My Nursing Education

Whether you are getting ready to tes for the NURSING ENTRANCE EXAM, THE TEAS-ATT, OR THE HESI, most likely you will have to take a reading comprehension exam. Don’t let these reading comprehension exams fool you into thinking that you do not have to study. Actually, the most important one thing that you can do to ensure that you pass the NURSING ENTRANCE TEST is to study. But find the right material is still another problem. At the Nurses Learning Center students can find all of their testing needs in an online tutorials with over 1300 questions, answers, tests, and tutorials covering subjects such as Reading Comprehension, math, chemistry, biology, anatomy and physiology and English Grammar. Below is a reading comprehension passage. The student is asked to read the passage within ten minutes and answer the questions that come afterward. The online tests at the Nurses Learning Center are written to help students pass the NURSING ENTRANCE EXAM the first time.
Childhood Obesity in Society Today
By Nancy Kimmel R.N., 01/09/2009

The media constantly bombards children with mixed messages on a daily basis. On one hand, children see advertisements that tell them to eat candy, sugary sweets, starchy and fattening foods and drinks, while on the other hand their entertainment peers are svelte and skinny. Children also face pressure from their peers at school, dictating styles, behavior, how to act, dress and what body size is considered acceptable. While parents are trying their best to earn a living many make amends for the time they don’t get to spend with their children by indulging their weakness for sweets, candy and starches. Hence the child is placed in a vicious cycle that they are unable to escape, and obesity ensues. Parents, teachers as well as the media need to take notice of this spiraling epidemic of childhood obesity. While research has made some progress in elucidating the so called “fat gene”, the hard truth is that we as a society must change first before we can make a difference in our children’s eating habits. Read more »

How hard is the NURSING ENTRANCE TEST MATH SECTION?
Does the NURSING ENTRANCE TEST, OR N.E.T. contain any medication calculations?
The answer is yes! This may intimidate many students who are getting ready to take the N.E.T. There is hope. At the Nurses Learning Center students can study online tests and tutorials with unlimited access without worrying that they will lose their access. There are indeed some questions requiring knowledge of medication dosing calculations. These questions however can be broken down into simple ratios and proportions. The student will be using these formulas quite a bit during nursing school, where they can expect frequent medication calculation tests. The N.E.T. Study Guide author, Nancy Kimmel has broke down exactly how to solve for these ratio and proportion problems at the Nurses Learning Center. Whether the student is studying the drip factor of an IV or exactly how much medication to dispense, the student will find the information that they need to pass the NURSING ENTRANCE TEST MATH SECTION.

It is important for the student to prepare for the N.E.T. by getting a thorough understanding of how to use ratio and proportions prior to nursing school. One of the reasons that so many people do not do well on the MATH SECTION OF THE NURSING ENTRANCE TEST, is due to their lack of study in such subject matter.

MEDICATION SAFETY

While medications do a lot of good, most of them can cause a patient physical harm or death if too high a dose is administered. Because of this nurses typically double-check  and triple check their calculations when they are giving a new or potentially deadly medication, or have another nurse check their calculations.  As a nursing student you will check every doctor’s order with your instructor before the two of you act on the order. For a student to give a medication or change an IV rate without consultation with a professional is not permitted by this School or the clinical agencies. Medication safety is crucial. Below you will find some examples of ratio and proportion problems.

IV FLUIDS

The amount of fluids administered intravenously each hour should never be more than you would want to drink in an hour. Most often doctors order only about 4 ounces of IV fluid per hour for their clients. The Metric System is usually used by doctors to order the infusion rate for an IV. There are 30ml in an ounce of fluid. “Infuse 125 ml/ hour” is a common IV order. If the client has a heart or kidney problem, IV fluids might be restricted to 50 – 80ml/ hour. More than that could cause their lungs to fill with fluid, drowning them from the inside causing congestive heart failure.  In the following exercises if you get an answer wildly different from these numbers, your logic should tell you that your answer is probably wrong.

BASIC INFORMATION YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT AN IV

1. Usually IVs come in clear plastic bags with lines on the side showing how much fluid is left in the bag so a nurse can see how much of the IV has infused.
   
