As I anxiously await my NCLEX date (in 2 weeks!) I have began thinking ahead to finally searching for nursing jobs! The dreaded search can be an arduous process consisting of no replies, self-doubt and a mountain of competition for the one spot open on your dream unit. However, through sharing of tips and tricks, I am here to share with you my own tactics on how to rock a healthcare interview!
1. Be prepared with your resume
Of no surprise to those who know me in real life, I am come prepared with my resume in page protectors and bound in a grade school report slip. (You know, the ones with the clear plastic front and the three prongs to fit your paper into). On two interviews I went to (one being for my current job), the interviewer was extremely impressed with my presentation - and I was the only one to have my materials presented as such.
The organization of your resume is also extremely important. In the healthcare field most people have nearly identical resumes because we are all trying to gain the same experiences. Search online for different resume templates and see which one fits your needs/information best. Also, format your information from most descriptive/important, to least. I feel as though busy managers or nursing administrators look at a thousand resumes a day and don't cling on every single word you have typed on the page.
Letters of recommendation or reference contacts are also amazing. The healthcare field is strangely intimate for how many professionals it is comprised of, so make sure you leave positive impressions on everyone you meet and share those words when you can.
2. Put your best footwear forward
Dressing properly for an interview is super important. So far, I've been able to get away with my version of "business casual" - but I would say judge your appearance on the part. Being a freshman in college looking to start a career as a CNA to put yourself through nursing school is different than if you're a new graduate nurse that's interviewing 10 different people at a prestigious city teaching hospital that is nationally ranked.
3. Throw your personality into the interview
I love being able to throw my personality into answering interview questions.
Yes, my mouth is dry, my hands are sweating, and by the time I answer the question I have no clue which question I was even asked - but I had a smile on my face the whole time and even cracked a joke in the middle of it.
When someone is interviewing different people for one position you have to make the face-to-face contact really worth it - and what's an easier way to do that than to show your genuine self? Managers want to know what type of person they are hiring and if you seem genuine to the answers that you are providing. They also want to preliminarily judge if you will be a good fit with the other staff members.
4. Look up questions ahead of time to gather your thoughts
Even though each facility/unit has their own set of per-determined interview questions, look some up online. You will be able to gather your own thoughts for what might be asked of you during your interview, and it could ease some anxiety about the deep unknown.
Take some time to think about your own past experiences and right out key highlights. The jist of what happened, how you solved a problem appropriately, the resolution, how the whole situation made you feel and how the whole situation made you better.
I love giving examples during interviews because it gives me an opportunity to showcase some of my experience - of which everyone should be proud to do.
5. Do not take rejection personally
Okay, let's say you put your best foot forward, feel like there's nothing you can do to improve your resume anymore and cracked a million and two jokes during your interview that everyone laughed at. But you still did not get the job. Now what?
Do not take it personal. The healthcare field is an extremely competitive market and per facility there are only so many openings at one time.
Someone might've been farther along in the interview process than you and they got hired after your interview -
Someone could have already earmarked a position through HR so that's why the application is still open but your information got rejected -
Maybe you just were not fit for the job.
But do not worry (try not to) - keep searching, keep looking - the dream job does not pop up overnight, even though it seems like all of your friends were set to go weeks before graduation even came/months before NCLEX even happened.
A job will open for you. And if it's not your perfect cup of tea, practice safely, put in your best work ethic, be an advocate for your patient, and transfer to your dream unit in a year.
Thank you for reading! This post applies to finding any healthcare job! I hope you enjoyed.
- Michelle
#BSNbabe
Showing posts with label #BSNbabe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #BSNbabe. Show all posts
Monday, March 5, 2018
Monday, February 19, 2018
Healthy Beauty for Healthcare Workers
Good morning BSN Babes!
I wanted to dedicate an entire blog post to a movement that has been bouncing around in my brain since the new year began.
Now, as a BSNbabe Beauty background: I am a self-proclaimed beauty addict with a passion for all things makeup, hair and skin care! I have an extensive makeup collection, and have really begun focusing on healthy skin within the last few years as I entered my early 20's. I have dry skin, thin hair that has a tendency to have dry ends, and my favorite makeup items are foundation and mascara.
