kyfitch

I’ve been thinking about trying to transition into nursing informatics. I wouldn’t have to be a bedside nurse anymore and I can help nurses with computer charting that I may know more about since I was a travel nurse and have at least used other EMAR systems. I’ve been just thinking about it but it might make sense for me. I believe it would also pay more than a bedside RN.

Hey everyone, I’ve been a nurse for a little over six years now and to be honest I’m a little embarrassed to even be asking for advice about how I’m feeling. I started off in med surge as a new grad nurse and did that for about two years before I decided to travel nurse. I then travelled for two years and then decided to settle down again for a while and the last two years I’ve been a staff nurse on a med surg floor again. As a traveler I was able to float to many different floors to work in. I’ve floated to step downs, other med surg floors, ortho, neuro, etc. I don’t know how else to say this, but I think I just dislike nursing in general. I constantly dread going into work, I’m always depressed because of my job, I just want to be in a career that I’m truly happy with but I’m already 32 and as bad as it might sound, I do NOT want to take a pay cut. Even looking for nursing careers outside of the hospital are usually pay cuts. I just don’t know what to do anymore but I know I don’t want to live the rest of my life feeling miserable because I hate my job. Any advice would be very much appreciated.

Everybody, I truly need your thoughts and help. I have been a nurse now for close to three years. I feel so miserable and depressed every time I have to go into work, and I know that my entire life should not feel like this. Isn’t there a way to be happy doing what you do? I have a very big passion for fitness but this just simply does not pay well if I’m being realistic, just like other professions I can think of that I might enjoy. I’m being completely serious when I say that if I were to quit nursing today, I would truly be so happy if it weren’t for the stress and anxiety that would come along with having no money or a significantly reduced paycheck. I don’t know what to do with my life. I just want to be happy. Please, any thoughts or opinions would be greatly appreciated.

No matter what anybody tells you... DO NOT pay money for Kaplan. It was of absolutely no use or value when taking the NCLEX. You can go online and find the only one good thing it has to offer which is the decision tree. You don't need to pay 300 dollars to use it. Other than that, study the Uworld question bank and read through all of the rationales. You will do great this way. I wish I would have known this at first. I'm just trying to save some of you future pain in preparation for this test!

Kl1528sd, thanks for letting me know. How did you do on the NCLEX, how many questions did you pass in?

MamiLuv, thank you so much!!!

How much do the actual Hurst Videos cost though? I can't really afford much more.

Just a very quick question for any of you who have taken and passed your NCLEX the first time around. I just accepted a job offer at a hospital as a new grad nurse and will be taking my NCLEX sometime around mid June. I really don't have enough money to pay for any study products except for UWORLD which I have currently. My question is, is UWORLD alone enough to be able to study and pass the NCLEX on the first attempt? ​Thank you to anyone who can help me answer this question.

Thanks Kuriin!!!

Thank you for the advice!!

Thanks for the kind words Snees46. I have an overall GPA of a 3.49 right now, and have all A's in this last semester which would bring my GPA up to around a 3.55-3.6 at the end of the semester, however, if we do not pass the hesi exit on our third attempt, they automatically drop your grades to the lowest possible (C-) but still allow you to graduate. So my GPA will suffer but at least I will graduate. Kinda sucks though if I decide I want to go into a masters program later.

The only reason the HESI scares me is because according to the test I'm weak in all areas....... I mean, that pretty much has to be the case with scoring in the 600's.

Aceofhearts, thank you so much for the advice. Snees46, it is just an indicator of where I stand for the NCLEX, but obviously I'm not in a good position according to the HESI Exit. It is really strange for me though, because every time I take the prep-u nclex rn practice exams I fall above the passing threshline. Usually around a 6 or a bit higher mastery level out of 8. So i'm lost to tell you the truth.

