MissCris

I just thought I would update, my license number posted on Thursday which was exactly 2 weeks after I got my quick results.

I was told 3 weeks also, probably by the same very annoyed guy you talked to. I started orientation for my job today and I need to have a license before I can work on the floor. SO AGGRAVATING!

Oh duh. I read your post again and saw you're in CA. That's some crappy luck But the rest of what I said still applies!

Forget about how many SATAs you had. My friend and I both passed in 75 questions, she had 5 SATA and I didn't count them but I can guess that I had somewhere around 15. I am convinced that SATA does NOT necessarily indicate that the question is "above passing standard." Some of my SATA questions were way easier than my multiple choice questions. I'm parroting the same thing I've said in another thread but you know yourself as a student and if you feel you did pretty well academically and went to a school with a good NCLEX pass rate you can be pretty certain you didn't fail with the minimum questions. It seems to be a common theme to leave the testing center in tears/feeling like an idiot. That was not my experience but from reading this board and talking to classmates I can confidently say that it's no indication of how well you actually did. The only cases of failing in 75 questions I've personally encountered involved extreme test anxiety or really intense and distracting life circumstances. Having said that, I am one of the most impatient souls in existence and I tried the PVT an hour after my exam and got the "good pop up." I tried it a few times again after that and the result was consistent. In my opinion it's accurate when you've had the minimum number of questions but as that number gets higher it becomes less so because of the quality control review that happens some time in a 24 hour period. If you're going to try it, use a gift card with a valid expiration date and less than $200 on it. If if your state has quick results, do your best to be patient and relax until you can get them. Looking back I wish I hadn't further stressed myself out by compulsively checking the PVT. My results came exactly 49 hours after the test started. Some states post license numbers before 48 hours so I would advise checking there also. Good luck! Trust yourself and the process and let yourself believe that you are capable of passing and did.

A friend of mine just found out she passed a couple of days ago. She had 75 questions and only 5 were SATA. I really don't think the types of questions matter as much as everyone seems to assume they do. Do you have quick results in your state? Keep yourself busy for the next couple of days doing something you enjoy. If you were a good student, well prepared, and graduated from a halfway decent program it is unlikely that you failed.

I didn't use Kaplan, but I loved Uworld. I used it almost exclusively to study and I passed in 75 questions.

I PASSED! The PVT worked for me. So relieved to have a definitive answer! Congrats to everyone!!

I took mine on 7/5 at 2 PM. I had 75 questions, didn't count SATA but 15-20 would be my guess and I've been getting the good pop up. So now I'm compulsively refreshing the Pearson quick results page and cursing myself for not taking an 8 AM slot. Here's hoping we all come back with good news very soon!

You can still apply to the Chem 1 class, the requirement is Concepts of Chemistry or higher. It won't make a difference for the CC programs but it could be beneficial if you are applying to other schools or hope to continue on to an RN to BSN, as some schools don't accept the intro level class. It is the same with any math class you take, intermediate algebra is the requirement but pre calc would satisfy that. Statistics would be another option there. Physics is not a CC requirement but Micro is, so I would suggest taking Micro.

I'm graduating with my ASN in May and I'm starting to look into BSN programs. I spent an hour on the phone with Sacred Heart today discussing their online RN to BSN to MSN program and it all sounded great until I heard the cost. I knew it was going to be expensive going into the conversation, but the number approaching 50 grand made me a little nauseous. I know for a fact that I want to get my MSN and maybe go into teaching, and this program would be the fastest way to get it done. I could conceivably have my BSN in 15 months which would be amazing. The fact that it's 100% online is another huge plus for me. Is there anyone out there who has finished this program? I'm looking for any and all opinions, taking into account realistic salary expectations. I have no idea what new grad nurses really make but I know it's not enough for a $500+ monthly loan payment. Does having an MSN make a big difference in your pay? I know some hospitals offer tuition reimbursement but would that even make a dent? I'm also considering WCSU and possibly Western Governors. Does anyone know what kind of reputation WG has around here as far as hospitals are concerned? I know they have a good reputation on these boards but I'm afraid it will look weird on my resumé. Sorry for the loads of questions, I'm just so anxious about where to go from here. Thanks everyone!

