NurseCaitB

I also recommend Nicole Kupchik's Ace the CCRN! Review Course with the online modules, Study Guide book, and practice review questions. Passed the CCRN yesterday 3/16/2022 on the first try! Good luck! Focus on hemodynamics and cardiac (know IABPs, PA caths, MI, ACS, 12 leads, pharm, PAP, PAOP, PAWP, PAD, SvO2, CI, CO, SVR, etc. and know how the different shock states affect those factors - for example, SVR is decreased in septic shock due to increased capillary permeability from acidosis/vasodilation while it will be increased in cardiogenic shock due to vasoconstriction occurring as a compensatory mechanism to maintain BP; all the other shocks usually result in tachycardia while neurogenic shock might show bradycardia), electrolytes, neuro (I had a lot on brain death/reflex testing, head bleeds). I had a surprising amount of Professional Caring and Ethical Practice questions. If you're not comfortable with vents, vent settings, ABGs, I'd brush up on that, too! I work with VV ECMO and ARDS patients so I didn't have to study that much for that myself but I did get a lot of COPD questions so I'd freshen up on that as well. Good luck!

I know a lot of people are wary of using citrate because of how carefully you have to watch their electrolyte status, especially with calcium because citrate chelates calcium. It's just a matter of being comfortable with it. I work specifically with VV ECMO patients and we never use regional anticoagulation on the CRRT pump because our patients are usually being systemically anticoagulated with an IV heparin/bivalirudin/argatroban infusion to prevent clotting the ECMO circuit. If the patient is unable to tolerate systemic anticoagulation, we still don't use anticoagulation for the CRRT. We just have to change the filters more frequently when they clot off or try to run the blood flow at a higher rate to stave off clotting the filter.

Sorry for letting 4 years go by without answering but yes, I did pass! And I actually just passed my CCRN as well! I hope you all passed, too!

This post is over 4 years old but I had to comment because I've never related to something so heavily in my life and it actually made me laugh. I sat for boards yesterday around 1:45 PM (it's about 4 AM right now, obviously a wreck and can't sleep) and I've gotten the good pop-up 4 times but I absolutely cannot shake the feeling that I failed. From the first question, I got a drug that I didn't recognize, probably answered the question wrong, and from there, it was an onslaught of things I have never heard of before. I had 92 questions of straight guessing - you cannot understand how truly demoralizing that feels until you're in that situation and you literally didn't get a single question where you were sure of the answer. I had over 50 SATA. I graduated magma cum laude in my nursing program but this exam honestly could've been entirely in a foreign language and my probability of guessing the correct answers would've been the exact same. I have been scouring the internet for stories of false positives with the good pop-up and still failing. Anyway, thanks for the laugh. I feel the exact same way. My test was an impossible horror show. I got my first degree in biology, suffered through both organic chemistries, physics 1 and 2, biochem, calculus 1 and 2, and the hardest cellular biology class offered at my university and the NCLEX was still the hardest, most spirit-killing exam I've ever sat through. About 33 hours until my Quick Results available. Fingers crossed.

Figure out what degree is needed in your desired field (maternal/child health). Do you know of ADN nurses who are doing the job you want or do most of these positions require BSNs? Look up job postings - do they say BSN preferred? You could try to go the route of cheaper ADN from a community college (NECC and Middlesex have good programs) then a cheaper RN-to-BSN bridge but it would take longer to get your BSN vs. being able to get your BSN in a second-degree program in 15-18 months/4 semesters full-time (I'm in MA right now and this is what I did but I absolutely do not recommend my school if you're in that much student debt - I went to a prestigious school and their ABSN program is well-ranked but it is a private university and INCREDIBLY expensive).

I used Wells Fargo one semester and Discover for the last 3 because the interest rates were decent. I also got FAFSA and the federal Nursing Student Loan through Northeastern.

Hi Bonaventure, I am currently in an Accelerated BSN (2nd degree) program and I have classmates from Angola and Zimbabwe. One of them got a degree in English Literature and the other in Mental Health/Social Work. As long as you take the required prerequisite classes (biology, microbiology, anatomy, chemistry, etc.), I don't see why you couldn't get into one of these programs. As someone with an engineering degree, I'm sure you've gotten some of the prerequisite courses out of the way. It's not about the type of degree (we have people in my program who graduate with art degrees), it's just that you have a Bachelor's degree at all and you've taken the required courses. I would say that you should find work, any work that you can find, and enroll in classes at a cheap, local community college to finish any courses you have not taken. Then, apply to an ABSN/2nd degree BSN program. Let me know if you have any questions. I could even get you in touch with my classmates from Africa to give you advice.

Hi, abk100! I'm a Semester 2 nursing student. I actually made it off of the Fall 2016 waitlist and started last fall instead of Spring 2017. You can email me if you want and I can tell you all about it. I also have a friend in the program who has a child and I can get you in contact with her, too. I can give you info about what the days are like but her input on child care and how to plan your schedule around a child is probably more valuable than mine. You can email me at [email protected].

Hi, Mimi! A passing grade is a 73 ©. C- (70-72.99) are not considered passing grades.

I was notified on Friday that I made it off of the waitlist and into the Fall 2016 cohort! Can't wait to meet all of you this Wednesday at Prep Day!!!

As far as I know, they only offered the $15,000 scholarship to those entering the inaugural Charlotte class, which is Fall 2016. Do you know if they are doing that for the Spring, too? That would help.

Hi! I can't seem to private message you but I would love this information as well. I don't know at what point they'll tell me if I made it off the waitlist and I don't want to be behind in case they inform me waaaay later.

I also paid my deposit! It holds my spot for the January cohort and I also confirmed to remain on the Fall 2016 waitlist.

Hello! I'm a tad late to the party but my application materials were reviewed by the committee yesterday morning (7/19) and I received my acceptance letter later that afternoon via email! I was accepted for the Fall term but unfortunately, the Burlington campus is full and has a waitlist. I was given the option to start this Fall at their Charlotte, NC campus (enticed by a $15,000 scholarship!!) but my husband is here and cannot move so after doing the math with double rent, double groceries, etc., the scholarship basically negates itself. Not sure what the waitlist prospects are looking like (although, I do have a classmate currently who said he was accepted for this fall but he is declining the position - there's a small glimmer of hope!) so I may have to start in Burlington in January 2017, but just in case I get lucky, I thought I'd say hello!

Hi! My application materials were forwarded to the review committee yesterday morning (7/19) and I got an admission decision later that afternoon via email! I have a guaranteed spot for Spring 2017. I am a military wife, though, so I mentioned that I would prefer to start their Fall 2016 program. I was accepted for Fall term as well but the Burlington campus is full. I definitely have a spot on their Charlotte, NC campus but I'd prefer to stay in Boston with my husband (and all these great hospitals!!!). It's hard to pass up that $15,000 scholarship by going to Charlotte since this program is so damn expensive but after doing the math, the cost of living away from my husband for 16 months and us paying two rents would negate the scholarship. I signed up for the Fall 2016 waitlist but if I'm not able to get in, I'll be starting the program with you! Just thought I'd pop in and say hi.