I took NCLEX here are my TIPS!

They say the exam is not a feel good exam! You come out there not feeling good and feeling mentally drained. This is why you see most people post saying they thought they failed. I felt so sick after ... stomach was turning...

Most people relax after PVT. I took the exam with 91 questions. The test was hard but you have to relax, focus, and read each single word. If you don't you will miss a key point. I was kinda freaking out when I went on to question 76 but I then realized I'm still in this I gotta focus. I was happy happy happy when I got the good pop up on pvt.

When answering questions keep it simple... like really simple. This is a minimum competency exam that means they just want to see if you are a safe nurse. You don't have to be an expert but you are simple enough to think and do what is safe... as you answer the questions Read More...

Failed NCLEX first try, but not understanding the report

I did my NCLEX on 6/5/13. I had all 265 questions and failed. I got the Report they send and it says I am "near passing standard" in all areas except health promotion where I scored "Below passing standard". I am unsure of how to take this? Does that mean I'm weak in absolutely every area of the test and need a major review? Read More...

Now that you are in nursing school are you happy?

Many work hard to get into nursing school. Many wait months even years to get into nursing school. Now that you are in nursing school is it everything you dreamed it would be? Tell the world how you feel about getting into nursing school and what it means to you.

I can see that smile in your face. Don't be bashful - YELL IT OUT! Read More...

First day: MONDAY!!

What do I wear?! We can wear anything, and I'm in FL... I'm thinking a modest dress and a sweater?

Also, I'm already having those dreams... Late to class, forgot to study for a test, etc. Last night, it was the teacher asking who read the first chapter before classes started and I was the only one to raise my hand... He proceeded to say "10 points from Gryffindor for being smart to me!" Ughhhhh, I just want school to start!!! Okay I feel better getting that out lol! Read More...

Testing Strategies

First of all, I want to say that YOU CAN DO IT! THINK POSITIVE!!!!!! If you weren't already a "minimum competency nurse" then you wouldn't have made it this far. Believe in yourself and just "get more right than wrong...not trying to make 100.

Secondly, I found some strategies that may or may not be taught in the HURST Review. These points need to be running through your mind as you answer questions. Make them your mantra! Read More...

Waiting to hear if I'm in. Can't think of anything else. (A rant, I guess)

Transition class starts in 64 days. If accepted I will have to get all my security checks, health exam, blood and urine tests, and any other requirements completed before the start of class. I will have to get books and uniforms. I will have to let my job know that I won't be able to work the same schedule anymore. I have so many ducks to get in a row, and every day that passes gives me one less day to do all of it.

How do I keep my mind off of all of this? How do I keep myself from hanging in the window, waiting for the mail carrier, and flying down to the box every day, praying for a thick envelope? No, Ativan is not an option. I might have a drug test to pass before September. Drinking myself into a coma is not an option; as I am pretty much a teatotaller. Spending the next month at the beach is not an option; as I have to work. I just want to stop thinking about this. I want to know what the next 6 months will look like. Argh! Read More...

Dealing with "haters"...

I went to a family BBQ today to celebrate the 4th, and my cousin decided to take the liberty upon herself to tell me that she doesn't think I'm capable of completing nursing school, that it's too hard for me, and that I should consider other options. This happened out of nowhere. My uncle asked how I was doing in school, and she just jumped in with her negativity.

I have my days where I really doubt myself, I think things like "Will I be a good nurse?" "Do I have what it takes?" but at the end of the day, I am sure of what I want to do. For me, nursing is my calling, not just a career I picked out of a hat. I would be lying if I said I was not extremely hurt and offended by what she said today. The most bizarre part of all of this is that we aren't close, and we never speak about my academics or school, in fact, we don't really talk much at all. Her comment was truly out of left field.

Has anyone else been in a similar situation? How did you handle the haters and the naysayers? Read More...

Tips and Tricks on How to Get a Job as a New Graduate RN!

Most of us entered nursing school with promises of the ease in finding work upon graduation only to find our hopes shaken by the surge of negativity in the job market. We're bombarded with stories of people telling us that it's extremely hard to impossible to find a job, that we should settle for jobs that don't light us up just to get experience, or that we should think about doing something else as a career. These are tips that my friends and I put together after finding positions before and shortly after graduation to help those who are in and out of school achieve their goals! Read More...

How do you accept the fact you might not get in?

Something I was thinking about while having a conversation with my husband, and studying for a chemistry exam. How do you prepare for the fact that you might do all of this hard work and possibly not get in your program? I'm not trying to be a negative nancy, I'm just wondering if anyone else has thought about it? I wouldn't really know what to do if I didn't get in. Read More...

Can some share their readiness score before NCLEX?

Can you please share what your readiness score was on Kaplan? How did you do on the NCLEX? What did you think of the readiness test overall with everything including NCLEX? Please! I'm about to take mine! And test soon! Anxiety to the Max!!!! Read More...

NCLEX experience

I am going to try to be as brief as possible! I wanted to direct my post to those of you who struggled on exams in school as far as test anxiety is concerned! I came into nursing school with a 3.8 GPA and ended with a 3.49 GPA I share this with you because I have been on this site and as I was preparing for my exam, I kept comparing myself to other people. I failed my HESI exit 2 and Med-Surge the first times. I passed all other standard exams. I would freak out over something during the exam and then I couldn't concentrate! As I was preparing for NCLEX the thought of failing in the past and doing remediation kept haunting me. I would scroll those threads on here and compare my Kaplan scores with other people. Then finally I said to myself, I don't know their situation.... Read More...

Opinion on your uniforms?

I hate our uniforms. It's not the colors, black pants and white shirt, but it's the fact that the white top is not a traditional scrub top. That doesn't really bother me but I think the shirt is intended to be for some sort of other uniform than healthcare I swear. It zips in the front with color on the sleeves. The older uniforms are so much better. It is white button down shirt that is slightly silky with color on the sleeves. Read More