a6fan1127

Staffing ratios must be dictated or the hospitals will continue to provide inadequate care at the expense of nurses. The acuity level of pts nowadays and the pressure to get them out the door and back on the street does not help either. Our sister hospital already has a 5:1 ratio (implemented on their own!) and their reputation for care is head and shldrs above ours where we regularly get six and sometimes seven! Recently a night shift nurse got 9 d/t call offs! While I am not a fan of unions, or govt edicts I think in this case our hospital will not do it on their own since the nurses seem to think that thats the way it is and move on when a better job opens up elsewhere.

Congrats! Welcome to the club of 'old' newbies! I turned 52 in February and got my license in April. I work Med/Surg and must say that my preceptor made the transition a success. My preceptor opened doors for me that on my own I would not have figured out how to open quickly enough. She kept me pointed in the right direction and asked my thoughts on patient-care issues. Not once did I feel minimized or like I was out-of-place. Use your age to your advantage! You've seen and done more than most of these 'kids' ever will (until they make it to 52!) I relate better to the geriatric pt and know what its like to have: a cardiac cath, arthritis, sciatica, sore everything, a colonoscopy, a stress test, rehab, torn rotator cuff, ect.:) You know what the patient is feeling not just what the book said they should be feeling! Every 12 hour day on the unit I am reminded how close I am to being in my patients position and I think age makes me a better pt advocate in most cases. My final thought tho'-Find a preceptor who wants to precept and has a good reputation for doing it.

Montgomery GIbill.

Erin, I am in Livonia.

Hi Everyone, Just found out I passed the NCLEX here in Michigan (paid an extra $8 to find out in 48 hrs!). 75 questions in 1hr 25 min. Graduated Excelsior 18 December 2009 and immediately signed with Kaplan and took their lecture course and computer access. I felt it was worth the money ($400) as I recieved a strategy on how to approach questions and then had access to about 2000 NCLEX style questions and rationales. I bought TCN books on ebay, Lisa's notes, Rob's notes, Studygroup101 notes, videos from some woman who's name I can't even remember, went to the Excelsior CPNE workshop, Sheri's workshop, and Lynne's workshop, and bought the Saunder's NCLEX review book. A word on workshops - If you can afford one -ANY ONE - GO TO IT! Just being with others in the same boat and going thru the hands-on with a strategy are worth it plus THE GRID (without the grid down to a 'T' you aren't going to pass). I loved both Sheri and Lynne although they are two completely different styles! But both those styles will get you thru the CPNE and that's what I paid for! Any questions feel free to contact me. I am going on thru Excelsior in the combined BSN/MSN program even tho' I already have a BS in HealthCare Mgt. I have only one year left to use my VA benefits so I hope to make a dent before time runs out on those $$$.