Sponges

I applied and got in btw. Thanks lady_stic!

Thanks for replying. I am just nervous I will not be able to "beat out the competition" per say. I mean now and the next few months, lol. I am finishing up the application right now. Will apply to more schools in the spring, one of which includes my dream school. We will see...

I am planning to apply for Texas Wesleyan this year but don't know if I should wait to improve my stats. I lacked focus during first few years of college. Stats: Overall GPA: 3.4 BSN GPA: 3.38 Science GPA: a little bit above 3.0 (chem 1, physics 1, pathophysiology, biology, a&p and precalc: B. Business calculus and statistics: A) First pharm class, I got a c+. Retook that for b. I've withdrawn from a lot of classes prior to nursing school: precalculus (retook and got B), chem II, micro econ honors, a lot of psychology classes, a ballet class. I also changed majors several time and took random classes that seemed interesting at the time but, in hind sight, makes me appear unfocused as a student (ex: epidemics in world history, yoga, fitness and health, jiu jitsu, greek mythology, a lot of psychology classes, extra sociology classes...). I also have several C's: pediatric nursing (my C was an 82), macro econ honors, men and masculinities (upper sociology course) and first pharmacology class. GRE: 303 (math 148, verbal 155) with 4.5 writing Experience: Cardiothoracic ICU (will have 1 year before Feb.1, 2015, which is what they require) Others: I have no school debt or obligation (scholarship covered 85-91% of tuition and fees each semester and I also had two nurse tech jobs to pay off the rest. No kids and not married). Can move anywhere. I have my bls, acls and pals. I am studying for ccrn right now. Should have it in January. My question. Should I wait to apply and focus on improving my messy transcript for apply now? I meet all of the minimum requirement but, looking at my transcript, I do not appear to be very competitive due to all the w/d classes and all the random classes I took. I am a lot more focused and less random now, partly due to nursing school and being a nurse. Should I wait?

What is your job title (CNA, medical assistant, medication aide, HHA, PCT, PCA)? Nurse technician (student position) with current hospital; passed board last month. Was a student nurse tech with VA system (contract ended with graduation). Where are you located? Midwest What is your hourly wage? $10.50 with current hospital, $15 with VA Are you paid shift differentials? yes with current hospital, 15% for shift dif, 15% for being prn and 20% for weekend dif. None with VA. What shift(s) do you usually work? My schedule is very flexible. I work when I want. What is your current specialty (rehab, med/surg, ortho, doctors’ office, clinic, long term care, psych, home health, hospice, etc.)? I currently float all over with current hospital.Was in Sicu for student job with VA. How many years of experience do you have? 1 year with VA and 2 years with current hospital. What is your status (full-time, part-time, or casual / per diem / PRN)? PRN Are you a pursuing a career as a nurse (RN or LPN)? New grad RN, will transfer to CVICU (with current hosptial) for RN job in about a week.

I know the minimum required GRE for most programs, but I was wondering what a competitive GRE would be. I just took my GRE today and am disappointed. I got 148 quant (some programs require >150) and 155 verbal. I am disappointed with the quant since I was getting between 153-155 with practice exams. I guess I don't want to retake it right now, so I am wondering if I should keep it or try again. If I do retake the GRE, I'll probably do it during the summer. regardless. I will take a break and focus on my new job for now. Nevertheless, should I retake GRE or try to hold on to it for about 1-2 years? Those who scored over 310 total, how long did you practice and what did you use? I used free practice texts from princeton review website and manhattan prep. I scanned Kaplan a little bit.

Geographic location - Midwest Pay rate: $19.88/hr In which area / specialty do you work? ICU (starting in a few weeks as a new grad) What type of license do you have (RN or LPN)? RN What type of degree and/or certification do you have? BSN How many years of experience do you have? 0 as RN (a bit over 2 years of combined experience as a medication aide, CNA and student nurse technician) Are you full-time, part-time, or casual / per diem / PRN status? FT nights What shift do you work? 7p-730am Do you receive any shift differential? Yes; +2.98 for nights and +3.96 for weekends Are you a manager or supervisor? no The pay in this area is not very generous. There is a near by hospital that pays 19.01 for new grads with BSN.

Thanks Kat! ATI helped me. I thought the predictor was great also. It helped me zone in on my weak areas. I was able to use the focused review option from ati to focus study on my weak subjects. If you are wondering, I made a level 3 (either on both or at least on the second go) on all except ped and fundamentals. I think you are on the right track. Not surprising, I did not score very well in ped on the first predictor. What was surprising though, on the second predictor, my ob score dropped, so I studied these subjects a lot more. I also studied a little bit for pharm since it's been awhile since pharm class and I've heard about weird drugs on nclex. If you are taking the ati predictor, I would advise you to use the score to gauge your weakness and study from there. Aim for at least a 97% pass rate (I got 99% pass rates on both attempts and I passed; however, I know people with lower % that passed also).

I just had my nclex official result yesterday. I passed with 75. The predictor was accurate for me. I thought the nclex questions were tougher than ATI d/t a lot more SATA and higher level questions, in my case. However, I would still recommend ATI d/t it being a great content review (I read most of all of my ati books during school and also used the focused review on the website to study). I think you need to know content before you can advance into answering higher level questions. I would use kaplan for the strategies as well.

