A pushy God and mother.

The fragments of what make up a life happen year to year. I wrote this short story about the journey God took me down to find nursing and the trials I experienced along the way. Despite the challenges, I also had so much encouragement on my path and couldn't be finishing my education if it wasn't for my wonderful fiance and all of his support. I left a lucrative night club management position and now I am an LPN and in school for my BSN. Despite the nine year uphill climb and constant obstacles, I know nursing is for me and I love caring for others. I look forward to graduating in three semesters I hope my mother will get to see me accept my diploma. Read More...

How much time do you put into homework and studying?

My university (and I'm sure most others) recommends that we spend 3 hours for every one credit studying ( 4 credit class = 12 hours studying and so on). Well I find that I put WAY more time than that into my studies. Read More...

Do you find yourself falling asleep at the wrong times?

How's your sleep lately? Are you getting enough sleep? Years ago, I remember reading something about someone falling asleep at the wrong time. It was hilarious! I can't find the topic now so I'm hoping you can share your stories about you or someone you know falling asleep at the wrong time / wrong place. Read More...

Health Insurance for nursing school?

My school requires that we have health insurance and some kind of liability insurance, and I'm clueless as to how I'm going to be able to pay for it. I had to move back home in order to go back to school, and I'm currently unemployed. Read More...

July 16th the NCLEX defeated me! Sept 5th, I slaughtered the test!

I made a promise that when I passed the NCLEX I would come here and tell my story and hope that it gives someone hope like this site did for me. I took the NCLEX for the first time on July 16, 2013. I prepared by doing the Kaplan review. I did all the Qtrainers and did all the Qbank questions wrote down all rationales and was scoring the above 62% on all the questions. I walked into that test center scared but I said to myself, "I was scoring these high scores on Kaplan I should be fine." 6 hours and 265 question later went to car did the PVT it took me right to credit card page. Read More...

Any CrossFit-ing nursing students out there?

I see alot of you mention CrossFit from time to time in posts related to nursing and just wanted to know who my fellow CrossFitters are! if you can and would like to I'd love to know what box you attend, how long youve been CrossFitting, or if you do it on your own what program you follow! Read More...

How different is ASN vs. BSN?

I know this may depend on the school, but generally, how different is the education level between an associates degree in nursing from a community college vs. a bachelor's in nursing from a university? Is the CC's education more easier and laid-back compared to a university's? Are their programs run differently? Read More...

New grad looking for first job - What could make a hospital do this?

This last hospital I interviewed at, I went in for an initial interview a week prior and then I shadowed the ER for about 7 hours. I met most of the staff that day (about 25-30 nurses as well as staff from other professions) and got along very well with virtually every single one of them. I did everything I could on the unit. My contact on the unit told me that the assistant manager was impressed and she told him that I would probably get the job.

The next day, I got a call from HR saying that I was no longer being considered as a candidate.

What would make such a ridiculous 180 occur? Read More

Which graduate degree should I pursue?

I was hoping to get some thoughts on the best graduate degree for me to consider. I originally graduated as a diploma RN, and completed my BSN this past May. I hold two nursing certifications (CEN and CNRN) and have about three years experience in nursing leadership. I have functioned as an Emergency Department clinical coordinator and, most recently, the coordinator of my hospital's stroke center. I'm prepared to go back to school for a graduate degree, but I'm not sure what I should pursue. Read More...

Why is nursing school so overwhelming?

I have worked really hard to get into a nursing program at a big ten university and just started my classes this week. I have never felt so overwhelmed and fustrated in my life. My classes are really hard. My physiology class is single handedly making me want to walk away from nursing school. Read More...

Almost 25 and Just starting school! Share with me your experiences and fears!

I am extremely excited and yet so afraid that I do not have what it take or the smarts to pursue this career. I am afraid that I will quit like I have done with the online classes. I am notorious for starting something and not finishing it but I feel like I CANNOT fail; I know I want more but keep thinking ...

"What if I don't want to work for it."
"What if it gets hard and I get stressed and give up."

This self doubt is killing me but I have to at least try. I want a future for my future children, and home to call my own, and I feel I will never have that unless I become my idea of SUCCESS... Read More...

Syndrome Diagnosis vs. Risk or Actual Diagnosis

I'm studying for my first exam and I'm a bit confused about the differences between a Syndrome Diagnosis and other diagnoses. If a patient is given a syndrome diagnosis (such as Risk for Disuse Syndrome), is this just a more complex Risk Diagnosis? Or is it more similar to an actual diagnosis? I'm not sure why I'm having a hard time grasping this, but any outside viewpoints would help! Read More...