Challenges and Rewards of Nursing School Posted on May 14, 2021 at 4:18 pm.Written by [email protected] When I decided to change my major from marketing to nursing, I had no idea of the journey I would be embarking on. Through it all, taking up nursing was the most challenging and rewarding thing that I considered privileged doing. I had no idea that after two and a half years, I would be the happiest that I had ever been — that was when I walked across the stage on graduation and received the diploma I desired and worked for years. Nevertheless, nothing prepared me for what nursing school would actually be like. The excitement of purchasing scrubs, the anticipation of reviewing my class schedule, and the sheer bliss of stepping foot into the hospital for the first time as a nursing student did not come without a price. As I would soon learn, nursing school would provide me with both rewards and challenges. It was always such a challenge to spend my weekends studying for hours, sacrificing sleep, and picking up night shifts during the week to accommodate my new schedule. At the same time, it was also rewarding to see academic improvement amidst all the stress. During the time of the pandemic, it was challenging for every nursing student to transition from a nice comfortable classroom surrounded by friends who we had grown to love to complete chaos, panic, and uncertainty. Despite this challenge, it was rewarding to see our class find new ways to support each other, and with it came resilience we did not realize we possessed. It was difficult to get up at 5 am to go to the clinical practice three times a week. The exhaustion melts away, however, when I greet the patients early in the morning, tell them that I am excited for the day ahead, and I’m thankful for the opportunity to be their student nurse. It was even more rewarding when they thanked me for taking care of them at the end of my day. But for me, nothing was as rewarding as seeing a patient get discharged with a full recovery. However, nobody prepared me for the hardest moments of being a nursing student: experiencing sadness when patients don’t want to go home because they had nobody to go home to, experiencing grief when a patient dies, and witnessing heartbreaks when doctors give family members the worst news they will ever receive. Through it all, I had the opportunity to learn how to handle moments like these with empathy and compassion and a renewed vigor to help others in need. If you are about to begin your journey into nursing school, just know that even though there are bad moments, there are even more amazing moments. There will be moments that remind you of the reason you chose to be a nurse in the first place. These are the moments that provide you with so much happiness and satisfaction. It is these moments that I will carry with me as I begin my new job as a nurse. Lastly, these are the moments that have shaped me into the nurse that I am proud to be now.
Stepping Up: Becoming Student President Posted on April 29, 2021 at 2:06 pm.Written by [email protected] Being able to serve as the President of The Student Nurses’ Association is a wonderful feeling. I had no idea this is something that I would be able to do as a student nurse. I remember two years ago, I sat in the back of the classroom amazed at the executive board that entered the classroom during New Student Orientation. They were so poised and professional. That time, I thought to myself “I want to be like them one day,” and it did happen. Now, I would love to tell you all how I made it. It all started by joining the organization. Most nursing programs have a Student Nurses’ Association, which is formed under the National Student Nurses’ Association (NSNA). These organizations are created for nursing students to gain experience beyond the bedside by volunteering in community service events and creating networks with other associations and groups of people who plan to strengthen their skills in professionalism. They usually have several members and amongst those members is an executive board. The executive board members take on vital roles such as President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Other positions can be created as executive board positions such as historian, social chair, and cohort advocates. As an incoming executive member, it is best to run for a position with less responsibility but enough to join the executive board. I started as a historian during my first semester of nursing. As a historian, I encouraged my peers to attend events. I served as a role model to my peers. Later, I became social chairman for a semester. As social chair, I was able to host blood drives and fundraisers. I even chaired the Heart Walk with the American Heart Association. I enjoyed this role because I could express my creativity through events and work directly with leaders in my community. I attended a convention offered by our state association and I discovered a world outside of my association. The State Association had even more to offer. I stayed in a hotel where the convention took place for 3 days. I was able to network with vendors and meet panelists. There were also so many other students there along with their executive board members. I also met Dr. Grant, the President of the American Nurses Association. During the event, I was approached by one of their executive board members and encouraged to run for a position. I was a little shy at first, but I decided to step outside of my comfort zone and run for Secretary. Fortunately, I won. That election changed my life! Two weeks later, I received an email inviting me to attend the National Nurses Association Convention. I said yes immediately and had a flight, hotel, and ticket paid in full for the convention in Chicago, Illinois. I gained much insight with my experience as an executive member on both local and state levels and as a member of NSNA. I became confident in my ability to not only run my local chapter, but to transform it into the true meaning of leadership. I became Vice President and a semester later I was more than ready to become President. I set a few goals over the summer and worked diligently to make them happen. I have served two consecutive semesters as President and have implemented many changes. With gratitude, I am happy to hear from a lot of my peers that I was the “Best President” and that makes me feel great because all these achievements started with just a dream. Today, I want to encourage everyone that it is important for you to believe in yourself and know that all things are possible. Never stop taking chances and shoot for the stars!
