MeganB1983

I wanted to let you know that I graduated from Breckinridge at ITT in Merrillville, Indiana. I graduated December 2013 and sat for my boards February 3rd for the first time and passed with 75 questions. I got a job at a nursing home as an RN and applied to the local hospitals in the meantime. I got hired on the med surg floor and darted March 10. I was in the same boat as you. I knew that I was smart, but all these community colleges needed 4.0 and high entrance exam scores and I was a B student. I wanted to be a nurse so bad and put it off for so many years that I went for it at Breckinridge. I had a positive experience because I was driven. I did what needed to be done and I studied my ass off. It can be done Good luck!!

Was she using her incentive spirometer?

Thank you!!!!! Lol

We use epic and can chart an hour early. I'm on the med surg floor so charting early is hardly an option, I'm always so busy. We do Q4 assessments and if I did my assessment at 2300 instead of 0000 I wouldn't think anything of it to chart ahead (on a stable patient). You are talking about ICU. That's a completely different ball game. They don't have you do Q2's to give you more charting to do. I wouldn't mess with ICU patients' assessments.

I graduated from Breckinridge @ ITT Tech in 2013 from the Merrillville, Indiana campus. I had my likes and dislikes. I liked the fact that it is very small. I don't like the huge university setting so this was a PRO for me. Teachers, administrators, janitors, etc all knew students by name. It's a nice feeling. I do not like the cost. I had to pay out of pocket and it ended up being approximately 35,000 only because I had credits transferred over. Thank god! Also, it seems to be very unorganized. I don't know how your campus will be, but teachers were leaving, curriculum was misunderstood by students and faculty, contracts weren't enforced, etc. Overall, I am happy with my education. I am an RN on a med surg unit at a hospital. I feel like my education there was enough for me to pass boards and start a new job. BUT... I took my education very seriously. I studied everyday. Good luck!

Keep busy! I noticed that when I sit down to start charting is when I start to hit the wall.

I was slacking big time because of the holidays. I was so busy! I started the Hurst review on January 6th and haven't gone a day without studying somehow. Even if it's reciting lab values in the shower haha.

Congratulations! I take my exam Feb 3rd and I am just a wreck! I feel like no matter what I study, it won't be effective and I'll get a bunch of questions that I don't know. I did the Hurst review this week and have been studying like crazy. I can't wait until this is over. My nerves can't take anymore haha!

As far as trying to keep up with the instructor while she lectures, invest in a voice recorder. iPhones have that option built in but that seriously saved me many times!!

You don't have info written down from your patient? I would talk to your instructor because it will be next to impossible to put together a concept map when you don't have any meds written down.

When we started nursing school, our instructor asked us all to introduce ourselves and say a little something about what made us want to become a nurse. One girl who is OBSESSED with animals says "I really wanted to become a veterinarian but I can't handle seeing animals hurt, but humans I can" *****?

It also depends on how much each exam is worth. Our exams equal out to 50% of our grade, quizzes are 5%, assignments are 10% and final is 35%

There are times during the semester where it won't be a problem but then there will be times where your grades will suffer.

I'm sorry I don't have reference. This was just told to me by my nursing chair.

You are incorrect. You are grandfathered in and it applies to graduates as well