Lexirunner

I didn't take Kaplan. Just used Saunder's and Lippincott Q&A book for a week before my test. Passed in 45 minutes with 75 questions. I felt the study questions were much harder than what was on NCLEX.

I just graduated, passed NCLEX yesterday (WOOHOO!!!), and had my last clinical rotation for 16 weeks on an Onc/palliative floor. Like you, I was so impressed at the level of care and compassion provided. I had two preceptors on the floor and asked permission to use them as a reference, should I apply on that unit. Once I noticed openings, I emailed the nurse manager directly with a tailored cover letter and attached my resume. I have a phone interview tomorrow for an RN position on that unit. Definitely introduce yourself to the nurse manager, and email with your interest in the unit (and WHY you want to work there) when you're done. Good luck!!

Snack = glucose. Glucose = aerobic metabolism. But if diabetic, you need exogenous insulin (not always in DM2) to facilitate the transfer of glucose into the cell. I'd like some ABG's.

I have an assignment to figure out a newborn wellness diagnosis. I'm wondering if I can include assessment data from the parents, as the baby can't vocalize any intent to improve. I chose Readiness For Enhanced Nutrition based on the following data... the defining characteristics are from Carpenito, and I added the correlating assessment data: Expresses willingness to enhance nutrition - Baby shows rooting and sucking reflex, drinks formula from bottle Eats regularly - Documented successful feedings (formula) Consumes adequate food and fluid - appropriate wet/dirty diapers, weight loss less than 10% Follows an appropriate standard for intake - Parents verbalize the need to feed baby every 3-4 hours (formula) Safe preparation and storage for food and fluids - Parents demonstrate knowledge to discard prepared formula after one hour. Does this make sense or am I totally off base??

I'm currently pregnant and just finished my first semester of core nursing classes in an ADN program. I'm TERRIFIED of next semester with a newborn... when semester 2 starts, I'll have a 2 month old, 3.5 year old, and a 6 year old. I'm lucky in that I have TONS of support from family and my husband, but I still would never recommend anyone get pregnant during your core classes. As far as prerequisites are concerned, they're easier to manage, so if you have a lot of support, you could probably handle it. If your program has a waitlist for clinicals, you could try to plan for baby to be born around the time you finish your prereq's, but may have to sit out a semester or two while you wait for acceptance into clinicals. Obviously it's a very personal decision, but I just wouldn't put yourself through more stress once you get to the clinical/core classes part of your program. Good luck!

I can understand that feeling. The school I attend puts a very negative spin on how your life will be during nursing school. I left a few of those meetings in tears, feeling like I didn't even want to bother. In reality, nursing school is very busy and parts of it are difficult, but it's not as impossible as everyone makes it seem. Keep up with your assignments, get into a routine with studying and you'll be fine. I set time aside on the weekends and a few hours during the week to study. I didn't find that I had to give up on my social life (it's already very limited) or family time. I just finished my first semester and got A's and B's in our 4 classes. Some of the people who weren't successful, or had a very difficult time passing were the ones who studied ALL day and night and didn't allow themselves any break. I feel like they missed some of the more simple concepts by overthinking everything. I agree with finding a group of people who are serious about school... skip the drama and whiners because they'll just add unneeded stress. I was surrounded by a few of these, and ended up doing half their work and "holding their hand" through certain things just to shut them up (I realize that wasn't the best choice). Take a deep breath and try have fun with it!

I think you can do it, but it depends on how you learn. I took A&P1 over the summer plus 6 other gen-ed credits and got an A. I learn really well at a faster pace though... less time for procrastination. At that time I also had an 18 month old and a 3 year old. It was a busy summer, but worth getting it out of the way sooner.

You definitely don't need one for pre-nursing courses. Once you get into your core classes and clinical, some people found it useful. I didn't have one, but there were days where I wish I had. I had my regular backpack crammed full, and then had to carry one or two huge texts that didn't fit. Some days/weeks I didn't need all the books... it really just depends on your situation. I chose to do most of my studying while I was at school so I brought all my things to school with me. If I were going to study at home, I probably wouldn't have needed to bring all my books to class.

Disney for my kids is number 1, a long weekend to Vegas is number 2, and a new-to-me car is number 3. After that, I'd like to start saving as much as I can and maybe do 1 longish vacation per year, or a couple long weekends with the family. We live alright off my husband's paycheck, so mine will just make things more secure and have the means to do more fun/optional activities.

I would take it! I took the CNA class before I even started any of my prerequisites to make sure I was comfortable with everything. It's definitely helped me and I feel like it gave me a little advantage in clinical over some of the students who had no healthcare experience. I would have been totally lost if I went into clinical with out any experience doing cares on people, but I'm someone who needs hands on experience to be comfortable with things. Plus... nurses still have to know how to clean up poo and all that fun stuff!

