alva78

Hi guys! I'm wondering whether employer's prefer traditional over online RN-BSN programs? At this point, I might be late (or have to wait until Fall to apply) to CSU programs. I just want to get started on school and look for a job. I've heard great things from online BSN programs, but I just really want to make sure if they're taken seriously? or if it matters that it's online. I just recently became an RN and just want to get started! Thank you!!

Hii!!! Yes! I passed!!! I took my exam last Tuesday and barely tonight received my license in the mail!! Super excited and relieved! Thanks so much everyone for the positivity and the advice! I'm happy I listened to you guys and my gut and stuck with my date!! Had studied hard & daily for almost 2 months-was getting cold feet, but toughed it out! Thank you!

Hi guys! Told myself I'd come back and post tips if I had passed. This site has been so incredible in helping me to organize myself and prepare for this mammoth of a test. I just can't thank people enough for taking the time to post their tips, so thought in return I'd quickly jot down what I did to see if it'd help anyone. This is my second time taking this exam and the first, I just KNEW I needed more time to prepare-but took it anyway bc I felt pressured. Anyway, second time around this is what I did. -Many people have recommended LaCharity for Prioritization questions, yes! An amazing book. I completed almost this entire book the week of the exam. -Many people also recommended Lippincott's Alternate Format book, yes! Most difficult for me is SATA-this helps a lot. -I also did Kaplan, finished all the qbank- retook trainers 4,6,7...trainer 7 completed it week before my exam. -Flashcards, flashcards, flashcards! Had about 5 different piles. One of medications that came up on qbanks (Kaplan). One on important info that wouldn't stick in my mind. One on suffixes and prefixes of medications (YES! do this. Much easier to understand and recall medications). One on rules or pneumonics for things. Like the electrolytes!! Look up SALT LOSS, FRIED, MURDER, CATS got NUMB. -I also purchased the Lippincott NCLEX book, newest edition. GREAT book, completed some chapters..but two weeks before the exam I gave it up to focus on LaCharity, SATA and KAPLAN. -Also purchased a KAPLAN book, newest edition 2015. For me, I just wasn't understanding the decision tree- this was very helpful with that. But, many questions were easier than they were harder.. so, didn't complete the book for that reason. -Lastly, I purchased NCLEX Meds for Nurses--great for making flashcards and understanding the meds!! $10, i think? Was a great buy. (I also noticed I purchased a lot of books this time around-I wasn't sure what to use for my 2nd attempt but I was just SO determined to pass. That's why I recommend just the first three things on the list & med book). -I did do the recommended 100-150 questions a day. I'll admit I took a day off once a week, i didn't want to, but just happened (LIFE). I may have even overstudied? I went from 9am-1pm, then 6-10pm, daily if i could. I cut myself off from any media apps bc it was distracting me. I took notes on important things and tried my best to review them once a week. Just learn to pace yourself, don't buy too many books as it will overwhelm to finish them. Kaplan and their online support was amazing-watching the question videos was more helpful to me than the watching the review videos. Keep healthy, exercise even if it's for 30 mins a day or every other day. Eat well, get your rest. Make time for your loved ones/support system, it really does help get your mind out of the books for a second and makes you feel like you're not in seclusion. One other thing, one of my biggest problems was taking too long answering questions. I got an app timer-amazing. I set it for 1.5 mins for each question (something like that)..and went it buzzed, I moved on. So if you're a slow test taker..try this. After 2 weeks I didn't need it anymore. Lastly, keep positive, keep consistency, pray!!! Study hard, but take your breaks, too. YOU will get there!!!! p.s In case anyone is wondering, my exam was this week. It took me almost 2 hours-cut me off at 75! I was prepared to sit there for 265-it was an incredible feeling to be cut off-but please don't focus on it shutting off. Focus on HOW you're answering questions-reflect on your thinking-just keep practicing and reviewing until your day!

Hi guys, this is my second try at this exam. First time, I think I just needed to more study time. This time..Ive done just that...but in these last four days..my brain is tired. My eyes hurt. I'm worried because I've been improving a lot on my qtrainers from Kaplan, but the SATA one...the fourth "sample test"..woah. I did far worse than the first time I took it one month ago. (30's). And the one before (priority) 90. I know we shouldn't focus too too much on scores, but man! I'm getting nervous. I feel like...my exam is only a couple days away, this score is unreassuring. I feel like I was ready two days ago and today I feel overwhelmed because I want to keep going at it. Feels like I'm almost forgetting the small things. I was just feeling awesome the last few days because I've progressed and studying hours ad day. Now, literally within two days to go I'm getting cold feet. I just haven't gotten that low of a score before and i'm worrying right now. Any advice is much appreciated or words of encouragement. Thank you.

In this case, the best thing you can do since the patient is presenting what seems to be an MI coming on, is morphine. I had been confused on this too, but what's happening when you give morphine is that is decreases the preload and afterload of the heart (which like mentioned above, decreases the workload of the heart, decreasing oxygen demands).

