I’m in the thick of my summer course:it’s hard to believe that we’ve already covered Pride and Prejudice, “The Two Drovers,” and Jane Eyre. I have a great group of students–they seemvery engaged and a significant proportion of them are contributing with gustoto class discussion. But the assignments are starting to come in, so it may bea bit quiet around here for a bit. In the meantime, let me recommend ElizabethGaskell’s “The Old Nurse’s Story,” one of our texts for tomorrow, for yourreading pleasure. Here’s a teaser:

And thegreat frost never ceased all this time; and whenever it was a more stormy nightthan usual, between the gusts, and through the wind, we heard the old lordplaying on the great organ. But, old lord, or not, wherever Miss Rosamond went,there I followed; for my love for her, pretty helpless orphan, was strongerthan my fear for the grand and terrible sound. Besides, it rested with me tokeep her cheerful and merry, as beseemed her age. So we played together, andwandered together, here and there, and everywhere; for I never dared to losesight of her again in that large and rambling house. And so it happened, thatone afternoon, not long before Christmas Day, we were playing together on thebilliard-table in the great hall (not that we knew the way of playing, but sheliked to roll the smooth ivory balls with her pretty hands, and I liked to dowhatever she did); and, by-and-by, without our noticing it, it grew duskindoors, though it was still light in the open air, and I was thinking oftaking her back into the nursery, when, all of a sudden, she cried out:

‘Look,Hester! look! there is my poor little girl out in the snow!’

I turnedtowards the long narrow windows, and there, sure enough, I saw a little girl,less than my Miss Rosamond dressed all unfit to be out-of-doors such a bitternight, crying, and beating against the window-panes, as if she wanted to be letin. She seemed to sob and wail, till Miss Rosamond could bear it no longer, andwas flying to the door to open it, when, all of a sudden, and close up upon us,the great organ pealed out so loud and thundering, it fairly made me tremble;and all the more, when I remembered me that, even in the stillness of thatdead-cold weather, I had heard no sound of little battering hands upon thewindow-glass, although the Phantom Child had seemed to put forth all its force;and, although I had seen it wail and cry, no faintest touch of sound had fallenupon my ears. Whether I remembered all this at the very moment, I do not know;the great organ sound had so stunned me into terror. . .

The full text can be found here or here.

Posted in Elizabeth Gaskell, This week in my classes

I’m in the thick of my summer course:it’s hard to believe that we’ve already covered Pride and Prejudice, “The Two Drovers,” and Jane Eyre. I have a great group of students–they seemvery engaged and a significant proportion of them are contributing with gustoto class discussion. But the assignments are starting to come in, so it may bea bit quiet around here for a bit. In the meantime, let me recommend ElizabethGaskell’s “The Old Nurse’s Story,” one of our texts for tomorrow, for yourreading pleasure. Here’s a teaser:

And thegreat frost never ceased all this time; and whenever it was a more stormy nightthan usual, between the gusts, and through the wind, we heard the old lordplaying on the great organ. But, old lord, or not, wherever Miss Rosamond went,there I followed; for my love for her, pretty helpless orphan, was strongerthan my fear for the grand and terrible sound. Besides, it rested with me tokeep her cheerful and merry, as beseemed her age. So we played together, andwandered together, here and there, and everywhere; for I never dared to losesight of her again in that large and rambling house. And so it happened, thatone afternoon, not long before Christmas Day, we were playing together on thebilliard-table in the great hall (not that we knew the way of playing, but sheliked to roll the smooth ivory balls with her pretty hands, and I liked to dowhatever she did); and, by-and-by, without our noticing it, it grew duskindoors, though it was still light in the open air, and I was thinking oftaking her back into the nursery, when, all of a sudden, she cried out:

‘Look,Hester! look! there is my poor little girl out in the snow!’

