GingerRoot

Main Points: 1. I'm a new RN and I am from NY. 2. I am confused about what avenue to take in order to gain employment. I have learned extensively about lateral violence and always said that, for my first nursing job, I would highly prefer to work with men, instead of "catty" women. Clinical's, and Nursing School gave me all the estrogen I need for a lifetime, and to have to deal with more of that, while helping someone...is so not a part of why I choose this profession to begin with. 3. I don't have ANY connections (meaning: I don't know any managers, social workers or doctors in a hospital, I am NOT related to anyone in a hospital, and I have no friends with "pull" in a hospital) to get me a job.......well inside a hospital. And lets face it....in NY its each man for himself and no one is willing to give me ANY help or information. (Not even my mother, who has been an RN since 1988...haha). Question: a. What are your thoughts on working in a Prison straight out of school? I was worried about my safety, and I read a post saying its tough...but a ***** gotta eat right? *shruggs* b. Should I apply to agencies that specialize in Community Nursing (VNSNY), and just avoid applying to anymore hospitals. (My online application count is 197....neat huh) c. Should I consider leaving the place where I was born and choosing another state? I heard something about Texas....but that place just scares the crap out of me... Thanks MEN.

It not what you know...its who. During my last clinical rotation...my preceptor and her friend (another RN), had every family member but their dogs working in that hospital. When I asked her about how to obtain employment there...she pulled me to the side and said, "no one applies online anymore, and the so-called "nursing shortage", is a myth. You have to know people sweetie. Sorry." So disgusting..

lol...not everyone on Adderrall has been diagnosed with ADHD. Its sold on the blackmarket and has been labeled the "study drug".... This guy in particular bragged about pretending to have ADHD..AND GOT A SCRIPT. Trust.

Is that what you read? Did I post that "smart people should become doctors"???? That's not what I said.....and that is not in my original post Again, my point stemmed from the guy/girl/person...who stated that "nursing school" was NOT hard. Nursing (in my opinion) is hard, and I frown upon people who take it lightly and conclude that it was "easy" in becoming a nurse. Peace.

QTrainers ranged from 55-64% Readiness: 65%

My Qbank scores ranged from 55-68%. There were some days that I was so tired, and that is why my scores were low. But I think, as long as you do the questions and read the rationales...and UNDERSTAND why you got certain questions wrong, the better off you will be. When I watched ALL the video's, I used the blank space in the book and jotted down what they said. Yes the video's are long...but they were great.

One of my classmates, while we were in the program....sang the same song. He always said "nursing" wasn't as hard as medical school... LOW and Behold....he applied to 4 Medical Schools (in 3 different states)...and couldn't get into any one of them. And while in nursing school, he obtained a prescription for Adderall...and I never understood why he needed the so-called "study-drug"... because the content...according to him was so easy. Makes you think...huh?

And this is the reason why I feel nursing as a profession has a LONG way to go, in how we are viewed by the public. As long as people on an "allnurses" website....conclude that the nursing curriculum is "easy breezy", the less respect we get in regards to what we do. If nursing is easy...and its not a big deal, then maybe you need to challenge yourself and try medical school. There is a reason why 140 students start in Nursing 1, and 40 people graduate....(as in my case). CJ....you posted that you are "about to start nursing school, and have a 3.94 GPA, and never once thought A&P or micro were hard"...You are very fortunate and you have GREAT an advantage over many, many people (myself included). I graduated, passed NCLEX.... and the thought of going through what I went through to obtain my BSN all over again, scares me to death.. If your GPA is that high CJ, and micro and A&P were a breeze, I'm sure you can become a doctor...and "encompass the patient as a whole". You are more than intelligent enough to make that connection..

For those, who said nursing school wasn't that hard....why not just go on to medical school?? Why stop at nursing, when you can become a medical doctor and not have to take orders? Just a question..

Well, as a product of NYC Public School in the 1980's AND a 9th grade high-school drop out. Nursing school was....um....hard.

