Something new...

LOL, I like the video. Nothing significant to share right now but I will say I feel like this guy (getting kicked in the head) most days I work!

PS thx for your hard work on the site

A big nursing success for me besides just some longevity in the career is my participation on various NCLEX writing/review panels. It's been several years since I started doing this, I was initially recruited somehow by the NCSBN and have been going to Chicago for various panels about once a year or so. I can only participate on a writing/review panel once every two years but it's usually been the case that I've gone down for different studies on the opposite years.

It's been a very rewarding experience. I've met nurses from all over the country plus a few from Canada now that the NCLEX is being implemented there. I've talked to nurses in every specialty imaginable. I've learned a ton both from the actual panel process and from interacting with my fellow nurses.

Trust me Pearson Vue takes the process of overseeing the test very seriously! The steps a question goes through before it's accepted as a test item is a long process with several check points along the way. Plus there are regular reviews of active test questions to ensure they remain relevant to current practice. I can't say a lot about the actual process due to the multiple nondisclosure agreements I have to sign but it is ok to talk about the generalities. I did ask once about the validity of the dreaded (at least on this site) PVT and not too surprisingly they did say it doesn't work that way without really giving me too much detail.

Being accepted into what I consider an elite group of nurses that are able to participate in the process of bringing the NCLEX to prospective nurses around the world is quite an honor and I am proud to be in that group.

Plus going to Chicago is just an added bonus! It's a fun city with a ton of things to do. I've learned to always leave extra room in my luggage as I know I'll be shopping while I'm there. The Joffrey Ballet and the Chicago theater are within a block of where we stay so I've been to a couple of Broadway productions as well as the ballet. Millennium Park and Navy Pier are also within easy walking distance when weather permits. I'm not a big cold weather fan so I skipped that this last trip, Chicago in January is a little chilly to say the least! There is plenty of free time to get some sight seeing in while I am there. I am always happy when I get notification that I was accepted for a panel and am looking forward to the next one!

Not much to share for me either. I use to have big ideas of where I would go with my nursing career, but after trying some of those things, I quickly learned those aren't the areas for me. I will most likely be a bedside RN for life and I'm okay with that.

@kbrn2002 That sounds like an amazing experience. I had the opportunity to speak with someone a while ago that use to write questions for the NCLEX and the little bit she was able to share about the processes sounded pretty intense. The trips to Chicago definitely sound like an added bonus.

2 hours ago, Seaofclouds said:

Not much to share for me either. I use to have big ideas of where I would go with my nursing career, but after trying some of those things, I quickly learned those aren't the areas for me. I will most likely be a bedside RN for life and I'm okay with that.

Me too. I used to think I'd like to move into management or something more desk oriented. I've changed my mind. I like my job, I really like doing my work, doing it well and being able to leave it there when I go home. The Monday through Friday grind is not for me and I really, really don't want to be the manager getting calls at all hours and on all days off because some crisis needs attention. There's ALWAYS a crisis that needs attention!