2. The most common size is about a quart which is equal to 1000 ml. 1000 ml is one liter. The total amount is printed on the bag.
   
3. There are many different solutions in these bags, but they all look the same. The name of the solution is printed on the bag. Even though they may be all piled in a heap on a shelf, it is critical that the correct solution be hung for each patient. The wrong solution could kill.
   
4. The tubing that connects the bag to the client comes in different diameters. The wider the tubing, the faster fluid gets into the client. When you look at the box the tubing came in it could give a “Drop Factor” of 10 drops/ ml or 12 or 15 or 20 drops/ ml. When the Drop Factor is between 10 – 20 it is called “macrodrip tubing”. A drip rate can’t be figured out unless you know the Drop Factor for the tubing being used.
   
5. Some tubing has a needle built in that limits the size of the drop that can enter the tubing from the IV bag. Pediatric nurses use this kind of tubing because their little patients can only tolerate tiny amounts of IV fluid. It takes 60 of these little drops to equal one ml. When the Drop Factor is 60 the tubing is called “microdrip tubing”
   
6. All IV tubing has a chamber at the end near the IV bag where nurses can see the fluid dripping out of the bag before the fluid enters the tubing. This is where they count the rate of the falling drops using the second hand on their watches. So you can check your answers for logic be aware that if the tubing delivers one ml every 10 drops, a drip rate of 21 will give the patient 125 ml in an hour. If the tubing delivers one ml every 15 drops, a drip rate of 31 will give the patient 125 ml in an hour.
   
7. If the drip rate is less than 10 drops each minute the client’s vein may clot off the IV, meaning s/he might have to get stuck again to start a new IV.
   
8. Just because the IV is no longer in the IV bag a nurse can not assume that it infused into the client. It could have disconnected and be in a puddle on the floor. Nurses always check the client’s infusion site to make sure everything is connected and the client’s arm looks okay.
   

FORMULAE AND PRACTICE

The goal for these exercises is for you to be able to quickly formulate and calculate IV problems.

This is a useful formula to compute the drip rate of an IV. Memorize it. You will need to prove that you can use it in every clinical course before you will be allowed into the clinical area.

= drops/minute

Another way of saying the same thing is:

Example #1

Dr. A. orders your client to receive 125 ml of D5W an hour for the next 8 hours. The nursing unit used tubing with a drop factor of 10. What is the drip rate?

Fill in the formula putting an X for the drip rate because that is what you want to know.

Notice that the fact that the information about 8 hours was not needed to figure out the drip rate.

Example #2

Dr. B. orders a liter of D5W to run this 8-hour shift. The drop factor is 15. Put this information in the formula with the X in the spot for the drip rate.

Example #3

Dr. C. wants your client to have 50 ml of a pre-mixed antibiotic. The Pharmacy writes, “infuse in 30 minutes”. The tubing box says drop factor = 15.

Many Thanks to the wonderful faculty at Fairleigh Dickinson College of Nursing

http://www.fdu.edu/

If you would like to begin to prepare to study for the N.E.T today, you will be making a decision that will help your chances at being placed on the nursing school waiting list before the other testers.

Anatomy and physiology review for the NURSING ENTRANCE TEST, THE TEAS-ATT, OR THE HESI, require that the student apply the nursing process. However, no one tells that student that those are the type of questions that they will see on the NURSING ENTRANCE TEST. The best preparation is for the student to read about how the nursing process applies to real world nursing, and thus see how their knowledge of anatomy and physiology is used in the health care field.