I turnedtowards the long narrow windows, and there, sure enough, I saw a little girl,less than my Miss Rosamond dressed all unfit to be out-of-doors such a bitternight, crying, and beating against the window-panes, as if she wanted to be letin. She seemed to sob and wail, till Miss Rosamond could bear it no longer, andwas flying to the door to open it, when, all of a sudden, and close up upon us,the great organ pealed out so loud and thundering, it fairly made me tremble;and all the more, when I remembered me that, even in the stillness of thatdead-cold weather, I had heard no sound of little battering hands upon thewindow-glass, although the Phantom Child had seemed to put forth all its force;and, although I had seen it wail and cry, no faintest touch of sound had fallenupon my ears. Whether I remembered all this at the very moment, I do not know;the great organ sound had so stunned me into terror. . .

The full text can be found here or here.

Posted in Elizabeth Gaskell, This week in my classes

The Nclex Exam are in a world of their own. Majority of the items are made specifically to test an applicant's level of cognition. These questions are based on established nursing principles. Case studies, review questions, and exam questions are found in each chapter.

It is true the composition of the items are not as straight forward. These questions are based on book knowledge and not practical knowledge. Simulated exams containing hundreds of the latest nclex exam questions are reviewed in class, focusing on key words, distractors, critical thinking, test taking strategies, nursing principles, rationales and study skills. Very few of these are “mere” knowledge questions.

The Nursing Exam Test is simple and direct. The questions are not only helpful in bolstering students' critical thinking, but also in giving the student some insight into what may be expected from them when taking the nclex. These are mostly application type questions. I would say from what i remember the nclex-rn exam questions are similar to ncsbn but not as challenging as kaplan so i'm trying to cover all ground to make sure i am prepared and walk out a winner this time around! However, the nclex practice test are written by professionals who are able to give you enough clues to figure out the correct answer.

Check this site Nclex Practice Test

Nclex Practice Tests questions are clinically based and answers are all multiple choices. Oh anyway, a matter of fact, these tests are much more easier compared to the nle questions and there are many of us who can atest to that. The Nclex RN exam materials are the same ones from the book. Anyway, they seem to be helpful and nclex questions are always great tools. Plus i wonder how these questions are studied before being put in the test.

The author is a health professional who would like to share some Free Nclex Questions

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http://EzineArticles.com/?How-Are-NCLEX-Practice-Test-Questions-Structured?&id=2929645

One of the last obstacles in your way to becoming a nurse is to pass the NCLEX. With the right preparation, you can overcome it.

The intention that the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) has in requiring you to pass the NCLEX is to ensure that you are able to give the best care possible to patients. All nurses in the United States are required to pass the test. The standards set are intended to protect the public. It is agauge to help make sure that nurses know how best to perform all the duties of a nurse.

When you pass the NCLEX you will have shown that you are able to make critical decisions in the best interest of the patients under your care. It will test your ability to handle a wide range of situations and scenarios.

Preparing to pass the NCLEX can be appear to be overwhelming but it does not need to be.

Remember to pay close attention in nursing school to what is being taught. This is not trivial knowledge you are accumulating. It is vital to the job that you will be asked to take on. When you try to pass the NCLEX, expect much of what was taught in school to be part of the test. Do not wait until the end to try and cram for it. Make it a part of your general knowledge.

If you are still in school, make an effort to take a practice test like the Mosby Assess Test. There is a lot of similarities between in and the NCLEX. It will help you know what areas you need help in the most. Being in school will help you get the tutoring and teaching you need to shore up that area.

In those areas that you just cannot quite seem to grasp, spend most of your energy trying to grasp it. Attack it and beat it over your head until you completely understand it. The less areas there are like these, the better your chances are that you will pass the NCLEX.

Challenge yourself with new opportunities. Do not get comfortable staying in one area in clinicals. Ask to be put in different situations so you can learn more duties and have a broader base of knowledge to draw from. This will not only help you pass the NCLEX, it will make you much more valuable to future employers.