Congrats to everyone accepted! I know that last year NCC took 35 people off their waitlist which from what I've heard is not uncommon.

It was my class that found out after Easter last year. It was kind of on the late side, April 21st. If you're accepted you're guaranteed a spot, so registering late isn't an issue at all, although I would suggest if you have any co requisites to complete you register for them now. If you're accepted you can always drop them later on. There's always confusion about the nursing GPA, it should be explained better in the packet, but it is calculated using all of the classes that count towards the program, including lifespan, psych, etc. Hope that helps! I remember how awful the waiting was last year but you're almost there!

We found out on April 21st last year, right after Easter.

There are no weekend clinicals. Last semester we had lecture two days a week from 8:30-10:30 and clinicals 7:00-1:00 also two days a week. One clinical group had a 12 hour shift once a week. There are evening clinicals but not as many slots available and there is no guarantee you will get a spot. Those are twice a week from 4:00-10:00. In our second semester it is even less flexible because we are rotated off the unit to OR, PACU, child development, post partum, L&D and NICU. Also for the first couple of weeks before entering the hospitals there is lab time during the day.

Great stats everyone! I'm in my second semester at NCC, if you have any questions let me know :)

I just finished my first semester of nursing school and took Micro along with Fundamentals. I can't lie to you, it was really difficult. Are you generally a good test taker? I'm very good at memorization and didn't have a huge problem with that aspect of it, it was just finding the time to read and listen to my lectures (Micro was a hybrid, so no classroom time other than lab) with everything else that was going on. The practice questions on this site helped me a lot: Biology 225 Materials but that probably has something to do with the fact that the professor who made it used the same textbook for her course as we used in ours. I made a lot of flash cards and carried them around with me. If you want to get a jump on Micro before the semester starts I would suggest starting the learn the basic characteristics of fungi, protozoa, bacteria, viruses etc. because everything kind of builds on that.

Apologizing in advance for the lengthy post. I'm a first semester student and I have been assigned a flow sheet from ATI as a final project. I've already done a complete chart/care plan for this patient but for this project I need to condense it to fit into a bunch of tiny boxes. I need to include two nursing diagnoses and two interventions for each. Here is my assessment and my Dx's 53 y/o female, ETOH withdrawal and benzodiazepene overdose. Hx: Bipolar 1 disorder, known to hospital psych unit, previous suicide attempt Vitals: 147/100 (baseline for her), RR 20 breathing is deep and even, temp 98.5, SpO2 99%, PR 80 Meds: Lorazepam PRN for SAS >5, Lithium, Levothyroxine, D5W 1/2 NS Labs indicated Hypernatremia (I don't remember the exact values, sodium and creatinine elevated) Admitted overnight for benzo overdose, was on O2 but the order was discontinued in the AM. Modified consistency diet. Oriented to person and time only. She had a 1:1 sitter. Slow to respond to verbal stimuli, responded quickly to touch. Weak and sluggish movements. Hand grasps equal but weak. Could not ambulate on her own, used the bedside commode and needed total care for bathing/tooth care etc. Fall Risk Level 3. Her skin was very dry. Lung sounds were clear. She had a telemetry monitor but no events, normal sinus rhythm. I would have loved to get more information from her about her history but she was really "out of it" and slept for most of my shift. Her husband came to visit and I didn't get as much information as I would have liked from him either. He seemed in a hurry to get me out of the room and said "she's fine, she was awake a minute ago, just kind of in and out...we're okay in here" I definitely think there was some denial/knowledge deficit there. Nursing Dx's (in no particular order): 1. Risk for Electrolyte Imbalance r/t Hypernatremia aeb serum electrolyte abnormality (sodium) Interventions: Administering parenteral fluids as ordered and monitoring their effects, monitoring lab values as ordered 2. Risk for Suicide r/t previous suicide attempt aeb an attempt to harm oneself, utilizing mood altering substances Interventions: Developing a positive therapeutic relationship with the patient, placing patient in the least restrictive, safe, and monitored environment 3. Risk for Injury r/t Sensory Dysfunction, Sedative Drugs aeb difficulty with ambulation, shuffling gait, confusion Interventions: Helping the patient sit in a stable chair with armrests, maintaining the bed in a low position, ensuring call light within reach, assisting patient to the bedside commode 4. Ineffective Coping r/t Alcohol Dependence aeb abuse of chemical agents, destructive behavior toward self, use of forms of coping that impede adaptive behavior Interventions: Monitoring the patient's risk of harming self orothers , Providing the patient and his or her familywith needed information regarding conditionand treatment , Referring the patient for additional or moreintensive therapies as needed ,Watching for factors that contribute toineffective coping 5. Acute Confusion r/t alcohol withdrawal delirium, drug abuse aeb Fluctuation in cognition, Increased agitation, Decreased Level of consciousness Interventions: Assessing and monitoring for acutechanges in cognition and behavior, Keeping the patient's sleep-wake cycleas normal as possible, Treating the underlying cause of deliriumin collaboration with the healthcare team, Involve family members in care I am leaning toward Ineffective Coping and Acute Confusion as the two to include, but I hate to leave out anything involving safety/risk for injury. Another part of this project is identifying any diagnostic procedures/surgeries she might need and also "interprofessional care". I know that her blood serum values will continued to be monitored and she will also have a psych eval. As far as identifying other members of the healthcare team being involved, I can only think of psych. Anything else I might be missing? Any thoughts you guys can share would be greatly appreciated :)