Nursing care for allergies include some of the following; identifying the level of health care deficit, providing comfort care, encouraging self care, promoting comfort, assuring that the patients airway is patent and free of any obstruction, and that is no further injury to skin integrity caused by scratching. Nursing diagnoses that are applicable to those suffering from allergies can include but are not limited to; impaired skin integrity related to persistent scratching secondary to an allergic reaction, knowledge deficit related to treatment of allergy symptoms and insufficient air exchange related to congestion secondary to an allergic reaction. Notice that nursing care and nursing diagnoses are not medical diagnoses, such as the diagnoses of an allergy or an allergic response. Nurses who specialize in care for patients with allergies and asthma are able to assist with diagnosis, establishing nursing care objectives and providing treatment. Nurses help determine the cause and treatment of allergic reactions, administer medication and monitor the patients progress throughout the treatment program. Allergy nurses must have knowledge of signs and symptoms allergic reactions and are trained to provide emergency treatments such as, resuscitation, emergency intubation and administration of proper medications when necessary. Allergy nurses help patients understand their conditions, medications and self-care skills.
To learn more about how to better study for the A&P section on the HESI, TEAS TEST, or THE NURSING ENTRANCE TEST, just go to the Nurses Learning Center.

1. Being admitted to nursing school is indeed a great accomplishment. Before you can get into nursing school you must first pass the NURSING ENTRANCE EXAM OR THE N.E.T. More now, than ever, is the need to be prepared for the fast paced two years of lecture and clinical rotation that lies ahead. Keeping some simple reminders will ensure a successful journey through nursing school. The best reward is graduating as a registered nurse. Some of us nurses have brained stormed the following tips. So have fun with the A, B, C’s of nursing school and best wishes for a bright and rewarding career! The most important step in beginning your nursing career is to begin studying for the N.E.T.
   

   It is good to be a nurse!

   The A’s
   Always be on time to class and clinicals. (10 to 15 minutes early is the best time)
   Always have on clean scrubs and shoes. (your appearance is a reflection of who you are)
   Answer instructors politely even if you feel they are in the wrong. (They never are)
   Ask questions only when the instructor opens the floor to questions. (Don’t interrupt their lecture, you can see them after class)
   Absolutely no chatting during a lecture.
   Argue, if you want to fail.
   Allocate time for yourself. (Do something nice, just for you and you alone)
   Advise your loved ones of the importance of study time.
   Abstain from activities that drain your mind and body. (you need all the strength and rest possible)
   Acknowledge that fact that you are doing the best that you can. (Forgive yourself)

The B’s

• Be kind to yourself
• Believe that you can make it through nursing school.
• Brave the hardest times. (There will be times that you will want to quit. Don’t ever, it will get better)
• Bring chocolates on the day of a test.  (Eat a few before a test.  The brain uses 100% glucose, your score may increase.)
• Buy your self a pair of comfortable nursing shoes. (You will be thankful that you did)
• Book Bags are a no no, use the ones on rollers.  (Save your back)
• Beauty is not important.  (Easy on the makeup)
• Beware of busy bodies. (Always be professional in or out of class and clinical. Never gossip about schoolmates or instructors.  It will come back to you 10 fold. )
• Balance your home and schoolwork.  (It is difficult to do at first, but it is a must.)
• Belong to a study group. (One that gets A’s )

The C’s

• Craming doesn’t get you A’s (take your time and study well in advance)
• Care about all that you do, especially the patients
• Caffine can be your best friend, but don’t over do it.
• Clear your mind of all your worries prior to an exam(remember, this is your carrer, and sometimes you only get this one chance, so do your best)
• Comfort is very important whether in school or in clinicals(always dress in loose fitting clothes, and wear comfortable supportive shoes) If your jeans are too tight, it is hard to breath and your brain doesn’t get enough oxygen.
• Crack open the books daily. (it is the only way to keep up with the material)
• Confine yourself to a designated study area where it is nice an quiet.  (keep one place in the house that is for you only.)
• Contemplate what a wonderful nurse you are going to be when you graduate. (It is important to be able to visualize your future accomplishments.  Keep the dream alive.)
• Cupid can wait until after your through with nursing school. (Beginning a new relationship isn’t the best thing for a nurse in training.  Be strong, it really isn’t that long.  You have your whole life ahead of you.)
• Call a friend or family member when you are feeling down. (It is important early in the game to establish your support base.  You will  need them.)

All of the above criteria to be successful as a nursing school student also applies to studying for the N.E.T. You can begin today, and increase your chances of getting into nursing school fast by getting the right study materials for the NURSING ENTRANCE TEST at the Nurses Learning Center.
Remember the ABC’s of Nursing School and be a success.