Set up the test as soon as you graduate. You may be tempted to take a break and as much needed as it might be, there will never be a point where the knowledge you gleaned while in school will be fresher on your brain. After the test is set up, study like crazy.

At some point start treating it like a marathon. Every day work on a certain area of knowledge and then test yourself on that at night. Give yourself a 25-50 question practice test on what you studied that day. Once per week, take the time to do a 300-300 question test. You have to get your brain ready for the enormity of the NCLEX. This will help get your brain ready for the stress that is trying to pass the NCLEX.

Take time to rest and clear your brain every day. This is almost as important as studying. As important as it is to pass the NCLEX, it is also important to not neglect your mental, physical, and emotional health getting ready for it. You will find that if your mind is fresh when you try to pass the NCLEX, you will have a much higher chance of success.

Test Taking Cure – Program to help you pass the NCLEX.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Frank_Brown
http://EzineArticles.com/?Pass-the-NCLEX-and-Become-an-RN&id=3493483

NCLEX-RN exams have been developed by NCSBN and it is a computer based testing system. The exams are currently handled by Pearson VUE. If you would like to take the NCLEX-RN exam you would then need to make sure you have registered with the appropriate state board of Nursing first.

Pearson Vue is just a testing center and is not in any way connected with NCSBN or NCLEX-RN. They are just the testing center that facilitates the exam.

It is important to know that different state boards of nursing have different requirements. Make sure before taking the NCLEX-RN application, you are eligible. The first step upon determining that you are eligible is to send the state board of nursing of the territory where you would like to practice. Although the NCLEX-RN exam is nationwide, the eligibility to take the NCLEX exam is individual and unique per each state.

After being eligible, you would then need to register to pearson vue, and pay the appropriate fees. For international test takers, an additional $150 may be required.

The next step would be to register for the testing center where you would like to take the exam. There are nationwide and worldwide testing centers for Pearson VUE. It would be great if you could have your schedule weeks before starting the test to have ample time for your review.

Then after getting the Authorization to test you would then need to get started reviewing for the test.

Remember preparation is the key to success!

Click here -> Nclex Practice Test

If you would like to know where to get free nclex questions visit our site below.

** Disclaimer : The site below is not associated with NCLEX-RN, NCSBN or with any other organization. It is provided for educational purposes only and DOES NOT contain the real NCLEX questions.

Have you ever wanted to take practice for free nclex questions? Get Free Nclex Questions and help pass your tests!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_C_Duncan
http://EzineArticles.com/?Looking-For-Free-NCLEX-Questions-For-Practice?&id=2624460

With more and more people from within the United States and outside of it taking up the NCLEX in a bid to practice the nursing profession in the land of milk and honey, there has also been an increase in the number of online and offline companies offering NCLEX review courses. This is in line with good reason, because the passing standards in the NCLEX had been made even higher and a person wishing to pass the exam would need all the help he or she can get.

There are several kinds of review courses available online and choosing the right one is a formidable feat in itself. The amount of study effort that would take to pass the NCLEX varies with every person, meaning some may exert more while others may just treat the exam as just another walk in the park. In short, there is no hard-and-fast rule to studying for the NCLEX or more popularly said, “Different strokes for different folks.”

For some, too much reading materials for the NCLEX would just tend to clutter the mind and do more harm than good. For others, the more information they could get their hands on, the better. It really depends on the person.

In choosing review courses, one has to evaluate him or herself on what he or she needs. Do you need something that is brief, concise and no additional supplements? Or are you the type of person who wants to cover all the bases?

The next step is making the choice. The vendor of the product should be reputable and backed with a solid track record in providing study materials for the NCLEX. Naturally, it should come from practitioners who have practical and academic knowledge of what they seek to preach.

A good way to gauge the effectiveness of a review course is to ask around. Joining forums on the NCLEX is a big help, especially if the members have already successfully hurdled the exam. Try to ask them what review courses they used. They may be able to tell you the good ones from the bad lots. There is nothing better than an honest testimonial from a true user.

