JoniL&DRN

Hi all! I'm reaching out to all you AZ RN's. I'm a new grad (December) in California. My husband just recently lost his job to re-structuring and we are considering a re-location to AZ as we have family here that we would like to be closer to. (In fact we are in Buckeye in Verrado, right now on vacation). My trouble is I have no idea what local hospitals pay and no way to found out! I have looked into Banner here and Phoenix Baptist. I have a rough idea of cost of living and have looked at some houses here this weekend (I can get a nice home in Verrado for about the same we pay now in CA) but I can't really make a move until I can determine how big my pay cut is going to be. I'm making a pretty good amt in Cali now with my NOC diff and OT/extra shift (about $40/hr with my diff on a NOC, extra shift is $61). I know it's going to be a cut but I need to know if it's $5, $10 or $20!! Can anyone give me a ballpark please. I hate to put in apps for a job I won't take. Thanks in advance!

Keep in mind that most test takers miss about half of the questions (which would be 30'ish since 15 don't count toward your score) and PASS (and when was the last time you got a 50% on a test? No wonder people think they failed!!). I am certain that I missed several myself, though I couldn't tell you off the top of my head (I don't know if I passed since no quick results in Cali... it's been 2 1/2 weeks for me and since my school only just sent transcripts I will be waiting a few more days at least). Your chances of passing at 75 questions, I think, are FAR better than your chances of failing. I hold out the hope that the NCLEX CAT would give you a chance to answer a few more after 75 unless you were doing pretty badly. The test is designed to be difficult for everyone, no matter your level of knowledge. Breathe... and let us know!! I'm sure that you passed with FLYING colors!

Boonersmom...This was me to a tee. Graduated on 12/16 and scheduled my date for 1/23 then moved my date to 1/2 at my husband/instructor(s) urging. They told me not to study and, while I agree that was probably insane, I did not. I ate breakfast that day (pancakes!), arrived at the test center 10 minutes early, prayed and listening to a great couple o songs ("I'm Fine" by Mary J. Blige and "Low" by Flo Rida... which is silly but it got me moving and shakin and got my mind off the test), stepped out of the car and lost my legs underneath me (guess I was more nervous that I thought). My heart rate was no less than 140 through the entire thing but I finished in less than an hour. At question 49 I thought "oh dear Lord I'm going to be here all day!". At question 69 I prayed, yet AGAIN, that I would stop at 75 (because somehow I felt that that would guarantee that I passed, though I know that isn't true). At question 75 (which was a difficult OB question) I though oh let this be it I clicked next and closed my eyes. WHen I opened them the screen was blank blue. Walked out feeling pretty confident that I had stayed above the ol' proverbial line but by the next day was sure that I could remember at least 40 questions that I missed (not true I'm sure but you how our minds play tricks on us). Now my school only sent transcripts last week and no transcripts = incomplete file = no license (and no quick results in Cali) so I'm still waiting but I think overall it wasn't nearly as horrid as it could have been. My husband reminded me that statistics are are my side ("85% of people pass first time") and that all I had to do was get 50% ("when was the last time you ever got 50% on an exam?"), which for whatever reason sounded reasonable to me.... It's my story and I'm stickin to it ;o) Good luck!

Apparently not until the "file is complete" which in my case may be never it seems...

Wow.... God is so good. Thank you for sharing.

I took NCLEX on 1/2 (graduated on 12/16). My school has STILL not sent transcripts so the CA BRN won't issue me a license anyway, but I was going to call and hope they might give me unoffical results over the phone, however, when I phoned the recording I got was basically "due to a high volume of applicants" they said sometimes it takes 6 weeks for results and of course tying up people on the phone is only causing further delay so I hung up, defeated. Most of the people I know in the past year or two found out in 2-3 days but only if their file was "complete" which mine is not. CA sucks... and I am going to lose all my hair

:ancong!::urck::hgu: now... :onbch:

This is my situation now... Graduated on 12/16. IP on 12/19. ATT on 12/22. NCLEX on 1/2 (taken ASAP at the urging of my instructor). Guess what? My school has not sent my transcripts yet, so even if the BRN KNOWS I passed (or failed) they won't tell me until they know I passed nursing school. I mean they know our grades so it bothers me that someone can't just review them and put them in an envelope... they say 3rd week of January. It's going to be a long few weeks. Stinks huh??

Hang in there and keep the faith.... Your test sounds typical to me. The tests are a mix.. no two are alike ;o). The "average" test taker will miss 50%. I have a feeling this is why so many feel so defeated! When was the last time you got a 50% on a nursing school test!? Just breathe and wait for your POSITIVE results!!!

Still waiting.... My DON said yesterday that transcripts are with the SON "evaluator"!! Who is the "evaluator" and why isn't she (or he) sending the BRN my transcript!? I got my IP and ATT within a week of graduation (but then I sent in those forms myself!). I may be waiting for a month at this rate. You think 48 hours is bad? Well it is, true... but a week stinks! Funny how I felt OK about the test when I left (you know 75 questions blah blah blah) but now I've nearly convinced myself that I failed!

Good luck Weezie.. let us know!