NLKimmel,RN,PhD,CHMM,CNAT

Students have to pass the TEAS, the HESI and the NET to get into nursing school. Finding the right tutorial can be frustrating. Now, students can have unlimited access to online tests that will help them to prepare for any nursing entrance test

“Too many students find my site after the fact.  They have failed either the HESI, TEAS or the NET more than one time and they are desperate.  I have had more than one conversation that centered around helping a student calm down and gain confidence.”

How does one go about to becoming  a Nurse?
There are several ways to become as a Registered Nurse: First and foremost you must pass the NURSING ENTRANCE TEST, THE N.E.T., THE HESI OR THE TEAS-ATT. After which the student will gain entry into the nursing program to earn an associate degree, bachelors degree or diploma as a registered nurse.  There are not as many diploma programs around as there once was.  Twenty to thirty years ago, it was commonplace for an student of nursing to live and work at a hospital.  It was at the hospital that the nurse was trained.  There the student learned hands on the true duties of a nurse.  There was book learning as well, but not as much as there is today.  There are diploma programs available for Licensed Practical Nurses.  There is one in Toledo, Ohio.  It has a waiting list about as long as registered nursing programs. Read more »

How Do We Learn Powerpoint

The Nursing Entrance Test – Psychological Profile Test

Anyone who takes the Nursing Entrance Test must take the psychological profile assessment upon completion of the math and reading comprehension sections. This assessment includes questions that may seem too personal for some people to comfortably divulge on topics that ask about details of their personalities, finances and emotions. Many of us are not predisposed to giving out details of our lives and about who we really are.

The first thing that the student is told when taking this assessment is that there are no points added or deducted for answers. Basically, the assessment section, as personal as it may seem, is actually used for statistical analysis. In other words, a study is done by compiling all of the information from everyone who has taken the Nursing Entrance Test and a profile of the typical nursing student emerges. This data is also stored for a period of time to be able to track those behaviors and personalities that are the most successful in the nursing program.

You and I may never be privy to this information or know what characteristics a typical nursing student embodies, except the company that is hired to do the analysis and the nursing schools. Therefore the best advice that can be given to someone who is about to take the Nursing Entrance Test is to Read more »

How Did Our Seminar Go?
10/23/09
Well folks we had a great time at the “Pass the N.E.T.” seminar last night. There were students all over the greater metro Detroit area present. A lot of learning took place. We had reading comprehension and math handouts, the Nursing Entrance CD, and a free subscription to the Nurses Learning Center online tutorial with practice tests, not to mention the four hours of one on one instruction and tutoring. It went great. We covered much of the pertinent topics, such as how to test smarter, not harder, tips on how to increase scores in the reading comprehension section and how to handle those difficult fractions in the math section. There was another seminar going on a few doors down dealing with improving reading comprehension abilities in high school students. They liked our handouts so much that they asked for some so they could incorporate it into their new curriculum design. What a wonderful night of learning.
There were many students that wanted to attend but couldn’t. They called asking if we were going to have another seminar. Indeed we are. Tentatively our next seminar date will be toward the middle of February. Look for flyers at your local college book stores. By the way, we would like to extend our many thanks to Pat, manager of all five of the Wayne County Community College Book stores who allowed us to put up our flyers, and a big thank you to our local Henry Ford Community College Book Store. We apologize to all of the students for giving such late notice regarding the seminar. So absolutely, we are going to do this again.
The staff at the Double Tree Hotel in Detroit, were courteous and professional in handling all of our needs. The tables had white table cloths with pitchers of fresh ice water and crystal glasses at each table. The participants had their own pen and pad of paper, and what beautiful room décor. We will certainly choose the Double Tree Experience again at our next seminar. Thanks again Double Tree.
In the seminar we covered test anxiety. This was a big topic. Students loose points due to test anxiety, even though they know the material. By tackling test anxiety and learning how to use visual guided imagery the student can increase their test score by ten points at the least. Many of the students had questions regarding how many times they could take the Nursing Entrance Test. Some schools will only allow three attempts, while other schools will allow unlimited attempts. Questions arose regarding whether or not the Nursing Entrance Test could be taken at one school and transferred to another. While some schools do accept the scores from other schools, it is not the norm. Most schools will only accept student’s scores on the Nursing Entrance Tests that they administer on campus. The NET (Nurse Entrance Test) is a computer based test consisting of six parts: math skills, reading comprehension, test taking skills, stress level, social interaction, and learning style. All six parts must be completed in order to receive scores and be considered for admission. However, only the math and reading scores will be used to calculate application eligibility. A reading score of 60% or higher and a math score of 50% or higher must be achieved for admission to one of the Maricopa Community Colleges’ Nursing Programs.