I'm not even done with my first semester yet (2 more weeks) and I feel this way. I've had more opportunities to practice skills in clinical than some of my classmates have, which I'm thankful for, but I still don't think I've learned very much at all. I'm in an ASN program and I only have 3 more semesters. It's hard to imagine ever being a "competent" nurse at this rate. The trend in every nursing school seems to be that things really ramp up in the second semester when you start covering med-surg, so maybe we'll regret complaining about this later on

When I went to visit my grandparents last summer, I was asking them about how they met and they told me they were set up on a blind date 67 years ago. I said to my grandpa, "Well I guess the date went well" and he said "Of course it went well, look at her! She's the most beautiful woman I've ever seen!" I'm pretty sure that when he looks at her, he still sees the gorgeous 20-something woman he met all those years ago. I think that's how it goes when you're in love and aging together. In the 5 years I've been with my husband we've both "sagged" a little bit in places (especially me since I've had a baby in that time) but we're more attracted to each other than ever. I'd be pretty sad if he all of a sudden stopped finding me desirable, even if it was 67 years from now

Just wanted to thank you all for your words of encouragement, they really helped to calm me down. My first day was great! I gave my first sub q injection and removed a med lock and it actually felt pretty natural. I really liked being on the floor and was surprised at how comfortable I was. My instructor is super helpful and approachable and is a great nurse so I'm excited to keep learning from her for the rest of the semester. My patient was resistant to bathing and assessments, so I'm a bit nervous for when I have to do those things next week alone without a "buddy" like I was paired up with today, but I know I'll get past it once I get into the swing of it.

Yup, what you're going through is totally normal. Like previous posters, I found the nervous system to be the most difficult to learn. I also found that I was a lot more stressed out during my prereqs because of the pressure to get A's to assure a spot in the program. Now that I'm in it, I'm ecstatic just to be passing. The content in nursing school definitely isn't easier, but I've let go of wanting perfect grades and that has helped my stress levels a lot. Hang in there!

