KimberlyT

I have learned a great deal about myself since starting nursing school and becoming a nurse. I remember that before my first nursing school exam I went into this little room and cried. I couldn't imagine what possessed me to think I could do this! (I ended up getting a perfect score.) In my experience, nursing school, and now being a nurse, constantly confronts me with 2 things: 1) I'm not "there" yet; and 2) I'm a smart person who's capable of WAY more than I ever thought I could be. Nursing is really demanding, both mentally and physically, but it's rewarding too. I was dressing a stab wound on a patient the other day, and I thought to myself how much more interesting my job is now than when I worked in a law firm and watched the clock all day. BTW, one of the first things I realized as a nurse on the floor was TIME MANAGEMENT!! Get that down and everything else will be manageable. Without that -- you're in big trouble! Good luck.

This is an interesting post -- very enlightening to see the varying responses. I buy all my own scrubs and, mainly for practical reasons, wear them to/from work every day on the bus. I also wear my shoes to/from work each day. I do always wear a clean uniform each day. I can see where it's possible that I'm carrying germs on my clothing, but I also think that unless I'm actually coming into physical contact with people it's unlikely they'll catch something from me. If I have a patient with anything other than standard precautions, I would always wear a gown and gloves to care for them. The funny thing is -- sometimes I'll have cared for a patient for 2-3 days in a row and all of the sudden they're on MRSA contact precautions. Who knows how long they've had it, and before that I was dragging their germs around to my other patients. I think the most vulnerable folks are the patients in the hospital. I'm not sick with MRSA and I assume people on the bus (who more often than not have intact immune systems) are probably safe too. A very good question though....

Hello, I cannot really help you, other than to suggest that you should probably seek some legal advice. If you call your state's bar association, they likely can give you some names to call. Either that, or the board of nursing in your state. The important thing is to stay calm and be very organized. If you do see an attorney, prepare a comprehensive chronology of events and collect all related papers, etc. in advance so that you can get the most out of your time with them. (They get paid by the hour and are not cheap.) I was a paralegal for many years before becoming a nurse, and the organized client gets the best service because they help the attorney do their job: advocate for the client. I know you are frightened, but doing these things will also help you to feel that you are accomplishing something and not just sitting there waiting to be run over by the hospital administration truck. That will be worth something in and of itself. By the way, while I appreciate --and respect-- that you are a Christian, that is not why I responded to your note. Not to climb on a soapbox, but I have this personal pet peeve about people who say "I'm a Christian" as if that should mean anything to anyone (except you and God, of course). You're a fellow nurse, and I assume you're a good person. That's all I care about and, in my opinion, all anyone else should either. Best wishes. Even though I'm not a Christian, my prayers are with you....

I agree with the other suggestions. I work on a large surg/neuro/trauma unit with about 70 beds. We have the unit divided into 3 parts, each with its own report room. The previous shift tapes right before the new shift comes on and they hang out finishing stuff up until we come out in case there are any questions/updates. Report for us generally takes about 30 minutes. We do very brief verbal status reports to another nurse on our part of the unit before breaks.

Hello, I am 38 and graduated from nursing school in December. I would say the average age in my class was mid-30's or early 40's. In my area, it is tough for new grads to find jobs because there are so many of us. I was lucky as a mid-winter grad to get hired in my interview at the only place that called me back. However, I'm happy with how things turned out: I'm on a med-surg unit at one of my top two hospital choices. My supervisor knew from my resume that I had no healthcare background (that worried me more than the age thing). However, she appreciated that I worked full time during nursing school, and also my 17 years as a legal secretary and paralegal showed I have real world experience and can handle lots of responsibility. I also had excellent college and nursing school grades, which probably helped too. If I were you, I would do my very best in school grades-wise, get at least 2 letters of reference from nursing instructors, as well as a few from other people in responsible positions (such as your current/former employers) and do an internship if you have the time (I didn't). Good luck.

