I am now an RN

I have not logged in years. It really has been a hard and long road for me to become an RN. I am so proud to announce that I have completed my RN through Excelsior College. That final stage which is the clinical performance exam better known as the CPNE was a beast. I read all over the internet how people fail left and right due to mistakes like forgetting the critical element of labeling initial, date and time after packing a wound. Some claim to have failed due to not washing their hands and pen after dropping it on the floor. These are just common sense things that we as health professionals should know better.  I am here as a living example that the CPNE beast can be conquered with good sound preparation. I tested at Queens Hospital in NY over a weekend. I passed after a second attempt. My first attempt was at Utica Hospital in upstate NY. I failed due to mistakes on my care planning and documentation. It is one thing to practice and study and then it is another when you have to perform it all in front of a clinical examiner who silently watches your every move. I honestly was not as ready as I thought I was and my nerves did get the best of me. This second time around I was determined through prayer and preparation that I will return home with a pass letter and I did. The next step in my career will be that this fall I will begin my masters degree study. I give all glory to God who has made all possible for this humble servant. Thank you for reading my blog. I will periodically keep you all posted on my progress.

I am now a new nurse.

I wanted to express how happy I am to officially be a nurse. I finally got my nursing license and registration this week after close to two months of waiting and after passing my NCLEX PN on my first attempt. Finally got my first nursing job in a pediatric unit of a popular hospital. (I almost could not believe it, I thought LPN's were not hired in hospitals) I have started the process in becoming an RN and am currently an RN student. well, of course part time. If all goes well, and it will because Phil 4:16 says "I can do all things thru Christ who strengthens me" I will soon attain my second degree and become an RN.

Close to the End

It has been a long year for me. Two months in taking the LPN prep class and then the 10 months of cramming up for each accelerated PN course. There is now one week remaining before I am able to complete the program. It feels great to know how close I am. There, in the road to becoming a nurse. I want to prove that is not too late to have a career change. Oh, almost forgot to mention that I received an acceptance letter to a SUNY college that offers the LPN to RN program. I was informed that I need to undergo a separate process once I receive the LPN transcripts from my current school. It is necessary if I want the opportunity to challenge exams and receive credits for the RN portion of the program. Does it sound great or what? If I play my cards right I may be able to get my RN in one-two semesters. This is because I already have most pre-req's from my first degree. People keep asking me the same question all the time. Why did I not go straight for the RN. But if you read in my early posts, you will see why. It may seem like the long way but given my circumstances, I really had no other choice. Where there is a will, there is a way. Now, for the next challenge, passing the PN boards!!! Lord help me. :)

New Year Update

I am sorry that I have not updated in a while. I want to let you know that I have made it passed the first half of the course. WhoooHooo!!! The Christmas party was an emotional thing for a lot of us because we made it pass the critical phase. I am terribly sorry for those who did not make it. God has a purpose. I promise you. You guys are in my prayers including those who for one reason or another had to drop out. The courses are very intense. The term "accelerated program" is exactly what it means. An exam or two each week on what was learned a couple days ago and the new topics keep pouring in if you fail more than one topic you have to retest on all the topics at the end of the unit, yes, even the one's you already passed, with no multiple choice on it and no chance to breathe...Well, not literally not breathing, but you know what i mean.

Well, next week is the beginning of the second clinical rotation in a hospital. I am pretty excited about that, I get to administer IV's and inject medications. The last rotation was an exciting experience, It was in a nursing home. I had to change a lot of adult diapers.... but I did it joyfully that is nursing. I thought that changing an adult diaper would be similar to changing a baby's, boy was i wrong. HA!! On occasions we had to use hoyer lifts just to pull up their pants and place the patient on their chairs. But with every act I did for them I did joyfully and kept thinking that this person could be a relative or even myself when i get old. We need to treat others the way we want to be treated. I enjoyed talking to the patients hearing stories of when they were younger and laughing with them. It bothers me to see how many of the patients were abandoned by their children in these nursing homes...but that is another topic.

A New Year resolution, I pray to God that I can make it to graduation in about 5 and half months and pass my boards. Of course to find a job too. I read that alot of LPN's need about a year of work experience. I am trying so hard to do this. Nursing is my dream career and with the help of Jesus I know that I can do this. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Clinicals

I have not updated my blog for a while due to my new life demands as a PN student. As my first unit is coming to end, I am happy to announce that I just learned from my instructor of the location for my clinicals next week. I will be doing my first clinical assignment in a well known nursing home. Today, was my official last day for lab and I will begin to work with real patients next week. Whoo hoo, I am so darn excited about it all. Just to note, I have been doing really well in my classes and intensive exams. Thanks to God. I will be letting you guys know how it is going in my clinical assignment. Clinicals, here I come!!