Math skills problems consist of whole numbers, decimals, fractions, percentages, number system conversions and algebra equations. Calculators are NOT allowed. Scratch paper will be provided.

Reading comprehension involves reading selections and answering questions. Not only do most schools prefer their student’s take the Nursing Entrance Test on their campus, but there are many versions of the N.E.T. circulating throughout the various nursing schools throughout the United States, such as the H.E.S.I., the ATT, and the T.E.A.S.. With all these variations of the N.E.T. it is no wonder that student’s have trouble with their search for reliable study materials. It is for this reason that we developed a comprehensive online tutorial platform that includes Anatomy and Physiology, Chemistry, Biology, English Grammar and heavy on the Math and Reading Comprehension. In doing this we have helped students prepare for any and all Nursing Entrance Tests successfully. Participants at the seminar were very pleased with all of the help and free software that they received. We are going to keep on developing more and more practice tests. We want everyone to pass the Nursing Entrance Test the first time.

What is the Nursing Entrance Test? The test evaluates areas that are essential for academic success including basic math skills up to beginning algebra and reading comprehension. The Nursing Entrance Test must be passed with a score that is dictated by the community college or university. Some nursing schools require higher passing scores than others. Also, some of the nursing schools are now beginning to allow only three attempts for passing. The test ranges in price from $25.00 to $40.00 depending on which nursing school you apply.

The Nursing Entrance Test provides a measurement of your scholastic abilities and compares them to mastery levels needed for success in college. The test contains 7 sections administered in this order: (1) Comprehensive Math, (2) Reading Rate, (3) Reading Comprehension, (4) Social Decisions, (5) Stressful Situation, (6) Learning Styles and (7) Test taking Skills. The time allotted for the test is 2 hours and 31 minutes. The only two sections that you are actually graded on for passing are the math and reading comprehension sections of the test.

Consequently, the stress is extremely high for first time test takers and even more so for those who are on their last and third try. This is the highest stress, because these people who are taking the Nursing Entrance Test for the third and last time have to make a decision about going to another nursing school if they fail, and hoping that the other nursing school will allow all of their credits to transfer. No matter how you look at it, the entire nursing program along with the necessary prerequisites takes about three years. Even though students may have finished a year of prerequisites, they cannot get onto the nursing school waiting list until they pass the Nursing Entrance Test, and after they pass there is a one to a two year wait. So, consequently, the stress levels are through the roof.

So what can you do to ease off some of this stress? Well, for starters it helps to be prepared the day of the test. The best advice to achieve successful results would be to get a tutorial that is as close to the Nursing Entrance Test content as possible. Fortunately, this software is available. The NET Study Guide is the most informative tutorial and offers a money back guarantee if you don’t pass. The software is set up identical to the Nursing Entrance Test, so the student can practice in the comfort of their own home. The slides are timed for one minute per slide, which is about the amount of time that you want to spend per question. Although the learner has the option of review and evaluation of their results anytime they wish as well as all of the answers with complete explanations in audio and visual format. There is also a hotline number that you can call if you get stuck on a problem. So, you are not alone.

Much of the stress that comes with learning and practicing new material is similar to feeling like being on an island. The NET Study Guide author, Dr. Nancy Lydia Kimmel is committed to giving as much help as possible to those who use the software in order for them to achieve successful results on the Nursing Entrance Test. How about handling stress the day of the test? There are many methods that can be used to enhance test performance and relieve stress. First, there is visual imagery. Visual imagery has to do with imagining your favorite place, putting yourself right in the scene. It is like a waking dream state. Try this simple visual imagery example and see how you feel afterward?