I need some advice because I am scaring the crap out of myself. I am in my last semester of nursing school and will be graduating with my BSN in two months. The only problem is I completely BOMB my HESI Exit each time I take it. I'm not even close to the passing 850 mark. The first test I got a 601 and the second test I received a 636. This is absolutely miserable and it is making me think that I have come all the way through this nursing program only to never be able to pass the NCLEX and become a nurse. I need serious help or suggestions. With these scores, this HAS to be a lack of knowledge, right? I don't see why I would be doing so miserable otherwise. Please......any advice from the nurses out there who may have struggled like this???

I need some advice because I am scaring the crap out of myself. I am in my last semester of nursing school and will be graduating with my BSN in two months. The only problem is I completely BOMB my HESI Exit each time I take it. I'm not even close to the passing 850 mark. The first test I got a 601 and the second test I received a 636. This is absolutely miserable and it is making me think that I have come all the way through this nursing program only to never be able to pass the NCLEX and become a nurse. I need serious help or suggestions. With these scores, this HAS to be a lack of knowledge, right? I don't see why I would be doing so miserable otherwise.

hahaha, thanks Matt

Wow, thank you all so much for this feedback. It really means a lot to me. If I get as much support on the job as I do from all of you I should be in great shape. I'll always look for the information or procedures myself first, however knowing when to ask appropriate questions is definitely important, and I'm glad you all have given me insight on how you would approach that.

I really appreciate your knowledge on this subject. It really does make me feel a bit better and gives me a bit more confidence.

This has definitely been one of my issues in the past for sure. You hit the nail right on the head. I want to ask questions but most of the time I feel as though we are penalized for asking questions even though we are told to ask questions. If you ask questions it literally shows the instructor that you don't understand something, so they mark you down. How are you supposed to learn if you can't ask questions? This has always been a big issue for me. Then people wonder why you didn't learn something when you are in a job. "You should know this, why didn't you ask questions when you were in training?" Uhhhhhhhh...... because I didn't want to be failed out of my nursing program and never actually get to work as a nurse.........

Thank you Ihflanurse!!!!

Thank you Boomer MS, that means a lot. I'm not familiar with Patricia Benner's description of the phases but I will check them out. Believe me, I really hope I get a good preceptor too. That's all I have been wanting. I want to learn without feeling like I'm under fire constantly.

I really appreciate all of your viewpoints. All of them are helping to make a better and more real outlook on what is to come. Also, thank you Sour Lemon for mentioning that. Never would have even thought about the picture needing to be changed.

Hello, looking for work. Thanks for the reply. I live in Michigan, and I am hoping to be able to get a job in Grand Rapids, MI once I finish nursing school. I keep hearing about how much nurses get treated horribly, and I know it will happen to me for the reasons explained previously. I just really hope that I can learn quickly enough to not be harassed and keep my job.

So, I am now in my very last semester of my BSN program, and now is the time that I am preparing for the NCLEX as well as creating a solid resume to apply for jobs. The problem is, I feel VERY inadequate and not confident at all in what I have "supposedly" learned while in school, and the skills that I have "supposedly" been shown in clinical rotations. I feel like basic knowledge that I should have a grasp of I just simply don't know. I honestly believe that if I were to pass the NCLEX, any institution that hired me in would immediately fire me after seeing how incredibly incompetent I am. I know that we aren't supposed to know everything as a new grad, and I also know that minor mistakes will be made. However, I also know that basic knowledge is expected and I really don't feel like I'm anywhere near prepared as far as knowledge base or clinical skills goes in order to be able to practice. Can anyone please give me some advice on what I should do in this situation? I do not want to be "that guy" when I become a new nurse on the floor.

So, I have a very important question for those of you who made it through nursing school already and have found the key or key's to a truly successful, informative and very knowledgeable career as a nurse. I am currently in my 5th semester out of 6 in my traditional BSN program and I honestly feel DUMB!!!!! I truly want to be a GREAT nurse and not just an average one that goes out just to do the job and go home. I want to know what I'm talking about and be confident in my skills and knowledge. I don't know if it is my nursing program that isn't preparing me for what I need to know, or if it is just all on me or a combination of both. Can I please get suggestions on what I should do to truly increase my knowledge base to where I can feel confident and go in to the hospital knowing that I have what it takes? Any help is greatly appreciated. Thank you all so much for the support.