RadBSN

I applied and got in while I was working on my one year of experience. By the time I start I will have about 18 months. I deferred one class. I would encourage you to apply when you are ready!

The stuff for new grads goes up and down pretty quickly. For Dec. grads UNC had stuff up last week in November and it was down by the first week in December. I would subscribe to Duke's listings for CNIs so that I got that info when it was posted. Other than that I checked Rex, WakeMed and UNC's sites daily. It sucked. Usually the new grad positions are posted a month or two before graduation would be. You've probably missed all the jobs for summer start dates, but keep your eye out for fall start positions. Winter start positions (February) will probably be up in Oct/Nov. I will say that I know a few people who were able to get CNI jobs at Duke because they already had their licenses. We're only looking for experienced people on my floor right now because my NM hired 5 new grads in the beginning of the year and just hired 4 more. That's actually better because for the last several graduating classes she's only hired 2 new grads. Best of luck! I don't know of any more rural hospitals that hire new grads or have new grad programs. Honestly, I wouldn't want to work at most of them but mainly that's because we get the trainwrecks transferred from there!

My patients tend to have meds at 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 1800. If I got all their meds to them "on time" I would never do anything else. Last weekend I had someone with meds at all those times plus, 7, 11 and 1500. Sometimes their Cipro is scheduled to be given at the same time as their Magnesium Oxide and their "take an hour before meals" med is scheduled at the same time as their "take with meals meds". What this means is that I always take a look at the MAR while I'm getting report and highlight my "must give on time" meds, such as IV abx. We do bedside report/pt handoff, so that's when I check to make sure they're not laying on the floor or in any acute distress and check a pain level. Then I plan my day and give any insulin (if pts are eating). Sometimes I'll do my assessment while I'm giving meds (esp if the pt takes pills one at a time). I use a lot of nursing judgment/critical thinking when figuring out the timing of my meds. The MAR timing is set up by the pharmacy computer based on the schedule of the med, for example, meds written as "every 6 hours" show up differently than ones written as "4 times a day". It's not always logical.

Remember that all the skills with important sequences have a reason behind the sequence. You wouldn't wash your hands and then give the pt a call bell because you've just recontaminated yourself.

Not everyone requires a continuous infusion of IV fluids. Walking is HEALTHY for patients who are able to do so and it should be encouraged. Smoking, notsomuch.

My unit has a lot of independent pts who stay at the hospital for a LONG time, so we'll often med-lock them in between antibiotic infusions, for personal care, walking the halls with PT, etc. It helps them maintain some sense of normalcy in their lives. I usually give my patients a schedule for the day, so they know when they're getting what and can plan in between. I won't interrupt treatment (abx, fluid bolus, etc.) for a shower, but if it's just KVO fluids I will. I haven't had anyone ask to be unlocked so they can go smoke, but we're a non-smoking campus, so they would have to leave AMA.

I kind of like the idea for this reason. If you're willing to be texted, great, you get the mass text at the same time as everyone else. Those who don't want to be texted get called in order. I don't think it would be fair if they only texted people, both should be done. Plus, there are situations when I don't want to answer my phone, but looking at a text quickly is fine.

When I got into Yale the Admissions Director said that they didn't allow people to defer, that I would have to reapply, but didn't have to submit a new application...I decided not to go and now I'm a nurse on a Medicine unit hoping to start CNM school next year.

I love text page, I would be so sad if it went away! I don't understand how it's a HIPAA violation if the intended person is receiving the message and has a "need to know" this information.

My first instinct is: OMG GO! However, Yale is expensive and who knows what the economy or job market will be like in 2 years. Having a maternal child health job will definitely benefit you in CNM school. Will your current position pay for grad school after you've been there a year? I know Yale won't defer (at least they wouldn't for me 3 years ago). If you got into one school it means you're probably a good candidate for grad school in general, so I wouldn't be too concerned about getting in again.

I only highlighted what I did in clinical if I was applying for a specific position-for a peds job I described my Peds rotation, a public health job I outline what I did in my public health clinical, etc. Honestly though, I don't really think it matters if you are applying in the same area where you went to nursing school. Nurse recruitment knows each of the programs and what happens in them.

Congrats on passing! I also got a TON of SATA! At one point I said "seriously?!?" out loud. I didn't think to count, but most of my questions were either SATA or "who would you see first?' I had one pharm question--on a drug that I knew. It's such a weird test!

I found Saunders and NCLEX 4000 to be pretty similar to the ones on the NCLEX. I did not find the ATI questions to be similar, but find that they were good for helping me review the content. My exam had almost a "theme" a lot of questions from one area it seemed. I've heard from other people too that theirs seem to have a "theme" too. I had no calculations, my friend who took it in the same room had 10. It's a weird, random exam. I wouldn't worry too much if you're weak in one area (unless it's all of med-surg) I was really nervous about oncolgoy and neuro, but ended up getting the subjects I was strong in. I honestly felt like I wasn't using that much knowledge about the actual disease process, but more about using my nursing judgment to prioritize. If there was something I didn't know there was usually some other clue in the question or answer that helped me figure it out.

I rarely got them right when practicing, but had a lot on the NCLEX and passed. I honestly felt like the NCLEX ones were more straight forward and therefore easier than the practice ones. Just do a bunch each day.

The minimum number of questions for the NCLEX RN is 75 and the min for the PN is 85...sounds like someone was exaggerating! I know people who passed with 256, 260, and 75. Just keep going and don't freak out if it doesn't shut off after 75! Honestly, I think the key to the NCLEX is to not freak out. There was a poor girl crying in the waiting room, BEFORE the exam even started, that is not a good way to start an exam!