StephMom&RN

When I delivered my daughter (at the hospital where I currently work) in addition to the usual diaper bag with pacifiers, diapers, onesies and blankets... I was sent home with a book, I called it my baby bible..and loved having it around since she was my first child.. it was several hundrend pages long and had detailed info on baby-infant-child development, ages 0-5yrs... My daughter will be five this year and I still use it as a reference... I use(d) it more than anything else I was sent home with..

One of my first patient assessments... the patient wanted to know why the nurses keep asking him his name, where he was and the date (A&O)... Me: We just need to check your orientation.. Patient: My orientation?? How do those questions determine that? Me: (Now Embarrassed) NO... I Mean... um... oh goodness.... Patient laughs.. My patient was homosexual, for a second he thought I meant his sexual orientation... oops...

I used Kaplan and passed NCLEx the first time, 75 questions... Kaplan focuses on test-taking strategies mainly... after my Kaplan course, I took a few weeks to review content (from Kaplan's content review book and my HESI review book) and answered 100s of questions (I only did questions from their Qbank, it helped a lot)... Its true that their decision tree doesn't work on EVERY question you come across (they give you tips/strategies for most types of questions), I think I may have only used it 20 or so times during my NCLEx, but what I did get from Kaplan, and what I believe saved my tail, was learning how to slow down and dissect each question... how to break the question down, determine what's being asked and choose the best answer. I don't think I would've done so well on NCLEx without Kaplan... but Idk if that's due to Kaplan teaching me what I needed to know, or if taking the course gave me the confidence to go in there and do my best... I don't know.. but if I had to do it again, I'd use Kaplan again... just my opinion..

Hi acbn, I agree with the other two posts.. it really depends on the hospital. I live in Chicago and work at a suburban hospital.. I just graduated with my ADN (I have a BS in Bio) and was hired on the Mother/Baby unit of my hospital.. I will say that I feel extremely lucky (blessed!)... a classmate worked as a unit clerk on a mother/baby floor in a Chicago hospital our last quarter and moved into a nursing position after graduation... My hospital has Magnet status, most nursing positions are posted as "BSN preferred"... I'm hearing that pretty soon the postings will change to "BSN required"... also, anyone in a management position or higher is REQUIRED to have a BSN in order to get/keep their position. During my job search I saw pretty much the same thing at most "good" hospitals in and around Chicago... it's not impossible to get a nurisng position with an ADN in the Chicagoland Area but you may have a much harder time doing so than with a BSN...

I graduated Feb 2012, took a Kaplan course mid-March.. got my ATT late March/early April, scheduled NCLEx April 18th then rescheduled to May 8th giving me a few more weeks to review. A lot of people told me not to reschedule my NCLEx but I didn't want to take it until I felt CONFIDENT to sit for it. I took it at 8am May 8th and passed in 75 questions. I don't regret moving my test date at all. I took it when I felt confident and ready.

I'm sure your daughter graduated already (Congrats to her btw!!)... but I just graduated and got some great gifts, thought I'd share in case anyone reads this thread looking for ideas... They were very "nursey" which I loved because it made me feel "official"... My older sis, who's an RN got me a gift basket filled with things I'll need on the floor: penlight, watch, pens (lots and lots of pens), dry erase makers, scissors, etc, and a fanny pack to put it all in... she also got me a pair of white nursing shoes (haven't tested them out yet) and the best part of the package was the Littmann Master Cardiology Steth, gold and black with my name engraved on it including "RN"... One of the best gifts I've ever received.. I cannot wait to use.. everything!!! Oh and I got several gift cards to Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts for use during NCLEx prep.. those cards DEFINITELY came in handy!! An NCLEx prep course (like Kaplan) would also be a great gift... most new grads probably can't afford the course but would really benefit from it..

Thank you.. and I'll be working in Mother/Baby!!!

Hi KrsitenNola, I minored in Psych during undergrad so I was familiar with the area before nursing school/clinical... I also worked in OutPt Psych prior to nursing (because I needed a job, not because I wanted to be in that field).. It takes a special kind of person to work with that patient population and I just know that I honestly can't. My Psych clinical rotation wasn't horrible... but I didn't enjoy it at all. It's a "different" kind of nursing, every specialty has its own "brand" of nurse and Psych just isn't for me...

I was absolutely sure I didn't want Psych and was very much interested in OB/LD... My OB clinical solidified it for me! I didn't mind getting up at 0400-0500, in the freezing blistering cold and was always happy to be there.. every other clinical was just, meh...

I have to say honestly, I sometimes wish I decided on Nursing right out of high school and gotten my BSN.. this would've saved me lots of time and money (and from feeling like I have to PROVE to others that simply having a BSN doesn't make you a better nurse than me!!, lol)... but I don't live with regrets.. make the best out of today: I graduated with a BS in Biology in 2006, started an ADN program 2009 (against the wishes of my BSN sister), worked at a great hospital while in school (NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK)... graduated Feb 2012.. took NCLEx May 08, 2012.. interviewed May 18, 2012 and got hired this past Monday (May 21st)... not everyone has been this lucky!! I was worried for a long time. I plan to go back for my Master's, which will help since my hospital recently became Magnet accredited... an online RN-MSN program most likely... Im avoiding BSN if I can (only because I already have a bachelor-level degree) I will say that a lot of hospitals in my area, especially those with Magnet status already have "BSN required or BSN preferred" on their job postings (including mine)... the ADN route worked better for me so far.. can't say it will for everyone... when people I know ask, if they don't already have a higher level degree, I tell them to get a BSN.. not because it will automatically make them a better nurse... but because it may make it easier to find a job and I see Nursing shifting in that direction (requiring all RNs to have BSNs)...

