Interviewees

For those of you who have already interviewed for positions, what questions were you asked? Were there any questions that you felt were particularly difficult to answer? What do you feel would've prepared you better for the interview?

thank you!

Confessions of a 30-something RN grad

So, I am in the seat, feeling comfortable, calm (even though I have went through enough security to enter Fort Knox).  I read through the instructions as to not miss anything.  “You have 6 hours….”  Sounds good, all is well…..

First question, okay, 50/50…..A or C….. hmmm…A…. “next”…..2^nd question…..what?  What are they asking?  These are all right, and there are no indicators in the question showing priority.  Can I ask them “is this patient stable?”  “how old are they?”  “should I assume they are anxious?”….Can I phone a friend?

Okay, quit assuming, take the question at face value……uh……well, if I were getting this done, this is what I would want to know…….B……..

Right about question 8 I hear the girl next to me groan.  Then about 10 questions later she does a big sigh, then a few later she says, “Oh God.”   Seriously?  Shut-up…..I am freaking out, too.  The least you can do is give me some silence, right?  Maybe I should’ve said yes to those earplugs.

Where’s the delegation?  Where is the alternate question with apical pulse location?  Where are the labs?  Where is the question on crutches?

Why do I get the feeling they are asking me about the same thing over and over?  Maybe they are thinking (I have now humanized the NCLEX monster as “they”) if I give her the question 5 or 6 more times, maybe she’ll get it right…..then…….

Black screen…..wait!  They are thinking….we gave her every shot possible, but she blew it.  75 questions, and I knew the answer to a whopping…..TWO (with certainty).

I do the outgoing survey, looking for the question that says, do you think these questions blow?  “Strongly agree”

I again get fingerprinted (I am thinking, if you think I actually paid this pathetic looking, short-haired blonde girl in sweatpants to take the test for me, then she did a piss poor job…..I want my money back).  I courteously smile and get my stuff.  Then I realize, it’s time to hit the potty.  My stomach is gurgling, and I can actually see my heartbeat in my abdomen.  It is pounding.  I get into my car, deciding who won’t think I am crazy if I call in this state of mind.  Okay, my hubby, of course, he always makes me feel better.  “Oh, that stinks.” Is his response to my description.  “When can you take it again?”  I’m thinking “I DON’T KNOW, I DIDN’T PLAN ON FAILING!”  You’re not helping, click……then, my mom.  Mom’s always make you feel better, right?  “Oh sweetie, it’s not the end of the world, you can just take it over.”  Again, not what I wanted to hear.

At this point I am hoping that Ashton pops out from behind the car next to me with his trendy hair and crooked smile and says, “You’ve been Punk’d!”  so that I can slap him in the face or kick him in the balls or something equally degrading.

Where are all of my girlfriends who are RNs?  Voicemail, Voicemail, Voicemail.

I am sitting in a random parking lot in Roseville thinking, “Maybe I’ll just tell everyone that I had to reschedule, then take the exam again before anybody finds out that I’ve failed.”  How vain is that?!

Ugh!!!  My stomach is hurting again.  I get a few calls/texts and I can’t bear to tell the whole ugly story again.

I get home (I can’t even remember driving really….it feels like I got home in 5 minutes).  I sit on my couch for about 45 minutes…..no TV, no kids, no talking, maybe even no blinking.  I didn’t take the NCLEX serious enough.  I should’ve done a different review.  I should’ve done more questions.  I should’ve taken it later or maybe earlier or maybe I should’ve just NOT studied. 

Of course, nothing on BRN the next day, the day after that, I wake up at 0500 and check…nope…I am even looking on allnurses.com to see what the odds are of failing at 75 questions.  Meanwhile, I am talking to people now.  I am trying to convince myself that I am okay with whatever happens (of course, I am MORE okay with passing!).  I contemplate setting my alarm for 0200 Saturday morning (I’ve heard the BRN updates their website at 0200 for the previous day).  I decide that if it isn’t there, it will ruin the rest of my night’s sleep, so I pass on the alarm idea.

Saturday morning, I get up at 0300 bc Mason is crying.  I pick him up and carry him to my computer…….I click on my bookmark (yes, I have bookmarked it)…..type “eagal”…….can you believe it?  There is another Trina Eagal in San Joaquin county….well, that is annoying, even SHE passed the NCLEX….wait….oh, okay, I think I can actually hear the word relief as I exhale.  Now, I can drop the weight on my chest and the pit from my stomach.  Phew.

