KV12

Your situation is almost the exact same as mine! I too, did reasonably well IN school. I can tell from your writing style and proper grammar that you ARE intelligent -- as am I. I also failed at 75 questions and had NO IDEA I had performed so poorly. Your KAPLAN scores are also similar to mine. So understand when I tell you, "YOU ARE NOT ALONE". I have the same overbearing feeling of doom when I think about my failure. Obviously, I was too confident! I keep wondering to myself, "How can I fix whatever is wrong with me?!" It literally keeps me up at night! My advice (and what I am currently doing) is to forget you ever took it and failed. Pretend it was a practice exam and just learn from it. Do at least 50 questions everyday from now on. Do not doubt yourself! You are intelligent! You did learn during class and clinical! And just kick-ass the next time around. :)

I just took the NCLEX last Thursday and had almost the exact same experience as you! I had only a handful of multiple choice -- and instead a buttload of SATA and telemetry slips! I happen to be very limited on telemetry and very unlucky with SATA. I practically ace multiple choice. Well, I failed. I understand you completely, my friend. Every time I have alone time, my failure plagues my thoughts. But I am also determined to kick the NCLEX's ass next time around. If it's any consolation, in my opinion--the two of us were VERY unlucky with the test questions, lol. But I am sure we lacked the wherewithal, as well. Best of luck and continue to study for the next 45 days!

I took my test a few days ago. I stopped at 75 questions and felt pretty confident! After all -- stopping at 75 questions is either really good or really bad. And most who stop at 75 questions -- DO PASS. And the sad thing is, I felt like I had done pretty well. I got a lot of telemetry questions and 'select all that apply' questions, which seemed hard! So I thought, "Oh, I must be doing well because I keep getting these." The test closed down and I was ecstatic that it ended so soon and presumably on a good note. NOT. I have always been a smart individual and I do NOT have test anxiety. I do so well on standardized tests and I had a good GPA from an outstanding nursing school. On my Kaplan tests, I jumped around a bit - -but more or less hovered around the 60% margin. The last Kaplan predictor I took pegged me at 58.4%. It's not that I didn't expect failing to be an option -- but I didn't expect to fail so miserably! Failing at only 75 questions pretty much means that I was so far into a rut -- I couldn't get out. If I had lasted until 265, maybe I could have given myself some credit and said "Oh, I was close!". But wow -- this failure has hit me really hard. And I feel lost, because I am not sure how fix it. I have Kaplan: the Basics and the Kaplan RN course book, as well as access to the trainers and qbanks on the Kaplan website. My plan is to do a chapter of each book per day + 50 questions for the next 45 days until I can retake the test. I feel like my head must be screwed on wrong. My thinking process must be backwards -- and how can I change that!? Any advice? Right now I feel really disheartened and, well -- DUMB. Most of all, I am disappointed in myself... 1) What should I do and how can I give myself a change next time around? 2) On a side note -- I keep googling "nclex CPR" to find out when it comes in the mail, and I can't find any information on WHEN it will be mailed to me. Does anyone know?! Thank you!

Hi all, I completed my senior practicum for a BSN program at a local VA hospital and was TRULY, and DEEPLY affected by my time there. I am considering military nursing as a possible road in my life, and many people have said I would prosper there (apparently based on my temperament). I just have a number of basic questions. Don't feel obligated to answer them all, but any information is welcome. I understand they it may differ depending on the branch of military I enter. I will tell you that I am leaning towards the Navy, but also have an inclination towards the Coast Guard. Hopefully any differentiating between the two will aid me in selecting my ideal branch of the military. 1) As I have an undergraduate degree in nursing, I would enter as an 'officer'. What exactly comes along with that? (And please answer all following questions based on the assumption that I am an 'Officer.') 2) Immediately arriving to my first naval base or training area -- what are my expectations? An educational program? A fitness program? Details on each. 3) What would my living situation be like? Would I have 'bunk-mates' so to speak, or do I have my own apartment? 4) I am a vegetarian. Do they accommodate such practices? Would I get 'beef' (no pun-intended) from all my comrades for being a vegetarian? Just curious. 5) I do NOT need any loan repayment from college, fortunately... What then are my required years for active service? 6) What is expected of me during active service? 7) What is expected of me during 'inactive' service? Can you switch between the two phases? 8) To military nurses... I understand that you are placed in an area of nursing that is under-represented. Are there any chances of working in an environment you select? For example - I mainly want to work in the Operating Room. 9) What is the medical test like? And is poor vision (I NEED contacts/glasses) a disadvantage? 10) What is my first year like, in a nut-shell? 11) What are the following years generally like? *Anything else you feel is pertinent information! I am very obviously a military newbie. Unfortunately, no one in my very small and quiet family has served in the military (save for when the draft was still in place). Thank you for your time!

estrellaCR, I am ASTONISHED they are not picking you! You sound like a wonderful candidate! Unfortunately, it's people like you that make me SCARED about my own chances of finding a job. Best of luck to you, I know you will land one! To everyone else -- thank you for your concern/interest/advice! I am dreading the notion that it may take half a year or more to find a job. I am more than adaptable (if need be) and will work in an office or outpatient center. As each automated response of rejection gets mailed to my inbox, I get more and and more inclined to apply for less than favorable positions, haha. If networking really is the key -- I think things are going to be rough. It's hard to network when you don't really have any strings to pull... EESH. I figure worst case scenario (after months of struggling) -- I will apply for a nurse's aide position, do well, and hope to find a job opening through that connection. On a different note, I am considering military nursing as a possible route... and will probably start a separate post about that. Thanks all! Have a good weekend and to everyone else struggling for a job -- you'll do it!

I just graduated from Case Western Reserve University (the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing) and I'm having a horrible time -- not only finding a job -- but finding a job opportunity open to new graduates! I figured out relatively early that I wanted to attend a residency program (ideally) before transitioning into a full-time job. I would like more guidance -- particularly because I would like to work in the Operating Room. My school was unique in that I DID have an OR rotation my junior year. I was one of two that absolutely loved it! I knew I wanted to start a career in this field. I even spent half of my practicum hours in an OR in Cleveland. I've been out of school for a month now (not long, I know) and I've applied to three residency programs and a few jobs in-between. Already -- the jobs are all no-gos and 2 of the 3 residency programs have sent me an automated letter saying that I was no longer under consideration. It's not like I was out there shooting in the dark! I read the requirements very closely and made I sure I was an ideal candidate before applying. I have a 3.47 cumulative GPA (not great, but not bad either), a BSN from a reputable nursing program, good references and resume, I ALWAYS had a job in undergrad (not clinical, though)... What could I possibly do to give myself a CHANCE?!? I am really, very discouraged - particularly when I see job opportunities that say in BOLD, ALL CAPS (sometimes even underlined and italicized) "NEW GRADS NEED NOT APPLY" or "1 YEAR MINIMUM EXPERIENCE" How are we supposed to get any experience if no one hires us - even for less than ideal positions? Even nurse residency programs seem uninterested in a new grad! What can I do? I feel so disheartened that I can't imagine myself applying for a REAL JOB when a program intended for students discards me so easily... Any helpful hints are much appreciated! Vek7