How I Got My Dream Job at a Competitive Level IV NICU Posted on April 20, 2021 at 5:35 pm.Written by [email protected] Being a new graduate nurse is a hard adjustment and trying to find a job is even harder. With that being said, I wanted to share a few tips and tricks on how I was able to land my dream job in a highly coveted and competitive Level IV NICU! Apply for New Graduate Residency Programs As a recent grad, you’ve probably noticed that every job has required some form of experience. This can be demotivating and make it seem like you’ll never find a job. Apply for new graduate residency programs to ensure your best chances of landing a job, especially in specialty areas. Look up the available programs in your area and make sure you know when the applications are due and what is required for each application. Make your Resume Stand Out I know you probably got a template from your school and that is a great place to start but you have to remember, everyone who’s attended that school also has the capability of using that same template. What does this mean? YOUR resume won’t stand out. Recruiters have limited time and because of that, you want to make sure that when they get to your resume that it is something memorable. Don’t be afraid to use a little color and make sure your resume is no more than a page long. You can find several different templates online that will WOW your recruiter and make you stand out. BE PATIENT! Being a new grad, the hardest thing for me to do was to BE PATIENT. Everyone around me was accepting jobs and I told myself, maybe I should lower my standards and just apply for other jobs. The hiring process can be long and daunting but in the end, you have to remember YOU have to work here. Be patient and do not apply for jobs that you don’t see yourself being happy at a few months from now. A lot of time and resources go into hiring new graduates and it is not fair to the hiring team for you to come and stay a few months and then leave. Be patient, your time WILL come! Follow Up Don’t be afraid to follow up on your application process. It shows that you are interested and if you get a rejection, reach out and ask what you can do to make yourself a more competitive candidate in the future. Now don’t be annoying and call them every day lol but there is absolutely nothing wrong with calling to check the status of your application! Put Yourself Out There Don’t be afraid to apply for specialty areas. I know SO many of us have heard “start in med surg” and although that is a great place to learn a wide variety of skills, this is not the best thing for several of us. Would you tell someone who doesn’t like working with kids to apply to peds? NO! Same thing applies to you. If you know you are not going to be happy in med surg, do not limit yourself to only applying to med surg positions. Step out of your comfort zone, put yourself out there, and apply for those specialty area jobs. You won’t know unless you try!! Be Yourself I cannot stress this ENOUGH! During your interview, BE YOURSELF. Your hiring manager knows that you are a new graduate and they do not expect you to know things that an experienced nurse may know. Remind yourself of this and use this as a technique to calm yourself down if you start to feel nervous during your interview. Remember, skills can always be taught but character and personality cannot! The main purpose of your interview is to get to know YOU so don’t be afraid to let yourself shine bright!
