Kattabba

Okay - I am a recent grad and have been on the job in a Level 3 NICU for 6 months. Most of that time was spent in our Level 2 nursery. I functioned independently for about 3 months handling 4 feeder/growers. I am now beginning my orientation on the level 3 side of the nursery. Well --- I screwed up big time on Monday. I hung an IV med without checking it with my preceptor (long story short I had checked it earlier in the day with my preceptor - but the pharmacy sent up half of the needed volume - my preceptor clarified the order with the Neos - finally several hours later I hung the med). Well I forgot to change the rate since the new order was twice the concentration I should have 1/2d the rate. It hung for 45 minutes before my preceptor noticed. No ill effects - but I have been beating myself up all week -- I know better. My professors taught me better, how could I screw up so badly? Well I filled out an incident report and the Unit Educator sat down with me today. She asked me what happened. Of course I broke down in tears as I explained the day. She said my preceptor has said that even before this incident I seem to have poor time management and am easily distracted. Wow! Am I that bad of a nurse? Is this typical new grad behavior? I am a second career adult and these two statements seem very atypical of my past performance in corporate America. Any advice at all is appreciated -- :-)

Hey Smiles :-) Let's see -- Tuition is a per credit fee -- I think it is around $100/credit if you live in Sussex County. Nur.1 , 2, & 3 are all 9-10 credits -- so tuition is about $1000 per semester. The other fees add up though - including books (figure at least $200-$500/semester) and uniforms (I think I spent somewhere around $100??) Nursing Shoes (Walmart - $20) and a Stethescope (I splurged and got a Littman at Allheart.com -- cost me about $70). I had started at William Paterson and was completing my "pre-reqs" when I disovered that it would take a lot less time (and $$) if I transferred to a community college. I checked into CCM -- I had gotten my AS in Chem from there -- but since I was no longer a resident of Morris County I was told my chances were slim to none to get accepted -- so I pursued the program at Sussex. I had to take a few pre-reqs (you will need A&P 1 and 2, Microbiology, and Basic Chem). They will take a lot of your credits -- after taking the rest of my pre-reqs at Sussex I took my NLN (a standardized test) and then applied to the program. I got in -- my grades were pretty good - and I did well on the NLN. I know that the next program starts in January of 2008 and will be an evening program. Give the college a call and have someone look over your transcript -- I can't remember the person's name right now -- but make sure it is someone directly involved with the Nursing program :-) Any more questions -- feel free to e-mail me! Or you can post here :-) Holly

Okay - It is the middle of winter in the NE -- and I take my exam Wed. Thank God I live where it only takes 2 days to get the results. I am broke -- so that means no shopping -- But I came up with a list of indoor activities :-) 1) Give the dog a bath (2 years of dirt - he is STINKY!) 2) Pick a recipe out of my Cooking Light magazine - go to the store - buy the ingredients and make it. 3) Find an excercise program on TV - work out!!:pumpiron: 4) Stay AWAY from the internet -- too much "what if I didn't pass?":nono: 5) Stay AWAY from the calendar -- (You will say, "I know I failed -- so 45 days from now is .....") 6) Go to Borders - get a book - DO NOT GO TO THE NURSING SECTION!! -- buy a latte and read it in the store (only the cost of the latte!) Better yet - go to the library (more limited Nursing section - less temptation) find a book -- Drive to Starbucks.:smilecoffeeIlovecof 7) Spend $10 for a day pass at the local gym or "Y" -- spend ALL DAY there. (Better if they have a swimming pool for a mid-winter break!):smiletea2: 8) Visit the local Salvation Army/Cosignment store -- buy ONE thing that really catches your eye (convince husband that you REALLY needed one more purse!!) 9) If it is snowing - make a cup of hot chocolate - :smilecoffeecup: hold the dog/cat and listen to music -- say to self - "relax, hmmmm, relax, hmmm" -- give up trying to relax -- go on internet (break rule #4) check status of pass/fail. -- remind self that it takes 48 hours -- not 48 minutes -- for results to be posted - convince self that you failed -- go to calendar (break rule #5) Count out 45 days -- **Cry, wail, moan** Get yourself back together -- say *&%# the hot chocolate -- break out the wine bottle -- (you forget that your nursing instructor told you alcohol will NOT help you relax) -- get more tense -- go back on internet -- **Cry, wail, moan** Get out NCLEX books - TOTALLY convinced you will have to repeat exam. Study questions - attempt to look up questions you from exam. Give up -- go outside and catch snowflakes with your tongue -- if enough snow - make a snowman -- throw snowballs at various objects (tree, car, dh, anyone who dares enter "YOUR" kingdom.) Exhaust yourself - take a nap :) :roll