Yep waiting.... no quick results here (you gotta love California.. land of the hand processed files) and my SON has not sent transcripts yet. They say this week hopefully. You'd think they could get that done!! Thanks everyone for your kind words and encouragement. I will let you know as SOON as I do. Good luck to everyone.

You have it right... At least that's how it goes in California. You can't even think about taking NCLEX until your SON has sent preliminary paperwork. Time from payment to receipt of ATT varies (took mine about 20 minutes via email, my girlfriend about 5 days - over a weekend) Another pointer.. in California (and other states that do not participate in quick results - I assume) you will NOT know if you passed until the BRN has official transcripts. That's means if your school is slow (like mine) you will wait, however agonizingly.... obviously lame because you know that they know if you passed or not. Good luck all!!

I have always operated with the 'if you know it you know it' attitude. If you don't then by all means put in some good study time but if you do then relax and just take the darn thing!! Get it the heck over with!! Good luck. Treat yourself to some relaxation before the test. (Not that it works, but worth a try ;o)

Fingers crossed and prayers your way!! Let us know when you see your POSITIVE result!!

don't know yet. CA does not participate in quick results and I know that my SON has not sent transcripts yet so my file is "incomplete" (and of course they won't release results until they have transcripts which we all know is lame since you know they KNOW!!). Dean of SON says they will send them next week sometime (Overnight at least)... so hopefully by Friday. Funny because I was pretty sure I passed when I walked out (even though it was hard and I know I missed a lot ... I know that most people miss a lot and my questions were pretty complex which I think is a good thing) but now that I have had a couple of nights to sleep on it I am having nightmares about the questions I missed!!! My last question was OB though and I am a total OB RN(IP) all the way!! I got that one right (and it was tough... .I don't think that the average student would remember the detail they were asking about.. way too in depth for the beginning student) SO here's to hoping for a quick result to ease my agony!!

Keep checking my spot popped up on Sunday night!!

AT the urging of my instructors (based on class and ATI scores I suppose) I did not study (or take a review course). I planned to, but the more they told me not to the better it sounded. So I went in blind. Totally blind. Not that I would recommend it to everyone but it is what it is... I was regretting that decision about 2100 last night! It feels good to have it over with. ;o)

Took my NCLEX today (graduated 12/16). Did not study at all. I'll let you know (75 questions.. in and out under an hour)

AHHHHHHH. I graduated on Dec 16. Scheduled my NCLEX for Jan 23rd (wanting time to study) and then rescheduled it (on the advisement of my instructor and the persistence of my husband) and took it TODAY!! 75 questions. In and out in under and hour. Phew. Relief. Prioritization, of course and several "check all that apply" (which I theorize are the "practice" ones that don't count. I HATE THOSE!). I was sick all day yesterday and had a HR of about 140 during the exam. I was thinking "man they should have a question about decreased cardiac output!" Good luck to all. We WILL survive!

Well on my instructors suggestion I am taking the test without studying at all. She told me prior to graduation (after looking at my ATI etc.) that her best advice to me, and she hoped I would take it, would be this... (and I quote) " Don't study for boards. Just make your appt. and test ASAP. Looking at your scores there is no way you are going to fail". I wasn't going to take her advice because lets face it that's ridiculous and was planning to study for the month of January and test on the 23rd but after considering I thought that she might have a point. So I rescheduled and tomorrow it is. At this point I don't know if my school has sent in transcripts though so I might be waiting for results here in CA where we don't do quick results. I am terrified. :uhoh21:

Not taking a review either. I too had a 99% predictability on the ATI. My instructor pulled me aside and told me that I ought not waste my $. Basically said there is no way I would fail. Now I'm sure how much I believe her BUT I don't want to spend the $500 and miss four days of work so that's that. I test 1/23. Best of luck to all.

Graduated 12/16, had my IP on Thursday 12/20 and my letter from the BRN yesterday 12/21. Paid my $200 to Pearson Vue last night and woke up to my ATT in my email in box. I wasn't sure how that worked but apparently they give you your ATT as soon as you pay for your exam. Scheduled to take the test on 1/23. Would have taken it sooner but it seems like in the past the school has been slow getting transcripts to the BRN which delayed students in receiving their results (I'm in Cali so no quick results here, just checking the BRN to see if your name pops up with a license #)

I got my ATT today and registered to take the NCLEX on Jan. 23rd!!! They had dates has soon as next week! My husband thought I should take it ASAP but we have had some trouble with results being delayed d/t the SON not sending transcripts. I figured school starts back up on 1/14 so that gives them a week to get my transcripts to the BRN before I test. I graduated on Sunday the 16th and had my IP on Thursday. I've already been to work one day and will work full time from now on! I'm not taking any time off to study, which I might regret, but I'll get some practice questions in for sure. Good luck to all!!

Even as I write this post I get nauseated!! Graduation is in 12 days and I plan on taking boards the very end of January (but of course no ATT yet so I haven't registered). I'm opting not to take an official review and I think I'm the only one in my class of 66 who isn't! That makes me a little nervous but I have done very well in class and I plan to do a online question review. Though it wouldn't matter if I studied 10 hours a day (which of course I can't because I'm working 12 of the hours three days a week from now until the day of the exam) I still wouldn't feel prepared! Good luck to all. Let's hear how everyone does!