Previously, in my mass-makeup purchasing, I wouldn't pay any mind to ingredient lists or brand status on animal cruelty. However, with the beginning of 2018 opening my mind to new opportunities, I have dedicated myself to be a consumer of natural, cruelty free, and [hopefully] 100% organic beauty products.
In order to not waste money, product, or abuse landfill space, I fully intend on using all of the current makeup that I own throughout the year - recycling empty packaging and repurchasing needed items that fit my new natural beauty mission.
With my future professional healthcare career on the horizon [my NCLEX test date keeps getting closer and closer] I have also began thinking about products that will service my skin during long twelve hour shifts in a hospital setting. This had led to many study breaks spent browsing Ulta's website for affordable, cute, and natural/cruelty-free beauty items! I have concocted an extensive product wish-list on my Ulta account's Favorite List, and I wanted to shed some light on products that I am excited to try this year!
Click on any of the links to be transported to the Ulta website! Investigate these products to your heart's content and figure out how you can implement cleaner beauty into your routine! These links are not affiliate links - I just love using Ulta's reward system and know you do too!
Now, my routine shower products are: Shampoo (Sometimes a dandruff shampoo because you can't be flawless all the time haha), Conditioner, Body Scrub, and an Exfoliating face wash.
Here are some options I am interested in trying!
I personally have never tried the Shea Moisture brand before, but I'm insanely curious to try it now. My hair is fine, thin and has a tendency to lay flat on my head with minimal volume. Also, I get very dry ends when I let my hair grow long - so a moisturizing conditioner is a must for me the majority of the year.
Currently I am using a duo Garnier Fructise moisturizing shampoo and condition - which actually was better for my body and the environment than I would have guessed.
I don't know about you, but I feel an absolute need to exfoliate after every shift at work. There's something about being in the healthcare field for 8-12 hours that just makes you want to shed skin cells once your home. Being able to find a natural, exfoliating body scrub is a must have for me now. Once I finish my large bottle of my Caress exfoliating body wash I'm definitely going to pick this gem up.
Wearing makeup during your entire shift can lead you to have insanely clogged pores. To fight that I opt for an exfoliating face wash to clear out my pores and get rid of all of the makeup on my face. I have religiously been using the Biore charcoal scrub, but went on the hunt for better alternatives. Burt's Bee's is famous for their more natural ingredient products at affordable prices. I found this Deep Pore Scrub for only a few dollars more than the face wash I am using now!
Quality and natural skin care can become extremely pricey; that's why most of the time I previously opted for inexpensive unnatural products that did the job. However, with this new wave of beauty reflection, I am 100% to dropping more cash on clearer, healthier skin.
My normal skincare routine consists of eye-makeup remover, toner, and lotion.
Here are some options I am interested in trying!
The Body Shop was definitely one of those brands that I avoided in high school and college because I would rather buy my 7th bronzer instead of high quality ingredient skin care items. This past year I began using the Simple eye-makeup remover, which is very good for your skin and inexpensive. However, with the wave of wanting to go even the extra mile - this is a great find to earn some points with on your Ulta account, and is a larger quantity than the small Simple eye makeup remover that is not currently sold on Ulta's website.
I was genuinely shocked to notice that Botanics is a true drug-store priced brand that offered great products. I genuinely overlooked them due to lack of knowledge about the brand, so I am happy to have found them now. I use toners and different Micellar waters in the mornings to cleans my face after sleeping. I am a night-time shower taker, where I use my exfoliating face wash, so in the mornings I simply smooth over my skin with products like these to get residue or pillow germs off my face before applying makeup. 
Eye cream is so important! Take some of the overtime money and splurge on some!
Natural Deodorant is something that scares me to death. I definitely love and appreciate not having stinky arm pits - but I am worried and disgusted by the use of aluminum in normal deodorants. As a woman with a family history of breast cancer, I want to take it upon myself to try and eliminate that large risk factor from my life. I have known about the Lavanila deodorant line for a while, but always had that fear of stinky under-arms! But, as soon as my Secret Deodorant runs out you best believe I will try a trial size of the Vanilla deodorant and give it a go.
