Congratulations Heather! That's so great you passed your nclex, and have gotten a job! I just this week found out I was accepted into a LPN to RN bridge program! Very exciting but I'm starting to feel the incoming stress of nursing school again. when I took my lpn nclex it was the most nerve wrecking thing I've ever done! My test shut off at question 86 I believe(what ever is the least amount you can take in Virginia) I just knew I had done so horrible, that they failed me as soon as possible. When the computer screen went black, my heart sank, it's a feeling that only someone who has done it before would know! But 2 days late, I found out I passed! I can't wait to refer back to your videos through out my own journey!
That's so awesome, congrats! You will excel in your bridge program, most of what you will be exposed to you have already learned- you will just advance your learning. Don't be afraid to still ask questions, I was afraid I would be expected to know a lot already but I tried to just think of myself as a new nursing student so I didn't miss out on opportunities to learn. Good luck!
heatherheartsnursing I got accepted into a bridge program too! I am thinking of working as an LPN part time as i do RN, do you think that would be too much to handle? BTW did you find your RN experience to be a lot more "easier" since you knew a big chunk of nursing already from LPN?
New subscriber here! I'm hoping to start the LVN program at my local college next year and have enjoyed watching your vids- especially watching you grow as a nurse. I also think I've sort of accidentally figured out where you live based on a couple comments you've made- and if I'm correct, you live extremely close to me! I think it's interesting that you went in dreaming of L&D and then went a totally different direction. I am very interested in correctional facility nursing. Looking forward to the tour( if we get to take one). Anyways, loved watching your journey!
Hello, I'm finishing my LPN program with a few more months to go and I plan to go straight into a RN program afterwards. So I'd pretty much like to know your experience as a transitioned nurse, how the roles have changed, did being a Lpn/lvn help with school or is that experience helping with work now, recommendations, etc.
Yes! That would be awesome. I'm about to graduate in august and i'll take my NCLEX in september or october. Also could you give us some tips on how to pass the NLCEX?
I can definitely see what I can put together. The thing about resumes is that they are so subjective. Honestly, as long as your resume is organized and less than one page, you are good. The most important thing is making contacts and networking.
Julie Quach Hi Julie. I can definitely see what I can do in regards to passing the NCLEX. My biggest tip is knowing your weakness- is it content? Is it test taking anxiety (that's probably the BIGGEST downfall with the NCLEX), is it reading questions correctly (further instruction, who do you see first?) Figuring that part out will help you to focus your studying to what your weakness is instead of trying to study everything. Also, don't wait months to take it, statistically your chances of passing drop significantly the longer you wait. If you went to a good school that prepared you well, you shouldn't need months and months of studying. Get one or two really good sources to study from like Saunders, Kaplan, etc, don't go crazy buying every book out there. I also forgot to mention in the video that I used the PDA book by LaCharity which is really helpful. When doing questions, write down the ones that you are unsure of and do your best to figure out the answer. Then at the end, look up info about that med/disease/lab value. Also read rationales to all you get wrong. Some say to read ALL rationales no matter what, but that was too much for me. So I just read rationales for the ones I got wrong or the ones I guessed on. No one way of studying works for everyone, so it's really important to figure out what's best for YOU. Good luck, let me know if you have further questions :)
Congratulations on becoming a RN. I love you videos and am in the process of trying to get back into nursing school. I have to retake med surg and some other classes due to illness. Any advice? Did you also have to take HESI?
Congrats Heather!!! I was thinking of starting with South University in Austin for the RN program. San Antonio has Career Point and Brightwood formerly Kaplan for the LVN programs. Any suggestions?
Congratulations on passing your NCLEX! I desperately want to go to school to be a LPN! But I have 3 discs out on my lower lumbar (L-5 S-1 is desiccated, & 1 out in my cervical area). Do you think I can get in school with these issues, & if so, will I be able to work as a LPN long enough to get insurance to get the worst disc replaced or would it be too stressful. I am in pain everyday, but I'm extremely motivated. I'm also a few hours short of a degree in Psych & have worked with kids in a gymnastics/choreography capacity for many years prior to my injury in 2001 (I haven't worked since, gymnastics & dance being so stressful) as is standing! Walking is not so bad. I know how difficult it is as my X-husband is a Dr & I have many friends who are RN's.... they went through school '86-'90 (when I was in college)in my home state & things have changed since then.....but I hope anyway! Congrats again! I know you will make a wonderful RN!!!!
Congrats! In what state do you live, if you don't mind saying? I used to live in KY and was planning on applying to the ADN program, but when my family and I moved to California in 2012, everyone advised me to get a bachelor's degree if I expect to get hired at hospital by the time I graduate. It seems like the big hospitals are moving towards "magnet status", preferring only the nurses with bachelor's degrees. I wonder which states are trying to implement this standard besides CA and NY, and how quickly it'll expand to everywhere else. I'd rather just do ADN and not get into so much debt, but I'm afraid of not being competitive enough. Just to share more of my personal story a little bit, I graduated from a CA LVN program in 2013, and now I'm working on pre-reqs for the traditional BSN program, kinda puts the last year and a half to waste since no LVN-BSN programs are near where I live :/ but I'm glad I had the LVN school experience, It gave me a newly found level of confidence and a hunger for the nursing field which I needed :) but I agree, I definitely won't be bragging about my LVN status when I do go to an RN program, who needs that kind of pressure! lol
Hi, I am in my 3rd semester of the RPN(Canada calls it RPN not LPN) I am in my first placement on a med surg floor. I watch these nurses and they just seem to have so much memorized and I can't picture myself being at that point. Was it hard for you when you were first out of school feeling confident to be the nurse or was the transition easier than you anticipated? Thanks for your videos, been watching since I started thinking about going into nursing and they have been so helpful :)
Vicky Fraser hi there, it was hard and it is still hard sometimes. nursing is a profession where you constantly grow and evolve. i think the biggest thing is having a good team behind you for support. also remember it is about the patient most of all, not the doctor, your manager or even the family. good luck!
Hello Heather, how old are you? I'm trying to go back to school and become a nurse but I think I might be too old to start. I'm 22 years old what do u think? Also do u recommend working ft while going to school?:) I would appreciate your response:))
Leelee Elaine hey there, I actually got my tattoo after nursing school. Now on my floor we technically must cover our tattoos so I wear a jacket everyday. Sometimes I take it off if I get hot and I've never gotten in trouble. A lot of nurses on my floor have a tattoos and either wear a jacket or long sleeved shirt.