Hello, Thanks for your note. I work in a teaching hospital, and I deal with interns every day. So far, my experiences with the interns have been very favorable. What I appreciate most is that these doctors are very courteous to me and promptly return my pages. Also, it is, of course, extremely helpful if your orders are complete so that we don't have to track you down for clarification. If you can manage those three things, you will be off to a great start. Kimberly

I am a new grad RN at a big metropolitan public hospital. This issue just came up for me. After I was hired, I called up the nurse manager and asked her where I should buy my insurance from since I had no idea. She said she has never had insurance and didn't know any nurse who does. She also said that "as long as I practiced under the nursing standard I was covered by the hospital." (Of course, if I accidentally screw something up, I'm obviously not practicing under the standard -- which is why I want coverage in case something ever goes wrong.) I replied to her that I was under the impression (from one of my nursing instructors) that this is very important coverage to have. She asked the county attorney for the hospital, and this person replied that I am covered by the hospital unless I "intentionally" injure a patient -- which of course I would never do. However, by the time I got that response, I had already gone ahead and bought it. It was only $50 and I am always willing to pay for peace of mind. This is a discount rate for my first year. Next year, it will be $100. I don't know yet whether I'll renew. Probably. I worked too many years in law firms before becoming a nurse -- I always say my brain was infected with "worst case scenario disease"!

I am a new grad RN (38 years old - new career) who was hired earlier this month at a major metropolitan "safety net" hospital on a busy Med-Surg unit. On my unit, I get 8 weeks of training. My first week was all orientation. I didn't take care of my first patient until day 8. There's also quite a bit of reading, videos to watch, working with the unit HUC for the day, computer classes, etc., but that's just for the first 4 weeks. For my next 4 weeks I will have a full pt load (4) and will have a preceptor assigned to me. She will not have patients -- her job on these days will be only to work with me and train me in. Each preceptor on our unit volunteered for the job and had a small amount of training. Our clinical educator on the unit coordinates my schedule during this orientation period and gives me my 2 month and 6 month reviews, after which I'll be off probation. I have no other experience to compare with the one I'm having now, but I am really happy with the way I am being oriented to my unit, and to my new nursing role.

I second the opinion of some of the other responders. I liked Saunders a lot. It is kind of offputting at first since it is INCREDIBLY comprehensive, but then that's what you need to do a good review. I did NOT, however, read the whole book. I also had the first 2 books you mentioned and liked them. I also took the Kaplan course and read a 2003 version of their book. Aside from my Kaplan course (and the extra 20+ hours I spent taking tests at their site after the course), I spent the most time with Saunders, both the book and the great CD it comes with. Kaplan spends a lot of time in its book imparting these little strategies, which I confess I did not use when I took the NCLEX (I passed with 75 questions in a 2 1/2 hour blur.) If you only get 1 book, I'd go with Saunders.

I'll bet she passed. Similar to your friend: I passed both the pre and post tests at Kaplan, I finished in 2 1/2 hours, I had 75 questions, I thought the last few were easy (which freaked me out), and when I walked out of there, I could only think of 2 I'd for sure gotten right. Our board of nursing posted my results the next morning by 9am -- and I passed. So I'll bet she's fine and passed too. But nothing to do but have faith and wait. I think she'll have good news.

