TIB217

I think becoming familiar with acute coronary syndrome, myocardial infarction, stroke - TIA topics will be helpfu. Know the causes, risk factors, treatments, because they will all be part of the core measures of care. You'll probably also come up against atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure a lot. Like NurseMeg said, your EKG strips also will be helpful. Learn a little - use it a lot! It takes a good 8 months to really feel familiar and to get your feet under you. It'll be worth the whole journey though!

I think you have to do the IELTS, then NCLEX, then CGFNS. CGFNS requires proof of your license and English proficiency. If I were you, I would grab myself a Med Surge book by Ignativicuous or some other equally good book that covers all the topics so that you can refresh your memory. Then register for a training course such as Kaplan. Its gonna take you a while to get everything together to pass the NCLEX and get your CGFNS stuff together, so I would start looking through the info now. Also purchase a Kaplan study book - the info in there is very helpful - it covers almost all you need to know for the NCLEX.

Kaplan - they have it down to a science - and several of the questions had on the NCLEX were verbatim some of the questions I had in the Kaplan practice and qbank tests.

Thanks guys - all really solid suggestions! I appreciate the input and encouragement!

I'm in my 1st year as a new grad - I'm part of a really great nursing residency program and feel as thought I was prepared to transition to independent practice (I mean, as much as you can be prepared!). Like anyone I sometimes feel like I'm barely keeping my nose above water . . . but most days I feel as though I'm at progressing in my knowledge and practice. That is - until I call a rapid response . . . my instructor used to say that it will all come back to you in a Rapid Response - and I'm sorry to say that she absolutely LIED! LOL I've called two rapid responses the past 2 months and both of the left me feeling like an absolute idiot - doctors and respiratory therapists asking me questions about my own patient and I look at them, blank - I can't remember: was a CBC ordered? What did his last chest x-ray say? Is he on antibiotics? I have no recollection of anything! I'm posting this cause I'm hoping this is just a normal reaction and I'll get better at this as I go! )

Heya! I just went through this process and basically need bifocals for all the researching I did on the internet . . . LOL If you can PM me I'll help you navigate your way through this!

Really? What kinds of s/s should I look for to know when its time to go?

Okay so I've been searching for months (new grad, new job) for shoes that don't make my feet feel like they've been ambushed by sledge hammers by the end of the day. 14 hour days are grueling enough and my little feet are always screaming at me the next morning when I'm demanding they perform at optimum level for another shift. I pronate and due to fallen arches (from use of flat flip flops for years on end) I really need some good arch support. I've tried all kinds - Danskos, Alegria, Klogs, New Balance, Brooks, Keens - just about anything that is good quality that has a good arch or i can put inserts into. For the past month I've been researching and researching, and after reading a few obscure posts about MBT (Masai Barefoot Technology), my quest is finally over! These shoes seem to be shaped strangely, and they aren't necessarily the first think you may consider wearing for a 12 hour shift, but somehow they redistribute my weight and make my feet feel as if they aren't carrying all 170lbs of me. The curvy bottom might take a little getting used to - but they seem to propel me forward and make me feel like I have a spring in my step that I shouldn't actually have after 10 hours on the floor . . . I'm giving them a shout out because I recommend them to EVERYONE. I don't think it really matters what kind (mary jane's or just regular walking/running shoes), I think they are worth the money. Mine were the Matwa Casual walking shoe, but I think any of their shoes will be amazing on the feet. Compared to Danskos and Klogs, they range from $120-$190, so very comparable prices, depending on where you get them from. I got mine from Amazon. You have to be careful because there are rip off shoes that say they are MBT, but can be fakes. As for the claim that these mimic the Masai tribe footbed and blah, blah, blah, I have no idea. But I know they work. And that's good enough for me and my feet!

I studied for the TEAS by using the guide and going through it section by section - I don't recommend cramming into your head two weeks in advance - its familiarity with the material that will help you score well - which means you need to interact with the material on a daily basis. If it's in the TEAS study guide book - it's gonna be on the test. As I went through each section I made notes on the things I did not know - and studied those notes regularly and practiced. I found a few apps that were helpful and had very similar questions to the TEAS test -although I don't remember the names. One of them was like $10 and others were a little more expensive. If you put in the time and interact with the material on a daily basis over 2-4 months - you'll be perfectly fine.

@The_Gift - sorry to keep adding to this feed, but just curious - I'm going thru an airport to get my TN - did you bring anything other than a copy of your license, the visa screen and your employment letter? Did you bring any copies of bank accounts or a lease - what did they ask for? Or what did they ask in general?

Heya @The_Gift I'm just waiting on my visa screen and it says on my application status that Service Successfully Completed . . . how long did you have to wait for your visa screen after that?

Euthenasia

Did you send in the form where your school registrar filled in the hours you spend in certain subjects - including labs? I am in the process of expediting my Visa Screen also, but I not only sent them the transcript - i send them a form that was signed by the registrar stating my class/lecture and lab hours. I would say if they need that information - you need to have the registrar of your school or the nursing director of the school fill in that information on the forms they provided.

I usually stay out of these conversations, I feel like it's unnecessary to add to the ridicule and negativity. But after reading this thread I have to respond and say that no matter if you enjoy precepting or not, our profession demands that we treat people with dignity - even those we work with. This new nurse asked for advice - not ridicule. So not every person is as desensitized to the negativity on the floor as you may be, but it's no reason to talk down to them - or to anyone for that matter. She's right - her preceptor and her nurse manager are unprofessional. She's asking how to handle it within her work place, she's not asking anyone to analyze her emotional state or criticize her expectations for being treated with some kind of decency. Sure - there may have been some truth to what you say - but your delivery, well, frankly, it sucks. And eventually, this new nurse will navigate her own way through this situation and through numerous future situations that will no doubt develop her nursing philosophy in life. We're here to support nurses and help her find her own way - not to tell her how to handle life OUR way. Absolutely flabbergasted at how people speak to one another on here.