Update on my class status

Hey everyone, I have not signed in for a while due to all the work that this PN course requires. But, just to keep you updated. I have been studying hard. So far, I have a 90 average on all the quizes and still have more quizes coming up. It is intense but "bring it on". I am ready. LOL! wish me luck. I will keep you posted.

First LPN Class Homework

Oh my God. I just got the summer homework assignment. It seems like a lot when you look at it. But it is also do-able. There is human anatomy and physiology, biology, medical terminology and chemistry. I am very eager to complete this assignment. The first exam will be in two weeks. Well, I have to get to work if I want to pass. I will talk to you guys soon.Wish me luck.

Official Acceptance Letter

OMG....I just received my acceptance letter this past weekend. I am sooo excited. I am going through the process now to make arrangements for paying my tuition. The total including the board exams after completion comes out to about $10,000.00. which is not that bad compared to some of the other private schools that i also had applied to. Two of them in NJ. One was $22,000.00 and the other $18,000.00. I am a little nervous, as I don't really know what to expect in class. I just know that it is a very accelerated LPN program and I will not have time for anything else that is not studying.

Some of you guys have called me in regards to issues posting comments I will see if I can fix it so that you can post. Even if you don't or can't post comments thank you for being here. I know that some of you did not make it to my program I am very sorry, but know that where there is a will, there is a way and I promise if you let him God will lead you in the right direction. Some of you have decided to go to other schools and were accepted, congratulations to you. You know who you are.

I hope that I can help someone somehow by posting my experience here on becoming a nurse. I am sure that there will be times that I may want to cry or vent during the program or clinicals as I heard from students in my school that it happens a lot. I will keep you guys posted. Anyway, I need to take care of other things so that they don't interfere once class begins. I will go to one of my favorite websites www.allnurses.com to get some advice. I will keep you all posted after class begins. Class will begin in four weeks. I am so happy. Thank you Lord GOD. It would not have been possible without you. Please see me through to the end. Amen.

Testing page

testing page

Interview Phase

It has been about two weeks since my interview. It was among the hardest interviews that I have ever attended. The questions were not that difficult. They required some basic knowledge of what LPN's do etc... I am a little anxious due to the fact that they mentioned that they have to review my application and test scores with the committee before I will be invited to another interview. WOW. I had no idea that I needed to undergo more than one interview in order to be accepted into the school. I don't know what else to think, my test scores where high I think I answered all the interview questions correctly. Unless they did not like my response to their question of why I wanted to become an LPN, I think the process went well. I answered that question clearly and honestly. The hardest question for me was why did I not pursue nursing from the beginning. I answered very honestly. I hope they appreciated my honesty.

Phase two of LPN school

I am so excited and nervous. Today, I received a phone call from the LPN program inviting me for an interview with the school. This is the second phase of the application process to enter the program. The interview will be conducted on Monday. I just need to prepare some answers for the potential questions. I hope that all goes well.

Official CNET exam

Today, I finally took the CNET. I have a long two week wait before I find out if I will make it pass the first step in entering the LPN program. I will post an update as soon as I find out the results of my exam. If I pass I will be excited and look forward to the next step which is the interview process at the school. If I don't pass, I won't give up. I will try again.

My first step to becoming a nurse.

I have already taken the first step. I have applied to an LPN program in my state. I have taken a CNET prep class to help me refresh on math and reading in order to pass the CNET. My official test begins tommorow. I have done very well during the prep class sample tests I hope to do the same in the official test. I will post here my outcome. Wish me luck....

Nursing shortage? But still very difficult to enter nursing school

Indeed there is a nursing shortage. I understand why colleges make it very difficult in potential students entering their nursing programs. I believe it is easier for students fresh out of high school to enter these nursing programs. I have met many nurses and upon interviewing them including some relatives, I have discovered that they entered straight out of high school, graduated, became licensed and have been registered nurses for many years. Honestly, those entrance exams such as CNET and PAX are really difficult for those who have either been out of school for a while, or those simply wanting to change careers. I personally took the PAX-RN entrance exam about 5-6 years ago and passed after two attempts. (Which many schools require candidates to wait about a year between retakes.) I did not enter the program due to competition and long waiting list. After taking about two years in sciences, I became inpatient and decided to get a BS in Health services administration instead. I love the health sciences. But now, years later, I am required to take the difficult test again because too much time has gone by. Before I am even be considered to be accepted into a nursing program in my state, I have to repeat the anatomy and physiology classes because its been more than four years since I have taken them.
I understand that perhaps they make it difficult to potential students because they only want the best. But I have met nurses who treat their patients less compassionately and wonder what school accepted them. A lot of people do become nurses just for the great money and not because it is their passion to help others. I have other avenues that I will take to become a registered nurse. One avenue is to become an LPN. I will be posting my status here. my status to the difficult road on becoming a nurse.