How I Studied for HESI Exams Posted on April 17, 2021 at 4:50 pm.Written by [email protected] As a nursing student, taking HESI exams was nerve-wracking and stressful because I never knew what to expect. In my final year of nursing school, I was expected to take two HESI exams, the HESI 1 and the HESI 2 Exit Exam. These exams test students in all areas including adult health, pediatrics, maternity, prioritization/delegation, and med-surg. Utilizing HESI is one of the methods to prepare students for writing the NCLEX exam following graduation. Before taking HESI 1, I was unsure of how to study. Although I did not score as high as I wanted on the first exam, I used it as a learning experience and motivation to develop a study plan for the HESI 2 Exit Exam. On my HESI 2 Exit Exam, I scored in my school’s recommended range! I was happy and proud that I finished my last undergraduate exam with a great score. These are the tips and tricks that I used to study for the HESI exam: Detailed Scoring Report After taking a HESI exam, HESI generates a detailed scoring report that identifies how well you did in each subject area. Additionally, this report tells you how many numbers of questions you answered correctly and how much your score deviated from the recommended score. This scoring report will help you determine how much time you need for each subject area and will help you identify your areas of weakness. On my first exam, my strongest subject area was mental health, and my weakest subject area was Integumentary and Oncology, therefore, I knew which areas to spend extra studying time on! Study Plans After utilizing the detailed scoring report, plan how long you will spend on each topic. Planning out your time can be tricky with placement and other schoolwork but do your best to plan and stick to it! Also, do not forget to indicate how many practice questions you aim to go through during each day. Saunders Comprehensive Review Textbooks The Saunders Comprehensive Review Textbook is a LIFESAVER! Not only does it provide you with practice questions, but it also provides you with thorough information related to each topic. When studying, I went through each area of the textbook, and at the end of each subject, I would test myself using the practice questions. I found that when I tested myself after studying each subject, I was able to retain my knowledge better versus only doing practice questions after studying all the subjects. Comprehensive Tests When I finished studying from the Saunders Comprehensive Review Textbook, I used various methods to test my knowledge with practice questions. At the end of the Comprehensive Textbook, there is a comprehensive test that summarizes all subject areas in the textbook. This was a great refresher. Reading through the rationales for each question was extremely helpful when I did not understand why the answer was the way it was. Additionally, the Saunders’ Q&A Textbook is a textbook filled with practice questions. My goal was to go through 50-100 questions daily and to write down the rationales to the questions that I did not know. In addition to that, I would make note of the questions that I did not know so that I could go back and refresh my memory on that specific topic! Lastly, inside the textbook, there is a code that I put in on the Evolve/Elsevier website that gave me access to more practice questions which I found extremely useful as it mimicked the HESI test format. Overall, I believe that developing a study plan and holding yourself accountable is the way to achieve success on these HESI exams. These exams are designed to test your knowledge of all the information that you learned in nursing school and more. The harder you study for these HESI exams, the easier the material will come to you when you are studying for the NCLEX! Once you put your mind to something, you can always achieve it! I hope my tips and tricks helped you with studying for your HESI. I wish you the best of luck and I know you will all kill the exam!
What You Need to Know Before Your First Day of Nursing School Posted on April 13, 2021 at 6:09 pm.Written by [email protected] Whether you’re about to start your nursing program or you have already started, I want to first start by saying CONGRATULATIONS! Coming from a recent accelerated nursing school graduate, there’s no denying that nursing school is tough, but it is also so worth it in the end. For me, I know that in the beginning of my program I thought there was no way I’d survive my first semester. I thought I was going to have to beg my old boss to let me come back to work again. But here I am, a few weeks after graduating from my 16-month program and I did it. I want to give you some tips that I hope will help you as you navigate starting this new journey and how to make sure you can excel as much as possible throughout your program. Us nurses have to stick together, right?! Preparing for Nursing School… Get Organized → Being organized and having great time management are going to be two the most important skills throughout school. Be sure to get yourself a great planner, whether it’s digital or paper form, and hold yourself accountable to staying well organized and ahead of your assignments/studying! Doing something every day, even if it’s only a little bit, will make a huge difference for you in the long run. Back-to-School Shopping → I don’t know about you, but shopping for school supplies is one of my favorite things. Supplies that were at the top of my list were a reliable laptop, binders, index cards, pens, markers, highlighters, sticky notes, and notebooks. Find Your Tribe → The friends you are about to make throughout nursing school are going to be some of your lifelong friends. There’s no way I could have survived without my classmates and especially my core group of friends. Once my school sent us the names of my cohort, I was immediately reaching out to them prior to even meeting them. I know everyone may not be a social butterfly like I am, but this was one of the best ways for me to start my program. I organized a group of us to meet up to get coffee prior to our first day of orientation and it was a huge