tytkhat

Hi AN!! This is really intended for the COB club, but anyone can chime in... I came across some review material from back in the day when the NCLEX was still a paper/pencil, 2 day testing deal. Just for kicks I went further and tested myself with current review material in OB and PEDS, two areas that I have very limited exposure to albeit working in ER. I was nervous but actually did pretty good at 85 and 93% My question is, especially if you have been in HH or a clinic setting for a long time, how do you think you would do with todays NCLEX? Cut off at 75? Run the clock down and still wonder? Todays NCLEX is supposedly more challenging with graphs/math/SATA, etc. Compared to the area you work in now, what area do you feel you would need to brush up on to pass it today?

I knew I would see something like this soon. For any travel related inquiry I can count on NEDRN to give his expert advice, I love anything written by TheCommuter, ESME, Grntea, and Ruby Vee, because quite often, the responses are indeed thoughtful and thought provoking in a positive way. There are many others of mention, offering advice and opinion that doesn't raise the hackles of my neck. For me, it is all about a response that is understood and does not come off like you are a total tool. I like how we are able to share personal experiences to help lighten the path for those of us bumping about in the dark.

OP, your situation is not uncommon. I highlighted going back to school with dreams and aspirations to further my learning and build my family. I had to do this constantly, not only to stay on task, but to assure my insecure husband that I was doing this to better our family. I also stressed to him that we were to grow TOGETHER, not one party edging out the other. It did not help that he made twice my salary in a WEEK, that I was going to 2 schools and held 2 jobs, did not matter that my young son needed 2 parents to raise him. All that mattered was that he knew what the end game was, and that was to build up our family. What I did not realize at the time was he had no intentions on supporting me and , in fact, was jealous of our son. It was a great day when I finally "woke up".

No, but I wish it would happen soon. I'm sure the state is resistant because of changes in revenue. It's always about the $$$. These fees are nuts and add up quickly, too.

Hello, everyone! I recently noticed that IL has got on board with the NURSYS system. I have no idea when it happened, looked like just a few months ago I checked and that was not the case. I entered my info, and PRESTO, the information was present and accurate. However, when I went to put it to work on the endorsement side, it was as if IL did not exist, no info at all. I am hoping this is ONLY due to the holiday and I am not experiencing visual hallucinations. Has anyone else noticed this? Any IL nurses know how long the join time has been? Now if they could just get with the compact, we would be that much closer to "One Big Happy!"

I have a future daughter in law taking prereq. for the nursing program at the local college. We recently had a conversation where she expressed doubt, fear, anxiety, etc. and needed to vent and get some words of advice. I told her this: For every class you take, you will have to build and break down. Study the material as presented, then tear it apart, putting it back together so you understand it. Accept that there are only 24 hours in a day, but you have to determine what can be eliminated or modified in order to knock down your short and long term goals. Movie night, shopping, hair, nails, dining out, these things are not vital to you getting the material and passing your tests. Good note taking, adequate rest, and great study habits (group or solo), will take the place of all that. This journey will be difficult, yet possible. I joked with her that I may end up an instructor in one of her classes, as I finished a post masters in nursing education recently and would love to mentor and motivate student nurses. At the conclusion of our conversation she felt better, but still anxious. I know that if you want it, you work for it, and get it.

I thank all of you for your replies. I think I will go in with Mr. Bob and Ms. Jane if the person is older than me. Otherwise, me using the first name is fine. Esme12, I completely understand about the last name on the badges in an area where prisoners frequent the hospital. My previous employ was rather transparent, in such, you could go online with a persons name and all sorts of stuff pops up (THANKS GOOGLE EARTH)!!! I Googled myself, found my house before and after I did some updates on it, read my plates on my vehicle sitting in my driveway too. Heck, if I looked closer, I may have seen my kitty sitting in the window!

