Amber0515

well, here is how i usually study for my final...because of the act that we have comprehensive finals. I look back at my tests and see where my weakest areas were and i hit those the hardest. we have about 8 tests over different areas. the bigger tests that we have had, the more questions we have on them. the tests i did really good on, i still study those but not as much as the weaker areas. NCLEX questions, study notes etc. on a side note: has anyone heard of/used PrepU? it is really good! it works like the NCLEX in that each question you get right gets harder and harder until u miss one...it measures ur level of mastery...i really like it

well, the thing is...if i fail...i am out of the program until next fall, the nursing program is just one class...it's kind of all just rolled into one. they only count our test grades, clinical homework is not counted, and neither are papers. we jst get an "S" for them...we have about 10 tests each semester...and i know there are about half in my class of 32 who are below passing now...

Okay, so this semester has been hard...I have to get a 77.5 to pass and I was down to a 74 before i brought it up to a 76.7 (77)....so I am now failing by 0.5 points. We have a trends test then the final. I need to get 45/50 on the trends test and a 78/100 for the final. Im scared. I was wondering if I was alone in this grade struggle? Has any of you ever had this happen? I dont know how I got to this point. I think I am just starting to get burned out on studying constantly. If I can just get through this semester, I will be fine but this is the lowest I have ever been

4,3,2,1? i am prolbably wrong though..

Exactly! That is how I feel! I always think "well, it diesnt seem serious enough for me to call the dr....so now I have to narrow it down.." and sometimes thats where I go wrong, I def overthink. They tell us to think of the NCLEX hospital as the "perfect world" and that we must assume there is already an order for things to be done. I just need to focus more on which is the best answer in each situation because each question like this is always different.

well, I have worked as a CNA and now I am working as an LPN and finishing up school. Yes, some CNA's do think they know more than a nurse. I have had a few instances where a brand new CNA (she is 50 years old but has been one about as long as I was which is about 2 and a half years) has made comments such as "They dont need to be giving him Lasix! Im tired of taking him pee every 5 minutes". I commented back "Um, he has CHF that's why he has the Lasix" (I said this while I was still working as a CNA. You can run into a situation where a CNA may resent you because you are a nurse and can tell them what to do. This is even worse if you are 20 (like me). Especially if you were a CNA and now an RN (or LPN). They think you dont know as much because you are younger. If they refuse to do what you ask of them then explain to them why it needs to be done (such as turning an immobile person) and if they still refuse, go to your manager. If you help out the CNA's and let them know that you are still able to wipe butts and potty people if you are not busy, you will gain their respect. Some CNA's do get upset if a nurse walks all the way down the hall to tell them so and so needs a drink fo water, when they have passed 2 pantrys and are heading back into that pt's room. That is understandable. CNA's can make your job harder or easier. As long as you dont come in with an attitude of "I am so much better than you!" they wont be unprofessional towards you. Also, you will always run into a situation wherever you work where some nurses will try and cut you down if you are a new nurse or they will tell you shortcuts. Dont do it, you will only end up hurting yourself or the patient. Dont let nurses bully you either. As long as you show the staff you are willing to help out, they won't "bully" you persay. If this happens anymore during clinicals, you will just have to ignore it. It may be hard. But, don't start something unless of course they are talking directly towards you disrespectfully. Something thats always bothers me is when a nurse who I am supposed to follow for the day complains about her job and tell me I made a mistake going into nursing. Im just like "Gee, thanks alot really builds my spirit up" but I havent ran into that too much, its mostly in joking manner.

Mike, I believe you are right. We wouldn't want them to be at an increased risk for aspiration pnemonia. And if they have had a neuromuscular disorder, this means the muscles are not working as properly. Their respiratory muscles may not be working as well and this can cause them to aspirate or choke. I just know to always check thier gag reflex before adm anything oral

I know the feeling. I was straight A student in high school. And now I am trying to keep my head above the water. I just found out the more than half of my class are not doing very well now. But, I think our head of nursing dept might have talked to our teacher (the one who taught neuro and when she gives tests most of us fail them, only her tests though. Whenever we ask her questions during lecture she would say "I dont know". Total BS) because today she actually taught us and did not just read from her 25 pages of notes! It was nice and I hope it gets better. And I hope you graduate. As someone said earlier, if you graduate now or even next year, you still graduate. I know plenty of girls who have had to graduate the year later because of failing out. It really is not the end of the world. I have to hide my grades from my family because I get embarrassed. My sister graduated from the same program and she says "Oh I got an A or B on this test!" and I got a B or a C (sometimes, even a D) I dont want them to know I am failing. If you need any help lt me know! And I definitely recommend talking with your instructor. After all, they know your grade already and they do want you to do well even if it sometimes does not feel that way:D GOOD LUCK!! YOU CAN DO IT!!

yeah, the answer was to notify the dr because its sign of infection...my teacher said that it would have been any of the others if the fever was not in the equation. but yes, these questions always get me! do they ever confuse anyone else? is there a trick to not choosing the "wrong" answer?

Hey! dont worry, Im on the brink of failing also. My ortho test, I was so worried about studying neuro next that I blew it. And whats worse, is I shouldnt have failed ortho. I work on a med-surg unit. I knew the questions when I came in to talk with my instructor. I freaked myself out too much. Dont worry, just keep studying. Dont tell others u are failing, dont ask what others got on the test. Dont even discuss tests with others. It just gets u worked up afterwards. When u take tests, take deep breaths relax and tell yourself you KNOW this material, even if you dont. You have to have confidence. Believe me. So, you get grades on things besides just tests? Must be nice. We dont get a grade on clinical homework (which takes 8 hours to do each week) or on research papers we do. We are only graded on our tests. Which is not right at all. Just because your a bad test-taker doesnt neccesarily mean you are going to be a bad nurse. But anyways, hope you find this helpful and remember we all been there at one point or another. Also, it doesnt matter if you pass with the lowest possible grade in the course. The point is, you passed.

Hey all, Are there any good websites that give NCLEX questions with priorities? I seem to have a little trouble with these questions sometimes and would like more help with them ex. A ct is 2 days post-op for an ORIF of the right arm. He is now exhibiting pain, fever of 102, and swelling. What is the priority nursig intervention? A. elevate the arm on a pillow B. administer Tylenol C. notify physician see, whenever I choose notify physician sometimes it is wrong and sometimes it is right. I just need more practice with these types of questions. Thanks for any help!

Okay so, something I was reading and I am not sure if I completely understand this one...it says that before they obtain a C&S or CSF for menningitis, they go ahead and give a broad spectrum antibiotic. My question is this: What happens if it is viral and not bacterial? I am confused on this one

Yes, thank you. So..this is the reason why they dont get opiates? So that they dont lose their LOC because we need that to assess them? Correct?

Hi everyone, I am in my second year of nursing, graduate in may and I am needing some help with neuro. We dont exactly have the greatest teacher, she flys through the powerpoints and didnt even have half the notes for us to look through. Her tests are always tough because she doesnt take the time to teach. She doesnt give us a good idea of what to study and what not to study. It is very frustrating! Our test is next Monday Anyways, I was wondering if any of you have any sort of ways to help with the neuro drugs? or anything that would help with Spinal cord injuries, Reye's syndrome, Meningitis, Hydrocephalitis. If you could help me I would greatly appreciate it!! thanks for your time! -Amber