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I am starting work in a Neuro/Trauma/Surgical ICU and the standard is 5-6 months orientation. Most of our 1st 2 weeks are just hospital and computer system orientation, with some misc. time on the unit, then climb on and go for a ride. I am looking forward to it.

I don't know if it is considered studying or not when all you do is review questions. The only thing I actually opened up my books for was to look at what the different position names were (supine, etc.) always the simple stuff that you forget right? All I did was review questions and read the Kaplan review book, I have awesome notes from everything in school, but never used them again. Thank God!!!

Man, I can't imagine having the HESI exit exam during my 1st semester; only possible reason I can see it to humble you. We took 2 of them, one for a midterm on our last semester, then at the end of the program, not an exit exam but just to take it before our review course. I do believe it helped us, or atleast me, for the NCLEX. Several of us took the test serious and did study for it, using it to prepare us for the NCLEX, and we all did good. I believe the types of questions, not exactly the material it test you on, is what helped us. HESI had for us a narrow focus on specific material, none of which do I remember being part of my NCLEX exam. Kaplan was the most help for me, looking back I wish I had read that book at the beginning of nursing so that I would have done better. If I had to take the HESI without knowing any of the material, I would read Kaplan for hints to answering questions. Good luck, but most importantly God bless you in your future career.

I gotta agree with Purple1953. At 75 questions, I felt that I had nailed this thing, and Praise God I did. There were ALOT of questions that I truely had no clue what it was asking, but chose an answer that appeared to me was the worse case scenrio, etc. I had at least 10 med. questions; actually had every type of one category of drug question but knew them all and what i feel was the correct answer, then came the drugs that I believe they invented for the NCLEX, no clue at all in the name. They suk..... To me the randomness of the questions is amazing. I had soooooooooo much of one subject, that me and every guy in nursing school hates, it was unreal. I believe it was my "theme" and I knew the info it was asking about reallly good. My friend that took it today had teaching and meds, go figure. Still only 75 questions that he felt good about. So, who knows exactly how this CAT really works?? I think it is amazing to test our ability to provide safe care with so few questions.

Great to hear it WorfpackRed. You will only be unofficial for a few minutes, my recruiter at the hospital knew my RN # 10 minutes after I found out I passed. Congrats. Have a great career.

It's official, I am now a RN :) :) :) Pearson doesn't let you know 1 minute early, at least not for me. NC now has a new RN. :) Mis64, I am waiting for you to say you are also. Let us know.

Wow I understand this one pretty good myself. My wife is a physical therapist and has been for 10 years. Before going to Nursing school I was a mechanic, so NOTHING remotely the same, except the body is essentially a machine. I can remember asking my wife what PO, PRN, etc. all means, then came all the positioning, etc. that she does for a living and I felt stupid about. Cool thing is now she has to ask me ALOT of stuff that she has absolutely no idea about because it is not her specialty. I remember 5 years ago not understanding half of what her and her friends were talking about (that foreign medical language) but now all is good. I did have to finally confront my wife about the way I was feeling, belittled, etc. and all got better. We all seem to forget where we came from at times.

The "what if's". I am with you, I felt really good on Monday, now I have to wait until 2:00ish I guess for my 48 hours to be over with. I am thinking that 75 is great, material was from everywhere and 90% was at high level, in my opinion, but still can't wait to find out. 3.5 more hours til I know, hopefully!!!! All I can do is use that distraction technique that we all learned about in school :) I will say a prayer for you to help with your anxiety as well.

I know what you mean, I took mine today, had 75 quesitons as well. I couldn't tell you if I missed the last question or not because it was a medicine I had never heard of and was doing patient teaching0( lol ) so unless picking A is a new strategy........... I felt good about it though, left feeling like it wasn't as bad as I had heard, ran through every system etc. I have also already checked, hehehe. Can't wait til wed. to know, but i feel good enough to actually sleep for the first time in 2 years. God bless you in your future career as a RN later this week.

I took one during our midterm, it was an exit exam (so it said) and then we took another before graduation. We didn't have to pass them to exit the program, rather we used it for an actual grade. With that said, I understand where you are coming from. HESI is very confusing with their questions. My biggest thing was that I took alot of time and thought everything through. Looking back, I wish I had read the Kaplan book before taking it because it truely helps alot when you are trying to decide how to answer a question. While I passed both without any trouble, I finished both of them wondering if I had answered anything correct. All I could recommend would be what you are doing. Good luck

Depends on how you read my book. "Bedrest may be ordered, depending on the size of the clot" then it states to wear stockings and walking is encouraged, no prolonged sitting or standing or legs crossed.........

SWtooth, I will hopefully let you know by wed. I am taking mine tomorrow @ 1:00, so by Wed. I will know. I scored on both of them over 1000; made me feel good, etc. but right now I am wondering how good the predictor is myself. As soon as I take the NCLEX tomorrow I will post if I think they did a good job of prep or not. Stay strong, pray and study. I will post tomorrow night.