(I should do a supplemental blog post chronicling my journey during an eight hour shift with the use of a natural deodorant!)
What I do think is really cool is the Lavanilla brand's new under-armpit detoxifying mask. Does it really work? I don't have a clue. It could be a completely gimmicky product, but I'll test out the waters for the sake of health!
(I should do a supplemental blog post chronicling my journey during an eight hour shift with the use of a natural deodorant!)
What I do think is really cool is the Lavanilla brand's new under-armpit detoxifying mask. Does it really work? I don't have a clue. It could be a completely gimmicky product, but I'll test out the waters for the sake of health!
Finding more natural and organic makeup is even more uncharted territory for me than finding natural or organic skin care! Even though there are so many under the radar organic makeup brands, the inner beauty diva in me does not want to let go of "high-end name brand" companies that produce products that I know and love. With makeup, I am cutting myself some slight slack and am 100% opting for only cruelty free brands. If I also find more natural ingredient brands - like Burt's Bees makeup and Physician's Formula (Also cruelty free) I will definitely click "Add to Bag" with those items. But I selfishly refuse to relinquish my love for Urban Decay, Milani, NYX, Too Faced, IT Cosmetics and Smashbox - which are not natural/organic but are Peta-certified Cruelty Free Brands that do not test products on animals.
I was amazed to learn that Tarte is not only cruelty free - but has products that are vegan! Click here to go to their website and look at the products they list as vegan friendly! (Spoiler Alert: the shape tape concealer is on there!)
I was amazed to learn that Tarte is not only cruelty free - but has products that are vegan! Click here to go to their website and look at the products they list as vegan friendly! (Spoiler Alert: the shape tape concealer is on there!)
In January I started using the Peta Brand Search Engine to search for brands that I know and love and check their cruelty free status. I already knew Maybelline and L'Oreal were not cruelty free, but I was pleasantly surprised to find other brands that I was interested in were cruelty free.
Side note: I was shocked and disappointed that Benefit is not cruelty free.
Pacifica is a another brand that I overlooked due to it "not being popular" or talked about by every beauty guru on Youtube. However, this new Hydro Mist interests me so much! It is labeled as being 100% vegan - and as a girl who can sometimes get a little heavy handed with setting powder, a nice setting spray is needed in my beauty routine. Also, when you are working long shifts in the healthcare world, having something to lock in your makeup is a must have. You would like to have some foundation on your face when you're giving shift change report at 7, right??
What I love most about Physicians Formula is they have a line of products that are certified 100% organic. The rest of their items have more natural ingredients, but these specific products are no-joke good for you and your body!
Other drug store priced brands like NYX have stolen my heart since I started wearing makeup as a Sophomore in High school (8 years ago!). Milani, Flower Beauty, and Wet N Wild are ones that joined the party as I began exploring - and I am happy to report that they are all cruelty free!
I hope that you enjoyed reading this post and that you consider spicing up your own beauty routine for the better! They always say that healthcare workers have to do things for themselves before they do things for others - and implementing these products into your routine allows you to secretly pamper yourself before you go rock spiking those IV bags and listening to heart sounds!
- Michelle
#BSNbabe
Monday, February 5, 2018
HIPPA Compliance in Health Care Social Media
Being a part of the healthcare social media world has opened my eyes to new opportunities to share experiences and information, to meet new friends, and to challenge myself in the face of new obstacles. The first obstacle I can think of is trying to maintain helpful, consistent content that will maintain a following, while still maintaining privacy. With every post I make, especially after graduating nursing school and starting a new job while I wait to take NCLEX, I find myself increasingly worried about maintaining interest while being acutely aware of HIPPA.
Much like nursing school, my post-graduation job has been full of information, learning experiences, and growth. However, I have an instinctive shyness to sharing all of the information that I am learning due to the fact that the information is extremely niche-oriented. This causes a level of difficulty when it comes to trying to morph my stories and lessons into general content that I feel comfortable sharing online for the safety of everyone involved.