I took a job as a CNA in a nursing home the summer before my last semester of nursing school (I'm an RN). It is clear to me that CNAs are the hardest working people on the planet! I was running all day and still behind. If I stopped and spent 2 minutes to help a resident or talk to them, it put me way off track. No wonder nursing homes are such sad places. No one has the time to just get to know these lovely people. One lady was struggling so much to button her shirt and she finally looked up at me and said "I have a college degree." She was so embarassed by how little she could do for herself, I think she thought I would think less of her. But I ultimately quit that job within 6 weeks because of the nurses working there. They were the laziest, cattiest women I'd ever seen. They would sit on their butts all day yakking about personal stuff and if I'd say "can you please help me transfer this [400 lb completely immobile] resident?" they'd stop, look right at me like I was crazy, and say "you'll have to get another CNA to help you, I'm a nurse." So then I'd spend 5 minutes tracking down another CNA, who is of course, really busy with her own residents, to help me -- and they'd come as soon as they could, but it was still 10 minutes, which made us late to get them down for lunch, which meant the CNAs didn't get lunch..... God, it was horrible. I didn't need the money from this job (good thing, because it paid squat), so even though I loved the residents and my CNA coworkders were pretty cool I finally decided I'd had enough and quit. I don't think I would ever have treated anyone the way CNA's were treated at that place, but now I am sure of it. I KNOW how hard CNA's work!

Yes, I have that Springhouse book and refer to it a lot. It's called "Diagnostic tests made incredibly easy" or something along those lines. Actually I LOVE all of those "made incredibly easy" books. I have 5 or 6 of them and they are a great quick reference. A little spendy at $40 each, but I have never regretted buying them.

I am a new RN -- I start my first job in 2 weeks. At one of my nursing school clinicals, I had an experience with diminished lung sounds and it was very obvious, but only when I listened on both sides. I had a 2 year old boy with pneumonia and right pleural effusion -- basically, a big wad of gunk in his right lower lobe. When I listened on that side, I could hear breath sounds. When I placed my stethoscope on the left side, however, the breath sounds were MUCH louder. Honestly, I don't think I would have known if the sounds were reduced bilaterally since I could hear something on the reduced side, just not as loud. I think breath sounds are the kind of thing we will just have to get experience with. Not sure there's any substitute for it! Good luck.

Because I always WAY overdo things, I bought just about every NCLEX review book under the sun -- and took Kaplan. (See what I mean?) Anyway, I did several tests on the Lippincott CD and was amazed to get high 90's on all the practice tests. This was in comparison to the 70-85% I was getting with the other review books I used. Then, when I went to Kaplan, the teacher said he thought Lippincott was okay, but did not recommend it as highly as, for example, Saunders -- because Lippincott was too easy. Based on my own experience, I decided he was right and didn't work in that book anymore. As I've previously posted, I think Saunders is the very best. It's simply exhaustive and I spent many hours reviewing with that book and CD, in addition to going to Kaplan and taking a bunch of their practice tests too. I passed NCLEX on my first try on 1/31 with 75 questions. I do think Lippincott would be a good resource for a current student. Good luck!

Congratulations!!

Saunders IS huge, and although I spent a lot of time with it, I did not read the whole thing. I mainly reviewed chapters I knew I needed review on (chest tubes, endocrinology, etc.) So think about YOUR weak areas and read up on those and do the questions. One day I spent the whole afternoon doing all 400+ questions on fundamentals, because that was what I needed. I also stopped and took the time to look new stuff up right then and there so it stuck in my mind. I used my Mosby's dictionary so often! The Kaplan book they give you in the course is good, but not quite as detailed as Saunders. The Kaplan book you buy is also good, but contains little content review material. The good thing about Saunders CD is that it offers lots of questions in each area. However, I did not see a way to create a big test with questions from all the areas -- like you get with Kaplan. I also used the "made incredibly easy" NCLEX books. One comes with a CD that was very helpful too, and you can choose what you want to be tested on. I also bought the Mosby CAT after hearing about it on this board, and I agree with another poster -- by the time I got through the 2nd test, I was having lots of repeat questions. That made me mad, since it was pretty spendy to buy and basically only good for one test! I think the most important thing you can do, however, is to simply focus on this. Go somewhere where you won't be bothered and work for a sustained period of time, take a break, and get back at it. If you have too much going on around you, you won't really take the information in.

Minnesota

Thanks. I'll be on the lookout for your good news too. It was so nice to have this board to refer to throughout this experience. I completely agree with the person who said (in another post) that they wouldn't wish it on their worst enemy!

