misskaydee77

James, I declared academic bankruptcy at ECTC in 2011 after completing one semester of nursing pre-req's, in which I earned all A's. That gave me a 4.0 GPA when applying to the RN program. I was accepted into a class of 25 out of hundreds that applied. They did not take the bankruptcy into consideration, they went strictly by my new GPA and my score on the NLN-PAX-RN. I graduated in May with a 3.755 GPA. :) Don't be scared, it's a great option for those who need a second chance, and I would definitely take advantage of it again. You do not lose credit for the classes you have already taken (as long as you have not yet earned a degree), it just wipes your GPA slate clean. Please feel free to message me with any questions.

In our ADN program, which had a 100% pass rate for 2012, we have basically the same process for learning skills each semester. We have an explanation in our book (with illustrations) that we are supposed to read beforehand, and then the instructor demonstrates the skill in class. Sometimes they will also show a video. If we have time, we break up into small groups and practice what we just learned. But if not, then the lab is open 8-4 M-F, and we are expected to go in after class and work on it on our own. We are fortunate to have two RN lab specialists on staff who are there to answer any questions or work one-on-one with the students, but they are very busy, so we rely on each other a lot. Our instructors are there to reinforce the material covered in the book and answer questions, but it is our responsibility to learn the material. I heard you say that you are concerned that you are not doing the skill properly because you do not have the opportunity for the instructor to watch and give feedback. I can relate to this problem because our skills are basically shown to us once and that is it. Would it be possible for you to practice outside of regular class time, with other students in the class? Your classmates can be a valuable resource. And then if you run into a specific problem, maybe you could ask the instructor to clarify just that portion that you are having trouble with?

This may not be the answer you wanted, but.... Only you can decide how much is too much for you. Each person is unique, and has different requirements for study time, sleep, family responsibilities, work, etc. For example, some people do great studying in the morning while they are fresh, and some people don't feel alert in the morning. It might be helpful if you were to estimate all the hours you will need to study for each class, total it up with the hours required for your other responsibilities, and see what is left over. Will it leave enough time to sleep, eat, commute, shower, and still have time every once in a while to just relax or do something fun? It might also help to do the two jobs for a little while and see what that is like before you add something else. And remember, if you accidentally take too much on, and have to scale back, you are not a failure! No one can do it all. Learning to prioritize and recognize your limitations is part of learning to be a good nurse! Good luck. :)

One thing that I do that really helps me on tests is to think ahead while I am studying. I think about how I would write an NCLEX style question on whatever it is I'm studying. Sometimes while I am reading, I picture myself at the patient bedside or at the nurses station, applying the information that I am learning. For example, if I am learning about nursing interventions for impaired skin integrity, then I picture myself at the bedside turning the patient, applying lotion, etc. This might help for someone who is a visual learner. I also read the material out loud to my dogs. (They are very good listeners.) And during lecture, I don't take notes, because I get distracted by trying to write stuff down instead of just listening. But that works for me, because I learn well through hearing. It might not work as well for you. You may want to take one of the many online learning style assessments to come up with some ideas on what might be best for you individually. You may also want to consider if there is some test anxiety going on, and implement some interventions for anxiety if needed.

I got rid of my pink and purple hair a long time ago, so that has not been an issue for me. I have a pretty good sized tattoo on the ventral side of my left forearm, approximately 6" by 8", and another one one about half that size on the right. I was required to wear a long sleeved white shirt under my scrubs for CNA clinicals, but as an employee now in the same facility, I don't have to cover them. I have not been required to cover them for clinicals for the RN program so far, but another student was because his were considered "offensive" and mine were not. Basically, he had a bunch of skulls and spiderwebs, and mine are floral themed, so he had to wear a long-sleeved white t-shirt underneath. For us, it depends on the policy of the facility we are going to for clinicals. I was worried that my tats might be an obstacle, but so far, it has not been an issue at all in any of the facilites I have been at as an aide or student. However, that being said, I do see the necessity for a conservative appearance in health care. When I'm working, I'm there to care for people who need my help, not to make a personal statement. This is especially important when you are working with confused patients who may not even realize they are in a healthcare facility. Our school has a very strict dress code for clinicals, which includes no jewelry except a wedding band and stud earrings, hair off the face and off the collar, white undergarments, completely white shoes, etc. I think this is pretty standard.

I just finished my first semester of the RN program, and actually started working as a nursing assistant at a LTC/rehab facility the summer before classes began. I had never worked in healthcare before then, and wanted to get some experience before clinicals started. I am SO glad I did. I only work Fridays and Saturdays, 2p-10p, so it doesn't interfere too much with studying. I have learned so much from my coworkers, both aides and nurses alike. And I feel much more confident that I will be able to get a job after I graduate. If you check with nursing homes in your area, I'm sure you could find a facility that would let you work weekends only, since aides are needed so badly (especially ones in nursing school), and weekends are usually the toughest to schedule.

Look for what I refer to as "qualifiers" in the question. These are phrases or words that help you sort out the MOST correct answer from several correct answers. Look for phrases like: "What would you do FIRST?" "Using the NURSING PROCESS," "Which would you be MOST concerned about?" A lot of the NCLEX style questions in our program are what we call "common sense" questions. These are things that halfway intelligent non-medical personnel would probably be able to do or figure out on their own, without training. When my classmates get these wrong, it's usually because they read too much into the question. It helps me to relate the process to troubleshooting eletronics. If you walked into the room and your TV would not turn on, common sense would tell you to check and see if it's plugged in before you call tech support or start trying to take it apart. Similarly, if you have a patient that is complaining of chest pain, you wouldn't start with bypass surgery. You would ask them to show you where the pain is, rate the pain, and describe the pain, before you did anything else. When I have to answer these questions, I don't necessarily try to remember what the book said. The book is not going to tell you what to do in every situation, and NCLEX wants nurses who can figure things out. Instead, I picture myself in the room with the patient, and ask myself what I would do in real life. It's usually the right answer. I hope that helps some. Good luck! :)

I live in Kentucky, but I was able to find out some information for your area online. According to salary.com, the average salary for a CNA in Chesterfield, VA, is $28K per year. That comes out to about $13 an hour if you work a 40 hour week. That is the average, so starting pay is going to be lower. And the tuition for the CNA class through the Red Cross in your area is $1250, so I would say $950 for tuition is probably pretty good.

I became a CNA as part of the prereqs for the RN program at my community college. I just started a job about a month ago at a facility that has both long term care and rehab units. I was concerned at first, because people will sometimes tell you terrible things about working as a CNA. I was really worried about the "gross factor" and how I would handle it. But honestly, cleaning up poo and washing naked butts is not that big of a deal after the first few times. I had never worked as a CNA before (I have been in an office for the last 7 years), so I was paired up with an experienced aide for the first few days until I got the hang of it. The hardest parts of the job for me have been that 1) it IS a very physical job, because you are on your feet all day, and turning and transferring patients in and out of bed and 2) trying to integrate myself into an established team and learn their routines. I am so glad that I took this job, because I am MUCH more confident about starting the RN program in less than a month and don't feel nervous about the hands-on type stuff anymore. I also feel like in order to be a successful supervisor of CNAs, which you will be as an nurse, it helps to know the job they do!