Shastalee99

No, there is no tricks, clues or short-cuts for this exam. That's what I am trying to get out there. It does not matter what the last question is. It doesn't matter how many priority, communication, knowledge, renal, cardiac, maternity or any other quastion you get hit with or in what order or whatever. The only meaning for the numbers 75 and 265 are the least amount of questions or the most, that's it, nothing more. Good luck to you and best wishes. You're in my thoughts.

Hi New Grads! This post is to give my 2 cents on my experience with the NCLEX that would've been helpful to me when I was totally freaking out before, during and after the exam. A good friend of mine from school was sitting next to me in the other cubicle and finished at 75. So many people think if you get 75 you definately passed and 265 means you failed. That's not the case. It doesn't matter what number of questions your computer shuts off at. I was so upset when I get to number 76. I thought, "Great. What am I doing wrong?" Then I hit 150 and definately thought I blew it. I left the center and went straight to the bathroom to ball my eyes out. And as soon as I got into my car I continued to freak out and cry. For 2 days I began to make arrangements for a new job, a back up loan for income, and an application to retake the NCLEX-RN. Daily phonecalls from classmates asking, "Did you hear anything? I know so-and-so that failed at 130" and so on didn't help the anxiety. I was so stressed out I was sick when I sat for my board exam. I studied for 3 weeks on and off for my exam. I held a GN position on my med/surg floor for experience which really helped me when I was stuck on a couple questions. I suggest to keep in mind the difference between the real world and the NCLEX world to answer questions. I used 4 prep books, but the one that helped me was Kaplan. It helped me break down the question so I didn't jump to conclusions and pick the wrong answer. I used the little eraser board they provide you to eliminate 2 questions right off the bat and kept thinking, "I have all the time in the world with this patient and all the supplies are here. What is my immediate next move?" Hope this helps anyone with test anxiety. Wear comfy clothes, drink water, not coffee or you'll crash midway, and clear your head of everybody's comments and opinions. Believe me you'll be surprised at who fails and who passes when your classmates tell you. Worry about you and only you. You'll have enough time in your carreer in nursing to hear what others have to say about this one and that one, unfortunately! Good luck and God bless!

Hello Fellow Nurses, I graduated May 13th and start orientation (Med/Surg) on the 12th of June. Since I graduated, I took a break and caught up on things for my photography business I have on the side (in my spare time lol). New York State Dept. of Education cashed my first check for the boards so I know they'll send out the schedule for me to sit for them. Problem is, I don't know where to begin, how to get motivated or even get up sometimes. I hate to say it but I feel lost without nursing school now. I miss my classmates, I miss clinical. I felt so confident in clinical and had a good time. I'm afraid I won't measure up during orientation. I'm afraid I'll hate working nights (6:30p-7:30a) and won't get used to the hours especially when I sit for the boards. I'm afraid the nurses will treat me like fresh meat and have little clicks. I've heard so many horror stories from new grads. I thought this anxiety of failure would've been over when I graduated but it's still there. What if I fail the NCLEX? What if this, what if that? I was watching House the other night and thought to myself, "What if I screw up giving CPR to someone? Wait, how many rescue breaths to compressions?" I starting to freak out and the thought of studying maternity and endocrine make me want to channel surf rather than get the past 2 years of books out to study all over again. I'm hoping for some words of wisdom or encouragment. A kick in the rump may even do the trick. If anyone can empathize please reply. Thanks a bunch everyone! Take care.

Hey StudentNurse74, It's been a while since you posted this one but I came across it and wondered how you made out with your feelings of anxiety and being overwelmed with so much on your plate at that time. I'm in a similar situation so any words of encouragment would be helpful! Thanks a bunch.

