celtickimba

There are a few old articles on the subject, so, I am hoping that there are many more in 2016. Anyone use straighter line and then go to western governors university? Kaplan/Brightwood?

Please state what you know about 6 figure nursing specialties that are the least stressful Midwife? Cardiac certification? Ect.

I have never been through the process, and have heard that its really intense. Since I am a new LPN, I would like to know if anyone knows of the easiest way to get that certification.

I recently got my first job as an LVN. I was very excited at first, but, now, three weeks into it, I am upset because I am being picked on by the staff. It is my first job as a nurse and I guess I hoped that they would be nicer to me. I am thinking of trying to get another job, but, I know its very hard to get anything as a new nurse. Any ideas of a nursing position that a new grad could get, or, any ideas of nursing jobs that are more independent, and has less interaction with staff? I am working in a place in which all the patients have Alzheimer's. I am the only nurse on duty, with a staff of CNA's, and administrative staff.

I was just hired to work 5 days per week. Nothing was said about benefits, but, I thought that I would get them if I were hired full time.

Thank you OldDude, Would a Littmann Classic be a good stethoscope?

A few of my friends who are still in nursing school are having trouble with taking blood pressure manually. Does anyone have a suggestion as to a sphygmomanometer that is easy to use? All that their school asks is that it be manual; it doesn't matter if its got a modern, digital gauge, mercury, ect. Please give experiences with suggestions. Was there a brand you had to use in a hospital that was smooth in releasing the air, or was there something that you did to make the whole process a lot smoother? Thank you.

I know what you mean. Its pretty crazy..

I just got hired as a "per diem" nurse, and I'm wondering if I can work 'per diem" at two hospitals to assure that I am working full time? Do nurses work per diem at several hospitals?

For all nurses who have already gotten their first position after passing NCLEX. How many interviews did you get before landing the job? Did you send out more than 50 resumes before getting an interview? Any real life stories would help.

Just wondering. So many RNs claim that they love being in GI. Just wondering if clinics/hospitals in California hire LVNs for these positions. If so, can they receive certifications in the specialty as RNs do? Thanks in advance

You must first analyze why you failed. My good friend failed twice and when I asked her this question she knew immediately that she just did not have enough nursing knowledge. She was super stressed in school and skated by. So, by the end of school her knowledge was in fragments. It was obvious that there was no glue in her memory that she could easily retrieve information necessary in critical thinking. She took a class for several hundred dollars called "Lifesavers". This was basically just a bunch of content thrown together. If one had a pretty good nursing understanding, I would say this little weekend course would help an average student pass the NCLEX, It was not suited for her. She failed in over 150 questions. The second time she planned to take the test she just used flash cards and tried to memorize certain illnesses with symptoms. Needless to say she bombed big time. You simply can't just remember two words together and then see them on the exam as is done in many other tests. You need a thorough understanding of the whole picture so that even if you haven't heard the name of a drug or disease you can start playing some ideas in your head of what is happening based on symptoms. Remember: when in doubt its airway; and be familiar with signs and symptoms of hemorrhage. The third time she took the test she used Hurst. It worked because it did not just throw a bunch of questions, skipping her lost nursing basics, it taught her how to think like a nurse. She said that she answered questions that were totally left- field from the concepts of what she learned from Hurst, but she passed in 77 questions. Usually, pass or fail does not come down to not enough practice questions, it comes down to how well you can relate symptoms, ect. I would try Hurst or Ez NCLEX. I have heard that the major crash course, EXCELL is good, but it requires several days off work.

Anyone know if its even possible for a new LPN to find a job that is low stress? I'm talking low to the point where she can go to school for BSN and still be able to study. Any experiences, advice or even hospital jobs that are not necessarily "nursing" jobs.

Thanks for the link. That helps a lot.

I live in California and have discovered that we have some very limited options as to online LPN to BSN options. There are many Universities throughout the country that have programs but few in California. I would appreciate any suggestions about online options in California, especially Southern Ca.