hit. Also, when it comes to finding your study group, be sure to be with those who are a great mix of staying focused to make sure you’re getting some good studying done, but also able to unwind when you take breaks. Study Style → Prior to starting school, start thinking about what methods of studying might work best for you. Do you think you’ll like to write out your own notes? Flashcards? Practice questions? Making study guides? Going into school with a general idea of what you think will best fit your studying needs can potentially help ease you into all your hours of studying. Also be sure to scope out your study spot. If it will primarily be at your house, make sure it’s in a spot that allows you to be free from distractions as much as possible but is still a cozy & peaceful area. Need-to-Know Study Tips… Do what works for you → Throughout school, I found myself comparing myself a lot to my classmates – whether it was how they chose to study, the time of day that they studied, how long they study for, etc. I finally realized that just like with everything else, I can’t compare the way I do things to how others do them. If the way you study is vastly different from your best friend in school but your way works for you, then that’s all that matters. For me, I would always do as much reading that I could, completed any study guides, wrote out my own notes, did a TON of practice questions, looked up videos for certain topics, and would always try to talk through/teach the material to anyone that would listen. Practice Questions/EAQs → Every nursing student that I talk with and asks for advice will forever hear me talk about my love for practice questions/Elsevier Adaptive Quizzing through Elsevier. These were a big game-changer for me and undoubtedly helped me be successful throughout my program. Even just doing 10-20 questions each day will quickly add up and help you feel more prepared for your exams. I think these are a great way to get you thinking about the material in a different way rather than just reading the book or taking notes. Take breaks → I cannot stress enough how important it is to take study breaks. Please, please, please do not hide yourself away for hours without taking any type of break. Set up a study break schedule so that you can give your brain a quick recharge. Study for an hour then take a ten-minute break to grab a snack, drink some water, go for a quick walk, or do a quick chore around the house. Use your resources → Reach out to your professors/instructors to see what resources are out there to help aid in your studying. Also, look inside your books to see if there are any codes/links listed that will offer access to more studying materials. Follow Elsevier on social media to see what new resources and tips they come out with to help you succeed! Look up videos on YouTube, reach out to other nursing students, or talk with nurses that you meet during your clinical rotations – anything to help you get the most out of the resources that are waiting to help you along this journey. I’m rooting for you every step of the way and hope you can take a moment each day to realize how far you’ve already come in making your dream to be a nurse a reality! There will be tough days, but I PROMISE you can do this! Your future patients are going to be so lucky to have you as their nurse someday.
Why I Started Studying for the NCLEX 6 Months in Advance Posted on April 3, 2021 at 7:00 pm.Written by [email protected] There are three things in life that you cannot avoid … death, taxes, and if you’re a nursing student: the NCLEX. I know it sounds crazy, studying so far ahead of time for an exam I’m not even scheduled to take yet. But, from professors using “select-all-that-apply” questions to HESI exit exams, theoretically, our entire time at nursing school has been preparing us to take the NCLEX. In my last semester of nursing school, we take a synthesis class, which I like to call “NCLEX PREP 101” because it covers everything we’ve ever learned. We also take Acute Adult Health (Med Surg II), which covers all the major body systems. Being the over-achiever that I am, I usually study for classes in advance before they start. Because the content was so comprehensive, I figured I could hit two birds with one stone and start my NCLEX prep early. Here are the resources I’m using: Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN I try to do at least one chapter a day but give myself time to relax and have no strict structure. I was reading because I was interested, not because it was required, and this mindset made me a lot more consistent. I couldn’t complete all the chapters before the semester started, but I made sure I reviewed the topics that were going to be tested and covered in class. Each chapter has practice questions at the end directly related to the content covered, so you’re able to pinpoint which areas you’re unfamiliar with and focus on those. Saunders Q&A Review Cards I’m also a big fan of multi-tasking, so I always try to bring some flashcards with me. I have a long train commute to work and clinicals and I’d rather spend that time doing something productive. That’s why I absolutely love using flashcards to quiz myself. I might not be getting all the questions right, but the rationales are readily available and they’re so convenient to use. Saunders Q&A Review for the NCLEX-RN As I get closer to graduating, I’ll be a lot more focused on using practice questions. However, because I still need to brush up on key concepts, I’ll save this for when I’m more confident and have a better foundation of knowledge. Focus on making sure you know the information first, and then test yourself to see if you know the information by doing practice questions. Pro tip: try doing 75 questions in one sitting to see how you would do if it were *actually* the NCLEX. I highly recommend using NCLEX study materials as an adjunct to your lectures & PowerPoints to study for nursing school exams. From experience, my grades have been so much better since I’ve started doing so, and wish I started earlier. It seems overwhelming, but pace yourself, and let yourself breathe. You got this!