...I was being shown the run down in the ER, and when the nurse with me came across our patient, a lovely 88 yo, she addressed her by her first name. I was mortified! I grew up addressing my elders as 'Sir', 'Ma'am', Mr. Soinso, etc. I would be sporting one heck of a nugget from whatever blunt object my grandmother wielded if I addressed otherwise. Apparently, this is how the patients are addressed...I asked...first name only. I am a tad uncomfortable with this (no, more than a tad). Also, the employee IDs show our first name only. It is weird for me. Has anyone else experienced this at their facility? How do you feel about addressing the patient by the first name only?

smartnurse1982, how would it be known how many tries it took one to pass the NCLEX? I have never seen that asked on an app...

I agree with pp, it depends on what you've got going on in other areas. When I took my math classes, they were with a full course load. However, realizing that it was a weak area for me, I attended all sessions (4 days) of this class so that I was comfortable with the content and could grasp what was being taught. The instructor was supportive of my decision. In the end, I did better than the top student in my original class, and I was just hoping for a 'B'. I was working 2 jobs and still had other responsibilities at home. I made the Dean's list, for what that's worth. I would recommend taking sciences and a/p classes separately to devote time worthy of an 'A'. It was rough to juggle all these things at the same time for me but I did it. Classes that require a lot of writing content sometimes merge well together and can cluster (English, Sociology, Psych). You just have to see where your strengths are and make it work in your favor. Good luck.

I'm inclined to think you are already overqualified for this position and once you are finished with the present goal, you would seek a position more in line with the education you have. I am sure management has thought about the possibility of having to do this over again, too.

Freedom and flexibility VS responsibility (24/7) and accountability, plus 15K. For some of us the choice would be cut and dry, but for you, a real evaluation of where you want to get out of the next few years is in play. I agree with PP, map it out with the pros and cons, and take the plunge (or sit poolside)!

I still recall fond memories of working in a NH as a CNA. We worked hard as a team and those residents would shine like new pennies after bath, hair, nails, and skin care. There were few episodes of incontinence, as we had them on a pretty predicable toileting schedule. We actually looked forward to inspections from the state, and passed with flying colors. We had a four or five stars for several years. Sadly, I had to leave shortly after becoming an LPN. As an RN, when I could catch a bleed with a blown pupil, or newly DM pt going into DKA, it was memorable.

Ruby Vee, I am familiar with the way you respond to posts. I agree with you. You are forward yet informative. I have always thought that we as nurses can offer advice, solutions and respectful criticism when the need arises. If the poster is not of that specialty, that decree usually preludes the suggestion so that it is not assumed that we are of a particular specialty. We usually see more than one type of nursing in our own specialty. Take psych, for instance, even though it may not be your specialty, you will inevitably see it in med-surg, peds, L/D, and other areas as well. You may have a question and have something to offer or need clarification with something you experienced. We need not be so "joined at the hip" with our nursing areas. SHARE/LIVE/LEARN

OP, I am having some difficulty following your post... Who is the CNA or LPN here? What background does your friend have? Is this an already set travel deal? It sounds great in a perfect world, but this seems drawn on an etch-a-sketch...too many variables.

OP. perhaps you can alert an accreditation entity such as JACHO. Most importantly, get out stat!!

Out of high school I became a full time CNA, made 4.25/hr at a NH. Went into the PN program, don't remember how much that cost to go, but after graduating I stayed on at the NH for a bit of experience. I made 9 bucks an hour and was super happy about it! Stayed on for about a year to work on a few skills and moved on to a hospital. While I went back for my ADN, it was with mad purpose; I held a full time position in psych as an LPN, and a part time job as an asthma peer health educator at a clinic, and attended two schools simultaneously just to finish at my self appointed time. At the first college I made the Deans list a few times. To this day, I don't know what I was thinking to take on so much at one time. Oh, had a hubby and kid too.

After I obtained my dual MSN/MBA with the focus of healthcare systems leadership, I promptly sought a management position. I accepted a House Administrator position. There are definitely pros and cons about the role. One thing that affected me is the limited interaction with peer/friends. No more of that, can't be too friendly because you will be accused of favoritism or worse...Another tif is that the salary increased per year, but I took home roughly 600 bucks less a pay period because it is salary. No overtime potential, shift diffs, holiday pay, whaa, whaa, whaa. An advantage of this role was to engross myself into policy, procedure, and politics of my organization. I desired to be a change agent, this role did not allow me to do that. But overall, I am grateful for the experience.