Well said. :argue:

I have her now and she's awful. I get sick every noght before clinical and in the bathroom the following morning after. Nothing is good enough for her. And I work my butt off too. I'm sorry that happened to you. I don't know if we know eachother, but I wish you the best luck upon your return and you wiull return cause you'll kick a$$ this time. I have my notes typed if you want me to email them o you. I'll help you with skills too. It sounds like you're a good egg (lol) and I hate to see hard working students go through this crap. Email me anytime.

i'd understand your worry. i'm not sure you'll get this sine you posted a while ago. if you need any advice, feel free to im me. i'm in nur 4. i'll (hopefully) graduate this may. the poster that failed 3 was correct on their way of "weeding out" students so watch your back. mind your p's and q's and study every night. practice your skills and do not pay attention to what other people in class say about anything unless you trust their judgment and opinion. this school is excellent. but their way of making excellent nurses often make students resentful and physically ill with the stress that's put on us. i'm not crying a river or throwing a poor me party. it's proven that nccc is the best in western ny, but their idea of making good nurses is a walking contradiction and emotionally abusive. watch me fail now that i posted this...lol

They enjoy making a huge spectacle out of mistakes becuase it makes THEM feel better about themselves. They're brutal at our school. I can't wait 'til I'm out there and have a student to follow me. I'm going to help them as much as possible to ease their anxiety so they shake less...lol Instructors...they kill me. Really.

Liquor. Lots and lots of liquor. And maybe a punching bag. Lol

hi everyone, i just picked up my pt data sheet for clinical wednesday. needless to say, i'm beginning to freak out. my instructor is tough and makes me shake when performing skills in her presence. real world nursing is completely different than lab practice so a little help would be exteremely appreciated! i also have to complete a theoretical care plan on this pt. anyone that is familiar with these knows they are lengthy, time consuming and subject to many red marks. the last one took me 16 hours the day before clinical. dx: crf, chf, 2/17 mrsa-sputum age: 83 male dnr nka diet: novasure renal @ 45cc/hr what's this for? can't find it in my med book 300cc flush via g tube q6h hold fluids 30min prior & during chest p.t. is this d/t fluid accumulation that can interfere with the test? #6 shiley fenestrated uncuffed trach o2 c collar: there are 2 different inner cannulas, both nondisposable. one is fenstrated, one is unfenestrated. please suction c nonfenestrated huh? i'm having a brain fart here... clean both c peroxide and keep in bag @ bedside vest/wrist restraints/4 sr restraints foley prn atropine sl rx: ferrous sulfate, epogen, nephrovite, provachol, niaspan, nitropatch, lantus & reg c sliding scale any help would be great. i don't know why she makes me so nervous. she can tell too and that only makes it more difficult to perform my skills with success.

My mother's was 10. Yep, 10. It was scary. One minute she was talking and the next she was stirring dishwashing gloves in a soup pot like it was soup. I noticed it and thought she was hypoglycemic. She started tremoring and her mucsles got rigid and tightened intermitantly. It was so scary. I'll never forget it. The ambulance came after I called 911 and was put on hold 2x. (!) and couldn't get a vein. I was freaking out. I told them wear to go and he got all offended like I'm a moronic bystander. Finally after 20 more minutes he got it. My mom passed away 2 days later. This was last summer. Since then, I get nervous arounf pts c DM. I know I need to get over it, but if I didn't see the signs inmy ownmother, maybe I'm not safe enough for a pt c DM right now. I'm still in school, graduating in May God willing. I'll get past it eventually though.

Thank you so much. If you have any others, let me know. I search for hours for helpful sites that posters save.

Dear Papaw, How do you manage to be so comical and happy? Does this happen upon graduation into the real world? If so I can't wait to be there. I try to be excited and happy, but it seems that bothers other people so I mainly keep to myself and my pts. :)

