jcutler

Thanks. Just bought the Kathy White book. Have a month, so going to try to study the be-jesus out of this book.

Ok, I am a new grad (RN BSN) with some experience in ER from an externship and clinical. My original goal was to be a critical care nurse in ER. I want CCRN certification. But no offer in ER. I have a job offer in ICU at a CA county hospital. Just had a clinical rotation in ICU. They have a 3 months orientation. I am willing to do whatever it takes to succeed and learn as much as I can, BUT am still pretty nervous. Don't want to make any mistakes. Don't want to be thrown to the wolves...so to say. Can a new grad succeed pretty easily in ICU. I did great in the ER but the highest acuity pt. was stroke pts. and maybe DKA's. Was easier than I thought in ER. Is icu similar. I mean...what acuity of pt. do they give to new grads. Next offer: It is in an orthopedic department. They have a contract, a really good versant program. FREE Benefits. I feel very confident to succeed in this department. Overall, I like the fact that I will get good experience in ICU and will give me the experience to have the option to go to nurse anethetist program. But right now...just want to work and get some kind of experience. I like both departments. Any input would be great.

I am a new grad. Graduated june 2010 with a BSN. Have my license and just got a job in ICU at a county hospital. I Externed in the emergency department for 9 months, so I have some experience with critical care. Want to make sure I am prepared. Can anyone give me tips to prepare. I have a full month before I start. I was top of my class, active learner, and want to make sure I am well prepared before I start. Any input please! Thanks

Took it 3 times. Finally passed at 82 questions. Now have to get a job. Just found out 500 people applied first day applications opened at the hospital I wanted to work at. I did Kaplan and completed ALL the Qbank and Question trainers. Average 65%'s which I was told was good. I failed at 75 questions. Did kaplan again, read the kaplan book 4 times. Failed again at 262. Then, at this point I kinda knew what information nclex looks for. The next time read sauders, did about 1500 questions, read lacharity prioritization book and did all questions, and did kaplan (over the counter version). I can tell you.....NONE OF THESE HAVE QUESTIONS LIKE NCLEX. The closest came to saunders cd but there are only 75 of them. The priority questions on nclex are extensive and have hidden meanings that you have to figure out. All these books and questions are too straight forward. Anyway..the books I read are great for content and will help you overall but, I learned on NCLEX that its not always (and most of the time NOT) ABC's. They will have a couple of breathing answers which are wrong and will be the answer that relates to the stem of the question. Someone's vomiting or someone's has SOB with Cystic fibrosis or COPD would not outweight someone on MAOI's that has sudden HA and flushed face. Stuff like that. I noticed this on most the the priority questions and I passed with 82 so I must have answered right. So I think that someone needs to make a book with priority questions like nclex. Trust me, I shopped around everywhere, bought many books, and they all were not what I was looking for. Everyone says...Lacharity, but I don't think this book helped. It was too easy. I was getting like 90% on all of the chapters. I was even told that people come on here and recommend this book for $$$$$. It is people trying to promote this book and create new accounts weekly. I don't think it is that good. Well, I just think that if some nurses got together that are familiar with nclex - someone could easily make a kick butt priority book to publish and sell. Cause as of now, there is none.

I didn't think this book was much help. It was ok. I would say to prepare for nclex, go through saunders. Big book with thousands of questions. Covers everything. Make flash cards while you go through it. I took kaplan too. Was ok and good and all for $500??? But think saunders helped me best.

Ok how about this: Who would take priority: IN NCLEX LAND: Pt. with BP of 162/95 Pt. with sudden decreased LOC I would think the first d/t circulation issue How about Pt. with tachycardia 102 Pt. with sudden decreased LOC Again..circulation right? How about Pt. with Post op bleeding (Say...4 saturated peripads in one hour) Pt. with sudden decreased loc Pt. in DKA Pt. with protruding tongue while taking an antipsychotic Again all very serious. But according to ABC, it would be pt. 1 Again...Circulation right? Just don't know where neuro ranks in the ABC's. I know it is critical, but is not as important as circulation or breathing issues. In nclex, there are questions like these. I have noticed there aren't that many books with the new triage questions. Saunders has 75 only. Lacharity has like 10-20 of these types. I wish I had a whole book on these questions. I will get a response saying buy lacharity. I read it twice, did all questions...and trust me...is NOTHING like nclex on the triage questions.

In this case my nursing books say goiter is caused by iodine deficiency. According to my book under hyperthyroidism, says goiter as a finding. Now my question is why restrict iodine? Wouldn't you want to give iodine with a goiter (caused by iodine deficiency) so you are not deficient in iodine which is the cause of the goiter in this case? Why book says restict iodine (seafoods, iodized salt etc...)

So one of the signs of hyperthyroidism is goiter, which is caused by iodine deficiency. So when you have hyperthyroidism, why would you restrict iodine?

Am taking nclex in 2 weeks. Finished the lacharity book and Saunders. BUT, does not have priority question when everyone is dying like almost all the priority Q's on the nclex. I know cause I have taken the nclex twice. Saunders does but only 75 of these questions on the CD. I need questions with Airway breathing circulation Neuro changes, VS changes, Electrolyte changes. I don't know which order to go with. E.g. If I have a vomiting patient, would that take priority over a person with DKA or a patient with critically low BP. If I have a change in LOC pt. and Pt. with tachycardia, would I see the tachycardia pt. since it is circulation. If I have a extremely hyperkalemia pt. with arrythmias vs. someone with dig toxicity with nausea, who would take priority. My question is is there a schematic with ABC's Neuro, VS changes, and Electrolytes. Which take priority, and most importatantly...how much of a priority is a sudden change in LOC. I know it is critical, but does it take priority over a vomiting patient or patients with critical circulation problems. Any help appreciated. Cause in my experience, the questions are always...all the patients dying. Sorry for being so meticulous. I have a job lined up for me. I have to pass. I have $200 in my bank account. I am desperate.