Hi fellow nurses...I recently filled out an application as a staff nurse with a large well known health care company headquartered in Oakbrook, Il. A representative in human resources called me with instructions to take a survey as part of the hiring process. I took this 59 question 'survey' that asks questions like "if your supervisor was asked about you, they would say you are: mostly compassionate, can see yourself in someone else's shoes, or most loyal" That might be a paraphrase, but the point is, the test is designed to see if you are compatible to interact with the patients...really! :down:In any case, at the conclusion of this survey, I had a message that said I did not pass to the next phase of the application process, and I would not be able to reapply for the position for six months!!! Is this what we as nurses have to look forward to? I told the HR rep that I doubted my answers would be any different in six months. I could hear the disappointment in his voice that I didn't qualify for round two. I feel that this company is really missing out on talented nurses if this is how they hire. I find it truly disheartening. Has anyone else experienced this?

Congrats Shazzy!! Like u, when I took my exam, it cut off @ 75. After the initial shock passed, and I gathered my belongings, I tried to think of just ONE of the questions along with the choices and my answer. I could not, and burst out bawling like a baby in the parking lot.:crying2:Of course I agonized over it for several days, til I got that sheet of paper with my photo, stating I had passed. When I took the exams years later for massage therapy and nail tech, we got our results before we left the test site. I wonder why its done differently for nursing. Anybody...

That is awful that u were assaulted!! It makes caring for intoxicated clients a personal risk, esp. when they start to escalate. While working in psych, I had a young girl attack me without cause. I do not to this day remember how my thumb got in her mouth, but she was about to make a snack out of it. I remembered a crisis prevention class that demonstrated what to do if u were bitten. Make a nuckle and press HARD into that little groove just above the upper lip. I did, and she definitely let go, not attempting to bite me again.

I remember my second year as an LPN on a med surg floor, we had a client in his mid 90s that coded. There were not enough RNs and so I as called to do compressions. Well, needless to say I was traumatized after I cracked several ribs but continued compressions as if he were 60 years younger. One of the RNs giving meds said to me after the code was over (did not make it), that I did not have to compress like I was trying to bring him back, as they were considering a 'slow code'. Of course this infuriated me and I told her that that was BS-either the pt is a FULL code or they aren't, and I dont recognize the term 'slow code'. The attending overheard our chatter and intervened, agreeing with me fully, saying that if you participate in a code, you have to advocate life and fight for the pt, otherwise why bother with sub-standard morals and practice...wow.

I agree with June55Baby totally. And, if you had a great preceptor that did things the 'right' way (meaning by policy), you should have no problem other than the occasional butterflies that come when we feel like we're "on the spot". I have found that when Joint Commission comes around everyone is in a tizzy, but for me it ends up as another day at work with extra visitors or that family member that asks a zillion questions before they are satisfied that the loved one in question is getting the proper care. Also remember your HIPAA policies. You'll do fine.

THANK YOU ALL for the response to my question. After doing some further research, I came across some info about nurse medical massage, which sounds like what I am looking for. My employer is also an RN, although not yet licensed in MT (certificate only). I will look into this on all fronts as I would hate to end up in a pickle with my new career;) ! Massage does so much for me as far as being there for my client, and not having to share my care and attention to 5-6 others at the same time.

I recently took and passed the National Certification Exam for a Professional Massage Therapist, and also applied for licensure in Il. I currently hold an IL-RN license as well. I know that as a massage therapist there are some things that are outside my scope of practice, but it is not outside my nursing practice. IE: Client teaching regarding diabetic care. I plan to work in a health spa that focuses on client health promotion and education while emphasizing relaxation techniques (massage). The facility will be staffed by RNs as well. Could there be a conflict of interest if I want to focus on the massage aspect but still give the teaching of a medical professional? I am covered in both as far as liability, and both professional licenses will be displayed. I am sure that the RN trumps the LMT, right? DO NO HARM VS "PRUDENT NURSE" RN,BSN,NCTMB,LMT