Now, of course in stories I would never mention gender, names, location, explicit diagnoses, or other intimate details - but I still feel this innate urge to keep all of the information hidden within myself "because someone on the planet can crack my code and find out everything that I was trying to conceal while still sharing important, educational content".
In nursing school, it was extremely easy because everything that is learned within each semester is relatively standard among the different programs within the United States. During clinical you are there once a week for a few hours, and do not become as intensely involved as you would if you were working full time on that unit. Also, describing your personal learning experiences is fun and exciting while in nursing school.
"Oh, I did my first Foley today and got it on my first try!"
"Really? I didn't, can you give me some tips?"
I feel as though in nursing school you can only really get in trouble if you are taking pictures of things during clinical that you are most definitely not supposed to be taking pictures of. (There are countless articles out about those situations happening! Be careful with what you post and who sees it!)
- For example, last semester my school sent out an email saying that it stated in the handbook that students were not allowed to take pictures in their uniforms unless and post them to social media unless they were taken by the school for their own media purposes.
So, as a social media "influencer" in the healthcare world, it is difficult to be transparent with your life and experiences when you are internally sworn to "secrecy" and are apparently becoming a work-aholic (*cough cough*: me).
Aside from being busy studying for NCLEX, that is partly why my actual blog posts have been less timely: Because my current life throughout the month of February will be consumed with NCLEX prep (which I already did a blog post about), and working full time.
But don't worry, after NCLEX that will be a massive social media revamp of my blog, Youtube vlogs, Twitter, and Instagram posts #RNBSNbabe ;)
Overall, please understand and practice HIPPA, for yourself and for others. You might not have "ground breaking" content every week of the month, but you are providing safety and security for yourself and your patients. Remember, you aren't working on this degree to have it thrown away by a silly social media post.
Thank you for reading!
- Michelle
#BSNbabe
Much like nursing school, my post-graduation job has been full of information, learning experiences, and growth. However, I have an instinctive shyness to sharing all of the information that I am learning due to the fact that the information is extremely niche-oriented. This causes a level of difficulty when it comes to trying to morph my stories and lessons into general content that I feel comfortable sharing online for the safety of everyone involved.
Now, of course in stories I would never mention gender, names, location, explicit diagnoses, or other intimate details - but I still feel this innate urge to keep all of the information hidden within myself "because someone on the planet can crack my code and find out everything that I was trying to conceal while still sharing important, educational content".
In nursing school, it was extremely easy because everything that is learned within each semester is relatively standard among the different programs within the United States. During clinical you are there once a week for a few hours, and do not become as intensely involved as you would if you were working full time on that unit. Also, describing your personal learning experiences is fun and exciting while in nursing school.
"Oh, I did my first Foley today and got it on my first try!"
"Really? I didn't, can you give me some tips?"
I feel as though in nursing school you can only really get in trouble if you are taking pictures of things during clinical that you are most definitely not supposed to be taking pictures of. (There are countless articles out about those situations happening! Be careful with what you post and who sees it!)
- For example, last semester my school sent out an email saying that it stated in the handbook that students were not allowed to take pictures in their uniforms unless and post them to social media unless they were taken by the school for their own media purposes.
So, as a social media "influencer" in the healthcare world, it is difficult to be transparent with your life and experiences when you are internally sworn to "secrecy" and are apparently becoming a work-aholic (*cough cough*: me).
Aside from being busy studying for NCLEX, that is partly why my actual blog posts have been less timely: Because my current life throughout the month of February will be consumed with NCLEX prep (which I already did a blog post about), and working full time.
But don't worry, after NCLEX that will be a massive social media revamp of my blog, Youtube vlogs, Twitter, and Instagram posts #RNBSNbabe ;)
Overall, please understand and practice HIPPA, for yourself and for others. You might not have "ground breaking" content every week of the month, but you are providing safety and security for yourself and your patients. Remember, you aren't working on this degree to have it thrown away by a silly social media post.
Thank you for reading!
- Michelle
#BSNbabe
Monday, January 22, 2018
The Importance of Taking Time for Yourself as a Healthcare Student or Professional
As I continue to spend my mornings studying for NCLEX, I have started to spend my evenings working in a nursing support position at a healthcare facility. My shifts are eight hours long, so in order to reach full time hours I work almost every day of the week. Studying and working every day, each week can lead to exhaustion, frustration and a sense of hoplessness with your never ending schedule. This is why taking time for yourself is important so you do not get burnt out.