Am taking nclex in 2 weeks. Finished the lacharity book and Saunders. BUT, does not have priority question when everyone is dying like almost all the priority Q's on the nclex. I know cause I have taken the nclex twice. Saunders does but only 75 of these questions on the CD. I need questions with Airway breathing circulation Neuro changes, VS changes, Electrolyte changes. I don't know which order to go with. E.g. If I have a vomiting patient, would that take priority over a person with DKA or a patient with critically low BP. If I have a change in LOC pt. and Pt. with tachycardia, would I see the tachycardia pt. since it is circulation. If I have a extremely hyperkalemia pt. with arrythmias vs. someone with dig toxicity with nausea, who would take priority. My question is is there a schematic with ABC's Neuro, VS changes, and Electrolytes. Which take priority, and most importatantly...how much of a priority is a sudden change in LOC. I know it is critical, but does it take priority over a vomiting patient or patients with critical circulation problems. Any help appreciated. Cause in my experience, the questions are always...all the patients dying. Sorry for being so meticulous. I have a job lined up for me. I have to pass. I have $200 in my bank account. I am desperate.

Ok well, how about Hyperkalemia 6.0, vomiting, Decrease loc, and DKA, decrease BP 80/50. Who would priority in order? So should I go by the ABCNE - Airway breathing circulation Neuro Electrolytes & VS changes for priority schematic?

Ok what if you had someone that was vomiting, and someone with hypovolemic BP critically low. The vomiting patient would take priority cause the airway issue?

I have a question on this book. This book has questions and is configured that the lpn/lvn can do teaching, assessments. I always thought and RN cannot delegate teaching, assessment, or evaluation to lpn's. Don't know if I should listen to the book. Any input on this would be very much appreciated.

Awesome post. thanks

Ok, I like this part of your post for priority!! " 1.ABC 2. Change in LOC 3. Change in VS 4. Unstable metabolic disorders (hypo/hyper glycemia, electrolyte shift) 5. Pain 6. Any treatments you need to perform 7. Family requesting you to come/Discharge teaching" But want to double check with everyone especially if I use it. Is this ok to use for priority? BUT what if a patient has hypo / hyper kalemia. Isn't this emergency? Would hypo/hyperkalemia be a priority over say tachycardia, or a high or low blood pressure?

Chest want to get this right. Ok Chest tube drainage system. Drainage system should: Have NO bubbling in water seal chamber - If does - indicates air leak Have bubbling in suction control chamber. Should have fluctuating fluid level in water seal chamber. If none - means obstruction or clot. So when the lung re-expands - does fluctuation in water seal chamber stop? What happens when all the fluid is drained out of patient? Where does the bubbling in suction control come from? If it is a closed system...is the air just circulating between the chambers - from water seal to suction control? Any other important things need to know or expected events with the chest tube drainage system?

Ok I failed nclex. Priority are hard. Took kaplan and helped some but the priority questions were extremely difficult. I get ABC's BUT nclex rarely had ABC's question flat out. Was more like questions like, e.g. who to see first: Pt with: Decreased LOC End stage renal failure DKA Hyperglycemia 500 BS How can you apply abc to that. Is there a schematic like: ABC's, changes in loc, electrolyte imbalances, changes in citals - or anything like that in an order? Also, DISASTER: Is this right? - Say there is a terrorist attack bombing - You take the people that are most critical but the highest chance of survival right? So if there is someone with Glascow of 3 with pinpoint pupils, they don't go first - it would be more like someone with a crushing chest injury or something like that. Any difference if it is peds - like a school? And for evacuation - take ambulatory first? Any particular order. Thanks for feedback. Trying to get over this nclex situation.

Me too! I ordered ncsbn and the priority, delegation, and assignment book. Thank. Hopefully this is last time taking the test.

What can someone do if they fail nclex. For the time being, what jobs can they do? Can they do CNA without getting certified? What about med tech?

I already failed. Did the pvt. Just wondering for next time.

I have been reading in many areas in this site and you need the last 60 questions right IN A ROW? That means that you need 100% on the last 60 questions? Is this correct. I see other people have passed with running out of time. So this means they got all 60 of the last questions correct? Doesn't seem right.

Is severe hyperglycemia is priority condition. Say BS 550. What about chronic renal failure end stage? If a client has a closed head injury 12 hours ago, and is continuously having problems remembering the accident, is this an emergency. I guess it is just a problem for me when you cannot go by airway, breathing, circulation. Everybody is dying. Is there any strategies to go by to filter through priority questions on NCLEX? Is DKA considered breathing priority?

Thanks. And yeah, I have looked up ncbsn and will try that this next time around. I was just hitting myself cause I only had 3 questions to go, and I was taking the questions seriously which is why I ran out of time. I was wondering if I should have not guessed, but quick answered the last 3. So I guess the standard would've been the same. I took kaplan, but I think that studying content is equally important, especially meds. I had so many meds that I never heard of, and they didn't have suffixes that I could go by. Hopefully next time will be the last.

I am curious. This is a discussion forum. So I am asking this question. And people on here know. So I am asking. Why make such a comment...just don't answer if you will not be of help. Any question on this site is a "Ask a higher authority question", but this is a DISCUSSION FORUM. A DISCUSSION FORUM.

Was wondering if there is a difference in not finishing on time at 261 questions vs. finishing 265. I understand that if you don't finish on time, they go by the last 60 questions. So in regards to passing standards, is there a big difference? Is the standard of passing the same?