What I Wish I Knew in My First Year of Nursing School Posted on March 12, 2021 at 11:14 pm.Written by [email protected] The transition from high school to university can be extremely intimidating and scary for many nursing students. There are many things I wish I had known before entering my first year of nursing school. Now that I am a nursing student entering my fourth and final year of nursing school, I have accumulated some tips, tricks and advice over the years. To help those just entering nursing school or those who are currently in nursing school, these are my top 5 things I wish I knew when I was in your shoes: 1) Don’t be afraid to ask questions Whether it be in clinical or in class, always ask questions when you are unsure about something. Your first clinical placement can be extremely intimidating, however, to provide the best care for your patients, ask your nurse/preceptor questions when you are unsure. When you ask questions, you are more likely to retain the information, thus, making it easier to recall the information in the future. Your professors, nurses and preceptors are there to aid in your learning and will always be there to answer any questions that you have, therefore, do not be afraid to ask questions when needed. 2) Be proactive in your own learning As a nursing student, you are responsible for your own learning at clinical. When opportunities arise to perform a skill, take on the opportunity and do not be shy! You may not have the opportunity to practice this skill in the future as a nursing student, thus, don’t let the opportunity pass by. In clinical, instead of letting your nurse/preceptor do all the tasks, ask if you could practice the skill yourself. Demonstrating that you are interested in performing tasks shows that you are open to new learning opportunities and eager to learn. If you are interested in performing a specific task at clinical, voice your interest to your nurse or preceptor and ask if they could let you know if the opportunity arises for you to perform this skill. Remember, if you are not proactive in your own learning, you will be unable to maximize the knowledge learned. 3) Have a supportive group of friends Being a nursing student can be stressful and overwhelming. It is important as a nursing student to step outside your comfort zone and have a supportive friend group. Having a study group and a supportive friend group will help you both academically and emotionally. Not everyone will understand the stressors of being a nursing student and being in clinical, thus having a group of friends that understands your situation is extremely helpful. 4) Don’t be too hard on yourself In my opinion, nursing school is nothing like high school. Do not expect to achieve 95+ on every assignment and exam like you did in high school. Your study habits that worked in high school may not work in college/university and your study habits may change throughout university… this is OKAY! If you did not achieve your desired grade on an exam/assignment, explore where you went wrong and use it as a learning experience to motivate yourself to do better on the next exam. Remember, your grades are not a reflection of your ability to be a great nurse. The most important part of nursing is being able to care for your patients competently and provide the best, holistic, patient-centered care. 5) Self-Care is Important Take time for yourself and don’t forget to reward yourself. Nursing school burnout is real! Studying for exams, completing assignments, attending 12-hour clinical shifts, working part time and managing a social life is not easy. We often get so caught up with our schoolwork that we forget to take care of ourselves and put our needs first. As nurses and nursing students our job is to take care of our patients, however, we tend to forget to take care of ourselves. It is so important that we incorporate self-care activities into our routine such as hanging out with friends, taking a relaxing bath, or exercising to ensure that we do not get burnt-out. Rewarding yourself after a hard week is also important. Whether this be reflecting on your accomplishments and acknowledging how far you have come or treating yourself to an expensive meal, remember that these small acts can totally enlighten our mood. When we are able to properly care for ourselves, we can properly care for our patients.
HESI®: How to study for Entrance Exams Posted on March 10, 2021 at 11:11 pm.Written by [email protected] You’ve completed your prerequisites, and now it’s time to focus on the entrance exam. Here are a few tips and a break down of what the HESI A2 entrance exam consist of: Grammar: Students are expected to display their knowledge of basic grammar concepts. Each student must show their comprehension of parts of speech, typical grammar errors, and important grammatical concepts. The HESI grammar test is 50 questions and students are given 50 minutes to complete. I failed the entrance exam twice! English is not my first language and I struggled with grammar. I am sharing this because nursing school is very diverse. Applicants are from all over the world, or newly immigrated to the U.S. Don’t be discouraged. I used the SATs, language portion, to prepare for the Hesi grammar section along with the evolve HESI A2 entrance exam book. (image below). Math: The HESI math questions are evaluating a candidate’s knowledge of basic mathematical concepts. The math skills tested normally have some relation to health related scenarios. Don’t be scared, breath and extrapolate the needed information. Each student is expected to have a strong grasp of the following math skills: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, proportions, ratios, and decimals. Questions will also be presented on roman numbers, calculating dosages, household measures, and conversions. The section is 50 minutes long and consists of 50 questions. If you’re a math lover like me, you got this! Physics: This section is dependent on your program. For my program physics is not required, which means I did not have this section on my test. But, for those who have to, here’s what included. The physics test will cover general physics concepts such as: rotation, friction, gravitation, energy, average speed, Newton’s Laws of Motion, projectile motion, light, optics and acceleration. Test takers are given 50 minutes to answer 25 questions. The physics test is usually only required for Nursing programs that require Physics as a prerequisite course. You got this physics lover! Biology: This is by far my favorite section. The biology questions, I’ve noticed, are focused on general biology topics including: biology basics, cellular respiration, photosynthesis, metabolism, biological molecules, and cells. The HESI biology exam contains 25 questions. The biology test is not required by all Nursing programs. Anatomy & Physiology: This section was not required for my program, so I have no insider tips on how to be successful. What I do know is this: The A&P exam evaluates a student’s understanding of fundamental Anatomy and Physiology concepts such as: anatomical systems, structures and general terminology. This section also has 25 questions.Chemistry: This seems to be the most difficult for most students I’ve talked with or tutor. The chemistry section is designed to quiz students on the periodic table, chemical equations, atomic structure, chemical bonding, nuclear chemistry and chemical reactions. This section is also 25 questions Knowing that these are the areas being tested on, I would advise that students should take a post-test on all these areas to identify gaps in knowledge. I have mentored students who did this, and realize they need a quick “Intersession course,” generally two weeks long, to brush up on the foundations. Most universities offer these courses like this. Finally, invest in some resources! You are accountable and responsible for your education.
