annlee1318

I did my med surg rotations in Kaiser, but have never actually worked for the facility. I was just wondering how the work environment was on the floor :)

I did both, my school gave us ATI for free. I preferred Kaplan for test taking strategies (yes these strategies really work when all the answers look correct) and Saunders for review of content. Kaplan was a huge investment, but honestly, the best I ever made. The format from the test is EXACTLY like the NCLEX down to where the little timer is at the bottom right corner. Highly recommend. Oh and some hospitals will reimburse you for Kaplan. Doesn't hurt to ask. Hope that helps.

Hi everyone, I was just wondering if anyone has ever worked for Kaiser Bellflower? I have an interview for their labor and delivery department, and was wondering how the work environment is. Thanks in advance!

i took it in april for the first time and passed. like the poster above said, it is not a recognizable difference. i had friends who took it before april and when we compared notes, it was pretty much the same...same format, same wanting to bang your head against the wall type of feeling. that being said, go into your nclex feeling good that you have the ability to pass the test. do not underestimate the power of a good night's sleep and some breakfast. practice a lot of questions. it doesn't matter that it's april. what matters is you feel prepared and confident to sit down for the exam.

For me, it was. The Q bank, review of content, and test taking strategies helped me pass the first time around. If you can afford it, I'd say go for it.

hi sharell, congratulations on passing your boards. i'm in the same boat as you. i took the boards last friday, had 265 questions, and passed!

The unit where I interviewed it at goes by 12 hour shifts. They stated that they pay 25.05 for a new grad, and 5.15 night differential per hour. After 8 hours is NOT time and a half. So that would be around 30/hour if working nights. In fact, the stated shift states 7pm-730am. Hope that helps! :)

yup. 25.05 as a new grad rn, and 5.15 differential for nights.

Try registering at aftercollege.com. The e-mails they send you are insightful as to what positions are open at certain units. I'm a new grad myself (dec. 06), born and raised in Southern California. Applied to Hoag, talked with Ms. Spivey who was EXTREMELY helpful, and found that they really do need new grad RN's in telemetry. To be honest, the hospital does seem great and it would be nice to work in any unit there. I noticed in your other post that you live in PA. Let me just say, that it is possible to live here affordably. Traffic is a mess during rush hour, but it's just something that we learn to cope with. Sidestreets can become your friend pretty quickly. Do you mind me asking if there is any particular reason why you want Hoag or Saddleback? There are TONS of good quality hospitals around Orange County/Los Angeles that are by the beach. One thing you should know about California: public transportation SUCKS! It is possible to get around on the bus and metro, but honestly a car is almost a neccessity if you want to get around efficiently. Everything is close, but spaced out. Definitely not within walking distance unless you live a block or two away from the hospital. Hoag is located in Newport Beach. The cost of living is outrageous. Look for places in Costa Mesa instead. It is only a 10 minute drive, and you can significantly reduce your cost of living to around 900-1350. South Coast Plaza is nearby, and a lot of little botique type shops. Have you thought about living in Long Beach, California? It is a great place to live, and is located approximately halfway between LA downtown and the OC. I am a twentysomething myself, and I have to say that Long Beach is a great city to start out living in. There are great hospitals nearby (check out Long Beach Memorial), and housing isn't atrocious. There is definitely a young hip scene going on, especially since California State Long Beach is closeby. The beach is closeby too, and it's extremely diverse in terms of demographics. If you're more of a partier, you can party. Belmont Shores, The Pike in Long Beach come to mind. If you're really thinking beach life, there is also Santa Monica, California. Westwood and Brentwood in LA are also very nice. Outrageosly expensive, but nice. I'll be honest with you, Orange County is a great place to live in, but it's definitely more conservative and family oriented. It's a place where I'd want to raise a family. Don't believe what you seen on Laguna Beach and the OC. For a young, single 20something, I would think to look more in LA county. Just some food for thought. I know I went completely off on tangent. I definitely think you can make the move! Sorry don't mean to sound harsh about cars and public transportation. That is a reality, but is IS doable. As an RN, you can live comfortably, as long as the lifestyle chosen is within reason. Hopefully some of this makes sense or is helpful. (Just for the record, I've lived both in LA and Orange County)

