runforfun

I start my first nursing job, 12 hour shifts, next week. While in nursing school, I was able to train for a marathon the second year. Has anyone trained for and run a marathon, and any advice? Running keeps me sane, whether or not I will run is not a question, but whether I will put in the effort to get in quality runs and cross training/weights is largely dependent on whether I'm actually training for something. I also would love to learn more about crossfit, though I have a feeling I'll be heading to other sites for that research.

If you have already started, it might be wise to finish and then get a BSN later. Later can be immediately. I know multiple people who got an ADN, then began working toward their BSN the next semester (sometimes within weeks). If you find a job, you will be able to adjust your course load to fit your work schedule, and while it may take longer to actually get the BSN, you won't have to worry about re-taking classes. Like Delawaremalenurse said, your actually nursing courses probably wouldn't transfer. Also, BSN programs often have different admissions requirements than ADN programs, so you may be looking at more classes before you could even get started (which I don't think is the case for an RN to enter a BSN program). Finally, if you really have your heart set on it, look into accpetance rates in your state or in your area and/or evaluate if you would be willing to move to go to school. Some areas only have one accelerated program and I know of one program where the lowest accepted GPA was 3.9.

Is your care plan written for a real patient or an "imagined" one? If it's for a real patient, look at the history and figure out why their temperature might be low (look to Esme and GrnTea for reasons that might make sense). If the patient is imagined, come up with the most dramatic scenario you can imagine. The patient has been lost in a snowstorm with not coat, and has the most dramatic symptoms associated with hypothermia (get out a patho book and look it up). Really learn about the whys, not just why they are hypothermic, but why hypothermia causes the symptoms it causes, and why specific treatments are chosen. Also think about expected outcomes, and things that could possibly go wrong. It seems like a lot of work for one care plan/nursing diagnosis, but in the long run, all of that knowledge will come in handy, and going through the process will help you to hone your critical thinking skills. Your creative ideas are great, keep up the good work, and make sure all of the interventions you demonstrate are evidence-based!

I'm in a small percentage of the clumsiest people on earth. The flat floor has a tendency to "jump up and trip me". I waited tables for 5 years, and actually I was good at it and liked it! If you can make coffee, you could do mornings at a diner, that's all anyone cares about anyhow. More to your credit if you spill something cold on them though...

Dosage errors are dangerous, so I understand why people are being failed for not passing a dosage calculations test. On the other hand, if dosage calculation specifically is not being taught, it seems unfair. Some people have difficulty with concepts that aren't familiar to them. Just because you can perform basic algebra, or even easily perform word problems does not mean you can perform dimensional analysis. Personally, I probably would not understand dimensional analysis as it was taught in my program had I not done dosage calculations for veterinary medicine. Even with some experience, I was able to come up with the answers, then would have to "figure out" ho to write the dimensional analysis equations until it all clicked. The bottom line is, you aren't able to make changes to your program as you go through it. If instruction isn't available for dosage calc., go to outside sources to help yourself-the internet, books, a nurse, etc. You, as a student, are expected to learn the material presented to you. Whether or not the material is presented in a way that facilitates learning is another story. You ARE able to make a difference for those who will come after you. Most schools offer the opportunity to evaluate a class or program at the end of each term-leave honest critique and make it CLEAR that more instruction needs to be given over dosage calculation, or any other topic that you feel was inadequately taught.

You can't be going backward if you aren't even on the same track. I'm not sure where you are, but if you want to earn a higher degree, some schools offer direct-entry MSN programs. While you would still be a new grad in the field, you will have the education to advance quickly. I know UT and Vanderbilt both have programs, but I am not sure about other states. These programs are VERY intense, and it would be difficult to work during the program. If you are the primary bread-winner in your family right now, which unless I've read too much into your post, you are, then considering a slower track and continuing to further your education once you have your RN is likely a great choice for you. If you have the time to bust your butt for 2 years or so, I would say look into direct entry MSN programs, otherwise, I agree with Hey_Suz. An ASN will get your foot in the door and you can continue your education from there (a MSN from that point also may be a possibility, just depending on your location). No matter what you decide, it sounds like you have a lot on your plate right now, good luck to you!

You can take the online quizzes as many times as you want, until you get an A? Stop freaking out and go get your 100! Use your book to look up the answers. If for some reason your professor has not assigned specific chapters to read, then look up the information in the index. Use the internet or outside sources only the clarify if the book's explanation is not quite working for you. When you are doing the activities you have been assigned, do them after you have read and gone trough lecture powerpoints. If you can do the activities without having to look up every other answer, you probably have a good grasp of the content and just need to fill in the blanks (alternatively, I have some classmates who do any class activities first, then use them to guide their reading and studying). It sounds like your professor is not receptive to requested help. First of all, you are paying quite a bit of money for him/her to TEACH you, not to shrug off requests for help. See if the TA is a bit more receptive to your requests, they might actually be a lot of help. If this still doesn't work, be insistent with your professor and try to get the help you need.