A Guide to using EAQs as a Successful Nursing Student Posted on March 9, 2021 at 11:10 pm.Written by [email protected] Elsevier Adaptive Quizzing (EAQ)™ really reflects what nursing questions are like. Most of my peers find EAQs challenging, and in fact they are. I believe the harder the questions, the better the student will become. I have seen a great improvement in my own course grades because I spent so much time practicing questions and reading the rationales. Customize Quizzes Custom quizzes are the greatest invention ever and honestly a great tool for all nursing students. You can specify EAQ target areas to focus on or simply the areas that will be tested during the course exam. The quiz is customizable to even the number of questions you want to do, so you can answer as few as five or as many as thirty questions while using study mode or exam mode. I prefer and would recommend using study mode because it gives you the answers with the rational after each question. Practicing these quizzes changed my approach to studying for course exams. Normally, I would re-read slides, re-read chapters, and re-watch lectures, but now I practice questions. My exam score went from a 68% to an 82%, and I completed the semester with an 82% average. I credit these successes to practicing specific questions using EAQ. Reading Rationales I used to be someone who would answer a question, get it wrong or right, then move on. I never read the question rationale until one day I happened to glance at it and notice that they offer motivational advice, excerpts from specific textbooks, graphs, diagrams, processes, etc. From then on, even if I get a question correct, I would read the rationale provided. Sometimes it helped me realize that my rationale for picking the correct answer was not completely correct, and ultimately, it came down to me guessing. I also use the answer rationale to guide my reading. It informs me of what information I need to focus on from the chapter, what assessment data I missed, if I listed the appropriate medications, and what common side effects I may have omitted. This is what the rationale does, it guides you. Practicing Multiple Questions Don’t give up just because you couldn’t answer the questions. Yes, the EAQs are hard, but it is for a reason. Practice the same concept at least five times. You’ll start to notice a pattern on how questions are asked for particular concepts. Do 30 questions at a time and repeat the process. Take notes while you go through. Calendar View I love this tool. I don’t need a planner because the EAQ already has a calendar available with all my due dates for assigned work. Use this to mark off study days before and after a concept is taught. This is a time gauge and requires dedication. After all, your grades depend on it. Use your calendar option to plan ahead. For example, if a coping EAQ is due 3 weeks from today, start gathering your coping materials and start customizing practice questions focused on coping. There is a trend in how questions are asked. Practice a lot so you can recognize different question formats and focus your studying on how to answer these questions. Timing I appreciate that EAQ times how long you spend on a question. This is very important since most nursing school exams (or at least mine) are 75-90 minutes long ranging from 50-60 questions per exam. Because practice questions with EAQs are timed, you get to see how long it took you to answer a specific question. I am not encouraging anyone to speed through an exam, but I have mentored and seen far too many students not completing an exam because time ran out. Create a journal and log how much time it took you to answer 30 questions in EAQ. Aim to reduce your time. One piece of advice is to use the Forest app, something I used myself. I plant a tree for 1 hour and document how many questions I can answer within that hour before the tree is fully grown. This puts some fun into your studies as well. Success from using EAQ is not a one-time deal. You must be consistent in practicing questions, which means you have to log in daily. Remember that calendar view I mentioned? Well, if you don’t check your calendar daily you might miss an assignment. That has happened to me countless times and now I make it a priority to log in and check my EAQ daily. Look at your Analytics Most programs will require that you master a specific concept, which means you can spend anywhere from 10 minutes to hours mastering a concept, which is dependent on you doing practice questions. What I’ve noticed is that whenever you practice questions on EAQ, let’s say Maternity, those practice questions count towards you mastering the concept. EAQ has three levels, level three being mastery. If you never looked at your EAQ, or even practiced a few questions, this is where this mastery exam can take hours because now you have to go through all the levels (1, 2, 3). This is where the analytics come in. Use this as a guide to identify what concept/content area needs leveling up. Your EAQ will often have a quick suggestion of some content on the top of the banner the moment you log in. Practice a few of these questions. It will save you some time on the mastery exam. See the image below for an example. Notice that in leadership I am currently at Level 1 mastery; I will need to practice more leadership questions to full master this content area. Log in and check it out. Lastly, you got this. Stay the course and practice with EAQs, and trust me, you will see a difference. P.S. — do not expect instant results, this takes time and a great understanding of oneself and one’s strengths and weaknesses.
