randall375

I have seen this way too many times myself. I will be trying to titrate a nitro gtt up and assessing chest pain and walla - the patient wants to talk on the phone. I once had a patient who wanted morphine all the time - and when I came in I heard her tell the other person on the phone to let her speak to homever to say hi - I just walked out and went back later. Rates right up there with nurses being treated like the "hired help." Peace

The website you want to check is www.pearsonvue.com/nclex Randy PS - You might have to pay & schedule, but there is no lack of places or times to test in NYS.

While this breaks the tenet rule of don't discuss politics, religion or sex - I must agree that this does deserve more research from a theoretical point of view - but the subject matter at hand is much to vast to entertain here. Fundamentally we seem to be getting back to the old male VS female abilities to be a nurse or to (verb) nurse. As for the first thread - I will not comment, and I did not comment. It is not worth it. The OP had her mind made up, why feed into it. The second thread had a playful tone about it - and I apprieciate that - no big deal, or is it? Context is everything, and unfortunatly in today's world everything and anything can be used against you, this is why I say very little about 'personel' matters. The key word that I think of at all times in any context is "professionalism" and with that I have always been safe. My patients have been safe, my facility has been safe, and I have been safe. There is no context of being "a male nurse" when I am caring for a patient that is on my acute care unit. Frankly, I could care less if you are male or female, but you better be darned sure that you are going to get the care that you need while I am your nurse. If I find that you have a problem with that, then I will try to make alternative arragements for you, but you now own the problem - the onus is no longer on me. Thank god this has not happened to me yet in a few years, and at least when it does, I can say that I am forwarned. I am a nurse. Not a male, nor female (do we hear the term 'female nurse often?' A NURSE - AND DAMNED PROUD OF IT!!!!! I will save your life too if I need to. Most forget that while writing in these threads that nursing is still one of the most trusted professions in the USA. We have always come in the top 5 for the last 10 years with maybe a a dip here and there...but never has the mainstream media delinated us from male vs. female. Pondering on this is a good thing, awareness never hurt anyone... and as always - know your own feelings before dealing with patients feelings. Randy RN

Most hospitals check for a conviction record. Therefore they would not know about arrests. However, some BON's require an FBI fingerprint check that will bring up a DCJS Criminal "rapsheet" that will include anything and everything that one has been arrested for, and the disposition. A word of caution - Lieing on an application for a license or a renewal is FAR WORSE than just being honest with a BON. In 9 out 10 cases they will work with someone that is trying to better themselves. Yes - they regularly run reports at random to check up on people, or at least they do here in New York. Why aren't you working? What's going on? Then perhaps we can help. Randy

In New York, after 3 semesters of RN preparation you can get a GPN permit. (Graduate Practical Nurse) This requires employer endorsement and requires that an RN be available to you on the unit that you work at all times. The cost is 35.00. You must also register to take the NCLEX with the state (apply for LPN) but you don't actually have to take the examination. The permit is good for one year. You can find the forms at www.op.nysed.gov with instructions - go to the nursing section. You must have completed the 3 semesters with a "c" or better, and you sign up as RN preparation PN equivalancy. I did this but actually opted to take the test and passed, but I had the GPN permit for about a week before I did so. Hope this helps.... Randy LPN (RN in May)

I was just curious as to why your results should be SO SLOW in CA. This is the NATIONAL BOARD OF NURSING exam we are talking about. In NY, I had my results in 2 days (48 hours) after the test - why can't you get them from pearsonvue.com ??? Just curious - but that seems really unfair compared to the rest of us!!!! Randy (My thoughts are with you all)

I used mosby's and saunders - however, the questions on the actual NCLEX were much much harder - nothing much clear cut as they are in the study guides. However, with that said, the questions in the study guides do help you to critically think your way through nclex questions... Randy

Hi all. I took the NCLEX-PN test this week, and found out today that I passed the test. I thought that I would share the experience, as it was through reading the posts on this website, that I survived the exerience with some decorum left intact. (Reading simular experiences really helped out on the anxiety of waiting, and kept me from thinking so negativly - which after this test you are bound to do.) I am a RN student in my fourth semester, and I graduate in May. After the 3rd semester, we in NY can take the boards for LPN licensure. I took advantage of that to get the experience before I took the NCLEX - RN exam. Well - I was sure that I had failed. It was one of the hardest tests that I ever had taken in my life. Some have said that the PN test would be easy, but I found it to be nothing of the sort. There were probably 3 questions that I knew the answer to right off the bat - but the rest I was left hanging off the edge of a cliff picking between 2 that seemed to be correct. So - on the notion that the PN test would be easy - I think NOT. I usually test very well, and I am at the top pf my nursing class, and this was a harrowing experience for me. I had all the confidence in the world when I walked into the test, but when I left I felt as though I did not know a thing. I looked up some of the answers when I got home (I can remember most of the questions) and found out that I was wrong - and that was when I was sure that I had failed it. There was alot of psych, maternity, medsurg and TONS of culture questions on mine. Lots of prioritization, and lots of where should patient x, w and z go if they had x, w, and z - dealing with precaution levels. I had one math problem, and one alternative based format question. Very much application based unlike RN material. (No thinking ahead assessment wise). Still have to know your stuff, especially signs and symptoms and lab values etc. Well anyway - I passed the darn thing, and I am still in shock about the whole deal. I graduate RN in three months and I am glad that I have had the experience of taking "the boards." For those who have not taken them, take some comfort in knowing that you will have NO IDEA of how you did when you leave ( thanks to CAT testing - read the other threads here ). Mine did shut off at 85 questions, but I thought that would be because it found that I was under the passing standard. Simply put, keep answering correctly and they will just keep asking harder and harder (and vague) questions until your on that line of getting 50% wrong - and that is line of which you are either above or below the passing mark. Toture!!!! At least pearsonvue did have the results 48 hours later - almost on the dot, even on a Saturday. I write all this in hopes that this can help someone else out who is waiting and thinking that they failed.... You never know, no matter how bad you think you did. Randy ... LPN (Yeah!!!!):)

Patient Care Assistant (or aid) and patient care technician. Both about the same. I am a PCA in Cental NY to get through school. Randy

I have these - Vol. 1 & 2 - and they are all you will ever need!!! (well - almost) Randy

SUNY Morrisville State College - Upstate New York. Class of May 2005. Randy