Thanks! You sound like me -- I do 150 questions in just over an hour -- (Did I mention I need to slow down??) Anyway -- glad to know that the "important" words are in bold -- one thing that is intimidating to me is taking the NCLEX on a computer -- I LOVE writing all over my exam -- highlighting important words, jotting down thoughts - flipping from one question to the next - being able to go back -- So the whole computer thing has me a little freaked (just one more thing to add to my anxiety!!) :crash_com: Breathe - Breathe - Breathe - okay I'm better now Kattabba

Hey everyone - Just have to say I just graduated from PCCC - through the Sussex location :-) I LOVED this program and highly recommend it to anyone -- you will work your tail off - but it is WELL worth the effort. If anyone is out there looking into the program or has been accepted -- feel free to drop me a line :-) Kattabba

I had a friend that "flunked" out of Mountainside -- they are very competative and required an 80% average to "pass." It may sound like "no big deal" -- but trust me -- it is VERY challenging! I also know that it is relatively expensive. She ended up with me at Passaic County Community College (Sussex) -- she graduated with the rest of us. I would highly recommend checking into Passaic, Bergen Cnty, or CCM if you want a "traditional" 2 year RN program. I know UMDNJ offers an accelerated program. It was funny - when I decided to make my career change I was working as an administrative assistant. I called Morristown Memorial and asked what the starting salary for nurses was -- they told me 28. I thought to myself, 28K a year is what I make now - why the heck am I going to go through 2 years of hell?? So I asked 28K a year?? The woman said - no, $28/hr!! That made a difference!! I just graduated in December and will be working at Morristown -- the starting rate for new grads is $29.75 - plus I will be working the night shift - so I get a $3.50 shift differential -- that means I will bemaking $33.25/hr. If I work 36 hours a week (3, 12 hr shifts) I would make $62K a year!! Good luck! Kattabba

Okay - I'm taking the NCLEX on Wednesday 2/7 - Holy Cow!! I am scared to death - breathe, breathe, breathe - okay I'm better now :-) Anyway -- I am a fast reader/test taker. I know I need to slow down (I'm working on this -- really trying to reword the question and answers to myself -- and not "jumping on answers") Here is my question - if I know I won't have an issue of running short on time -- When could/should I take a break?? Do I do my 75 then take a break?? 100?? 125?? Wait for a certain time to pass 1 hour, 90 minutes?? Thanks everyone!! Kattabba

Hey! I am a New Grad -- I am starting a position at Morristown Memorial Hospital in Morristown, NJ as soon as I pass my boards. I did an externship there and have to say the hospital is incredible. I looked at a few places - St. Barnabas in Livingston (Level 3), St. Joseph's in Paterson (Level 3), and St. Clare's in Denville (Level 2). After talking to people who have been there/done that -- MMH got the most amount of kudos from nurses that I spoke with. Anything from suburban/outlying hospitals ends up here. The Neos here are incredible and we handle almost anything -- the only thing we "send out" are cardiac issues -- they end up going to Colombia Presbyterian in NYC. If I lived in South Jersey I would also consider Robert Wood Johnson -- They have a level 3 and a great reputation -- Good luck!! Holly

Hey - I am just finishing my 2 year ADN program - I would highly recommend that you take the Unit Rep position in L&D. I worked this summer in a Level 3 NICU in a Nurse Externship program. I did this externship between my 3rd & 4th smester. I then stayed on in the NICU as a Unit Rep. I am learning so much by having stayed on at the hospital. Also - the Unit Reps often "cover" for each other between L&D and the NICU. It will give you a great foot in the door - and it will also get you used to different orders and protocol. Don't be afraid to ask questions. The previous response about a Level 3 NICU is correct. Most NICUs that are level 3 are considered the "highest" level of care. We I work we have an intermediate nursery - otherwise known as a Level 2. Good luck - If you have any questions - feel free to e-mail me - Nursing School, NICU stuff, anything :-) Holly P.S. Check into Nursing Externships - they are GREAT opportunities.