How to Know if Nursing School is Right for YOU! Posted on March 6, 2021 at 11:08 pm.Written by [email protected] Hi everyone, my name is Sam, and I am currently in my last semester as an Associate Degree Nursing Student at Lake Region State College in Devils Lake, ND. A question I’ve been asked from quite a few students, whether they are in high school, college, or looking at switching their career is this: “How did you know nursing was what you wanted to do?” or “How do I go about getting into nursing school?” I’ve known I wanted to be a nurse since I was 5 years old. I loved taking care of people and making them feel better, but as I got older, I thought that I couldn’t do it. I struggled with math all through high school and had such a negative mindset of “I have to be perfect or at least good at math to even get in.” I became very discouraged and eventually I gave up on that dream of being a nurse and I went to college to be a teacher. After that, I went to cosmetology school for a brief time, and while I loved both I soon began to realize that those two careers allowed me to educate and make people feel good or better about themselves…something nurses do every day! I realized that I could do anything I put my mind to, I simply had to believe in myself, and you should too! How do I know if becoming a nurse/nursing school is right for me? I think the best way to gauge if nursing school or nursing in general is a good fit, is to get some experience. Getting your Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) License, working as an Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAP), volunteering at a medical facility like a nursing home, or even shadowing in a provider’s office can shed some light on what to expect as a nurse. For me, I started this process by working as an optician and eventually moved over to a bigger medical facility where I worked as a medical secretary and worked with scheduling, insurance, and had contact with patients, nurses, and doctors every day. By getting my foot in the door and gaining experience, not only did it look good on my application, but I got to get a feel for how the medical world was and I liked it! So how do you go about getting into nursing school? Know why you want to be a nurse Maybe you care about helping people and want to make a difference in the lives of others, or maybe you’ve been impacted first-hand by healthcare. Either way, you should have a good understanding of why you want to do this. You will be asked many times and how your answer can increase or decrease your chances of getting into the school you want.Start looking at schools that offer programs and look into their requirements for applying.Every school is a little bit different with how their program is run, who they’re accredited by, their requirements for entry, and their NCLEX pass rates. These are all attributes that can determine how long you go to school, where you will have clinicals, and how your overall experience might look.Personally, I chose an accelerated 18-month program with a high NCLEX pass rate because I wanted to start working as soon as possible and I wanted to be highly prepared, but I know others have chosen a four-year BSN program because they wanted that higher degree and wanted summers off from school. It all depends on what you want and what works for you! Take your required pre-requisites, entrance exam, and gain experience. Pre-requisites, sometimes called pre-reqs, are the classes you need before you can be considered a nursing student. In some cases, programs want these done before you apply to the specialized program, but other times schools may let you take these while you’re considered a nursing student.Some schools also require an entrance exam. These are similar to the standardized tests you take while in high school, but also assess your decision-making skills, learning style, and critical thinking skills.I chose a school that allowed the latter because I didn’t want to waste a year completing a few pre-reqs. They also did not require medical experience, but since I had some, they counted it as a bonus for me to be considered for entry.Apply! Now is the time to apply! Make sure you apply early enough so you don’t miss out on the deadlines! Oftentimes these deadlines are in place so you can also get scholarships and other opportunities set up before starting school. Remember why you started and why you wanted to be a nurse! Nursing school can be overwhelming, but I promise it goes by quickly and is SO worth it!
