I Want To Be A Nurse, But My Grades Aren't Competitive. Help!

You really, really want to be a nurse. In fact, becoming a nurse might have been a lingering childhood dream of yours. Perhaps nursing was never a childhood dream, but you somehow came to the realization that you wanted to be a nurse in adulthood for a myriad of reasons. Maybe you believe you were 'called' to be a nurse by some higher power. For whatever reason, you have the burning desire to join our ranks and enter the nursing profession.

You continue to submit applications to local nursing programs year after year. The result is predictably the same: they continue to reject your applications... Read More

Never Give Up on Your Dreams

When I signed up on this site in 2006 I was at my second college and trying to get into the nursing school there. I was not a successful student at my first college (due to college shock and illness). When I transferred I thought things were finally going to change. However, things got worse. Read More

[Toon] Buffets in emesis basins?

Ok, so what pieces of medical equipment have you seen nurses and staff use as eating receptacles? What are you to do when you have a potluck and no one brings utensils? Well, imagination comes into play. Bedpans, nemesis basins, tongue depressors all can be pressed into service when a rumbling tummy calls. Be honest, what have you seen in your clinical assignments? Read More

Nursing Schools are so stupid...

I take the TEAS and I get a 76%. I'll admit, I'm horrible at English. But my gpa was close to a 4.0. A in Anatomy, Physio, Micro, Stats, Chem. The only "B" that I have gotten were in some random history class or something. My friend on the other hand had straight B's and C's in her science classes and she scored higher on the TEAS and got into the nursing program.

SHE GOES TO THE SAME SCHOOL AS ME. Like, WHAT?! Read More

2 days before my Big Day. Hurst, Kaplan scores

I did my best to prepare for this exam. It was a roller coaster ride, felt the craziest feeling I never had before. This forum helped me a lot since I'm a foreign grad and NCLEX is very different with the local board exam from which I came from. I don't know what to expect so I had tons of review materials. They made me confused so I stick to Hurst, Saunders, La Charity, KAPLAN, NCLEX 3500 and a few NCLEX CRAM Q&A. Read More

What do I HAVE to know to pass NCLEX?

I taught in the Kaplan NCLEX review course for years. Whatever resource you use to study, make sure it gives you the rationales for why the wrong choices are wrong as well as the right ones, right. This is where most people fall down-- they pick an answer that is factually true but is not the best answer for the situation as it would be assessed by a good RN. They try to memorize facts but forget critical thinking skills that are, well, critical in all nursing judgment. Read More

Microsoft Office

Do any of you have or use Microsoft Office Professional? Sadly, I may have to spend the extra $200 just because Microsoft doesn't sell Outlook alone for Macs and Office 2011 for Home and Student excludes that specific program. Is Microsoft Office going to be of any use for me in nursing school? Read More

Parents who decide to pursue the difficult task of nursing school

I want to give a HUGE shoutout to all the mothers in nursing school who are balancing work, raising families, AND staying on top of their grades. Nursing school is hard and very time consuming. I'm 22, and I don't have children and my biggest responsibility outside of doing well in nursing school is making sure I do well in track and maintain my scholarship. I can't imagine having to add the responsibility of raising a child to an already heavy load of BSN course work.. Read More

Tips To Handle Nursing School While Employed Full-Time

Whether you're a traditional student or non-traditional adult learner, nursing school can be one of the most vexing ventures you will ever experience. Although many instructors will recommend that students not work during nursing school, full-time employment is feasible as a full-time nursing student. Here are some tips to help juggle both nursing school and full-time work. Read More

Getting your first RN job: The secret rules.

The situation: You got your BSN, with a perfect 4.0 GPA.
You passed the NCLEX in 70 questions.
You have every certification they sell under your belt!
You sent out about a hundred billion resumes with Pulitzer prize winning cover letters and now it's time to make some follow up calls and wait for the job offers to come rolling in!
Right?? Read More

KNOWING about that 'bad' teacher...

Looking ahead and trying to plan life and school, I wandered on over to the rate my professor site and peeked at a few potential teachers I'm to have. I'm mortified on one of them. The over all consensus of reviews on her are quite awful. They say she's super moody, no empathy for students and is more out to try to fail you instead of have you learn... Read More