I've read through a lot of "nervous about clinicals" posts here and there was a lot of good advice, but I feel like I have a good reason to be freaked out. I've been in lab for 6 weeks and am starting on a medical floor at the hospital on Friday. My validations have ranged from okay to pretty bad. The instructors give us the validation sheet to look over while we practice, but no matter how much I memorize it and practice going through the motions, I inevitably forget something. For example, last week we were tested on spiking and priming IV's. I realized I forgot to move the clamps up the tubing to put it in the pump, and without thinking I whipped them open and moved them having already hung the bag. Obviously this resulted in a huge air bubble and I had to let half of the solution out before I could resolve it. I think the only reason my instructors have passed me is because I knew what my mistakes were and verbalized how I would have done things differently. I failed my physical assessment competency because I was so nervous I forgot to bring my stethoscope into the room and didn't realize I didn't have it until I went to check the lung sounds. Talk about embarrassing. I felt so much more confident the second time around and passed it easily, but I can't stop feeling bad about the dumb mistakes I've made. I know this is nerves and not a lack of knowledge, I just don't know how to correct it. It's probably worth mentioning that I have a diagnosed anxiety disorder and recently started taking meds to help with it. So far though I haven't figured out how to slow down, stop and think before I let my anxiety get the best of me. I am so afraid of looking like a bumbling idiot during clinicals or even worse, accidentally hurting a patient. It doesn't help that every day the instructors have a new "we had a student who [insert dumb error here] and is no longer in the program" story. I so badly do NOT want to be one of those stories! I would love to hear some advice or words of encouragement from someone who has had a similar problem.

I've only been using it for a month so I can't speak to the longevity of it, but I have this R.A. Bock scope: http://www.amazon.com/Bock-Cardiology-Dual-Head-Stethoscope-Chestpiece/dp/B000W22Z5Y It's supposed to be a close copy of the Littman Cardiology. I have used my classmates' Littman's and I really can't tell the difference between theirs and mine. My father in law gave it to me as a birthday gift, he is a doctor and he says he has used his for the last 20+ years and loves it. I can definitely hear the difference between mine, and the junky "community" scopes that the school provides so I would definitely say it is worth it to invest in quality.

Oh man, and I thought I was a perfectionist! I'm usually disappointed in anything under a 92 or so but now that I'm in the program I'm trying to lower my expectations. Disappointed with anything less than 100? You are expecting yourself to be LITERALLY perfect. I'm not going to say it's impossible to have a 4.0, but it is dependent on a lot of factors. Do you have a spouse or a significant other? Children? Do you work? If not and you have all day every day to focus on studying, it's probably doable. I think it depends heavily on the program you're in as well. No one has managed in to get and A in Nursing 101 in my program since 2004 (so I've heard anyway) but I am sure there are programs where an A is quite common. As a piece of advice though, I would try to lower my standards a little bit if I were you, if only for your own sanity. Nursing school is very VERY different than any other education I have ever experienced and although I'm only a couple of weeks into it, adjusting to the new way of thinking (and the whole 'every answer is right but which one is more right' thing) is already more difficult than I thought it would be. Based on the practice tests I've been taking, I would be thrilled to have an 80 or above on my first test! You'll either adjust your expectations or you won't, but the important thing is recognizing when you're putting too much pressure on yourself and need to relax a little bit. If you can't do that you'll drive yourself to the point of insanity (or heavy drinking)

I haven't taken my first test yet, but I'm having a pretty bad time with the practice questions I've done so far. It's a different way of thinking that we need to get used to. I never thought I'd say it but I miss A&P. It was much nicer to learn and memorize FACTS and not have to deeply understand rationales behind them! Our program recommended Davis' Test Success so I have that as well as the Fundamentals Success that PP posted. I haven't touched the Fundamentals one yet, but the Test one so far has been pretty helpful in identifying the areas I need to work on as far as studying habits, time management, etc. I was reading an article from Kahn academy last night that made me feel a little bit better about not understanding everything right away. It was all about how making mistakes and getting things wrong is what helps us to learn. It forms new neuronal pathways in your brain (or something like that, it was midnight when I read it and I was exhausted haha) Try not to beat yourself up too much, this is new for you and if you keep trying and practicing you will get it. Abandon the negative thinking and stop asking yourself if you're smart/good enough. Your intelligence and worth as a person is not determined by one test.