Kitty-MayRN

Hi, I think it's kinda sad that there is still this non-acceptance of people with chronic anxiety/depression. I'm in the same boat, and I would suggest not telling management about your situation. It is your personal info and I would not volunteer that information. Good luck to you and take care of yourself!

Hi, I have anxiety/panic disorders too. I've been a Med-Surg nurse for 4 months. It is a challenge. I have to block each hour and ask myself what do I have to do just this hour? I try to take it in small steps, but when a monkey wrench gets thrown into my day, I freak. I haven't figured out how to keep calm and focused yet in these situations. All I have to say is good luck and I can empathize with your situation. :monkeydance:

Thanks for the advice. I plan on trying to stick it out for a year and see what happens. The other factor in this is I am going through mental depression, so I'm worried what the ICU might do to me. Kitty-MayRN

Hi there-- I have just moved to a new city and accepted my first job as a nurse. I work in the MICU, and I don't think it's for me. I've only been there for a month, but I'm thinking this is more of a personality issue and I just don't fit. How long does it take to get used to the intensely ill patients? I don't see how MICU RNs can keep their spirits up. I don't want to quit yet--I'll give it a try--but I was wondering if anyone had any helpful tidbits. Thanks! Kitty-MayRN

Hi VegasRN, I'm glad to hear that test #4 might be easier than #3. I've been starting my new job and I haven't had a lot of time to read the exciting Kaplan course book! :chuckle I'm going to force myself to take it this week, to keep up on my "tree skills"! Good luck to you too. Are you studying with other books as well? Kitty-MayRN

Hi moliuchick, :) I took the 30 hour class. We had a representative come to our school, and he said if we signed up then he would give us 50$ off--$350 total. I am a bad test taker, so I signed up for the class. We literally did questions all day, so we got a lot of practice on the method to use (decision tree) to break down the question. Not real exciting, but it helped me. And after spending so much money on school books, I figured $350 wasn't out of line! I haven't gotten my ATT so I'm still hanging! Kitty-MayRN

Do they even give you an option to spell out your middle name on driver's license? I don't think I've ever seen that on anyone's driver's license. That would be the easiest to change at this point, but I don't know if they can even fit my full first,middle,last name on my driver's license! What a mess! I hope just an middle initial is okay--christvs, let us know! Kitty-MayRN

Hi christvs, I didn't even think about that! Now I'm worried as well. :uhoh21: Please let us know what Pearson-vue says about the middle name thing! Thanks! Kitty-MayRN

Hello, :) Well, I just got the results of the Readiness test. I did do better than the diagnostic. I passed the Readiness with 65% but still it's pretty close to the boarderline so I'm still sweating. I am going to bone up on content--I need to know my meds and labs a little better, but supposedly, the information in the coursebook should be all that we need. And of course the question-taking skills! I'm going to reread the whole coursebook and then take test #4. Happy studying to all! Kitty-MayRN

p.s. BrightStar05, Good luck studying and good luck on the NCLEX next week! I hope it all works out for you! :) Kitty-MayRN

Well, I just took the test #3 in the Kaplan question trainer and I got the same percentage as test #2! Now I have 63%,49%, and 49%!! I just underlined my stupidity! I might try the Q bank because I'm just freaking now. Tomorrow I have the "Non-Readiness Test" and I hope my score is better than the Diagnostic because I was a hair below passing! Has anyone used the Training library at the class sites? Anything helpful in there? Good luck to everyone else in this study course!! Kitty-MayRN

Thanks everyone for your comments, I feel better. (Sort of!) :) I do think their strategies are helpful--I guess I just need to practice. And I'm planning on studying up until "The Day". Maybe Kaplan needs to make people panic a little so you'll want to take their classes! :uhoh21: Good Luck to everyone!! Kitty-MayRN

Hi, Did anyone else taking the Kaplan class start out feeling totally stupid? I just took their diagnostic test and the first two nclex practice tests from the cd rom and I didn't do well at all! The other "fake nclex" tests from school I've taken I've passed so far, but I didn't pass any of the Kaplan tests. Please tell me by the end of the class, I'll get better at these!! I'm really feeling bad right now... Kitty-MayRN