Oh...we had to do ATI in my school, and we hated it. I don't think ATI is even written by nurses. Thats why I choose Kaplan. The video's and the book, helped me sooo much to put all of what I learned back in my head. Are you going again? Please give Kaplan a shot, its expensive...but it is worth it.

It will be....I didn't go into the NCLEX saying that I was gonna pass. I went in there saying, this test is for "the people", and to assess if I can help them if I needed to. You will do great..

@aisha.....for the next 6 days just do questions and read rationals. That is what I did and I passed. The night before the test, I was tossing and turning, and I couldn't sleep. The hardest part was just getting there and not pushing my date back any longer. But once you sit down for the actual test....you feel better about biting the bullet.

@Murse...no job offers yet. I don't know anyone working in a hospital...and I don't have any family members who can get me "in". SO my goal is to get into community nursing (VNSNY)...

I brought the whole package...I have the blue review book. And their online video's are the BEST.

I did about 150 a day on KAPLAN....and then I did the textbook CDs to buff what I learned. After a while, when you see that you are reading the same thing over and over again, you feel ready. This site that I found on allnurses was the BOMB too. Random facts

@aishj10.... Oh...you are so ready!! Your QTrainer/Qbank scores are way better than my scores. This was my first time taking the NCLEX and everyone that I knew passed with Kaplan. You know those CDs that come with all of your nursing textbooks??? I did those questions from the CDs and I did Kaplan as well. In total, I did about 5,000+ questions...and for the rationals, for what I didn't know..I wrote them out. The hardest part for me, was the testing site in Manhattan. I felt like I was going to the chair, and as I reached closer to 75, my questions started to get longer and harder....:uhoh21:

Ummm.....I did Kaplan. How did you study? When did your screen cut off???

Thanks....I'm still in shock.

Took the test Thursday (April 12, 2012), and I officially paid for my results and found out that I passed. The KAPLAN system really does work and it was the best money I have ever spent....A great investment indeed. I am officially a New York State Registered Nurse....

Just took the test yesterday and got the "good pop up", but now I'm wondering...who is the "Member Board", and how do I contact them???

Just took the test yesterday morning...and got the "good pop up". I am still in disbelief, I am still in shock. My questions kept on getting harder and harder..

I just graduated from nursing school, and I have to say that during the process my school did all that it could to wean out the "weak" or those who can't handle the course load and material. I started out with 140 students and at the end 20 (yes 2....0) graduated from the program, and everyday for 3 years straight I cried my heart out.. My drive to completing nursing school had more to do with my desire to really help people, and less to do with the crap that they were so determined to put ALL of us through. That is not to say that I am not traumatized....I have decided to stay out of the hospital setting. And I know what you are thinking...I can hear you yelling it through the screen.."But you have to do 8 years of Med-Surg in order to be truly experienced"..yes I have heard that a zillion times. But my desire to avoid hospitals COMPLETELY stems from a few things: 1. Lateral Violence...I honestly don't want to be in a position where someone's life is in my hands, and I have other nurse's knives in my neck. Its not fair to the patient and I love myself enough to NOT go through that. 2. Its not WHAT you know, its WHO you know.....the way things look in New York City hospitals, I don't think Jesus himself could obtain a position without handing his resume to a person that can "get him in" 3. My clinical rotation in a hospital in Brooklyn with a very seasoned RN (who volunteered to take a student mind you)...crippled me so much, that I vow never to step foot in a hospital again... Just my 3cents...

My test is coming up, and I feel empty about the test...but more excited that I can finally help the people God forgot about (prisoners, the homeless, the addict, the abused).

Well...after getting out of school, and being told that in NYC, not even Jesus himself can get an RN position...I just never applied to any hospitals. I found that it would be a waste of time. And yes, I understand that you NEED MEDSURG experience...but am I suppose to go unemployed for a year...waiting to land a spot in a hospital. I've always loved the idea of helping people in the community and that is what I want to do..I'll continue to take refresher courses to stay current, but its silly to kill yourself.