Thanks so much for the replies. Made me feel a little more relaxed, think I'm going to stick to the date. I just want to feel really ready, but Idk how anyone can ever feel really (super) ready? Thanks so much, pls keep ur fingers crossed for me! I'll update ^.^

Hi guys! Not sure who else also has there test date rapidly approaching? I have been studying consistently daily for almost 2 months and for me it's already one week before the test. This weekend had many unplanned things happen I'm wondering if I should postpone by a week? I'm using Kaplan and a couple books to study, last week I had re-taken trainers 6 and 7 and improved a lot since last month when I took them. Is there a way to just check on PearsonVue for other dates? I don't want to postpone my date, but after hardly studying the last three days it has me in a little panic. Any thoughts or suggestions? And any tips on what to study the week before? Thanks!

Thank you so so much! This gave me a really good idea on how I should be using my Kaplan, answering questions from my weak areas is something I really need to do. And also, SATA is difficult for me so I'm more excited to crack open my Lippincott book. Really appreciate your advice & your philosophy (to panic or to use ur anxiety as fuel to know ur weak areas).

Hi guys, I have a few weeks before my second attempt at the NCLEX. I'm studying everyday, but today I just feel a little anxious and overwhelmed. :{ Overwhelmed looking at the books I have and feeling like there's not enough time to study most of them. I'm trying to stick to Kaplan question trainers and reviewing my qbank. But I know I gotta incorporate my books in here too. The books I have are: Saunders 2011, PDA by La Charity, Lipincott's Nursing Review New Edition, and lastly the book with SATA (can't remember the publisher). Also, every time I don't understand something I write notes (reviewing is difficult) takes so much time, but I try. My goal is to complete 100-150 questions a day (so far it's been 75-100 at most). Today I also started re-taking the Kaplan trainers and I improved by 4 points. But I'm so worried. I feel like I really struggle with the SATA questions and sometimes knowing WHAT to do first. Can anyone help suggest a study plan or if it sounds like I should be doing something. Or if it sounds like I should be focusing on Kaplan vs Lippincott or vise versa... Anything helps, thank you. Also, random question. I was wondering if more people take their exam in the early morning or in the afternoon?

This is awesome, thanks! I really needed to hear this right now!

Thank you so much for your reply, makes me feel like I'm on the right track. I've just started getting my study plan together again, which was a little overwhelming at first with the different study books/resources, but im realizing, it's actually pretty helpful. You answered SO many questions beforehand, thats what im aiming to do as well. (I think that also had been my mistake, not enough questionsí ½í¸£). Its awesome to know how others studied, so thank you! And yes please, if you wouldn't mind emailing. Honestly sweet of you to share! I'll try and message my email to you.

Hi guys, I took my NCLEX last week. I left knowing I didn't pass and found out, I didn't. I took a couple days off to get myself together, because I was overwhelmed with feelings. However, I just KNOW I can do this. It's weird because one day I'll feel positive and think I have study plan, but right now I'm feeling so lost! I'm a ball of stress, if anyone could please share advice on how I should organize myself. For my first exam, I used Kaplan. From Kaplan I still have access with a few hundred qbank left over. I have Saunder's 5th edition that I've had since nursing school and haven't used yet. Also, I just ordered: the Prioritization, Delegation & Assign book, Lipincotts Q&A Review, and Kaplan's NCLEX premier)...I'm renting them. I'm thinking I went overboard maybe, but I don't know where to start. I also realize from taking my nclex: i hardly used the test-taking strategies and didn't pace myself (went too slow on each question). I'm just wondering how I should break up my day, because with all these books how does one fit it all before there next exam? Thanks so much, any advice is much appreciated.

Thank you for all of your replies!

Hi guys, it's been 3 days since I've taken my NCLEX (first time). I just know I didn't pass it. I was not pacing myself well through the test (I'm a slow test-taker), I completed 265 within 6 hours (yeah, nuts). I'm pretty good at knowing how well I do, so I don't want to waste time bc I realize BON takes forever to process our paperwork. I'm just wondering if we absolutely must wait to receive our results letter before re-applying to BON? I'd like to send my fee and paperwork right away and not have to wait for my results. I also just learned about the PVT. I decided not wanting to try it bc I'm not ready for the fee (not trying to be negative :/ just know it will go through), but I am ready for BON fee that I could hopefully send this week? Side note: it's actually taking more than 48 hours for the pearsonvue "quick results", tomorrow it'll be 72 hrs. I've been waiting and I'll pay that, but today I'm thinking I know what's coming so I need to get the ball rolling. Any information would help, thanks guys. This journey for testing is so overwhelming and my anxiety has been through the roof. Really appreciate this allnurses community, it's given me hope to keep on trying.

Hi guys! For those that have taken the TEAS already (and used both ATI and McGraw Hill pdf to study), do you think the practice exams from both books were similar in difficulty to the real exam? thanks!