I think you shouldn't worry about it. Your experience (the types of questions and that the questions seemed easier at the end) was exactly what I experienced, and I found out today that I passed at 75 questions too. I know you WILL worry, but I think you're probably fine. Do try to resist the urge to look things up to see whether you got them right. You've earned a day or so to not look in your books. I left my books in the car so that I couldn't double check and I'm glad I did. It would only have stressed me out more!

I passed!!!!! They told me results wouldn't be posted at the board of nursing until 48 hours afterward, but I was feeling neurotic this morning so I looked it up after less than 24 hours anyway -- and it said I PASSED!!!! I'm an RN!!! What a miracle! All last night I was worn out and teary. I woke up this morning at 5am. I was sure Tuesday would be the longest day of my life!! Bless the people at the BON for not making me suffer any longer than necessary! I ran around looking for the cordless phone to call my parents -- but then I stopped to thank God for putting me in nursing school and for seeing me through. After 17 years in law firms, I had never considered nursing. I had never even taken a science class (I was an English major in college). But now I am so excited to be embarking on a new career that I might actually be good at!

I hope you're right. I really felt that I knew nothing taking that exam!! I checked our BON on-line and several people from my class have passed already. I can find out Wednesday -- an eternity from now!! GOOD LUCK TOMORROW!

Many thanks for your kind words. I SO hope you are right! I just haven't a clue -- I feel completely numb!

I just got back from my exam. It shut off at 75. I have NO idea whatsoever how I did. Out of the 75 questions, there is 1 -- and only 1 -- that I am pretty sure I got right. It was difficult! I had lots of prioritization, diet and g/d questions. I also had about 5-6 new format questions (mostly check all that apply -- the ones I'm worst at!). I was so nervous that I was crying while driving there and my heart was pounding for the first few minutes when I sat down at the computer. After I did some deep breathing and praying I felt a little bit better and could begin. It took me 2 hours. At this time I feel relatively calm, but in the back of my mind I am worried because some of the last questions seemed to be easier to me, which makes me think I failed. Well, if nothing else at least I don't have to study for the next 48 hours!! Whatever will I do with my time???

Hello, I was absolutely terrified about the nursing math when I began nursing school. We had 3 exams that you needed to get 90% on or you automatically FLUNKED OUT! I had so little confidence in my mathematical ability. However, I am happy to say that it really was not that difficult at all and I always did very well on math questions. For one thing, it's a practical application. That seems to make much more sense. In our school we used a ratio and proportion approach and it works like a charm for most problems. And once you set up the proportion, you are just doing multiplication and division. So it's really not anything to worry about too much, if you ask me. But passing the NCLEX when I take it in 3 days -- THAT is something I'm a bit worried about!!

Hello Everyone, I discovered this site during my last semester of nursing school and it has been really nice to read about others' thoughts and experiences. It especially helped me to determine, for example, what review books to buy. I take my exam on 1/31 (in 3 days!!). I am a paralegal who worked FT while going through nursing school. I had a 3.94 GPA. We took a HESI exit exam at school and I got 1073. After graduation, I took the Kaplan course, and I also took a month off work and have studied an average of 4-5 hours each day. I passed both my Kaplan tests (diagnostic and readiness), and I got an average of 85% on all of their STARS tests. I have been working in the Saunders book/CD (which is REALLY thorough) and generally get 75-90% on practice tests. I also have been using the NCLEX Review Made Incredibly Easy book/CD. I even heard about the Mosby CAT on this board and just bought that -- it said I had a 94% chance of passing. (I am often guilty of WAY overdoing things!) At this point I am so sick of studying I could scream!!! I tell myself that my results so far look good for me, but I really don't know. I am trying to stay positive -- and calm -- since that's so important. The next few days are not going to be much fun. Thanks for a place to vent -- none of my family and friends understand what this is like!