Hi everyone, how your week going? I have a mean clinical instructor who is evaluating my chest assessment next week. I learned it 1st semester but for some reason I'm totally freaking out about this e-val with her. I never finish my paperwork on time, therefor I get a "U" on my tools. If I don't improve I fail the semester. Basically I have difficulty auscultating one breath sound from another. I understand vesicular is nl, but so is tracheal and bronchial. So which one should I write down? If I place my scope in all areas like I'm supposed to, wouldn't I hear all three sounds if my pt. were nl? I don't get why it's one or the other. And if they have adventitous BS, determining if they're gurgles or rales is hard for me. They sound similar. What I hear isn't what other students hear and that makes me second guess myself from the beginning. Also the percussion has always thrown me, even with abdominal assmnts. Honestly I don't get much from that part of the assessment. The 3 remaining parts (IPA) are what help me assess. I tap on my clavacle and do not hear "resonance" I hear a thump. No matter where I percuss I hear the same thing. I'm sure I sound like a total retard to you guys because I should know such an easy form of assessment, being the basics. But being my 3rd semester and graduating next May, I'm so scared I'm not going to do well enough for my clinical instructors to pass me. My paperwork is aweful! It takes me forever to complete thanks to the Excel unit care plan format. I'm perfectly fine when I'm at work or no where near my instructors. They make me so nervous and they like it. Please send me a private message (PM) if anyone has some time to guide me in the right direction. Take care! :rotfl:

:rotfl: Are we attending the same school?? My school is exactly the same way. If you aren't following these rules, you're sent home with a U for unprepared for clinical and it counts as an absense. More than 2 clinical absesnes are high risk for failing the entire semester.

WOW! We run into the same people! My family especially my husband's family (who include 5 RN's and CNA's!!) have said the same things except way more demeaning and ignorant. They assumed because I worked full time that I couldn't succeed. Too bad I kick a** in clinical and do great in class. I know I'll make an excellent nurse. My husband is however, very supportive of me. And yes, for 3rd and 4th semester (ADN) I'll work under 30 hrs...!

There's so many posts on this site that aren't negative and depressing. I see nothing depressing about all of the posters to this individual supporting her decision...

I've read many posts and agree with pursuing your Associates degree first. With a 2 yr degree, you'll jump right into clinical and gain that experience right away. You'll take your general ed. reqs with your nursing classes (in most schools). This might be hard depending on your situation. I'm married and have a step-child on the weekends and summertime. I also work as a PCA part time. (presently looking for another job for additional income...) I was originally a teacher major for el. ed. I got my pre-reqs in like 2 English, 2 History, Psychology classes, etc. So I wasn't too overwelmed in nursing school. Of course the first 2 semesters in our ADN program are a breeze compared to the last 2! Lol. Especially in the hospital where I work, the PCA's who attend 4-yr. schools for nursing have no idea about nursing. They're in their first 2 years and are fullfilling their general ed. classes or Bursing Assessment classes. But they have no experience and no idea why we learn what we learn, why hand washing is so important and why we assess for certain things. These girls don't know how to organize themselves for multi-tasking or don't know what a nurse's job entails. In all, I think ASN are more experienced (depending on the school) than BSN nursing school students because they are learning the hardest stuff first and all at once. Many schools will give you a scholarship to their 4-year school for having your RN already. I'll attend University at Buffalo with a 5,000 scholarship just to start. If I keep my GPA above 3.0, that is more possible money. BSN will get you a tad bit more $, but it's a big deal if you want to go on with your nursing education and field. It's so early in your nursing career, that your mind may change in a couple years. Getting your AS first is the best choice for many people instead of planning 4 or 5 years ahead. Good luck to you!!