As a student nurse, taking time for yourself is very important because getting burnt out can have lasting effects. You could start slacking in school due to a loss of motivation, missing information from fatigue, and perhaps even need to repeat a course because you didn't put in the effort that you specifically needed to for that material. Spending your non-test weekends out with friends, catching up on Netflix or reading a text book other than nursing is important to recharge your brain.
Don't worry, you won't fail your OB/Peds class if you take one night off of studying!
As a nursing professional it is even more important to take time for yourself so you are not fatigued and end up making simple mistakes with patient care. Frustration from home or exhaustion can seep into your bedside manner, causing you to lose sight of how you truly are as a nurse. Competence, respect and patience are key items for any nurse to bring to their patient care routine, and if you feel stuck at work all the time, you will quickly lose sight of those items.
Working 24/7 also provides you a greater chance of you bringing work home with you - which is something that is also not proper. You might find yourself getting frustrated at simple things, being crabby towards your friends and family, or shutting yourself off from the world all the time after work. None of those characteristics are healthy, and require re-evaluation of your current lifestyle!
Personally, I turn to several things when I am looking to decompress and take time for myself. When I can, I always jump at the chance to hang out with my friends. Having a night out laughing is always a great way to recharge and wake up to your professional responsibilities the next day.
However, if they're all working or busy I never deny my bed! Taking naps or catching up on my favorite TV shows (any Real Housewives series, Catfish, Friends and Sex in the City).
Working out and lifting weights is something that I also love to do. Aside from the natural release of endorphins, working towards a stronger body and being more confident in my own skin naturally makes me more motivated for life. I always have this dream of myself being this toned, bad-ass nurse - and spending an hour or so at the gym just brings me one step closer to being so!
Finding a creative hobby, one that you have to self-learn or go to a class to complete, might be a great idea as a way to de-stress. Focusing on the task (like focusing on reps or form when working out) will allow you to not focus on the stresses of day-to-day work life. Also, you are bound to expand your friend circle with like-minded crafters or hobby-enthusiests!
One particular hobby that I am extremely curious to learn now is crocheting! I think it would be so cool to learn how to crochet items such as scarves, hate, or decorative mats!
I hope that this blog post lit a fire under your butt to re-evaluate your extremely busy schedule and take a moment for yourself. Whether it be a half hour walk in nice weather, an hour gym session, or an evening with your best friends that limits work conversations - take the time to reward yourself for all of the hard work you are doing. Getting into the habit of implementing these things into your routine sooner rather than later will only set you up for long-term success in the healthcare industry. Being a healthcare professional (future or current) can take a lot out of one single person, so it is always important to refresh your mind, body, and spirit.
Thank you so much for reading! I hope you have a fabulous rest of your week!
- Michelle
#BSNbabe
I am an amazon affiliate, so some links are affiliate links through Amazon.
As a student nurse, taking time for yourself is very important because getting burnt out can have lasting effects. You could start slacking in school due to a loss of motivation, missing information from fatigue, and perhaps even need to repeat a course because you didn't put in the effort that you specifically needed to for that material. Spending your non-test weekends out with friends, catching up on Netflix or reading a text book other than nursing is important to recharge your brain.
Don't worry, you won't fail your OB/Peds class if you take one night off of studying!
As a nursing professional it is even more important to take time for yourself so you are not fatigued and end up making simple mistakes with patient care. Frustration from home or exhaustion can seep into your bedside manner, causing you to lose sight of how you truly are as a nurse. Competence, respect and patience are key items for any nurse to bring to their patient care routine, and if you feel stuck at work all the time, you will quickly lose sight of those items.
Working 24/7 also provides you a greater chance of you bringing work home with you - which is something that is also not proper. You might find yourself getting frustrated at simple things, being crabby towards your friends and family, or shutting yourself off from the world all the time after work. None of those characteristics are healthy, and require re-evaluation of your current lifestyle!