Chicago burbs/Womens Hosp/ADN (with BS in Bio)/$26 base plus awesome differentials and benefits

My story is similar to Shorty11 but I went another route... I have a BS in Biology and want my masters in Nursing... GPA wasn't high enough for some Accelerated BSN programs.. there was a long waiting list for the Masters-Entry programs (earn your MSN if you have a Bachelors in another field)... I reserached DOZENS of programs in my area and decided on a ADN/ASN program to get into field and to follow that up with an RN-to-MSN program... preferably online... I just graduated (with a much higher GPA this time) so the first part in done... I plan to work, get experience and in a year or two start a MSN program... I'm avoiding BSN if I can... if I go back to school again I want my Masters...

I've always wanted to go into health care... researched and even fell in like with a couple other professions (Physical Therapist, Forensic Science, Lab Technician) but fell in LOVE with nursing after taking a serious look into it... my work history is wwwaayyy off course: Very first job: Jr. Park Ranger, the summer before high school... learned about nature and taught what we learned to youngens.. I was a telephone interviewer on and off for many years starting at 16 (we called ppl & asked survey questions "would you say your service was excellent, very good, good, fair or poor?") I started clerical/secretary work in undergrad (Front desk assistant, desk receptionist, office assistant) After graduating with a bachelors and unable to find decent work related to my degree (Biology) my previous work experience helped me get my first hospital job: Senior Secretary in Outpt Psych. After a year in that position I moved to Senior Secretary Emergency Department... where I was able to network, LEARN more about Nursing as well as healthcare and stay employed while in nursing school... Just recently got hired as Staff Nurse: Mother/Baby ....100% my dream job

Congrats!! God is GREAT!!!!

I graduated in February from an ADN program.. our school provided us a pinning ceremony... granted I was a part of a very small cohort but I saw the ceremony as our official Welcome to Nursing.. it was short and sweet, we said the "Nurses Pledge" with the other RNs in the room that night.. our pins are beautiful and I will forever keep mine!! Our program finished months ahead of the the other colleges at the University so the ceremony was our "graduation"... None of us cared to participate in the University ceremony in June... We worked our butts off and survived that program, the pinning ceremony was our official end to the madness of nursing school and beginning of our careers... but to each their own... I'm glad we had our pinning!!!

Thank you everyone!! I am definitely taking your advice.. Investing in a good pair of shoes (or two) would be smart (and keep my feet healthy!) I know of a couple of shoe stores in Chicago where the employees take their time to find you shoes with the proper fit/support for any given activity (as opposed to just getting you to buy a pair of pretty shoes for their commission)... I'll stop by and check out their New Balance section... I think I'll try a pair of Danskos too before I completely write them off...

Hello!! I'm about to start my first RN job and I'm having flashbacks to the pain I felt in my knees and lower back after every clinical... What type of shoes works best for you?!? My nursing school buddy and I were thinking of getting each other a pair of danskos (sp?)... but heard they're not cheap and don't want to spend the money if it isn't worth it... Any advice??

Congrats!! This sounds like me!! I just started a similar thread "I GOT HIRED!!" I graduated February 2012, Took NCLEx May 08th, interviewed May 18th and was offered the position yesterday!! GOD is GREAT!!!

Aongroup1990 I got your message but I guess I haven't been an active user long enough because my reply to you disappeared... but to answer your questions, I'm a RN (as of two weeks ago :) ...I live in Chicago but my hospital is in a north burb just outside of the city.. Ive work here for five years after getting my bachelors.. my position has nothing to do with my undergradate degree but it allowed me to network... In addition to my boss putting in the good word, over the years I got to know (and in some cases helped) nurses in various positions in the hospital so when the time came they had nothing but good things to say about me!! I give the glory to God but I always believe that God does for those who do for themselves so I worked my butt off, helped anyone who asked.. went above and beyond my position.. and it paid off!! People aren't lying when they say its about who you know.. I'm qualified for my next position but being noticied for the work I do/did definitely helped.. A couple of classmates of mine worked as patient care techs in a Chicago hospital where some of our clinicals took place... after graduation they were moved into nurse extern positions and began orientation... after passing boards they're moved into FT RN positions... so pray, keep your faith and NETWORK NETWORK NETWORK!!

Thank You All!! I've very excited to get started!!!

I'm in Chicago and definitely interested!!! How can I get you my email without posting it publicly??? (Sorry new to this site)

I just wanted to put a positive word out there - that it IS POSSIBLE to get a nursing position in 2012. I was worried sick after hearing all the horror stories regarding new grad nurses and this economy.. and then terrified when I finally graduated and got word that the hospital where I've been working for the last 5 years (in a non-clinical position, I didn't move to a PCT position because I love my boss, she made it possible to go back to school) had just entered a hiring freeze. I started calling around to nurse recruiters in the area (Im in Chicago btw)... but was constantly told the same thing, "call us back when you have your license in hand".... and to top it all off, many hospitals in my area have Magnet status and are only interested in BSNs (including my own, I graduated with an ADN) ...so after months of worrying... the hiring freeze is starting to let up, my awesome boss put in a good word for me with a Nurse Manager in the area I'm interested in (Women's Health/Perinatal)... I interviewed with our hospital's nurse recruiter (who previously told me they hire new grads with PCT experience first).. and Nurse Manager last week and I found out yesterday that I got the JOB!!! So New Grads don't give up hope!! I, the atypical nursing student, single mom with the BS in biology, ADN in Nursing instead of a BSN, interested in a "difficult field" to get in to, working in a non-clinical position with no clinical experience outside of school, working at a Magnet hospital in the middle of a hiring freeze, got my dream job... I graduated in February, Passed boards beginning of May and got the job yesterday. I believe I did it with a lot of prayer and faith.. but also because I kept trying despite everything that seemed to be against me... God is Great!! Good Luck to you!!!