MisfitSN

Sorry about the late reply 2013rn2bscorpio, I studied using the charts provided by ncsbn and some of the major youtubers out there like michael linares. I also studied them by classification; antipsychotics, calcium channel blockers etcetera as I felt that would give me a good overview as there are far to many for me to guess which might have been more important. But for meds like dig, theophylline, morphine, lithium major medications that I knew would be covered I reviewed more in depth to understand their mechanisms of action and special considerations. Hope that is helpful.

PV has a preference for those who attend main campus first, but there are more transfer students than main campus students. I myself transfered to main campus prior to applying. The preference is nice to have on your side if you can manage.

Hello all, Just wanted to add my nclex story here and give a review of the services I used. I graduated in 12/14 and my program pre registers us for Kaplan. I enjoyed the material Kaplan gave us because it was pretty complex and offered more than enough questions. The decision making tree I wasnt too fond of or the classes where we discussed the decision making process and rationale, but I used them anyway. Unfortunately, when I sat for my exam in January I did not pass. I got all 265 questions many many sata and delegation questions and meds (nnon dosage). I was devastated, I felt hollow and just wanted to be in a coma until I could take it again. Fast forward through 4 months self loathing, landing a nursing job pending the results of my second attempt and a move cross country. A former classmate informed me of a review they used that I hadn't heard of before- NCSBN. Although the material seemed easier by just a bit than Kaplan I felt that it was close to what I saw on my first attempt and gave some decent tips on how the questions were structured, its written bh the same people who write NCLEX so that gave me some piece of mind. I did the 3 weeks course ($50) and made a study plan. There were enough questions total to keep me busy every day for 3 weeks. I memorized as much of the material as possible and used YouTube videos to freshen up material I wasn't too knowledgeable on. I also prayed novenas for it (thank you St.Jude for being an intercessor for me to God). The morning of the test, ate breakfast, prayed, went to the center and took the exam. This go around I had lots of delegation, meds, a few dosage, ob/pedi, and lovely lovely ekg scripts. I got 265 again was sure this meant I failed but I continued through it cause hey I failed once so I was prepared for that heartache again. After the exam I took my mind of it by going out. Since I took my exam on Saturday I wasnt sure how soon I could get quick results, but today (Monday/48hrs later) I logged in and paid to find out..."PASS"! I am now in the ranks of the BSN-RN. So, to anyone with questions pertinent to my story I wanted to put this information out there. And thank the Allnurses forums for continuing to provide information on a variety of topics as well as being a place to vent. The exam is just that an exam, my anxiety and negative self talk were the hard part to overcome so don't do that to yourself because you have more important things to focuse on like practice questions!

Working full time would be diffiuclt (a lot more studying goes into this as well as time to complete assignments, clinicals, etc. than what you think, even after getting into the swing of things), PT is doable; many students including myself do so (two days a week/five days a week type schedules). Som eposters on this site may have expereince with FT school and FT work but to date I haven't met anyone who has pulled it off successfully. As [COLOR=#003366]RNsRWe said, YOUR schedule must be flexible: my exams went from being on the days of class to being held on Wednesday when I didn't have class, or when classes get cancelled after you signup for them, or when you end up with an over-night clinical (imagine going to work the next day), and even still when you need study days. I have been turned down for PART TIME jobs because my schedule didn't match up with a regular 9-5, I have no illusions that a FT job would be too much stress for me (and we didn't even talk about commute). You may be able to work out doing a PT program though as those are desgned for students with extenuating circumstances or busy schedules. Good luck, there's heaps of information and advice to be had from this site.

So far so good; floor nurses don't make an issue of it if they are aware since I'm just another student on the unit. Such things aren't discussed with my profs; it just isn't a subject that professionals concern themselves with. As for my classmates; the girls were very interested in figuring me out. I really wanted to keep all aspects of my personal life to myself, but with making friends and helping each other through the program of course it has come up that I am bisexual and have an amazing boyfriend . The other male students don't have an issue with it either and I am still just as good friends with them as the female students. I find that if you are honest and unapologetic about yourself then others will often have respect for your surety in who you are.

Although you might not have an interest in pursuing OB as your specialty, like many posters have said, you will still deal with women of all ages and pregnant women in your rotations and in ICU settings as they are equally susceptible to injury and illness as men and boys. As a male student I thought that the pts would not want me to see them in a compromised position, but they were more than willing to allow me to provide care for them and their infants. First day of OB clinical I was invited to watch a birth. It was a wonderful experience that even some of my female peers did not get to have. Coming out of nursing school you will be a generalist. If you lack knowledge in an area then you pose a risk to your pts by not having any knowledge or experience. You can think of it like learning a language; how can you communicate well if you can only speak in the future tense? Such is your nursing education teaching you to communicate in any situation be it past, present, future, male, female, or child.

5 semesters; optional summer courses, but even with them there are some regulations that end only you to advance by 1 whole semester and all other work goes towards alleviating your course load for the following semester. Other BSN progams in the area are 4 semesters so it makes my program the odd nurse out. But I do like having the break between to gather my strength and wits.

When looking at the Elsiver guide I thought it was far too simple to be a good guide, but honestly it was one of the easier exams I've taken. If you finished your A&P II close to the testing date it shouldn't be difficult as the material will be fresh. Not to say that you shouldn't study for the exam; focus on your weak areas (algebra, vocab,etc.) and don't let yourself get stressed over it (even though it seems like your whole future depends on the results).

Thanks for posting everyone, the questions and answers provided a more solid understanding of the type of applicants MSF is looking for.

Thanks for posting!

PaullinaRN, can you tell me more about the application process/your expereince in the program and field? I am interested in making it my speciality area (ultimately working up to MSF). I haven't been able to find much in the way of people's experiences going htrough such programs.

Since you've taken the exam, can you tell me some more about your experiences working in the field/ what your program was like; I am interested in pursuing the diploma program at LSHTM.

Thanks for posting this, still helpful in 2012.

@ bsn12 and laura How was your application process proceeded? I am really interested in going the same route and wanted to know about your experience with the process/competitiveness/etc.

"all the health rankings are based solely on the results of peer assessment surveys sent to deans, other administrators, and/or faculty at accredited degree programs or schools in each discipline... respondents rated the academic quality of programs on a scale of 1 (marginal) to 5 (outstanding). they were instructed to select "don't know" if they did not have enough knowledge to rate a program. only fully accredited programs in good standing during the survey period are ranked. those schools with the highest average scores appear in the rankings." the site you source is also for graduate programs where as the op is an incoming student. a better way to determine rankings might be to use nclex pass rates as well as talking to students and faculty at each school you are considering. of the houston area nursing programs prairie view is not within the top 3 but nor is it even close to the bottom, not withstanding uthsc and twu are also awesome programs, hope you're happy with your pick trishajlee.