MurseRunner

I had an ICU RN job 2 months before graduating with my BSN. I was a CNA for a year and a half, did my practicum in surgical-trauma ICU, and also had ACLS. If you're willing to move, you can easily get a hospital job in Alabama (and usually a sign on bonus if you're willing to work med-surg).

I think it depends on unit/hospital culture and your patient. When I worked in a CCU, I would always run it on the pump at least over 2 hours with the first hour relatively slow. We typically had lots of CHF and they don't need too much fluid too fast. I currently work CVSICU and we routinely run blood off pump in volume tubing usually over an hour or hour and a half; quicker if the patient is tanking.

I think I did around 1000 of the UWorld questions and I think my average was around 70%. As long as you take notes and learn from the questions, I don't think you should necessarily be all that concerned about your average score unless you're just doing really poor- like less than 50% consistently. I took NCLEX a year ago and passed in the minimum amount of questions (I think 75- I've mentally blocked out the experience because it was so stressful). My school did ATI as well and I did the online Hurst review. And don't study the day before- do something that'll help you relax and try not to stress too much. Good luck!