“Ask yourself this question. What is the most relaxing place that you can imagine? Is it in a cozy cabin in the middle of winter with the soft light of logs burning in the fireplace? Maybe you see yourself on a beach, lounging on a hammock, sipping a cold drink, listening to the sound of the soft waves lapping up to the shore, with a warm breeze blowing, and the sun gently caressing your skin. Take a deep breath of the fresh air, hold it in for a second or two, and then gently let it out through pursed lips. As you let the air out, you hear the seagull’s distant call. Let’s inhale one more time, in through the nose. As you breathe in, feel positive about yourself. You are in charge, you have studied, you know this material and you will do well. Now, let your breath out slowly through pursed lips, taking in the beauty around you. Relax your body, start with your toes, wiggle your toes and let out the tension, next let you legs go limp, relax, now your arms and your shoulders, now your head. Roll your head from side to side, let out all the stress, let go of all the negative energy, you don’t need it. Let it drain out through you body. Think positive, you know this material. You will do well.”

The above scenario is a type of visual imagery that is not only used for test anxiety but also in nursing, for patients to help them handle chronic pain. Test anxiety can cause approximately a 20-30% error rate. This can be the difference between a passing and failing score. You don’t want test anxiety to beat you. At the web site, www.thenetstudyguide.com you will be able to purchase test anxiety Audio CD’s put to gentle music with a calm quiet voice guiding the listener. You want to listen to this prior to going in to the test.

Stress has many adverse symptoms; it can raise the heart rate and respiration. Stress can cause other physical ailments such as gastric upset, heart palpitations and ulcers. These symptoms can be a very serious handicap to those wanting to learn. Continued stress can leave someone in a state of hopelessness. This is not what you want happening to you. You need to tackle your stress early, and know how to handle what ever comes your way. Always have a plan, and do not get discouraged. Remember, that the journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. It is very necessary to have a way to relax and focus to avoid crippling test anxiety. There is that stress which some refer to as beneficial stress. That is the stress that you feel good about, like the race that you had to run and practiced for all week. You want to turn negative stress into a positive stress with less emphasis on stress and more on your intellectual power.

If you have the desire to go into nursing, then you must first get ready to take the N.E.T., the HESI or the TEAS entrance test. You can begin preparing for your career by practicing your skills using the online tutorials and tests at The Nurses Learning Center. There are over 1000 questions and answers. You will get unlimited internet access, 24/7. It is yours to keep. New questions are added daily.   It is like taking the actual nursing entrance test in the privacy of your own home.  You have the option of taking a timed or an untimed test.  This option will help you develop your skills at test taking as well as devloping your critical thinking skills.

So you are thinking about your career or next career as a nurse. Your first hurtle is to pass the Nursing Entrance Test, the HESI or the TEAS TEST. The next step is nursing school. What then? Well, there are many avenues that nurses can take other than hospital or long term care nursing. There is the field of professional nurse medical expert.
The primary role of the nurse medical expert is to offer up their opinion to the jury in a fair and balanced manner. Nurses with specialty experience and training are more often called in as medical experts in many cases.  This is a upcoming field in the realm known as forensic nursing.  Forensic nursing is a relatively new medical practice that combines elements of law enforcement with health care. Forensic nurses may treat victims of violent crime, perform crime scene investigations or work as detectives in a clinical setting to help police catch and convict perpetrators. One of the most important duties in forensic nursing is assisting in the physical and emotional recovery of patients while protecting their rights.  The wealth and breadth of nursing experience in their field of specialty is widely accepted as testimony. Nurses are used in hotly contested legal proceedings, both sides have bias and both want to win. The goal of the nurse medical expert is to showcase his or her knowledge in an impartial way. However, this is difficult in some cases, especially since each side often hires its own medical expert, and the medical expert is collecting his paycheck from the attorney, who has a clear and strong bias. Read more »