Veldtor

From my experience, it's all about who you know at the hospital. I applied repeatedly for months to one hospital in particular receiving multiple denials for all types of units. It wasn't until I went to a networking event, met the director of nursing education, and gave her my resume, that I finally got a call. I think hospitals do prefer experienced CNA's, however, and I suggest taking what you can get, even in a nursing home. Without a doubt, any experience will give you skills and resume building.

Do you guys have access to any programs such as HESI or ATI? These programs have tons of practice tests that give correct answer rationales and wrong answer rationales. I'm sure if you just google around a bit you'll be able to find some free practice tests in whatever topic you are doing. Also BSN_VIP couldn't be more right. SLOW DOWN, DON'T CHANGE ANSWERS, DO PROCESS OF ELIMINATION.

Hey, I'm truly sorry to hear you failed your first exam. As a student myself, I know how frustrating it is to do poorly on something you studied so hard for. As a new student, you are just being exposed to the NCLEX style questions, which do require you to think critically, you haven't mastered that yet, but you will. The problem with nursing is that most of the time all the answers are correct, but it's knowing which answer is the most correct. It may take some time to get this skill down, but you can help yourself by doing practice NCLEX style questions that give you the rationales for why each answer is wrong or right. Nursing isn't just knowing the facts, it's about being able to analyze the situation at hand to combine facts with priority interventions to solve the problem. -Don't over think, but don't under think the questions. -Use the data you have in each question, don't assume anything else about the pt or situation. -put yourself in the room with the patient in the question and imagine what you would do. -try different study methods, group study is one of my personal favorites. For example: You enter a patient's room to find them restless and agitated. What is your priority intervention? A- Elevate the head of bed. B- Measure the patients O2 sat. C- Ensure their nasal cannula is set to 2L D- Call the primary care physician. In this case the answer is B. B- we know that restlessness is common in someone who is de-satting. However, we can't just assume that's why they are restless, you need data to support this. A- while raising the HOB can helpful in increasing lung expansion and o2 intake, we need to know first whether or not low oxygen us even the problem. C- again, you need to know if they even have low oxygen first. You'll be wasting your time of slow O2 wasn't even the problem. D- the doctor should be informed if the patient has a change in mental status, but they want data first. They will ask you for vitals, including O2 sats.

In NYC metro area, you need to complete at least one semester of clinical and preferably two. I am currently a CNA here without ever sitting for an licensure exam. Once I graduate, I hope to reapply internally as a nurse.