Hi! I took the NCLEX on Dec. 21, 2013, one week after graduation. Today, Dec. 23, 2013, I checked my state BON and found my name and my license posted!!! I had 75 questions. A strange thing though, my computer took me to a survey section after 75 questions. The only reason I am mentioning this is because I was not aware of the after-survey. I was expecting for my computer to shut off. I thought the NCLEX questions were confusing at times since there were times where I had no idea how to answer certain questions; however (honestly and strangely), overall, I thought the NCLEX was pretty easy; my critical cares tests were much tougher. When I left, I was 60% sure that I passed. After I did the Pearson Vue trick, I was 89% sure I passed. Now, I am 100% sure. I had a lot of SATA questions. At one point, I had about 7-8 of them in a row. Apart from that, it seemed like every second or third question was a SATA. I had 2-4 calculation questions, quite a few conference questions, a few pharm questions (most were SATA format), and a lot of teachings and prioritization. Aside from that, I actually don't remember much more about the test. My NCLEX preparation: I actually prepared more during school than after graduation. I read at least 75% of all my ICU reading assignment. I studied for all of my ATI exams; did questions and read the ATI book. I read half of the Kaplan book during school so I did not have much to read after; although I did not finish reading the book, I got the main strategies. I read my Hurst book during school. I also did some Kaplan questions during school (I used this as a way to study for the predictor as well). I actually prepared for the predictors pretty well. I did not see the point of spending months to practice for the NCLEX when you can do so during school. The information I learned from studying for the NCLEX also helped with some of my classes at the time. After my graduation, I spent about a few hours per day for 4 days to study for the NCLEX. I was doing ATI questions up to the day before the big NCLEX exam. Hurst NCLEX book: I actually bought this. I read the entire book around mid-October. I thought the book was helpful. I did some of the practice questions; however, the questions were too easy, so I did not bother with much of them. I did not bother with the CD either. My advice: read the tips and everything else. Forget about the questions. Use ATI and Kaplan instead. ATI: I went over the ATI practice tests my school provided. I practiced for the NCLEX by doing a lot of ATI questions a few days before my test date. I spent a few hours a day doing practice tests over the pharm, maternal newborn and pediatric (since, according to my ATI predictor, I could improve in these areas). I read all rationales. ATI NCLEX predictors are great practice opportunities for the NCLEX so study for them. I spent a couple of hours doing the ATI predictor practice tests one and two days before the actual predictor exams (my school made me take it twice). Overall, great content review! If you have to take ATI for school, I would use the practice exams prior to the NCLEX. If you are doing poor in a certain area, focus in that area. ATI has a focus review tool you can use. Kaplan: I rented 2 Kaplan books from my local library. The first one I rented was the 2010-2011 edition. I read half way through this and found a newer edition in the library. I returned the older edition and rented the 2012-2013 edition. Not too many changes in content. I thought the test taking strategies were helpful. I found the CD to be helpful, as well. I went over the questions (180 questions) from the CD twice (the second time just to make sure that I understand and remember the rationale behind the correct answers). I read through all of the rationales. I answered 75 questions from the book. My advice: know the different test taking strategies and use the questions. Great questions to prepare for NCLEX.

Just took my nclex this morning. I only had 75 questions, so either I completely passed or completely failed. Yikes!! I got the good pop up so far, but I am not sure if I checked too early; I checked about 1 hr after completing my test. AHHHHHH! So nervous right now. I 'll check for my name on the state nursing board later today and tomorrow x_x. Congrats to all the other new grads and good luck on your nclex!!!

I got my ATT November 25th of this year. My school allows for early release of ATT if you at least a b in critical care class, at least 97% on both ati predictor exams (you take them twice: once at beginning of semester and one in November), at least a level 2 on medical-surgical 2 ati...and something else, I forgot. That's how I am able to take NCLEX next week; you can take it as early as first week of December but I didn't want to risk it. The rest of the people in my class, whom did not qualify for early release, will have to wait a few weeks after graduation for ATT. Have fun with pinning!!!!!!

I take my NCLEX next week and should find out. I took ATI predictor twice (once at the beginning of semester and one towards the end). I got 99% predicted probability pass rate on both (raw scores 82.0% and 88.7%). I'll let you know in a week. Wish me luck.

I just graduated today!!!! Had my party and will have another one in a bit. I am so excited and it's been a tumultuous journey but it's all worth it. I take my NCLEX next Saturday and start my job in the CVICU January! Anyone else graduating this December? Feel free to ask for nursing school advice if not :)

Old: A 93-100 B 84-92 C 75-83 (everything else a fail) New (just got changed this semester). I am happy and ****** since my grades would have been so much better if this started a few yeas ago, but oh well. Made straight a's this semester and just graduated today!!!!!!!!! A 91-100 B 82-90 C 75-82 (everything below 75 is a fail)

Hi everyone. I currently hold 2 student nurse positions in 2 hospitals in town. One is in SICU. I am finishing up 4th semester and have accepted a full time RN position in CVICU. Very excited and very nervous!! [COLOR=#003366]racingmurse320q: I've encountered a resident like that (surgical resident). It was during my clinical rotation in burn. I also need to work to thicken my skin as well. grey L: I will be the only new grad in the unit as well :/. Are you doing ecco? I am required to do that during orientation. I was told it will help the transition...we'll see.