gypsierose

Thank you for your reply. Since I posted this, I've read that it is not true that you can work as a CNA if you are an RN. At least, you take on the responsibilities that an RN has once you are licensed. I am going to as my BON about this! There is much confusion!

I currently work as a CNA at my local hospital. Once I pass the NCLEX and get my license but before I find a RN position, can I still continue to work as a CNA? Should I? I can't go any period of time without working once I'm out of school. Ugh.

Thanks! Small town so yes- ER or Med/Surg are my best options. Good hospital, though, so I think I will learn at either position. Bracing myself for that hard first year, but also excited to spread my wings.

I'm going to apply to both med/surg and ER in two different hospitals. We'll see where I land, but I know that there are a least a few EMTs applying to the ER so that job is more competitive.

THIS ALL OF THIS! Why we have to spend time on this crap is completely beyond me. Nursing is fantastic without all of this.

This issue is very dear to my heart and I wish nurses took a bigger role in advocating for home health care. Getting old doesn't have to mean losing everything, but it does when you live in a society where people don't care for each other.

If you aren't failing, keep going! Don't compare yourself to others. If it takes you twice as long to "get" a subject, take the time and don't worry about it. As long as you're passing your exams you're doing fine. Everyone is worried that they will pass the NCLEX and not know how to be a nurse! We won't! There is no way you will know everything you need to know before you hit the floor. There is too much. Nursing school and the NCLEX allow you the opportunity to learn how to be a nurse. You're not at that bridge yet! Letting go of needing to know every detail is important. Prioritize! As for resources, youtube is your best friend. Khan academy, Osmosis, anything. Search and play around. Youtube is full of short videos that allow you to review basic concepts before you get into the pathology stuff. Don't go down a rabbit hole of AnP, though. I don't know how it is where you are but we are almost never tested on AnP, but instead on pathophys and nursing interventions. Know those. Know the meds and labs, but not ever detail of pharmacology. Focus on nursing. Yes it helps to know the background but if you don't remember every bone or vein it will be okay as long as you remember your interventions etc. For difficult to retain information, I use flash cards. You've come this far- honor the work you've already done and keep going. You've got this And good luck!

In Western Washington CNAs can expect to make more than 15$/ hr. With some experience under your belt you can make up to 20$/hr. At most hospitals I've seen here CNAs make more than transport techs, although many hospitals require CNA licensing to work transport. Where I live the CNA shortage is as bad as the RN shortage. :)

They aren't prisoners. Ideally they would have an accessible home and home care help. I've worked in homes with very severely disabled people so it can happen. We need to rethink nursing homes. People shouldn't be stuck there and forced to endure conditions that are sometimes horrible. I know that its more complicated than this but with some effort, people can live in less restrictive places.

Thank you so much for your reply! I'm sure it does take all types. Good to remember that the ones who tell stories are the ones who like those situations.

I'm a soon to be new grad wanting some advice. I know this forum gets a lot of these so thanks for reading. In trying to decide whether or not to apply to a new grad ER position after school or stick with traditional med/ surg in my small town hospital. Both new grad jobs come with a residency program. I've worked in ERs before as a tech/ CNA and neither loved nor hated the environment, but had always assumed ER nursing wasn't for me because I'm not an "adrenaline junkie". I don't lose my cool in emergencies, but don't love it either. I can work hard and like a busy work environment with lots of random in my day. Also, I used to think I wouldn't like the fact that patients come and go and you don't make a 1:1 connection with them, but lately that seems much more desirable. My question is- am I way off base to consider ER nursing? What kind of personality works well in the ER? Will I learn to love the adrenaline rush? Does it matter? Thanks!

The HESI is awful. Who knows how it is scored. > 900 on the exit HESI is predictive of passing the NCLEX. The rest- just tests. I'm sorry that so many programs put such emphasis on it. We get points but its not a big deal.

Yes I definitely do read notes, but not the drop down box charting so much. If I read it before I do my assessment, I feel like it narrows my focus a bit, maybe?

I thought the HESI was a bit easier, but still hard. A huge part of HESI is test taking skills and eliminating answers. Remember too that the HESI is not scored by the percentage you get right, but by their own internal metrics. Good luck! PS I feel all your pain. Nursing school, man, its a drag!

They are hard quizzes. I average 50-70% in any topic and sometimes much less. For me, the questions just get me used to the random nature of HESI and I'm getting better at just guessing at subjects I don't know.