summer715

Sorry for my late reply. Generally speaking, I think Houston is great place for nurses to begin and sustain a career. There are a number of hospitals to choose from, pay is competitive, housing is much more affordable than Miami (more so in the suburbs) and it's a growing city. If nothing is holding you back from making the move, I would say come! My experience with Methodist has been a good one. I like the hospital system, the culture and the values. Now that is not say that nursing doesn't have it's difficulties. At the end of the day, nursing is nursing. You have your stressful shifts where you go home feeling like wtf just happened, and other days you go home feeling accomplished. I do not have a contract with a hospital, though a few do require that. It depends on which hospital you are applying to. They all have their own terms and conditions. It also makes a difference if you are a new grad or an experienced nurse. As far as pay, I'm happy with it :) lol. If you send me a personal message I don't mind telling you. Good luck!

NCLEX-RN Exam - Online Practice Questions & Review thats the the link to the website. It takes you to Uworld Qbank for NCLEX-RN. Once you get to the webpage, click "Subscribe" & it will give you the pricing options

You can try "Discount Uniform Corp" right by the Medical Center

Thanks!!!!! I averaged 57% after doing a little over 1,000 questions My lowest score was 36% lmao. My highest was 80% but those were outliers. I mostly scored in the 50s

UWORLD!!!!!! For sure!!!! The rationales in Kaplan Qbank are terrible in comparison to Uworld. Uworld rationales are very detailed, concise, and informative... it even has pictures and diagrams. You will barely even need to google anything for further understanding because all the infor is right there. I would only do Kaplan qbank AFTER finishing Uworld. It it is very important to read and UNDERSTAND the rationales. Whether you get the answer right or wrong. I passed in 75 questions & felt good about my performance when I walked out the door.

I used Uworld & I LOVED it!!! Uworld is a content review & question bank in one. I took the NCLEX last week & passed in 75 questions, only using Uworld. I did a little over 1,000 questions in Uworld (due to time constraints.. Less than 2 weeks). I tried the Kaplan qbank.. but I really disliked it in comparison to Uworld. The Kaplan qBank rationales were terrible. I would only use Kaplan qbank AFTER finishing Uworld. Anyway, Uworld has amazing rationales.. Pictures, diagrams and everything!!! It is a great way to review & narrow down everything you need to know for the NCLEX. The rationales were so good that I rarely needed to search the Internet for further understanding of the material. I also like that it tells you whether you're above/below average & allows you to break down the quizzes by system or subjects. I received several questions on the NCLEX that I was able to answer thanks to Uworld! The interface is almost identical to the NCLEX & I think the level of difficulty is similar. It is very important to not only read, but UNDERSTAND the rationales. Take notes and review them later if you have to. UNDERSTANDING the rationales is key. I know some people even went back and redid all the questions they got wrong. After dong as much of Uworld as I could, I read the 35 page review. I found that a lot of the info on there is covered in Uworld. I HIGHLY recommend Uworld!

Thank you for your response! Both hospitals are a little over 30 minutes from me. According to my GPS, they only differ by 1 minute. Although, it seems like I would encounter more traffic heading to Houston Northwest Medical center.

Hi everyone, I recently graduated from nursing school and moved to Houston from out of state. I have been applying to positions for graduate nurses. After doing a lot of research on the hospitals in the area, I've learned that Memorial Hermann & Houston Methodist are definitely among the top. With that being said, I am applying to a position with Houston Northwest Medical Center, but I don't know very much about the hospital. Can anyone give me some insight? Is is it a good hospital? Reputable? Anyone know about the Versant Residency program they have for Graduate Nurses? Wll I get good experience? Has anyone worked there, did you like it? Anyone know about the ER there? SN: if you had to choose between Houston Methodist San Jacinto location (in a position you don't mind) or Houston Northwest Medical Center (in a position you love).. Which would you choose?

Hey! In what way is their volume & population very different?

