sonic_nurse

Hello, I'm a new grad in ON, currently working on a busy psych floor (and just for reference because I see a lot of questions on here about technical skills - on our floor we do venipuncture, IVs, the odd blood transfusion, lots of dressing changes/suture removals). My partner wants to relocate to BC - yes, a big province! - so I was wondering what the job market is there right now, specifically on Vancouver Island? Victoria always had a reputation for having a geriatric population so I am wondering if that is still true. I'm one of those strange nurses that loves geriatric psychiatry, so my dream job would be in that field. I also really like palliative care but I don't have experience in it outside of nursing school. Any advice/tips/warnings greatly appreciated :) (i.e. psychiatric facilities that have a bad reputation in terms of protecting their staff.)

Some other points I was thinking about: I don't know about you guys, but I imagine the CRNE is very difficult to write if English or French is not your first language - especially with some of the more 'subjective' questions. I felt very comfortable with the straight forward 'med surg' questions (you either know your lab values or your ABCs you don't, know what I mean?) It was the more subjective situational questions that are tricky where you could really argue for two answers. I can't offer any advice on how to prepare for those type of questions except to do as many practice questions as possible so you start to get a feel for what the CRNE is looking for as the right answer.

Here’s my advice and how I started preparing: I honestly did not study as much as I have heard some people. I studied for roughly a month/month and a half before the exam. Marathon studying sessions don’t work for me. I prefer to do a little bit at a time. But it all depends on what works for you. I work full time so I would do an hour when I came home and then more hours on my days off. -In January, my university offered a mock exam. I didn’t study for that at all since it was only a mock exam and I scored very well on it so that gave me a confidence boost but most importantly it gave me a taste of ‘test conditions’. For me, I found the hardest part is how long the exam is so while studying I timed myself to get myself used to answering questions quickly. -Around April I bought the CNA CRNE Prep guide and did all the questions. -Around May I then bought the Mosby’s prep guide (both the blue test questions book and the orange review). I also did all the questions that came with the accompanying CDs. End of May I did the CNA CRNE on-line exams. I noticed you used the Lippincott prep CD – to be honest I found that the worst of all the prep guides. The material was strangely worded and not very helpful. Plus, I found some of the ‘correct’ answers with Lippincott were in conflict with the CNA CRNE Prep guide. I did not review any of my class notes/textbooks unless it was a very specific topic (e.g. TB and TB meds) that I got a wrong answer on a multiple choice question. Some of my friends did this but it seems like you would drown in information plus make you overthink questions. My advice would be: do as many multiple choice questions as possible. Work through the rationale for questions you got wrong. What areas are you weak on? Maternity/PEDS? Geronotology? There’s always going to be lots of questions on gerontology. Time yourself when you do the questions. Grab a buddy you feel comfortable with and go over the questions that you got wrong. A nurse instructor told us “don’t answer questions thinking ‘well that one time in the hospital we did it this way’ “Nope, answer with the ‘textbook’ definition even if it doesn’t always seem realistic or practical. Do any mock exam that is offered.

I passed! Ottawa region. 4 long years plus working full-time through nursing school :) This was my first attempt and the materials I used to study: did a mock exam, the CRNE official prep book and on-line test, the Mosby's questions. I also used some of the Lippincott questions but I found on a whole that book was a waste of time/money.