Moral of the story, sometimes the signs and symptoms (diarrhea, abdominal pain, bounding pulse, anxiety, feelings of impending doom) don’t match the diagnosis (Effective testing output r/t using my noggin aeb name showing up on BRN site)

What’s next?

You mean, now I have to find a job?  My stomach hurts again.

nclex people

those of you that have taken the test, talk to us....please!!! i take it on the 23rd and i will be posting my thoughts on this beast that is consuming my life right now.

Okay... and so?

Trina, Sarilda, and whoever else just took it... how did it feel?? This NCLEX thing?

more random stuff

i keep seeing these topics come up on practice q's
lithium toxicity
radium implants
psych meds
cane walking (lame!!!)
hip surgery...post-op positioning
memorize lab values (per kaplan instructor)

I keep seeing these!

I have found that I keep seeing some information over and over again.  Here are some of them....

- Hot spot questions (valve locations, Erb's point)

- troponin is best indicator of MI

- lots of questions on hypER/hypOthyroidism (surgery, tx, s/sx)

- theophylline (weird, i know, but i have had a question on it for pretty much every practice test), therapeutic levels are 11-20 mcg/mL

- platelet levels (150k-400k)

- i wasn't prepared for all of the insulin questions (duration, peak, onset)

- 1 oz=30mL and 1tsp=5mL

- ABG values

- I read on the allnurses forum "RNs don't delegate what they can EAT (Evaluate, Assess, Teach)"

- Aluminum: constipation, Magneium: diarrhea

Here is a link to random facts to study for the nclex.....

If you have any to add, put them in the comments section.

ATT

Hey everyone, I was just wondering if you guys have received your authorization to test (ATT). I just received mine. I had mailed my application in the beginning of March so if you mailed yours around the same time hopefully you will be getting yours soon. I am very nervous about taking the NCLEX. I am taking the Kaplan review and have also received the study materials in the mail. So hopefully it will help. Have a good summer and let us know when you pass the NCLEX.

NCLEX prep

For those who are starting to think about NCLEX prep, check out:
NCLEX 3500 (Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins)
Study tips for NCLEX Exam
Exam information
NCSBN info (including test plans, statistics, psychometrics)

Also:
NCLEX 4000 is available in the computer lab

Trina found a podcast called "F.A. Davis NCLEX-RN audio prep: Test-taking tips and tactics to help you pass." It's free on iTunes and you can subscribe to it.

Other links:
Board of Registered Nursing (BRN)
California Nursing Practice Act
California Nurses Association (CNA)

Graduation

Congratulations to you all, well done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just want to take this opportunity to thank Trina Eagal and Sue Barnes for keeping everybody informed via blog or e-mail. I really appreciate what you've done. You both are awesome!!!!!!!!

*malou*

Blog withdrawals :O

We are so, so close to the end of school, but beginning of our nursing career.

There are some of us who can't bear to let go of our lovely blog!

A fellow student had a GREAT idea! We can turn our "student" blog into a "new RN" blog. :) (sorry, but I am becoming a big fan of the colon/parentheses smiley face)

Continue to check (and post to) this blog for information about what people are doing, the difficulties, the successes, to vent or to just see how everyone else is doing!

We have grown close over these past two years, and I hope that we can continue these friendships for years to come!!

New grad programs

If any of you are willing to drive to UC Davis or live in the area...they have a new grad program that was just posted in the OR, Surgical ICU, Oncology/BMT and in Neurosciences.

 

Here is the link to the job search...

UC Davis job search

Good luck!

In the right hand column are links to Hospital job searches in the area.

Hurst Review

The Class of Fall 2009 picked July 9th-12th (thurs-sun) for the Hurst Review.  The cost is $350.  You will need to go to the Hurst Review website, Sign up for the review for Delta College July 9-12.  The sign up cost is $50.00, and when you report to the review on July 9th, you can pay the balance.  Or you can pay $100.00 and post date a check for August 9th for the balance.  There needs to be 20 students for the Hurst Review to come out and present.  I know our class just had the deadline to sign up as May 4th, so if this is something you want to do, please contact Kim Thompson ASAP.  If you have any questions call Debbie at 482-2707.

NCLEX....."bring it on!"

Here is a site that gives an NCLEX question/day, but it isn't just multiple choice, it explains the concept in the question, for example.....

Today's question concerns Labor and Delivery.

The question/task is below:

Briefly discuss Cesarean deliveries.

