Mommy_RN1211

I graduated in December but had been applying in September for our local residencies. I am in the DFW, TX area so the job market seemed pretty good this season. Best of luck to you!

I don't think anyone hires diploma nurses anymore. The route you take depends on your financial situation in my opinion. I went the ADN nurse route because it was a fraction of the cost and once hired on to a hospital they will pay for your BSN anyways. I know the myth is you won't be hired as a ADN nurse however I had a job secured months before I graduated as well as many of my class. If you can afford to just go straight through school then the BSN route makes sense. All about finances in my opinion, and of course the job market in your area.

I think you have to look at your weakness and strong suits. Find a review that fits into your needs. I personally felt content weak so took the Hurst review the summer before I graduated and again after graduation but about 3 weeks before boards. I studied their material and would answer UWORLD questions on each content area. I spent about 4 weeks post graduation doing UWORLD questions/Hurst during my work day. I would say a solid 3-4 hours a day intermittently throughout the day. Did about 2,000 questions a month before my test and passed with 75 questions in about an hour. I do suggest putting in the time to do a ton of questions and you should do fine! :) Good luck in you final semester and boards.

I agree with direw0lf. I have always struggled with hanging with people because I feel much older and act more mature than the other 23 year olds I know but with that said it is about balance. You are very young to be in college so most probably see you as such. It is not a bad thing to keep your head down for a bit and focus on class. Try and make friends your age with the same interest maybe outside of school. If all else fails, form a good study group even if you are leading the group. Nursing bonds are great!

New Grad TX Med Surg Floor Residency $24 base ($6 diff for weekend.)

PVT is pretty accurate. It isn't a trick rather just a system flaw but totally makes sense. As soon as your test shuts off Pearson Vue already knows if you passed or not. They just wait for quality control. So if you attempt to re register and it won't allow you it makes sense that it is because you passed but if it takes your card info then you did not pass and are able to re-register for a new test. I am sorry! I know that is disappointing.

You need to do some research on what each program has to offer. If you are content weak then Hurst is a strong content based review. Kaplan is good for test taking skills and NCLEX strategies. UWORLD is great for questions if you just need practice.

I just took my nclex and passed with 75 questions. UWORLD is in my opinion harder than NCLEX. Aim for a 60% average as that is what uworld states is passing for nclex. Good luck!

jnl7974 DFW is starting their residents anywhere between 24-25 an hour depending on the hospital system.

I am sorry to hear that Browneyes80. It may be a matter of just test taking skills holding you back. Maybe look into a test taking type of review versus Hurst.

Just found out I passed my NCLEX yesterday! Officially a RN! Submitted all of my paperwork and have my physical assessment scheduled for 2/10 :) Meet and Greet on 2/12! Ready to get started!

Hello everyone! I monitored this board all through school and it really helped me a lot throughout my journey. I wanted to share my story in hopes that it will help someone along their way. First of all, I was a solid C theory student all throughout nursing school. I worked full time with a toddler and in my final semester of school my dad had a horrible stroke that he still is not home from. I say this because it is possible to pass in 75 questions and not be the president of your class with a million volunteer hours with the program. When I graduated mid December the next week I started doing UWORLD questions and by far they were the most helpful! They are spot on (in my opinion harder) with NCLEX questions. I averaged 61% and did all of the available questions. My advice, don't so much focus on right or wrong rather focus on the rationales. They are amazing and extremely detailed. I took the Live Hurst Review twice throughout school. Once the summer before my final semester and the 2nd time right after I graduated. The Hurst review is great if you are content weak (which by my theory grades you can tell I was content weak). I did not particularly like their questions although I did them anyways. The rationales were not helpful and I felt the questions were tailored to their review. I didn't study the day before the test (just a few questions here and there, couldn't resist) and tried my best to relax. The day of the test I just went in and read the questions carefully. Prayed at question 75 that it would be my last and my test shut off. Y'all can do it! Be diligent in your studying but don't take too much time off to study. You are not going to learn anything new post nursing school just reinforce concepts. NCLEX is a safety test, not so much a content test. Good luck to all of you with your future in Nursing! I start my job in just a few weeks and so ready to get going! :)

I sat for my boards yesterday. 75 questions, 16 SATA, good pop up on PVT trick...just waiting to see if I passed or not. Fingers crossed!

So I took the test yesterday, shut off at 75 questions! EEKKK, so we will see!

lwandel, its tseeton :) I have been doing Hurst review Q reviews averaging 75-84. I hate the rational but UWORLD is great. Have you been using that at all?

Thanks RNBSN0105, I sure hope so!

Well the time is finally here for me to take my NCLEX. I take it on Monday and am freaking out (like everyone else is I am sure). I was never an A/B student in theory (although always had A's in clinical) so it makes me nervous going into this test. I graduated mid December and just got our ATT about a week ago so scheduled as soon as I could. I have a job lined up starting in February, contingent of my passing of course. (NO PRESSURE, RIGHT?!) For preparation I have been doing UWORLD questions for about a month and have about 400 left which I plan to finish this weekend before the test. My average on UWORLD is 61%. I also took Hurst (twice) and have been studying the book and watching videos. I have taken 4 of their tests and averaging about 80/125 questions correct. I feel I have prepared about as much as I can while working full time since graduating and am just hoping for the best! Wish my luck :) Any kind words of encouragement or advice is greatly appreciated.

Congratulations!

Hi all. I applied for just about every position with THR when they opened their residency program in September and was offered a job after my 1st interview. I wish you guys all the best in your job hunt, I hear it is a pretty good season so far. Quite a few from my school which is an ADN program have accepted jobs.

Thanks Followingfootsteps! I am really nervous about how to make a good study effort. I am going to start reviewing the book and doing questions as soon as I am pretty much done with all the hard stuff in my semester. I will take another live hurst review in January and watch the videos. How soon after you graduated did you take NCLEX?

Hi all, I am graduating in December and have a job lined up to start in February. Of course I am so blessed to have an offer before graduation but it adds so much extra pressure. I took Hurst back in May just to see what it was like and I enjoyed the set up. I am very content weak I feel so it will be good for me along with questions. I am thinking of purchasing UWorld once I graduate and start studying. My question is I want to make the most out of my studying with what little time I will have since I work as well. How did yall study using Hurst? What worked for you? What did you supplement questions with since they don't have a ton of questions. Any input would be great. I am starting to really get nervous about NCLEX.

I am in Texas and graduate in December. Most of our major hospitals open residency programs to New Grads in October for a February start date. Other than residencies as a new grad it is pretty close to impossible to get a hospital job right out of school. I am not sure about any other market such as doctor office, schools, etc. Good luck!

Once an official offer is made it is a waiting game until 30 days prior to start at which time you do your drug tests, etc. Have to pass NCLEX before start obviously.

Well I am not sure exactly what you did in food service but a waiter for example takes a lot of time management and prioritization. Use that to your advantage. How did you settle a conflict with a customer? When you made a mistake serving the food what did you do to fix it? Use your ability to act fast and resolve issues and relate that to nursing. I don't think anyone wants you to be perfect but they do want you to be able to fit in with the team.

You know interviewing is really a skill I think. Truth be told we are all the same in terms of nursing knowledge and skills as new grads so that doesn't really help or hurt you in my opinion. What is your background New Nurse 75? Use that to your advantage. I have a really strong customer service background so I would answer most questions giving examples from that background. They want to know if you will fit in with their team and how well you can speak so if you can sell yourself that way I would try that route. Sorry you didn't get that position. I know it is disappointing! Keep trying and good luck :)