blauren91

I just started my first LVN job in DFW. I am working at an urgent care clinic making $17.50/hr plus shift differential. I am a single female with no dependents and I am living comfortably. I'm not rolling in money, but I just purchased two round trip tickets to California and a car rental for July and I still have plenty left in my account. As long as you manage your money, you should be fine. Mt brother lives in Houston and the cost of living seems to be the same there as DFW

I'm an LVN who graduated December 2013. I passed the NCLEX my first try in March of 2013 and it took me nearly a year to find a job. I was hired at an urgent care clinic at the end of last month and am in my third week of training. I've only had two clinic days so far and I feel completely incompetent. I struggle with pharmacology and trying to grasp the administration side of things, such as learning what to fax and and learning the different paperwork that goes with certain charts. Did anyone else feel like this when they started out? Its been so long since I've graduated and I feel like I've lost touch.

You. Are. AWESOME!!! Thank you so much! This should definitely help me with pharm :)

I'm seeing a lot of responses saying to just keep to yourself, but my first day of nursing school the instructors told us that we needed to get to know each other other. One of them said that we wouldn't all get along and there might be some of us who just want nothing to do with each other, but ultimately we are a team. She said that when we go out into the field, we are going to have to work with people we don't like all the time, but that helping to ensure the safety of a patient or even saving their life is a team effort. You don't have to necessarily be friends with these people, but don't always isolate yourself as I have said before. Take care of yourself first to make sure that you are getting done what you need to get done, but interact with others at times. The ones who complain all the time and act immature won't last long in the program with that kind of attitude. The ones who are still around come graduation will be the ones you'll probably want to be around.

I couldn't agree more with loveblossom! I cleaned my whole apartment and got all of my stuff organized, did all of my laundry, went grocery shopping, got any appts out of the way, and spent my last free week going out with friends. READ READ READ!!!! It'll be a lot of information to take on but if you read AHEAD and study on a DAILY basis you'll be ok!

That is kind of crazy. Especially the apron part. ??? I got four tops, four bottoms, a lab coat and patches for $125. I ordered all of mine (minus the patches) online.

I know many people are saying there aren't online classes and for the most part, that's true. I believe they rarely exist. However, the community college I'm at offers a part online program. You take the classes online but you have certain clinical days you have to show up for.

We started drug cards today and I'm wondering if anyone has any tips on how to write them without overloading them with information.

I'm only four days into my program and cliques formed the second day. Regardless of your opinion of your classmates, there are several different personalities in there and I'm sure there are others who are similar to yourself. I wouldn't isolate yourself because these people are now your family and a huge support group. You'll need them throughout the program so try and find something in common with them. It's still too eat to pin people's personalities. I have a hard time relating to others because I'm a timid person and I was certain I wouldn't make friends but I did! Good luck! I hope you find a little group of your own :)

Lol I psyched myself out the past few weeks only to realize it's not so bad after all (for now at least). Flash cards have become my best friend! Lets cross our fingers and hope we survive :)

Don't get discouraged, girl! Just keep reminding yourself why you decided to pursue nursing. When you are feeling excited and confident, write yourself a letter telling yourself how you felt the day you opened your acceptance letter (which you should either hang in your room in a frame or slip in your binder as a reminder), what your goals are and why you want to be a nurse. It's nursing school and it's supposed to be tough and overwhelming, but if you want it bad enough, you'll succeed. I had my first day today too and it was interesting but my instructors are so supportive and willing to help whenever we need it. Don't stress because your instructors want you to succeed as much as you do, so take advantage of their knowledge! Good luck!

I feel your pain. I start January 14 as well and I've already had nightmares about the first day. I wouldn't worry so much about A&P. It is important to know, but I've taken it twice and found that I actually did understand it, but it intimidated me and I would have test anxiety. When I took the final I was shocked to realize that I knew most of it. Just brush up on what you don't know, and I agree that studyblue will help you a lot. They have an app for smartphones too. Study, study, study! The graduating class talked to us during our orientation and said that studying will become our life. It's the only way to be successful.

I had my high school nurse email me my shot records but they had originally told me mine were lost so I got ALL of my immunizations again and they called ten minutes after I left the clinic and said they found them. It shouldn't take more than two weeks. I live in Keller/Fort Worth so it's about the same distance.

That's awesome!! I can't wait to meet you and everyone else! I did my drug test yesterday as well. I just got my transcript for my A&P class and I'm working on my High School transcript and physical. We have to have 3 letters of recommendation right? I know! I want to buy the books so badly so I can start reading ahead.

Whetr are you going to school?

Orientation is November 8! That's when we will find out all the books we'll need and I'll probably buy them ASAP! I've already planned out a few roadtrips with friends and such and took a lot of time off of work for it. I told my manager I wanted to get all of my fun out of the way because for the next year this program will be my entire life (And I wouldn't want it any other way!) But thank you for your advice!

I got my acceptance letter last Wednesday. My mom had texted me that my letter had arrived and I immediately left my apartment to head over. The whole way there I had a million thoughts racing through my mind, such as: what if I didn't get in? I didn't get in. Will I survive if I get in?- it was the most nauseating moment. When I got there I picked up the letter (I noticed it was thick and that was a good indicator) and said to my mom: "Ok, moment of truth." I ripped open the letter and the first thing I read was "Congratulations!!" I screamed so loud, threw my my letters in the air, jumped up and down and screamed "I GOT IN! I GOT IN!" and then I started crying. My poor brother was taking a nap and bolted down the stairs freaking out because he thought someone was robbing us when he heard me screaming. lol It was honestly the best day of my entire life. I was never a good student and even flunked out of my sophomore year of college but I soon learned that it wasn't because I wasn't smart, I just wasn't applying myself. Over the last year I have busted my butt and raised my GPA from a 1.2 to a 3.5. I also discovered that my financial aid was getting revoked soon so something needed to happen fast. The moment I read that letter was incredible. I have never been happier. This is what I'm meant to do. For all of those who got in: Congratulations! For those who are trying to get in: It's rough but STUDY and READ! For those who didn't get in: DON'T give up! My friend is about to graduate nursing school and it took her two tries to get in and I am 100% certain that she will make an amazing nurse.

Congratulations to you!! I'll be at the Gainesville campus. They are the only ones that offer the spring enrollment. Did you get accepted for in-class or online??

Go to studyblue.com It is an amazing website! You can make virtual flashcards. It's so easy to organize, you can include pictures, and you can take quizzes with your flashcards. I've been using this website for a few weeks and I love it!! It's so much faster than handwriting them.

Hi! I just got my acceptance letter this week into NCTC's 2013 LVN program (I am so very excited!). I would love any advice from current students. I know there is only so much I can do, but I want to get a head start. Are there any books I might be able to read that might help? What were your clinical hours like?

I just got accepted into the 2013 In Class program (YAY!! ) and I'm trying to follow through with my background check but it won't process my payment. I called customer service and they are still trying to figure out why. All of my information entered is correct. Is anyone else having this problem?