I definitely agree with not talking to the dean about this... Just focus on you! Things have a way of working themselves out. I'm in an ADN program, and they let in people who would NEVER get into a four year school (just based on grades and test scores). Basically if you get C's in everything and get the minimum PAX score (only a 50), then you're in the same pool and considered equal with people who got straight A's and got really high scores. This bothered me for the LONGEST time. People got into the program before me who barely passed their classes, when I was getting A's. At some point, I just accepted that that's how the program is run. All I could do was my best when it was my time. Now I'm finishing up my first semester, and I've honestly only had time to think about succeeding for myself. Once you get started, you'll find your priorities, and things like that won't matter anymore.

I am a mom to a 5.5 year old, 3 year old, and I'm due in June with our third boy. I had class in the mornings (8:30-12:30) 4 days per week, so I just stayed at school until 3:30 or so to get my studying/skills practice out of the way. By the time my oldest son was home from school, I was just getting home and was able (most nights) to spend time with the family and husband after the kids went to bed. Anytime I came home right after class, I'd get caught up in housework and end up not studying. As long as you keep up with everything, you'll do great! I'm a HUGE procrastinator, so this has been a learning process for me. I also want to add, that you 100% can do this with kids. I got so many negative and discouraging comments from people when they heard that I have two young children and am pregnant. Half of those people haven't made it through the program, but I'm still going strong (just finishing up my first semester of an ADN). As long as you have a strong support system, you'll be fine.

I would say A.

Fundamentals, Pharmacology, Skills (3 credit - 8 week course) that covered taking vitals, wound care, med admin/injections, IV regulation, GI tubes, inserting catheters, and head-to-toe/focused assessments. We had to test off on all those skills plus pass 4 written exams in order to make it to clinical the last 8 weeks of the semester. At clinical we're assigned a patient and perform all their cares, vitals, blood sugars, meds, charting, and any other treatments/procedure that we have tested off on or that the nurse/instructor is there for. It's been busy, but fun!

We're taught to use sterile technique if it's a new wound (ex. a fresh stoma, trach, etc.), but to use clean technique for most/old wound dressing changes because it's assumed there's already bacteria residing in the wound by that point.

I would like anything that keeps me on my toes! I haven't started any clinicals yet, and am going to keep an open mind to everything. Right now, ER, ICU (scary intimidating, but exciting/rewarding), and NICU are most appealing. I would definitely do my time in med/surg to tweak my skills and gain knowledge/experience before diving into any of those fields. I still go back and forth about working at Children's Hospital, but I'm nervous I wouldn't be able to handle it (besides NICU). Hospice is also at the top of my list. I think there's something very rewarding about helping someone (and family) pass with comfort and peace. I guess we'll see what happens when I get into clinical. I always thought I wanted to get into OB/Delivery, but I'm 100% passionate about natural childbirth, and don't think I'd be able to keep an open mind to the "intervention filled" childbirth process we have in the US. Maybe if I could work for a midwife!

If I didn't have to study all day, I'd definitely go! Don't have the time to spare this weekend though!

I am in my first semester of a full time ADN program. It is front-loaded, so they cram a full semester worth of nursing skills/lab into the first 8 weeks, and then we do clinical in its place for the second 8 weeks. Currently, I have a 5.5 year old, a 2 year old, a husband, and I'm pregnant with baby #3 (due in June). First 8 weeks of the semester: Mondays - Off/Don't study this day... just review and organize. Tuesday - Pharmacology followed by Fundamentals of Nursing - 8:30 - 12:30. I stay at school until 3:45 to study, and then have the rest of the night off. Wednesday - Nursing Skills - 8:30 - 12:30. I stay at school for as long as I need this day. I usually also have to fit in my skills check off on this day. Thursday - Nursing Skills - 8:30 - 12:30. I stay at school until 3:45 and usually don't need to study later. Friday - Nursing Skills - 8:30 - 12:30. I try to study a lot this day so my weekend isn't so full, but a lot of times I'm so tired, I skip it until the weekend. The second 8 weeks of the semester, we swap out the nursing skills for our clinical rotation, and that is on Thursday and Friday from 7-12. Wednesday is a prep day with a meeting from 12-1pm. I'm looking forward to a little slower paced "second 8 week" portion of the semester. So far, I've passed all my skills check offs, and got high 80's- low 90's on my exams. Good luck! You can do it!

I'm also in fundamentals. I study the material like I would have studied for A&P or Micro... learn all the vocab and any points my instructor has highlighted or emphasized. My textbook has NCLEX style questions in the chapter reviews. I find those really helpful in transitioning what I studied to a more "nursing-oriented" application of the knowledge. Hope that helps!

I'm 20 weeks and I told my advisor. I just need to have my Dr. write a note that says I can participate in clinical. The only thing I've been struggling with is my morning sickness, but that passes before my class starts. I just get really tired from it all. I'm due in June, so it's good timing with it being between semesters.

If you're looking for a job as a CNA, maybe it depends on where you apply? I live just west of Waukesha and was called back for interviews at almost every place I applied, and offered a job for each interview, with no experience. These were all assisted living/LTC facilities though. I haven't tried applying at any hospitals, but there are quite a few positions open in this area in hospitals. Good luck!