I think doing practice questions is essential! I agree that Saunder's Nclex review is very helpful. You should also get a practice question book like "Pearson Reviews and Rationales" for med surg, or "Med-Surg Success". Doing practice questions really helps you get familiar with the types of questions that will be asked on the exam and which material is most important. It also helps you understand how to look at the material from a nursing standpoint, rather than just facts and information.

Will nursing

The nursing kit (blue bag) is for Nursing Process 2 ​lab/clinical. You won't need it until then

Central students: The only books you will really NEED are the fundamentals of nursing text by Perry & Potter for lecture & the one for clinical. You will also need the Castillo book (for clinical). If you have Dr.K for pharmacology, which everyone should if you are at Central or north, you will NOT need the text!!!!!!! please don't buy it lol. everything you need is on his power points. For Math you won't need the text if you're good at math. I never bought the text and I did perfectly fine. I got 100% on the exam. Everything you need to know is gone over in class. & there are practice sheets online. Buying this book is up to your discretion, it is not needeD, but may be useful if you really need some extra help. you can do without the clinical companion books... All you really need to do is study. I never bought one or used one. A lot of people didn't use this book and some who did eventually stopped. I reallyyyyy don't think they are necessary....................................... What you SHOULD spend your money on is the Fundamentals of Success book by Nungent!!!! Please buy this book! It helped me sooo much. It gets you used to the test questions & it also tests you on the information pertinent to nursing. Oh! You should also buy the nursing diagnosis book. You will need it for care plans... I don't remember the exact name or author at the moment but it should be on the list. Hope this helps :)

Hey.. I'm currently in the program at Central campus. I am in process 2. The stats fernandesnicole15 gave you is accurate. I haven't read anything other than this page (I'll go back and read more when I have more time lol & try to answer questions). As far as campuses being different, I know there are so many rumors going around about each, but I would just go with the one that is closest and most convenient for you. I was struggling to pick between North (which had all the good reviews) and Central which is very close to me. I picked Central & I am happy with my decision, it is so convenient. I'm fine with Central.. I don't think they are overly strict & crazy like I have read lol, I like all my instructors so far... And it's doable. These horror stories will really make you think your about to walk into a hell hole. It is what you make it Now as far as the stats........ Yea it's frightening. But don't let that scare you. You just have to focus on yourself and doing your best. To begin.. Of those 33 people, everyone did not necessarily "fail". Some people withdrawal because at the half way mark they are afraid they won't pass, so they rather withdrawal than fail. Second, some people did not continue on to process 2 because they did not pass process 1 lab. Those people cannot advance until they pass both lecture & lab. Also people have different factors, like some people work full time or even part time. I would strongly advise you not to work... If you have to work, do part time. I do NOT see how it can be possible to work full time while in the program unless you can study while your at work. & then others just did not do well. All in all, there are many reasons people to do not pass and continue in to process 2. Just to give some pointers: Work: if you can avoid working while in school... Do it!!! This program requires too much studying & practice! Before you start: buy the Perry & Potter Fundamentals of Nursing book and begin to read! Lol. Our first exam was on chapters 27,28,29,30, & maybe 38,39.. Don't remember exactly. Although that's on the the first exam, if you get the book early enough I would suggest reading Unit 3 ch.15-20. Just read for an understanding of the nursing process and how to think like a nurse (ADPIE). Don't study it or anything lol. Then a few days before class start reading the chapters that are a assigned like 27, 28 - let everyone know your not available for the next 18months unless you call them lol when you begin: - Try your best to read before lecture so that lecture just builds on what you have read & reinforces it. I personally read every single page in the chapters that way I didn't miss anything & I had a full understanding. - Find a method that works for you, it was trial and error for me - Plan out your reading & studying. So if it's Monday & you know your test is in two weeks, write out how much you plan to read each day etc. this will reduce anxiety and make you feel like the reading is doable. Just looking at if in the syllabus may seem overwhelming. - know information in boxes, it's in a box for a reason lol. (But still know everything) - DO PRACTICE QUESTIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't stress the enough! You HAVE to do practice questions. The questions and the end of the chapter are not going to cut it! Do those too ,just to make sure you have an understanding.. But you have to buy a supplemental question book. You NEED TO GET "Fundamentals Success" by Nungent. And do all the practice questions that correlate with the chapters for your exam & read/understand the rationales that go with it. The questions will give you a feel for the exam, will test your strengths and weakness so you know what to focus on & the rationales will give you a better understanding of the material. I also bought the Saunders NCLEX review book, it's helpful but I think I will need it most when we begin specialties.. I've used it a couple times tho. DO QUESTIONS!!!! practice makes perfect. - Try to get a good score on your 1st exam so that you are not struggling in the end or having to make the decision to withdrawal half-way! Woah I wrote way more than I had planned lol. Good luck to everyone! If you have any questions feel free to ask & I will respond as soon as possible :)