Personally, I turn to several things when I am looking to decompress and take time for myself. When I can, I always jump at the chance to hang out with my friends. Having a night out laughing is always a great way to recharge and wake up to your professional responsibilities the next day.
However, if they're all working or busy I never deny my bed! Taking naps or catching up on my favorite TV shows (any Real Housewives series, Catfish, Friends and Sex in the City).
Working out and lifting weights is something that I also love to do. Aside from the natural release of endorphins, working towards a stronger body and being more confident in my own skin naturally makes me more motivated for life. I always have this dream of myself being this toned, bad-ass nurse - and spending an hour or so at the gym just brings me one step closer to being so!
Finding a creative hobby, one that you have to self-learn or go to a class to complete, might be a great idea as a way to de-stress. Focusing on the task (like focusing on reps or form when working out) will allow you to not focus on the stresses of day-to-day work life. Also, you are bound to expand your friend circle with like-minded crafters or hobby-enthusiests!
One particular hobby that I am extremely curious to learn now is crocheting! I think it would be so cool to learn how to crochet items such as scarves, hate, or decorative mats!
I hope that this blog post lit a fire under your butt to re-evaluate your extremely busy schedule and take a moment for yourself. Whether it be a half hour walk in nice weather, an hour gym session, or an evening with your best friends that limits work conversations - take the time to reward yourself for all of the hard work you are doing. Getting into the habit of implementing these things into your routine sooner rather than later will only set you up for long-term success in the healthcare industry. Being a healthcare professional (future or current) can take a lot out of one single person, so it is always important to refresh your mind, body, and spirit.
Thank you so much for reading! I hope you have a fabulous rest of your week!
- Michelle
#BSNbabe
I am an amazon affiliate, so some links are affiliate links through Amazon.
Monday, January 15, 2018
Staring off the New Year on the Wrong Foot
Most people look at the new year as the beginning of brand new opportunities.
"Out with the old, in with the new!"
"New year, new me!"
"I'm ready to start fresh!"
Now, if you're like me, you have uttered or thought those phrases and have conjured up the grandest of plans for how you're going to create "a brand new life in this new year".
However, life runs it's course and a wrench can be thrown in your plans. Now it's two weeks into the new year, you haven't been to the gym like you said you were going to and your stuck in a rut over your future plans. This is where I am standing right now.
To be completely honest and transparent in this blog post, the first two weeks of 2018 have not shaped up to be as glamorous as I had hoped they would be.
I have been to the gym a total of 1 day.
I'm stuck studying for NCLEX until March.
I have not been paying as much attention to my social media endeavors as I had hoped I would.
If you can apply to this "new year, new rut" feeling to the beginning of nursing school, I can empathize and sympathize with you. Whether you are starting off the new year repeating a class that you did not pass last semester, or struggling in your new one - believe me, I am sharing your struggle in my post-graduation life right now.
However, despite this "rut", I am prompting you - the reader of this blog - to do what I am trying to do right now in this moment.
1. Take deep breaths.
2. REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO AMAZING THINGS AND THAT YOU ARE MEANT TO DO AMAZING THINGS
3. Do not let your current situation get you down too much. It is a bad day or a bad situation - it is not going to be a bad year overall.
The only thing right now that is making me excited about the future is morphing myself into the role of my new job in a nursing-assistive role. I am two weeks in, learning the ropes and getting excited about implementing myself into this specific healthcare establishment.
Perhaps my set backs have larger things planned for me, ones that I cannot foresee right now.
Perhaps yours are too!
Do not give up in this new year! The journey is not over yet, and you have so much ahead of you!
Rock 2018
- Michelle
#BSNbabe
"Out with the old, in with the new!"
"New year, new me!"
"I'm ready to start fresh!"
Now, if you're like me, you have uttered or thought those phrases and have conjured up the grandest of plans for how you're going to create "a brand new life in this new year".
However, life runs it's course and a wrench can be thrown in your plans. Now it's two weeks into the new year, you haven't been to the gym like you said you were going to and your stuck in a rut over your future plans. This is where I am standing right now.