This is the Grinch, his heart grew three sizes a while back...so heart failure?

I do it differently for each class, but it is generally split up by exam, then possibly subdivided into notes, activities, my notes, etc. That wasn't working for two of my classes this semester, so instead for example one is divided into lecture slides, lab handouts, patient write-ups, weekly objectives w/ notes, NCLEX practice, and group project. I also have another class that is divided in a similar manner-notes, activities, objectives, etc. The semester is almost over, but I wish I had divided it by week instead. There are plenty of ideas, but I would recommend not writing directly on your labels if they don't have inserts until you at least have a good idea of how each class will go. Organization can be fun, and being organized makes a HUGE difference.

Thank you for your story, that was great.

If the questions are NCLEX style, get a study guide (or multiple study guides) and review the information and questions related to the topics your are covering. Also, listen to GrnTea and go talk to your professor or professors, they can help provide guidance. Once you have done that, find someone who is rocking the quizzes and figure out how they know what to concentrate on when studying-avoid that individual who just seems to "get it" without really studying, they will be of no help to you unless your thought processes are the same.

This is an old thread, but still so relevant. Even though things are not going poorly, school doesn't always go as well as I would like. I'm a pretty upbeat person, and every now and then I get snappy, and I've broken down crying more than once already! I've found that when I start feeling bad, it's either time for bed or some exercise. There comes a time at which I realize I will do better if I find balance in my life than if I force myself to suffer. Chin up everyone, there is nothing wrong with being sad, frustrated, or overwhelmed. The problem comes when you let it consume you. Take 5, eat your Ben n Jerry's cry, whine, be ******, be sad, let it out. Then, realize that to have even gotten as far as you have proves that you know too much to fail. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and hit the books!

You want to finish and be a nurse. If you want to be an NP, that might be a long way off. I agree with jasilady, you need to focus on right now. If you don't feel like you are studying as much as your class mates, ask yourself if you can do better. If your grades improve throughout your program, that will reflect positively on you. Otherwise, finish the program you are in, get some experience, then roll the dice and apply for NP school once you have been in the field for a while and are able to gather some great recommendations. If it doens't work the first time around, maybe consider going back for your BSN to show that you know your stuff and are able to handle the studying and academic aspect of NP school. Your goal is to be finished. At the beginning of my program they asked us, what do you call an RN who got a C in such and such class? The answer was, an RN! If you are applying a dressing to a patient's elbow, they are not going to aks you about how you learned it, or whehter you go the elbow questions right on a test, they just trust that you know your stuff (give them a reason to trust you). Don't beat yourself up over bad grades or continue to second guess yourself, this becomes a vicious cycle. Try to relax on exam days and focus yourself as much as possible. You home situation might not be great right now, but use your classes as a distraction from the other aspects of your life, and focus on the fact that you will have more opportunities to better your life once you have your license.

Maybe it's because the program is accelerated, but it IS as tough as they say...and then some! You will cry, go ahead and let it out, it can be a good release every now and then. Find your support system. Don't fall behind, you will never catch back up. Eat healthy and maintain your exercise routine-don't take the first semester or so off. Don't fall behind.

It sounds like you need to make a big change in how you study. Understanding NCLEX format can only get you so far. You actually need an good grasp of the topic being tested to do well on exams. If you do feel as if you understood the material, and you felt as if you have a good grasp of NCLEX style questions, there might be a few things you can try. As you are studying, think about how the information could be made into questions. The first few times you are doing this, write them down, and go through a subject specific NCLEX review at the end and see if your questions match up or are at least similar to what the practice questions ask. This, of course, is not foolproof. What you will be tested on is up to the professors, not an NCLEX book. Also, have you considered being tested for text anxiety. A lot of schools off it, and special measures can be taken for you when you are taking exams (having the test read to you, taking the test in a separate room, etc.). The bonus of this, at least according to counseling services at my school, is that these measures can also be extended to when you actually take the NCLEX. You really should talk to your professor about exactly what you think went wrong versus what they think might have went wrong. Ask the professor to go through the test with you question by question, giving rationales. Also, see if you can find a pattern in the types of questions you missed-this could help find the areas where you are weakest in studying Good luck to you!