Remember, choosing the right nclex review course is important. The application fee and the frustration of failing the NCLEX alone will tell you to do it right the first time. For more information on NCLEX review courses, please visit http://www.nclexguides.com/nclex-study-guides.php The website will give you additional insights on how to choose a good review course.

Article Source: NCLEX Review Course – Which Are Good and More Importantly, Which Aren’t!

When we say safety, usually the first thing that comes into our minds is being safe from fatal accidents such as a car accident, gun shot, drowning, etc. On a nurse’s side, little did others know that a simple needlestick from a needle used to a HIV or Hep B or C positive patient is as fatal as the ones mentioned. While the former may instantly kill, the later would linger and would slowly lead to your demise.

As to the context of accidents and safety, an accident doesn’t always have to be so much bloody and serious; a pain brought by a mere fall could be called one. Let’s take for example a nurse working in the psychiatric unit; mentally challenged patients roam around the unit and their unpredictability is a threat. Sometimes nurses become ambivalent on restraints and morality issues because they don’t really know when these patients’ hostility would fire up. So when an unrestrained patient becomes uncontrollably hostile, accidents may follow involving both the patient and the attending nurse.

As a nurse, I believe a well digested education is the fulcrum to keep us fluent amidst work-related hazards; moreover, it will serve as a shield to protect us from the same. When we pledged to become nurses we also submitted ourselves to the consequences imposed by the profession…… But do we always have to cling and depend on these decrepit facts? Although, those may be facts but don’t you think we need more concrete and sturdy ones?

In the year 2007 I flew to the US. I was one of the few who were lucky to have been granted a job in the said country. But despite my confidence there’s still a fair amount of fear that daunted me: being all by myself. Adjusting in my new life in the foreign country was by far the most challenging. All the pressure was in me. I felt ashamed because it seemed like I was the smallest in the block. Imagine, the Americans were so tall and it often make me feel so detached being with them; very intimidating. I could honestly say that my confidence is slowly wearing-out. Maybe they were thinking that I can only perform limited works because of my height. But I was wrong. They respected me just like the rest of the members of the medical team. They commend my skills and even looked up on my capabilities. I realized, height, after all, does not matter. What matters is your performance, how you connect with your colleagues and how you deal with the stresses brought by your work.

True enough, height is might; but that ain’t matter to me…

As what I observed, Filipino nurses are the ones being treated pleasantly by the Americans. I think, it’s our empathy and love for our work that impress them. How we deal with our patients is very therapeutic compared to others. Filipino nurses have always been in demand to foreign countries especially here in the US.

Nowadays, realizing the American dream turns out to remain just a dream; pathetic. New Filipino nurses could no longer enter the US that simple unlike in our time wherein applying here was not yet that strict and complicated; lucky for me that I enjoyed that benefit.

To the new RN’s out there, do not lose hope. Don’t let your American dream rot; turn it into reality. If you have that desire of working here, start applying right now. Might as well start by taking the NCLEX; if you are an NCLEX passer, you are actually standing closer to living your American dream. Don’t let the global recession and other circumstances deter you. Keep the faith. Goodluck!!! =)

Since 2005, shortage of nurses has been foreseen to reach up to 260,000 in the entire country. To this end, studies show that the nursing shortage poses a considerably huge threat to the healthcare system of the country. One of the foreseen problems is when the older nurses retire, few if not none will fill in the space that they would leave behind.

Reasons point toward the unstable economy that incites the hospitals to suspend their hiring of nurses and a lack of nursing school graduates. Results of a certain study suggest that at least 50% of nurses in the US are planning to retire between the year 2011 and 2020.

This may be a good news to foreign nurses like Filipinos who have been yearning to work in the said country. One of the measures that authorities of the country may consider is to hire foreign educated nurses to address the shortage.