You won't really need the pharm text book for central or north campus. Everything is from the power points and lecture

I don't know all the hospitals that we are able to go to, but at the end of Process we will be going to either Plantation Hospital or Broward General. I think the new health science building should be done by August. From what I hear we won't be using it very much. It is supposed to be for the community (whatever that means lol) and I think they are trying to use it for the rn-bsn and other specialties. This is what a lady in the office told me. Although, they haven't established a set-up for how they will be using it. So you never know. So far it is no where near as bad as people have made it seem. I thought teachers were going to be evil, rude, mean and extremely strict, that is definitely not the case. They do adhere to rules but thats no big deal, rules are rules and you are aware of them. Now we haven't taken tests either in clinical or theory yet.. so I'm sure you will hear the "horror stories" after that lol. The only thing stressing me out right now is time. I wish I could make my days and weeks longer.

If you look at posts at the beginning of this thread you will find ppl's grades and HESI scores. They vary greatly. I got As in both Anatomy classes and a 92 on the HESI. I decided to take a look at the thread because item remember feeling so anxious to see all the January 2014 starts.... Then I saw that the thread died lol! But it's been good so far. The teachers are quite funny. They make class entertaining. So far it is no where near as horrible as some people made seem, but we haven't taken a test yet! lol. The material itself isn't difficult. I think what makes it hard is the AMOUNT of information you have to learn in such a short amount of time. TIME MANAGEMENT is key! I'll try my best to come back later with an update. We already have our first test in a week.. on 7chps. But May term is shorter! Oh I'm from Central campus btw. Ttyl!

Hey! I can't believe it's already here! But just to make sure, what do we need for tomorrow? (Central) I'm scared to go and forget something. -Wear polo..... Any pants and shoes?? -bring supplies.. and book. -bring in paper work if you still haven't turned it in -I think we have to print a copy of the syllabus to sign or something as well anything else important? & Happy Mother's Day :)

thank you! I got it.. doing it now! :)

Hey does anyone have the code that we are supposed to input for the online criminal background check? I remember they told us to correct it at the orientation. I just want to make sure I input the correct one.

Okay I registered. OMG I was about to have a melt down. I was getting dressed to drive to Campus! lolol!!!! Everything is good now

i cant regisster for Nur process 2 lab because its FULL!! & thats blocking me from being able to register to all other classes! this is so stupid. they give give you a referce number for only once class yet there are like 20. So I am currently not registered. I am going to be so upset if i cannot get into Central.

I know from looking at billions of older posts lol. Also, I asked current students in the January 2014 forum. You should at least get the Fundamentals of Nursing text by Potter & Perry. The 8th edition is the newest. That way you can start reading early.

April 8th, 9am I bought the fundamentals of nursing text (which is huge!) and the clinical book like 2 weeks ago, both off of amazon. I'm waiting to buy the others.

hi & thank you! I used one book for the HESI I thought it was really helpful and on point for the most part.. It was the Evolve book. I'll add the link to the bottom. Also you can go to my profile & view my activity/comments my 8th or 9th post I ever made has a detailed description of how I felt about the HESI right after I took it and how well the book prepared me. The comment starts with "I just took the HESI this morning." I just didn't want to repost it cuz it's a lot lol. umm what else oh I got a 92% on the HESI & my GPA was a 3.7. Amazon.com: Admission Assessment Exam Review eBook: HESI: Kindle Store