MJHarper

You could try LTC and see how you like it as you'd never know unless you worked in it to see and then decide what you want to do. It can be hectic job and you will stay busy from the time you clock in until the time you clock out and the med pass is busy busy, and you never know when something is going to happen to add even more to the list of things to get done, but all in all it is about caring for and making the resident's lives as comfortable as we possibly can and giving them a smile and asking how they are doing can make all the difference in the world to them even though we don't have a lot of time to talk with them for long and get our job done. But always remember this: always treat each resident as if that were your family member or you there being cared for.

I have been a LPN at the nursing home I work at for a little over 2 years and I love working with the elderly:redbeathe, but I feel just like everyone of you that wrote a message in this thread about the neverending med passes, stresses of the job and noone ever listening to you, feeling like a pill pusher, being overwhelmed and etc... Point is too many patient's to a nurse and too much medicine, too little time to do a really thorough job like we want to do and not enough TLC to these elderly people who need TLC now more than ever. The thread that mentioned about when resident's pass how they just roll another resident in quick as they can to replace the former resident> it's really getting to be like a assembly line of resident's for the money. I am scheduled to work a 8 hour shift, but I usually don't clock out until 9 sometimes 10 hours. I have anywhere from 30 to 35 people at a time and it is hard to get all the meds out on time, residents wanting their meds and you going hard as you can, tube feedings, hoping to be able to get to tx, residents wanting to talk but you don't have the time, someone falls-fill out incid. reports-call dr and family, a resident's condition changes you have to call the doctor, get paperwork ready if resident has to go to hospital-and you have to go to to give report, family members complaining or upset because you haven't gotten to their family yet and you have 30- 35 other resident's to care for on top of their loved one, or something else goes wrong it's impossible to be organized with so much chaos. It's overwhelming and so stressful then everyone wonders why there's a nursing shortage! LTC should work with the nurses and listen to the nurses, so that by working together we can find a way to make the resident's daily lives better and the nurse's job less overwhelming and stressful so that we can give our resident's the best care possible. Sorry post was so long!

For some people it is easier for them to get their LPN/LVN first and then bridge over to get their RN and for some they can get through the RN program the first time. The RN program is hard I am not going to kid you about that. Personally, I tried getting my RN first and made it through the core classes and through the first semester (Fundamental of Nursing etc..) , but when we hit Med/Surg I (Care of Adult I) it got me. I am now a LPN and working full time to get some experience, but will be returning in the near future to get my RN and will bridge over to the RN program at a local college and it will only take me a year to complete the RN program. Should you decide to take practical nursing first and get your LPN, you could then go through the LPN to RN bridge program at your local college which will only take you a year to get your RN. Good luck in whatever you decide to do.

Caliottter3 Thanks for the info. Do you have any idea how much it will cost if I enroll at EC? I have already had A & P I and II, micro, psychology, and the other core classes, so I think (I hope) that I would be able to go straight into the Nursing concepts. I figured going through a secondary place like Rue would perhaps cost more for material, and I do know it is a little over $1600.00 for the one weekend clinical.

Well, would it be best and cheaper to go through Excelsior College or Rue? I have heard a Rue representative speak and the program sounds good, but is there a catch?

Go back to the Pearson site and just click on forgot username and password and they will email your username and password to you. It is not too late to sign in and get your unofficial results they remain available on the site for awhile after you have taken the NCLEX. Let us know how it goes.

Shantae, go to http://www.pearsonvue.com and sign in with your username and password and when you are signed in find the page where you can get your unofficial results and this will let you know, but I want to let you know the result you'll see is not your official result. You will receive your official results from the Pearson vue center. This is what I did so I would pretty much know before receiving my official results. While you are on the site look for frequently asked question section to see how long it will be before you receive your official results. Hope this helps and best of luck. Let us know when you find out. Jayne

Rue Education is a research and development firm that supplies focused learning materials for nursing and general education standardized exams, which can be used to earn credits toward an accredited nursing degree. Rue is not affiliated or endorsed by the National League for Nursing or Excelsior College. I know that RueEd is not a nursing program, but they do help you to reach your goal of becoming a RN on your own time. This program makes it easier I think for a LPN to be able to work full time and to study in her spare time to prepare for Rue exams. Most states accept RN's that have taken the exams through RueEd. http://www.rueed.com

I guess by now you have your results, but I wanted to let you know that I felt the same way as you about the questions they were definitely worded differently than in Saunders and I felt just like you when I left there, like I had failed, but guess what I passed the first time with only 85 questions. Always believe in yourself as you know more and retain more than you think you do. Jayne

Check out http://www.rueed.com for those of you interested in LPN-RN, but not sure which states approve or don't approve this program. I know Georgia where I live approves it ,but we have to take the NCLEX in Florida after completing the program which is ok because then I would have license in both Georgia and Florida. Jayne

I graduated from the Practical Nursing program at my school in December and I took the NCLEX in January. Basically I read back through my Saunder's Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-PN exam book this helped. I think you will find that you remember more than you thought you would when you go to reading and answering the questions. Main thing is don't panic when you go in there to take the NCLEX just take a deep breath, relax,have a positive attitude and believe in yourself. You can do it. Good luck. Jayne

I was accepted on my first try but there was a waiting period due to so many people enrolling for the practical nursing program at my former school. I just completed the Practical Nursing program in December and now am a LPN and will soon start work. You are doing the right thing going for Practical Nursing first ,then if you wish to further your education and become a RN you can get in the LPN to RN bridge program at your local college allowing you to skip your first semester and only requiring a year to complete the RN program instead of 2 years for the ASN or you could work as a LPN and take the classes totally online through RueEd.com to get your RN. Hope this helps. Good luck. Jayne