Nursing School Correlation to Mountain Climbing

Entering nursing school there is a feeling of excitement and anticipation of the great things to come, this in my vision is much like to the drive to a trail head leading to the summit. At most trail heads you can see far off in the distance the beautiful peak of the mountain you are about to set off to summit. You are eager to get there and your eyes are fixed for that moment on the peak and the finish line and you feel excitement! This can even continue through the beginning of your hike or journey in nursing school as you have not yet been challenged on the trail and can still see the peak. Read More...

Med Math Examples

For reasons of which I'm not really sure, I'm inclined to start a thread populated with med math examples. I'm going to pose some questions and then work them through. I'm going to utilize an equation editor so that they're very easy to follow. They'll show as images. If you have specific questions that you'd like addressed, PM me and I'll use those for future additions to the thread. Read More...

Finding the right 'borrowed' scrubs

As a nursing student, you have to pay close attention to your budget. Things can add up really fast.  I've heard of some students borrowing scrubs and stethoscopes just to get by.

Was there ever a time when you just said 'no way - not that'? Do you have any tips on how to save money? Read More...

NCLEX done - Now to share my experience

I have been trolling the allnurses.com forum for sometime now and have found it monumental in guidance, encouragement and support. Considering this, I figured that I would share my NCLEX experience with others as I gratefully appreciated those who did.

I was an LVN and I obtained my BSN this past May. It was actually a longer than expected wait for my eligibility letter to come, but of course it was right during peak season when many people are graduating. I didn't schedule my exam until Sept. 6th. I am not going to lie, I am a huge procrastinator... Read More...

The "Nursing Games" claims it's first victims...

I posted on another thread recently how nursing school is like "The Hunger Games." Today was a particularly rough day. I heard the cannon sound for several of my fellow classmates. They failed the required drug calculation test and have been dismissed from the program. I feel so sad for them. It just really, really suck to have put in so much time and hard work, not to mention money, to be admitted into the program and then get dropped the first month. I can still see the tears. Read More...

How many must make 80% or better on each exam?

Just found out tonight that next year when I start the RN program, you must make at least 80% on each nursing exam to pass. I'm starting to kinda freak out about this!! I usually make at least 90% so far but I'm still really afraid I'll fail now. Does anyone else's program require an 80 on each exam? Read More...

How I started to love my career...

If someone will ask me what is nursing for me? I would answer it's something that will take everything away from you, but yet you'll stay in love with your job. With every smile you see in every patient who is very thankful for your caring hand, what else will you ask for?

To tell you the truth, nursing wasn't my first choice of career. I wanted to become a doctor that's why I decided that after taking nursing I would, eventually, pursue my dream. But one patient changed my view. He was like a father to me. He was the first patient I handled as a nursing student. He was a 73 y/o man lying on his bed with his sons and daughter around him. Read More...

Overweight - Uncomfortable with being practiced on by another student

I am a very overweight nursing student, and am feeling uncomfortable in a number of situations. Can anyone relate? While I know that the nursing profession, and the medical profession as a whole, includes people of all shapes, sizes, backgrounds, colors, etc, I am coming across situations almost daily that make me uncomfortable.

I have been overweight my entire life. I've lost weight several times, but it has always crept back on. I have been working with a dietician and a counselor for a while now to work on my weight issues. I'm accepting of who I am, but I'm also sensitive about weight issues... Read More...

They make nursing school much harder than it needs to be

Feel very fortunate to have gone to a "care-bear" nursing school: small class room sizes, accessible instructors with forgiving grading styles. Everything was taught, but the pressure was to just know the material, and to learn how to think critically, not to jump through hoops, and "prove yourself worthy of the calling" according to some RN's opinion of what that means.

What I read here gives me pause: nursing school, for many students looks like descent into a temporary hell where, like marine corps boot camp, the objective seems to be to tear you down and wash you out, before building you up and equipping you.

It doesn't have to be that way. No wonder so many nurses are over-competitive and bitter even after they get into the work place; they've been conditioned. Read More...

Drug Class Unexpectedly Effective on Breast Cancers

Drugs that normally target cancer cells defective in DNA homologous recombination repair, poly(ADP-Ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors, are also effective on breast cancer cells positive for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), even in the absence of the repair defect, according to a study published in the Sept. 15 issue of Cancer Research. Read More...

How to control nerves

I had my first return demo tonight, on vital signs. I practiced a lot and was comfortable with the skills going into it, and I have done well on all my tests and quizzes thus far. Anyway, I tend to be on the anxious side, so I was pleased with myself for being able to get through a day at the office, followed by lecture and lab, maintaining focus and without chest pain -- a major improvement over how I handled the days leading up to the start of school, by the way -- and without worrying obsessively about my impending competency evaluation, which was scheduled for 8 PM.

Well, class ended at 8, and I was fine. At 8:02 I sat down in the testing room, and immediately my hands went ice cold... Read More...

Hesi entrance exam HELP

Anyone have any tips, websites, etc. for help to pass the Hesi entrance exam?
I am taking it at West Coast University on Thursday. I'm super nervous. I bought the Hesi book but I think I need a little more help! Read More...