To be completely honest and transparent in this blog post, the first two weeks of 2018 have not shaped up to be as glamorous as I had hoped they would be.
I have been to the gym a total of 1 day.
I'm stuck studying for NCLEX until March.
I have not been paying as much attention to my social media endeavors as I had hoped I would.
If you can apply to this "new year, new rut" feeling to the beginning of nursing school, I can empathize and sympathize with you. Whether you are starting off the new year repeating a class that you did not pass last semester, or struggling in your new one - believe me, I am sharing your struggle in my post-graduation life right now.
However, despite this "rut", I am prompting you - the reader of this blog - to do what I am trying to do right now in this moment.
1. Take deep breaths.
2. REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO AMAZING THINGS AND THAT YOU ARE MEANT TO DO AMAZING THINGS
3. Do not let your current situation get you down too much. It is a bad day or a bad situation - it is not going to be a bad year overall.
The only thing right now that is making me excited about the future is morphing myself into the role of my new job in a nursing-assistive role. I am two weeks in, learning the ropes and getting excited about implementing myself into this specific healthcare establishment.
Perhaps my set backs have larger things planned for me, ones that I cannot foresee right now.
Perhaps yours are too!
Do not give up in this new year! The journey is not over yet, and you have so much ahead of you!
Rock 2018
- Michelle
#BSNbabe
Monday, January 1, 2018
2018: New Year, New Nurse
January 1st, 2018:
With the new year, a new career, and a whole world ahead of me I have come to create a new social media campaign for all new nurses.
"New Year, New Nurse" (#newyearnewnurse) is a social media motion that is meant to unite, inspire, and highlight all of the new-graduate nurses. Whether you are six months into your new career (after graduating in May 2017) or just graduated in December and are starting off January taking NCLEX and searching for your perfect first RN job, all are welcome to join the journey.
Becoming a new graduate nurse is a moment that I've dreamed of for the past four and a half years, and now that it is finally here there is a fire within me to be successful and create a movement within the healthcare field.
My 2018 professional goals for this year include learning the ropes of a brand new nursing job, growing in my social media presence through new blog posts about being a new nurse, vlogging my new phase of life, and reaching out to help others through their own journey.
All of my social media pages are linked in the side bar on the right hand side of the page! I look forward to bringing you fresh, innovative, exciting content revolving around the field of nursing in 2018!
In celebration of this new social media motion, I have a new coupon code for my Etsy decal store!
Use the code "NEWYEARNEWNURSE" or click on this link to save 18% off your entire order of BSNbabe decals/stickers.
You can also shop my closet on my PoshMark account! The prices that I have listed are 100% negotiable and offers are welcome. These are all things that I am wanting to give to a new home, so please browse!
Love always,
Michelle
#BSNbabe
With the new year, a new career, and a whole world ahead of me I have come to create a new social media campaign for all new nurses.
"New Year, New Nurse" (#newyearnewnurse) is a social media motion that is meant to unite, inspire, and highlight all of the new-graduate nurses. Whether you are six months into your new career (after graduating in May 2017) or just graduated in December and are starting off January taking NCLEX and searching for your perfect first RN job, all are welcome to join the journey.
Becoming a new graduate nurse is a moment that I've dreamed of for the past four and a half years, and now that it is finally here there is a fire within me to be successful and create a movement within the healthcare field.
My 2018 professional goals for this year include learning the ropes of a brand new nursing job, growing in my social media presence through new blog posts about being a new nurse, vlogging my new phase of life, and reaching out to help others through their own journey.
All of my social media pages are linked in the side bar on the right hand side of the page! I look forward to bringing you fresh, innovative, exciting content revolving around the field of nursing in 2018!
In celebration of this new social media motion, I have a new coupon code for my Etsy decal store!
Use the code "NEWYEARNEWNURSE" or click on this link to save 18% off your entire order of BSNbabe decals/stickers.
You can also shop my closet on my PoshMark account! The prices that I have listed are 100% negotiable and offers are welcome. These are all things that I am wanting to give to a new home, so please browse!
