mama2amaya

Thanks everyone for your responses. I really respect everyone's opinions and thoughts on the subject and the information you've given me. I totally understand the need to be sensitive, the grueling work involved in the ICU nurse's job and long hours, and not being able to predict anything. As far as me saying she is doing ok now, that is actually what the nurse usually says when I call... "she is... ok" or "she is a little worse off today..." so that's what I meant by she is ok. Didn't mean to confuse! I understand she is in the woods and critically ill... just praying!

The sad thing is that i studied that NET study guide to death. It's the EPI one everyone else has, too. So depressing. I swear I'm not dumb in English. I got A's my whole life and have been in advanced English my entire life as well! That test is just plain crazy! The college I am going to says we can test three times. This will be my last and final try before I either chuck it out the window or try to figure something else out. I just can't believe my dream can be completely crushed because of a test! :angryfire

woohoo thank you for your advice. I'm ON IT!

Alright, more of a personal Q than a nursing student Q but here goes: My sister is 23, hepatorenal failure from alcoholism and drug abuse, heart murmur, diabetic. She arrested two nights ago, on a med-surg floor after she had stabilized and her liver function returned to 25-30% with normalization of kidney function... they said it might have been 'a septic picture' causing the arrest - first said maybe electrolyte imbalance, then possibly lung infection, now they aren't sure... CPR for less than a minute, back breathing, back on the vent and back into the ICU, now on flow dialysis, had a paracentesis of her abdomen today, central line and arterial line placed, bp meds because her bp is low, CT-guided aspiration of fluid from her back area yesterday, broad spectrum antibiotics and IV fluids are being administered... afebrile. Responding to commands, awake. I've been told 'she is doing ok...we really won't know for a few days how she will stabilize....she is answering questions with blinks and moving extremities,..." I'm pretty sure it is a bleak picture but can't get an outright answer that she is not going to make it. Is it typical for the nurses to be more reassuring than anything and to not be brash about the goings on or does it just depend on the personality of the nurse?

I am so disheartened. I took the NET the first time and did well on the math and missed the reading by 2 points. So I studied my butt off, took it again, and was so sure I did better - I did WORSE! I got worse on the reading than the first time, and the first time I hardly even studied the reading portion! They only give us 3 chances - after that, they send us to the community college career counselors to help us find another career! I want this soooo bad. I think about it constantly. I really am so upset about it. Most programs in my area require NET scores for admission except for BSN programs. Any tips for the reading comp portion of the test or advice on what to do next? I am going to take it the last, third time, I think... but I'm so terrified of what will happen if I do take it and fail and I feel that failure that I've avoided it until now. I took it last in October. (My mom died on Thanksgiving and my sister has been in the hospital as well...)