Hello, How are you feeling? Hope you did ok on your tests, this is the best advice that worked for me. I have ADD and a learning disability (Somepeople say this isa LD, but others don't...) I have to read things over and over again constantly and exams are the worst for me, always have been. I don't understand the question let alone answer it. After a while I've stared at the same question for 15 minutes. I went to the counceling center and showed proof that I have a learning disability and take my tests in a quiet room with extended time for tests. If I don't understand, someone can re-word it. Every subject is different when asking for information on a test. Nursing like the baove poster stated is quite different in itself. This book helps me a lot: NCLEX-RN EXAM 04-05 ed. by Kaplan c the cd-rom, also Cracking the NCLEX-RN 7th ed. by The Princeton Review. Now I know I am a hands-on learner and cannot put the peices together without physically doing something. To find the S/S od DVT, I need to do an assessment and understand "why?" for everything. Sometimes I'm embarrassed of the ADD, but oh well. I do good in class now that I figured out the problem. My anxiety has decreased and I don't feel like I'm freaking out before an exam anymore. Another tip; I highlight ONLY the differences and KEY points. If signs and symptoms are similar, I highlight only the differences. Otherwise, all of my notes are bright yellow and I'm totally overwelmed. There's a ouple other posts about the NCLEX testing and how to understand what they're asking for. You'll have to look. I think it's in the student nursing forum or pre-student...not too sure. But that post has lots of replies and very helpful. Believe me, we all know it's hard in school, especially with a job and/or a family. We're all here. Poeple on this forum are sooo nice. I wish I really knew them! Good luck. If you need anything; [email protected]

Those are day to day requests on my floor. God forbid a patient really needs something a bit more important 2 doors down...but they're the most important of course...

I understand where you're coming from. However, the school I attend is VERY strict and if they don't think you'll be a good nurse, you will not pass their program. Many students complain and I admit, the way they talk to students is at times very inappropriate not to mention demeaning. I waitressed for 10 years and the money was better than that of a nurse. My husband has no college education and makes $30/hour as an electrician. I don't think the moeny is all that wonderful unless you travel, have your master's and experience in your field of nursing. I can't wait to graduate to help people and give them optimal care, but I'd be lying if I said I would be glad to work 12 hour shifts 4-5x/week for minimum wage. Unfortuneatly there are people right now that are rude and snotty to new employees and each other! In my opinion the nurses that aren't dedicated to premium care for patients (whether from ignorance or inexperience) and nurses that are rude for no reason to their coworkers only add to the decline in health care.

my kitchen is red. i thought it would be too dark, but it's bright and nice in the winter and summer.

I work as a PCA in my hospital. Whether you are a CNA or not, that is your title here. With 1 semester in RN school you are allowed to work as a PCA (patient care attendant). I undertand some of the posts have said they loved being a CNA/PCA. I also read some poeple that disagree. Everyone has their own opinion. These people are patients, not patrons. They're sick and need someone to look out for them and be their advocate. No I don't like to get covered with C Diff stool or get coughed in my face or be punched, scratched or screamed at like I did on my shift last night. No I don't like being treated like an inferior by an RN or MD, or patient for that matter. Nobody does but that's life. If you don't like something you can move on, and you will because you're in school for RN, right? It's not that bad. You as an RN should bathe your patients and clean up after them anyway. So often we as nurses/students forget what out jobs enbtails and who we are caring for in the process. Cleaning up and assisting with a transfer is part of an RN's job and shouldn't be dismissed for a CNA/PCA to do. Many CNA's on my floor don't even know how to wipe a female's genitalia, preventing stool from traveling up the lady parts. They don't know how to transfer correctly or safely nor do some now what the meaning of "work" is. The same goes for some RNs, doctors or whoever in the medical profession. There are lazy people and hard workers. It's you who determines what kind of nurse you will be. It's you that determines how satisfied you'll be as a CNA/PCA. In a nutshell, I don't thoroughly enjoy being a PCA. I dream of being an RN a lot. But I can assess on my own and the nurses recognize my hard work when others are sitting at the nurse's station and ask me to tag along when doing something interesting to help me through school.

How's it goin'? I'm in Micro now as we speak, during summer. It sucks. But I got a 90 on my last lab exam. We use this book: Microbiology an Introduction, 8th ed. Toratora, Funke, Case. It's costly, but maybe you'll find it on campus or at the library. I find the lab helpful since I'm a hands on learner and this enforces what we go over in lecture for that exam. It's mostly memorization, not much critical thinking like in our nursing exams. I like it, but there's so much to cover in the summer class that at times I can't differentiate what he's zoning in on. That's why I read the book, I can tell from there what is vital to know for the tests. If you need any help, let me know: [email protected]. I'd be more than happy to assist in any way. Good luck!