Scroll down for the answer:

Answer:

Cesarean deliveries are termed C-sections on a routine bases by health care providers. A cesarean section involves an incision in the abdominal wall and uterus for purposes of extracting a fetus. Cesarean births are performed related to any condition that compromises the well being of the fetus or mother. Cesarean births are also performed in events of unsafe conditions within the birthing canal. Unsafe conditions include breech presentation, transverse presentation, hemorrhage of either the mother or fetus, herpetic lesions of the genital area, fetal distress or compromise, diminished cardiac status of the mother, cephalopelvic disproportion (fetal head to large to allow passage thru the birth canal), placenta previa, and abruptio placenta.

Link to NCLEX question/day

Check it out!

BTW....16 days until the pinning!!

Who wants a pin?

What is it?  Keepsake Graduation Pin 

What will it say?  "SJDC Nursing * Class of 2009" with a dot between the upper and lower lines. 

How big is it?  0.6x0.7 inches, 

What is the stone in the middle?  Clear Swarovski crystal

What metal is it made from?  Brass finished in rhodium (a non-tarnishing silver metal in the platinum family)

How much will it cost?  $8

When do I have to turn in my money?  Thursday, May 7th (no later!!)

Who do I turn it in to?  Brenn Briones (or Trina)

**There is an approval process for a pin to reference Delta College, so all those who purchase a pin will be pinned with a ribbon.  If you order this pin, it will be handed out at the practice ceremony at the latest.

Want to contribute??

Hi all,

i am trying to make the reflection speech encompass the more memorable experiences we have had at delta.
if you could all try to think of meaningful, funny, embarrassing, scary times that you have had at delta or in the hospitals, please email them to me.  don't worry i won't use any specifics about the person.  so even it the story is about someone else, send it, bc nobody in the audience will know who they are (and i wont reveal who sent it to me either).  Email me at trinaeagal@comcast.net

Pictures

Hello Everyone

Sorry it has been so long in getting back to you about the pictures.
Here's the deal. I will get the arch myself. My friend Dale takes
professional pictures and he is willing to take pictures of our graduation and an
individual of each one of us under the arch after we receive our pinn.
His sitting fee is $300.00 and he will make a individual CD for each one for
$15.00.
There are 75 students so 300 divided by 75 is $4 + $15 is a grand total of
$19.00. I will pay for postage for it to be sent to you. I need a yes from everyone before
I tell him yes.
This is a very important day and I think that it would be awesome for
everyone to have a professional picture made. I will need you to reply to
this email by Friday May 1st with your address to send the CD to. I will
collect the $19.00 on the 19th at the ATI test.

Thanks to everyone and hold on we are almost there.
Jennifer Stevens


PS. Any questions please feel free to call me 209-712-2010

job-hunting info

Your future beckons...

The interview:

• Interview to knock their socks off
• Interview questions (from allnurses forum)
• Interviewing tips for recent grads
• Interview tips: How can I get my career off to the right start?
• Top 10 interview mistakes
• Job interview tips
• How to impress nursing recruiters (pdf)
• The successful interview (pdf)

The resume:

• How to create a job-winning resume (pdf)
• Getting hired: how can I make my resume stand out?

Miscellaneous:

• 100 best blogs for nursing students
• Advancing my career - NurseZone
• Ultimate online job-hunting toolbox
• America's best hospitals - U.S. News
• "Real world" nursing: is it normal to be nervous?
• Career planning: how will setting goals make my career soar?

Next SNA Meeting - Getting Ready for the NCLEX

A Representative from the Hurst Review, an NCLEX prep course, will be at the next SNA Meeting to provide information on the Hurst Review. Lunch will be provided to those who attend the next SNA meeting.

The Hurst Review NCLEX prep course is $350 ($250 after the $100 is applied) for a 4 day review. They guarantee you will pass the NCLEX or you will be allowed to attend their reviews for free until it is.

The SNA meeting is Monday, April 20th at 1pm in the skills lab.

See you there!

_________________________________________________

Note regarding the one-time $100 subsidy: For any NCLEX prep course, Kim Thompson of NSSP wants to remind 4th semester students: "DO NOT ENROLL OR REGISTER FOR ANYTHING UNTIL YOU TALK TO ME - I HAVE SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS WITH MOST OF THESE COMPANIES! I must make payment directly to a vendor on your behalf."

If you're graduating this May, you should have received an email from Kim with the required application form attached. Print off the form, fill it out, and get it back to her no later than Monday, May 4, 2009. Her office is located in Locke 308.

Healthy Air Walk

Our tiny team -- Student Nurses for Health Air -- met its goal of raising over $1000 for American Lung Association of California at the first annual Healthy Air Walk on April 11. Congratulations!