la_chica_suerte85 BSN, RN

Hi all, In my nursing program we implement the ATI proctored exams and content mastery modules to help prepare us for NCLEX. Personally, I LOVE ATI. It has helped not only in my studies but I have also scored 3s on every proctored exam excluding the ...

I'm curious as to what motivated you guys to get into nursing school (as well as those not yet in). This came to mind as I was reading a Medscape article on nurse's career regret (Medscape: Medscape Access). This is something that scares me about gra...

I don't know why but it's always been a weird topic -- I vaguely remember being told that it's not that patient's problem that you have other patients so it's not an excuse or something (?). I can't remember but it's some customer service-related non...

I'll echo the sentiment that you probably need a break. I didn't pay too much attention to my Kaplan scores. I just kept practicing the alternate format questions until I couldn't practice anymore. Since it's the day before your test date, take a mom...

Huh? The National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (institutes within the NIH) would like a word. Also, Trump gave the okay for reimbursement cuts to facilities ...

My "fun friend!" That's what we say. :) For some reason, "My kiddo" drives me up the wall.

Yes, it is possible. If you hear coarse lung sounds where you should be hearing bronchovesicular sounds, you just have them cough and clear their secretions and, voila, clear lung sounds. Also, wheezing is a bronchial issue and it is possible that th...

I believe the studies that regard laundering...erm...auxiliary accessories and sanitation have to do with inconsistencies and lapses in proper laundering. And, yes, if you are looking for an exception to a particular guideline or rule, you'll have to...

While you're in nursing school, now is the time to prepare to set yourself up to work in the best possible environment. But, nursing in and of itself has some major challenges that can make even the most ideal environment sheer hell. Still, you don't...

I agree with this to a point -- and I've only been on my own as a new RN for nearly 4 months. My experience, however, is what I tried my hardest to make it out to be. I made sure I would position myself to 1) get into a hospital setting, 2) go direct...

It's funny -- I was just mentioning this to a coworker the other night. I know the lumens are often staggered at the end (but not by much) and I still have some magical thinking going on that things are just going to mix together at that end point an...

These are pretty much the basic keys to peds nursing. If you can entertain the kids and the parents and make everyone comfortable, you'll have a good time. If you are also able to stay up on the latest ridiculous trends and obsessions of the little o...

They aren't. ATI is not the best in terms of quality or test-taking strategy. I had to basically de-brainwash myself from ATI before I took the NCLEX-RN. I used Saunders and Kaplan to prepare and I passed the 1st go around. I would not put any stock ...

Nursing school is generally a very competitive academically. It's difficult to get through your stream-of-consciousness style writing so I think that the criminal record might be only part of your issue.

Yeah, you gotta get out there and do the foot work. See if there are any job fairs at the local schools around you coming up. There should be since a lot of people are getting ready to graduate. Good luck!

Uhh....this may not be what you want to hear but a very experienced colleague of mine (my preceptor, in fact) moved to NJ and remarked before leaving that it was incredibly difficult to find a job in the specialty we work in. NJ and California (and I...

Essentially, anything that is artificial and does not occur naturally on the human body has the potential for providing environments for microorganisms, particularly gnarly ones, to thrive. The purpose of alcohol-based sanitizers and minimum 15-sec h...

This is one of the studies that my facility uses as evidence to base their policy on restricting people in direct patient care areas from wearing acrylic nails or gels or having long natural nails: Candida Osteomyelitis and Diskitis after Spinal Surg...

I was in this same boat when I was pursuing my BSN and decided I wanted to be a pediatric hemonc RN. So, I'll answer your questions as best as I can with the understanding that most residencies are looking for BSN-prepared RNs. 1) Yes, ADN/ASN nurses...

The real question is whether or not you're going to have adequate support during your orientation period. What kind of orientation will you receive as a new grad in the ED? Are you going into a residency program? Or, will you just have a standard new...

And, still, wanting to help is very paternalistic. It comes across as you looking like you need to help them improve based on your assessment of their situation. Smug is smug and it's other people's perception that is the problem but it's also how yo...

Yes, and the results have been conflicting. This may be largely due to the type of experience RNs had prior to enrolling in a graduate program. Another variable to consider is what happens after school. For example, though I'm a BSN, I work with peop...

While the above poster said mentioned how uncommon it is to secure a job in oncology as a new grad (and this is definitely an achievement!), I would caution you about going forward into oncology, especially at this time. I'm a pediatric hemonc RN and...

It's weird that all of a sudden there are SO many of these posts. Is this a function of impacted nursing programs and for-profit schools? Do people REALLY think nursing is a direct path to a cushy job and lots of money?? What is going on these days? ...

Holy moly! While I am a BSN RN, I only did so because that's what it takes to get hired (at a minimum) where I live (I already have a bachelors, do you really think I would want to go through another 3 years of schooling and student loans when I coul...