mavnurse

I did not attend a review class, and passed at 75 questions (or whatever the minimum was - I don't remember!) I had a Saunders book because it was on the required reading list for a class, but I barely looked through it. The NCLEX is not the huge deal people make it out to be. I don't know anyone from my class who had to sit through more than 75 questions. The important part is to relax and be confident!

I know! She really did need a new IV, but geez...and I wasn't the only person practicing on her since we rotate in partners. She kept saying "it doesn't matter to her," but I felt bad after a few tries so when she asked me if I wanted to do it again I said no. Then the instructor had to finish the job but she couldn't get it b/c we had used up all the veins.

My very last clinical rotation this semester was to the ICU and much to my horror my professor was there working as a nurse!!! So of course she went around looking for all the scary stuff for me to do. There was a coma patient who needed an IV moved and she let me practice over and over on this poor lady. I blew the vein EVERY time and then when I finally got it, I accidentally let the catheter slip out. I would think I had the needle in and then this HUGE bubble would come up above where I had stuck it in. I hope I never have to do that again, but I know I can't avoid it. You're definitely not alone. There are people who have been nurses for years who are scared to do IV's.Someone who had conquered this fear please respond!!! My aunt, however, graduated from an LVN program last spring and she has no problem doing IV's now. My guess is that you get used to doing it? Same with catheters.

My goals are to actually pay attention in class and to not cram!!! (Yeah, right!):)

^^^Wow, you did great. I think the lowest number missed was 9 or 10 questions. Nooooo one made a 99 in our class.:)

^^^Wow, you did great. I think the lowest number missed was 9 or 10 questions. Nooooo one made a 99 in our class.:)

Yeah, not to scare you but we took the Fundamentals HESI this semester and it killed us. Our instructor worked wo hard with the HESI people to raise our grades as much as possible. This was the first time my school had used this test, and no one knew what was on it, not even the faculty, although they decided to make it count for a third of our grade anyway. Luckily in the end it was curved like crazy. Out of 55 questions, I think the average number missed was somewhere around 20. We all decided not to even study because we didn't know what to study. Studying wouldn't have really helped anyway. It's more about judgement. We were even told that you don't have to know the right answer, just the right way to answer the question. Assess before you intervene, etc. I guess that would be true for any subject the test is over. I wouldn't expect too many cut and dry technical questions, either. It's more like "the most appropriate intervention is..." Good luck - you sound pretty well prepared. :)

Yeah, not to scare you but we took the Fundamentals HESI this semester and it killed us. Our instructor worked wo hard with the HESI people to raise our grades as much as possible. This was the first time my school had used this test, and no one knew what was on it, not even the faculty, although they decided to make it count for a third of our grade anyway. Luckily in the end it was curved like crazy. Out of 55 questions, I think the average number missed was somewhere around 20. We all decided not to even study because we didn't know what to study. Studying wouldn't have really helped anyway. It's more about judgement. We were even told that you don't have to know the right answer, just the right way to answer the question. Assess before you intervene, etc. I guess that would be true for any subject the test is over. I wouldn't expect too many cut and dry technical questions, either. It's more like "the most appropriate intervention is..." Good luck - you sound pretty well prepared. :)

Just change it all together and use the cop-out diagnosis we do in my group when we can't think of anything else: Risk for Falls. I think there were some people who used that every week.

We write "instant recoil at clavicle" (or wherever) or "skin recoil

I think the "rule" at my school is something like 1 project per class per semester.

I think the "rule" at my school is something like 1 project per class per semester.

Yes, I have one on Tuesday. It's a group project, and I have one more group project in the works for a different class. :angryfire Sorry, I don't like group projects or presentations...especially when they're combined.

Yes, I have one on Tuesday. It's a group project, and I have one more group project in the works for a different class. :angryfire Sorry, I don't like group projects or presentations...especially when they're combined.

At my school you have to take those two classes at the same time. We all survived!! (And half of us were taking chem and micro along with those classes...I took 19 hours that semester and had 3 labs.:chair: ) I'ts not too bad once you start, but I know it just sounds scary right now. Just go ahead and take them both! Good luck with all your classes!!:)

At my school you have to take those two classes at the same time. We all survived!! (And half of us were taking chem and micro along with those classes...I took 19 hours that semester and had 3 labs.:chair: ) I'ts not too bad once you start, but I know it just sounds scary right now. Just go ahead and take them both! Good luck with all your classes!!:)

^^This was on a mannequin and he was slippery after I wiped him off with alcohol, so my hand kinda...slid. It hurts just thinking about the webbing thing. :stone

We learned 90 degree angles for all types of shots. I guess everyone learns it differently. Oh, but DON'T stick yourself accidentally during check offs like I did.:imbar

I have the same problem going a long time without food. For clinical mornings, I have a cup of yogurt and coffee before I leave and then I take either juice or a yogurt smoothie thing and a PowerBar to eat in the parking lot right before I go in. It works great! I highly recommend PowerBars! (the harvest ones are the best - they taste ok) Sometimes if I'm in a big hurry I'll just grab a water bottle and a PowerBar and eat it on the way (no yogurt or coffee before) and I can make it through the shift. I'm hungry when I get out, but not sick feeling.

Ummm well we had injection check offs today and I stuck myself with the needle. :imbar It was an IM and I was doing the z track thing and the plastic leg was slippery from cleaning it with alcohol...so my hand slid off right into the needle. And it started bleeding a little!! The instructor said "oh, don't stick yourself *giggle." I think I told her it came close, but I didn't get stuck. It was pass/fail and I passed, so that's what matters but OMG that would only happen to me. I'm sure everyone will get a kick out of it tomorrow in class.

LOL, I have two sets and I've used them up!!! I have to do something with them before next Wednesday. :imbar

I'm the exact same way - or thought I was. I can't even look at my dog's business without gagging, and the same goes for vomit or anything else. Yesterday I had my second clinical. So far I've changed dirty linens and even wiped up diarrhea off of one of my patients. For some reason, things in the hospital are completely different and I was not grossed out at all. I still can't clean up after my dog though. The only bad thing about clinical is that when you get out, you know you've touched things, and no matter how many times you wash your hands, or how much alcohol foam you use, you never ever feel clean. I was wearing my glasses that day and I was soooo afraid to push them up because I didn't want to get germs on them! :imbar And I know my scrubs are dirty and I'm afraid to touch my nursing shoes, but at the same time, I don't know how to do laundry and I don't want to take my scrubs home and spread any germs they may have on them. Right now they're in a freezer bag with tons and tons of Lysol. Sooner or later I'll have to figure this out...

I ordered a Littman Master Classic II at orientation...I don't get it until the 30th.

Univ. of Texas @ Arlington

I took a&p 1 along with chemistry and my first nursing class, plus 3 other classes at the same time. It was a lot of work (20 hours!), but not impossible. A&p ended up being my favorite class and I didn't mind studying for it. You come out of it with a much greater respect for the human body. I am amazed at how many little things need to work just right every day over and over in order to keep the body alive - we're so fragile! Anyways, good luck in your class, and don't stress about taking it with 4 other courses, especially if they don't seem to require much work. Just keep up with your notes and ALWAYS go to class. You'll be fine.:) Oh and don't let people who failed the class discourage you!! There are people in every class in college who fail, not just a&p!!!