I feel your pain because I was in your shoes three years ago. I attend Cerritos College and am set to graduate the RN program this December. First off, persistence really plays a big role in this whole thing. If I remember correctly, there are only two lead instructors in that department. Ms. L, and Dr. H. For both I would suggest getting on the waitlist, and e-mailing the instructor before the semester starts. Explain your situation and how long you have been waiting. Most of the time, they will let you in as long as you can get a LAB. So, my technique was to go to all the labs (yes even the 8 am awful one), and sit in and try to add that way. Pretty soon, these instructors will know your face and may let you in. Try the part time instructors. Often they have more pity. I remember there was a Friday morning lab teacher that let students in, knowing some would drop. Persistence is key. If this doesn't work, I would go straight to the counselors. Make an appointment for a nursing counselor. It does make a difference!If they are fully booked for these next two weeks (school starts the 14th), sit in for a same day appointment. They can add you in immediately and override the system. Finally don't give up. I know when you're waiting with no end in sight, it's easy to want to change majors. Just know, there is a light! Be open to other colleges as well and apply everywhere. Cerritos actually has more prereqs to get in the nursing program than Cypress or LBCC. Cypress has a nursing class you might want to take if you have spare time, and I know LBCC does something similar. Apply everywhere! Hope everything works out well for you. Oh and while you're waiting there are some great classes to take even if you decide to take nursing elsewhere...these are things I wish someone had told me when I was waiting with no end in sight. Medication Calculations (HO56) - When you're in Cerritos' program, they will not lecture you on how to do dosage caluclations. They just give self learning modules. You will have dosage calculations all 4 semesters. Medical Terminology - I think I would have saved myself a lot of stress my first semester of nursing school if I had taken this. There is a whole lingo out there that I did not get. This helps immensely as well. I don't know if you've already taken the life spans requirement? However, if you didn't I definitely suggest psych 251 instead. It's transferable Cal States if you decide to go to a different college.

Do not feel horrible. I felt the same way about my LTC rotation. It just didn't fit, unfortunately. That's the beauty of nursing, you try out different areas and find out what works. Keep your head up, and remember that it's a learning process.

In my school, our semester is split in half as well. There are 10 of us in our clinical group, so we all chipped in 5 dollars and gave her a gift certificate to a restaurant she liked to eat at. We also gave her a card with specific thank you's. We did this after our clinical evaluations. Personally, if it's something small I don't see it as being inappropriate. However, it isn't something that should be mandatory as well.

I'll admit that I didn't read through all the pages here...but if no one has mentioned it, a good storage clipboard is a lifesaver! I keep my keys in here, as well as all my careplans, and extra paper! Plus, it comes in handy when you're writing vitals and doing your assessment.

Hi, honestly what you are feeling is normal. I remember being there about two years ago. Before I took a&p I had a 3.8 cumulative GPA. The prereq science classes took a beating on ego. I barely received a C in a&p and micro (took both at the same time). I had horrible teachers with thick accents who I barely understood. I spent A LOT of time crying, because I felt like I was being self taught and the stress began to pile up. I was twenty years old, in a community college pursuing a second associate degree and it was taking forever. Granted, it wasn't for a lack of trying but rather the way the school system is. There is a long waiting list, and I'm not naturally gifted at the sciences. I began to wonder whether I should just switch back to my old major since I was having such trouble with the sciences. My parents were furious at the time it took. Somehow, I got through that semester with a 2.5 bruised, battered, but determined that I'd be a good nurse. Fast forward to present day. I'm now in the nursing program, getting straight A's and am president of my class. I don't say this to tout my horn, but rather to give you some encouragement. Think about why you want to become a nurse in the first place. Know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The most important thing right now for you to remember is that while these classes are the foundation of what you will learn, it is not the HEART. The most important thing is to have a heart that cares, and is dedicated to the patient. Anyone can learn about action potentials, and osmosis. It just takes time and repetition. You can learn it. It will eventually sink in. Trust me on this. If you are willing to persevere, you will get there. You just have to look inside yourself if this is what you want.

It really depends on two factors: time and money. In Southern California, it could take you 4 and a half to 5 years to complete an ADN because of the waiting lists. That is taking into consideration you're a full time student. If money isn't an issue for you, I would contemplate about looking into an accredited private university. In the same time period, you could end up with a BSN. Downside: the cost. However, that time you saved could be made up working and gaining valuable clinical experience. That's the beauty of studying to be a nurse: there's so many different paths. Good luck in your decision.