 NCLEX questions per night, you will be prepared. I honestly did more then 50 questions per night, but some don't have time to do more than that. Make sure you understand the strategies and rationales of the NCLEX question as well....once you understand those...you can pretty much answer any NCLEX question. GOOD LUCK, you will do great!

Don't worry about bombing one test here or there....it happens to everyone at one point or the other. Just continue on your path thru the semester except now start adding the stuff you have already tested on and start reviewing it to prepare for the final. It's better to keep reviewing it through-out the semester then to try and cram right before the final. Keep doing the NCLEX questions on your current studies and the past review. It should set you up for the final nicely. I believe they said the average number of questions missed on the final was 7. It sounds like you have a good strong grade....don't let one bad test defeat you. Good luck!

@ ykrolick For the FTPN program it is usually two days for theory/lab....I was in evening class and it was from 5-9pm two per week...clinicals were on Saturday for 12 hours... You may be able to work part-time, I guess it just depends how well you study and how much study time you will need. Everyone is different, some needed many hours a day and other need less. If you have had Anatomy and some healthcare experience it may less than others who have had either....You should plan on doing at least 50 NCLEX questions per day and more if you can. Getting the NCLEX questions down is going to be your success. Yes, you need to know the information presented each week but if you do not know how to answer the NCLEX questions correctly it won't matter that you know the material. I thought the program was great and the instructors were great too. You really need to make the program you main priority for the two semesters. It does take alot of studying and hard work, but it is only 2 semesters. I hope that helps....if you have further questions, do not hesitate to ask.

They are saying the average wait time to get into the FTPN program at Gateway is approx 1-2 semesters. The fall semester will start sometime in mid-August. To have a chance at the fall program, you would have had to applied at least by the deadline in the spring semester. If interested, I would apply for the Spring Semester this fall, knowing it very unlikely you will get into that semester but would probably have a pretty good chance come fall semester. Once you apply to the program you do not have to keep applying each semester. The one application rolls from semester until you get in. Hope this helps.

I used many different NCLEX books....the Saunders' NCLEX PN, Mosby's NCELX PN, Lippincott NCLEX PN...and online you can find a host of free NCLEX questions...just keep doing as many as you can....read the strategies and rationales for each question until you have it down on how should answer that question. Hope that helps.

miteacher, They did not have the online option for us. I didn't take it the first semester. But have taken it this semester and I have found it very helpful in preparing for the exams. We have gone over test taking strategies but we also do NCLEX questions, case studies and prepare for exams. So this semester I have found it helpful. I know in Semester 2, we have people who come in late because that is the earliest they can get there. We are only required to make a total of 3 classes during the semester. I would talk to your instructor, explain the situation and see if they would let you come in late. I have received mix reviews and the review course for semester 1. Some liked it and thought it was helpful and others not so much.

miteacher, The 1 credit review class is scheduled differently for day or evening classes. In the eve program...we meet on Tuesdays at 345pm-445pm. I am not sure when they meet for the day program. There won't be a course number until after the semester starts and then they will hand out an add form for the class. Hope that helps.

miteacher, You can buy used books which is fine. You will however have to purchase codes from Evolve for the online case studies...I can't remember the exact price but it somewhere around $20-30. They will give you information on how to do that in class. The one thing you will not get if you buy used books is the online/downloadable versions of your books onto a laptop/netbook. I did that and it was a blessing as I didn't have to carry all those books around. But if you don't mind bringing all your books...it is no big deal. You will also need to buy the "nurses tote" in the bookstore....it is around $100 and it has all the supplies you need for your labs. I have heard from many people that bought used books that they wish they would have just bought the book box. In that box you get the Foundations of Nursing book, lab values book, drug handbook, Pharmacology, Saunders NCLEX book, a collection of dvds/cd's on procedure demonstration, certificates for evolve for online case studies and codes to download books onto your laptop/netbook. It's an investment...but you will always have those resources during your education/career. You will always have access to the online versions of the books for life...and updated versions of them. So I guess I would weigh out the pro's and con's and make the best decision for you. Good luck =)

miteacher, The experience ranged from front office, CNA's/PCT's, medical assistants, billing/insurance to people who have Master's degrees in health care admin and acupuncture......but honestly......those degree's/experiences aren't why they are passing....they know the information presented each week and have learned how to answer the NCLEX questions....We had some classmates that had health care degrees and they didn't pass first semester....it all comes down to what you put into your studies and learning how to answer NCLEX.... You are so welcome for the information...any more questions, just post them...we can try and answer them the best we can....

miteacher, yes...you can wear the croc style shoes for clinicals as long as they do not have all the holes in them. There is another brand that is similiar to crocs that are very comfortable too and cheaper...the are called Anywear's..... I wouldn't stress too much about failing...think positive and do your best...I would say at least half of our class, maybe just slightly over had previous healthcare experience before entering the FTPN program. The first few weeks of the program are going to be knowledge based exams....after that it is all NCLEX style questions for your tests. So if you want to do something between now and then, study the NCLEX test taking strategies.....get those down and you will have a much easier time. I wish everyone luck who got into the program...it really is a wonderful program!!!

You will have to register in person....did they enclose a signed "add" form from the nursing department in your acceptance letter? If not, they will be sending it. Uniforms are different than the RN programs....you will be able to get your scrub tops in the Gateway Bookstore...and you are required to wear white scrub pants and white shoes....shoe must be closed toe and pretty much all white. Yes, you can bring laptop/netbook to class...alot of did...some of us used Ipod touch for first semester clinicals as the cell phone rule is strictly enforced first semester....second semester...we all used our cell phones.... Don't be nervous....just prepare yourself that it is going to a hectic two semesters with lots of studying and you will do fine....don't forget...NCLEX, NCLEX, NCLEX.....those questions will be your success in the program....Good luck!

I haven't seen alot of apartments for rent that allow pets. At this point because housing is hard to get, they can get away with anything they want. You may want to look at house rentals instead as you may be able to cut a deal with the owner by paying a pet deposit or a little more on the monthly rent. Beforfe the oil boom rent for a 3 bedroom house was around $600...I have no idea what the rent is these days with the oil boom in full swing. I would bring up the Minot Daily news or internet search "apartment/houses for rent" in Minot and see what availability is. I have heard it is hard to find housing from Minot (and the surrounding area) all the way to the ND/Montana border. Maybe talk to the nursing jobs that are available in Minot and ask them what available housing looks like.....they may be able to help =) Good luck!

Blackcat99 - Yes, there seems to be alot of nursing jobs available in Minot and the surrounding area. It is due to the oil boom happening in the west side of the state that has brought an influx of people to that part of the state. I would recommend checking out available housing options before considering it as prices have increased considerably since there seems to be a lack of housing due to all the oil field workers. Hope that helps!

Thanks rzyzzy! I can't agree with you more. Something is going to have to happen to get these students thru their programs. I know AZ is short on nursing RN/LPN jobs in the current market. But if anyone is willing to move, I know many states in the midwest, especially small towns with small community hospitals have nursing jobs available even for new grads. Some of these towns are remote, and by meaning remote, maybe 1-2 hours away from a bigger city. Just some information for those who are interested.