How to Prevent “Burning Out” in Nursing School Posted on March 5, 2021 at 11:07 pm.Written by [email protected] Burnout: a state of emotional, physical and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. It occurs when you feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained and feel as though you’re unable to meet constant demands. Does this sound familiar to anyone? As nursing students, feeling burned out is unfortunately not uncommon. I find myself constantly feeling as though I need to be doing homework, studying or reading up on information to keep up. I always feel like I could be doing MORE. But the reality is, you don’t get an award for most all-nighters pulled during nursing school and your body and mind are going to hate you for trying. When you’re feeling tired, REST but do not quit. It is important to give your mind a break from the constant stress of memorizing material or being able to critically think through scenarios. You cannot fix the feeling of being burned out by adding more work, stress and responsibilities to your plate. You must first try to slowly clear them off, bit by bit. I have found that the best way to handle the feeling of burnout it to simply take a step back. Whether it be for 20 minutes or the remainder of that evening, I give my mind a chance to rest. When you are physically exhausted, do you force yourself to continue running? No, you rest. The same goes for your mind. Next, I make sure that I am organized. Feeling as though I have a mountain of homework assignments, exams, quizzes and projects to prepare for sometimes gives me the feeling that there is no way I will be able to accomplish everything. I organize a to-do list or planner which allows me to cross things off as I complete them. Not only does this give me a sense of accomplishment, but it also allows me to see that I am making progress and chipping away at the number of tasks to be completed. Managing the feelings of being overwhelmed and stressed are crucial to preventing burnout. Finally, do something to ENJOY YOURSELF. I know that we have all heard from someone at some point or another, “say goodbye to your life while you’re in nursing school!” That simply isn’t true. Do we have to say no sometimes and make sacrifices for our schooling? Absolutely. Does that mean that we are unable to have fun or enjoy ourselves for the duration of nursing school? NO WAY. Whether it be a small trip, night out or relaxing night at home, it is good for the mind and soul to allow yourself to do things that you enjoy. Being a nursing student is one thing that you do, it is not the entirety of who you are. During these times of uncertainty and difficulty, make sure that you take care of yourself. We are often our own harshest critic, and it is so important to be kind to your mind and body.
How to Become NCLEX Ready with Only One Month to Go! Posted on March 3, 2021 at 11:05 pm.Written by [email protected] Studying for the NCLEX requires practice questions… a lot of practice questions. Personally, I’ll be using the Saunders Q&A Review for the NCLEX-RN, 8th edition; because I learn best through testing and there are over 6,000 practice questions. While having a 747-page book to go through seems daunting at first, the best way to utilize it is by having a structured study plan. I’ve created a 30-day plan that I’m personally using to study for the NCLEX and I urge you to follow along with me. Before you begin, know your game plan. Put everything on a calendar so you can visualize exactly what you need to do. Make sure you set aside time at least 1-2 hours every day so you have enough time to get through the material. Find a study spot, get some highlighters, buy the fancy pens. Do whatever you need to do to get yourself pumped. [Insert Your Name], RN, BSN in the making! I’ve made you a checklist that you can print out and cross off when you finish a day here: Day 1 This is an introduction to the book; there is information about the NCLEX itself, including what to expect, and the process of registering. This section gives you examples of the different types of questions, key phrases and concepts to look out for, and test-taking strategies to keep in the back of your mind when taking the exam. This is the foundation. Don’t skip it. Days 2-29 This the bulk of your studying, and it’s only approximately 50 questions a day. Set aside 1-2 hours every day to really make sure you have enough time to take notes and understand the rationales. Remember; It’s not about getting them right. It’s about knowing why the right answers are right and why the wrong answers are wrong. Day 30: The Comprehensive Test. This is it. This is the longest part of the study plan, but it’s also the last thing you have to do. Starting on page 639, there’s a full exam that’s 265 questions long. I’d recommend doing this all in one sitting, in a quiet room, with no distractions, just to see what it would be like to take the NCLEX if you were given the full set of questions. Good luck! Keep me updated with your studying, and tag @elsevierstudentlife on Instagram if you’re using my checklist! You can do it! This is the last milestone, finish strong!
