Shayboo

Lol I think hummerlover refers to the vehicle!!!

At our school, it is a 77% and its only based on four unit tests worth 20% each, a paper worth 10%, and the final is 10%. We still have to do skills validation, pass the dosage calc test each semester with 100%, kaplan, prep-u, and get satisfactory clinical checkoffs, but none of those count for a grade. Its all tests...hence the reason I just failed med-surg by one point, despite doing great in actually applying my learned skills. All about the NCLEX....

Thanks for the help everyone-I have a few weeks before it is due so no help is too late -I appreciate all the responses so far!

I love it-this is why I'm going into Nursing-to care for people in every aspect. My son has spent so much time in the hospital and a caring nurse could really turn the day around-they are the only connection to the "real world" when you are in there for an extended time.

You don't want to wear the same shoes from clinicals anywhere else! That has been drilled in our heads since day one-the "yuck" from the floors of hospitals aren't what you want on your feet going anywhere else. I take my shoes off in the garage. :***: Mine are Landeau and they are pretty comfy, even after a 8-hour clinical day.

Most hospitals have lengthy orientations that explain their policies and I've heard from many nurses that the days of "eating their young" so to speak are over, so there is always someone to go to for help if you do by chance forget something. Remember, its never wrong to ask for clarification if you need it, especially when lives are in your hands.

Our class has a private group page with just our class in it and I'm not a member bc I'm not a fan of social networking, but I've heard sometimes the over-achievers of the group have all the notes typed up before lecture and that could be helpful, as well as test reviews and study groups. Negatives is of course people complaining and that would get old quickly. I guess you just have to filter through like anything and pull what you need off of it. Sometimes someone else's notes may be helpful as they could have grabbed something from lecture or the book that you missed or needed clarification on.

Some schools have planners available if you go to admissions and ask for one. My orientation they gave us lots of lists and sold some used uniforms-which by the way, snatch up! They are usually less than half what the bookstore asks for them. You need all your basic supplies-pens,pencils, notebooks, laptop or tablet, LOTS of post-its lol!

Wow-I didn't know that either. My school offered me a piddly 1,750 per semester:( thats not that helpful sadly.

In our school, you take the drug test and then if you show positive for anything, you provide the RX. I will say that I was unaware until recently that if you take anxiety drugs such as Ativan, you can not perform your job with it in your system. Makes sense, I just never thought about it and I wonder what people do who take it PRN for panic attacks?

Congrats to you! Cheering for you here in SC!

In our state-SC-I believe once you pass the first semester of nursing school, you can take the certification test to become a CNA or you can find a job as a "nurse tech," which is the same thing and pays the same, they will just title it different for nursing students to get jobs at local hospitals. Usually when you start your clinicals, you can find jobs and (hopefully-fingers crossed), get in good with someone at the hospital that will open doors for you.

I hated Pharm, but it honestly is something you need your whole nursing career. Focus on the side effects and what you would do for the patient as with all nursing classes. Its not so black and white as other classes. There is a great book available that breaks it down very simply-the ISBN is 0984204075. Its called Pharmacology made insanely easy by Loretta Manning and Sylvia Rayfield. Also Pinterest has some great pics on it that I still print out and use to help study with drugs and side effects, ect on them. Good Luck!

For our exams, we use the amount on the package. Example: Add 1.7mL of sterile water for a final concentration of 250mg/ mL So the amount would be 1mL=250mg. If the order was for 500mg-it would be 2mL.

I would go for RN, but it all depends on what you want to do and where you want to work. I can't believe the pay difference is so small-here in SC I believe the norm for a LPN is about $12. Again, it just depends on where you want to go with your career. Good luck to you!