I am going to start as a graduate nurse on a med/surg unit. I was just wondering which works better during a shift: putting your notes on a clipboard that you carry around, or a spiral notepad to jot notes that you put in your pocket? Any suggestions? Thanks! :) Kitty-MayRN

Hi RN-PA, I'm going to be starting as a graduate nurse on a med/surg unit and I saw your post. I liked your tips so much I printed them off to use. Thanks for the good info!! :) Kitty-MayRN

p.s. go grinnurse!! :kiss kitty-mayrn

Thanks for the encouragement nurse 101 !!! :icon_hug: I'm gonna read this the day of my testing! Kitty-MayRN

just wanted to say good luck ! to all you guys!! i know it's gotta be hard to wait! kitty-mayrn

Does anyone know how long it takes to get another states endorsement? If I am a hired as a graduate nurse in a different state than the state I'm initially taking the nclex, will I be able to get the endorsement within our 90 day limit of practicing as a graduate nurse? Just wondering... Kitty-MayRN

I know it shouldn't be an issue, but I know a male graduate nurse who is having a terrible time getting hired and he has all the intelligence...I'm just trying to help him figure this one out... I don't think it should be any different. (p.s. no disrespect taken.) Thanks for your input. Kitty-MayRN

Hi not now, Your picture looks exactly like the caps we wore when we graduated in May. Our teacher had us line up and she put them on our head with white bobbypins. Two things: 1. It's not good if you have fine, thin hair because it's harder to get the rascal to stay. 2. This one I learned the hard way. Don't be last in line. Our teacher would kind of mold the caps so they would fit nicer around the head. Well, she ran out out of time with me since I was last and said "That's gonna have to do." Great! Everyone else had time to go and look at themselves one last time for touch ups. Not me. I didn't see what I looked like until afterwards and my cap was too big for my small head and it didn't get molded to fit my head-- those corners were sticking out so huge, I looked worse than if I was the flying nun!! :rotfl: Good luck, and congrats! Kitty-MayRN

Hi christvs! :) I'm so sorry to hear that! It sounds like their HR department needs a little more of the "H" !!! :chuckle You are doing the right thing and don't feel bad trying to get ahold of someone who will give you an answer! My boyfriend is having problems like yours too. He's doing everything he should like write thank you's and calling back after a couple weeks if necessary. I think the hospitals drop the ball on their end. And it really stinks when you are trying so hard to find a job! Basically, in theory the job you interviewed for may be great, but the staff you work with can make or break it, you know? All I can say is hang in there and you'll pull through! :icon_hug: Kitty-MayRN

Hi sandiLa, :) I have panic attacks too. This is something that I'm really needing to watch. So far, I've only had 3 incidents at clinicals that I just barely kept under control by hiding in the bathroom for several minutes. However, I've noticed in my life in general that they are getting more frequent, which concerns me because I'm going to be starting a new job on a med/surg floor soon. I find that I can sometimes nip it in the bud when I start breathing fast and my heart starts racing by getting away for a couple of minutes from the situation. Of course I can't always do that... Do you panic over certain things? I know I have agoraphobia which I fight consistantly. Take care and keep in touch, Kitty-MayRN

I just accepted my first nursing job and it's a 7pm to 7am. I'm definitely not a morning person, but I don't normally stay up really late either! I really wanted this job though. And, ever since I've been in nursing school my sleep has had no pattern whatsoever! I know I'm going to have to be really careful not to totally screw up body clock. Plus my boyfriend is definitely a morning person--actually he just doesn't need hardly any sleep at all. I wish I could survive on just 5 or 6 hours of sleep a "night", but I need my zzz's!!! I'm gonna have to try the tinfoil thing! Good luck to you! Kitty-MayRN

Does anyone have problems with the arrangement narrowing your perspective on life, when you don't have another view to your relationship except through the eyes of a nurse? Does it make it extra hard for the couple to get out and do other things together--when you both work crazy 12 hour shifts & not necessarily the same day or shift? I agree with having someone who identifies with what you're going through. I think that's important... Kitty-MayRN