Love always,
Michelle
#BSNbabe
Monday, December 25, 2017
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas to all those who celebrate this specific Holiday! Thank you so much for traveling with me along my nursing school journey, through my last semester of school, my NCLEX prep and eventually my new-graduate experience!
I look forward to bringing you fresh new content as we roll into 2018!
I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful holiday!
- Love always,
Michelle
#BSNbabe
I look forward to bringing you fresh new content as we roll into 2018!
I hope everyone has a safe and wonderful holiday!
- Love always,
Michelle
#BSNbabe
Monday, December 18, 2017
Life After Nursing School: NCLEX Prep
Well, now that I am officially done with nursing school I can now move on to the most dreaded exam of every nursing student's life: NCLEX. I do not have a set NCLEX testing date yet, but that is not stopping me from starting studying in between the holiday festivities. Throughout this blog post I will highlight various informative pieces regarding two different NCLEX items that I have either purchased and used, or have purchased and plan to use shortly.
The first general tip I have for you is to go out and buy a large NCLEX study book. Barnes and Noble has their giant nursing school section, complete with NCLEX preparedness books. The Saunders edition NCLEX book is one that I have heard rave reviews about, and has very high ratings online.
HURST
I have sat in on four different Hurst information sessions to make sure that it was really the program for me, and I can say that I am very happy with my purchase. I am one of those people that are too terrified of NCLEX to not take a review course. I figured, I have now spent thousands of dollars and four and a half years of my life in nursing school to get to this point - a few hundred more won't kill me if it lets me take this course.
What I know of Hurst to offer is: One multi-day live review course (with all subsequent sign-ups free of charge) and one 90 day access to a plethora of online materials. I personally have not opened my online materials yet because the representatives have always told me to wait to open them until I am finished with my final live review day. However, from what I know about the online material, it is comprised of content lessons covering every single inch of basic nursing content, and has different quizzes and exams for practice.
Personally, I am a nursing student that does not struggle with test anxiety or test-taking strategies as much as I do with knowing nitty-gritty content details. I would get 100% of my select-all's correct if I knew 100% of the information. However, it doesn't always work out that way - so I am glad that I purchased an NCLEX test prep that was content based.
What I find the most reassuring about Hurst is that they have a money-back guarantee if you do not pass NCLEX on the first try, after using their services in the way that they have them scheduled (I have asked one of their representatives in an information session before, and they have a special analytic system to track the use of each person, so they are able to truly tell whether or not you have used all of your materials or were slacking off).
I am very excited about going to my second review course and being able to open up the different online materials. Now, if you cannot attend a live review you can always schedule an online-live review. Online live-reviews are sessions in which one is live-streamed so you can watch it at home on your computer. The last option for purchasing a HURST package is just purchasing the online course material without a review lecture attached. I had a friend last winter take NCLEX with only using the online content material, and she passed just fine, so the in-class sessions are a preference based item.
U-WORLD
The second NCLEX testing prep that I am looking into trying is U-World. U-World is something that I have only heard about for the past semester, but I am very interested in trying it. After browsing their website I have found that they offer different packages of practice NCLEX questions, each containing a varying amount of account access time. Each time limit has a different price attached. (For example, my friend has a three-month access period for practice questions for around $130).
I have previous classmates and friends who have used both Hurst and U-World, and say that the combination is a winning ticket. From these sources, I have been told that U-World test and quiz questions emulate the wording of NCLEX questions, so you are able to "warm up" to the feel of the test before it's actually in front of you on the computer.
________________________________________________________________________________
_
Now, depending on where you are in the program, you might be thinking:
"What, Michelle, I've only just begun, I don't want to think about NCLEX now".
Well, you will have this post to reflect on once the time has come for you to start thinking about NCLEX. There a lot of products out there that are promoted to help you pass NCLEX, and the whole game is finding the right product that fits your learning style. For instance, I will never use KAPLAN NCLEX prep because I know that I do not have a problem with the process of answering questions.
I will do a follow-up post with more in-depth information after I take and pass my NCLEX exam, so that way I can give a full, well-rounded review about products, tactics, and strategies that I used to bring me success. I hope that this post was able to open your eyes and tickle your ears with the new and exciting world of NCLEX prep!
Study hard!
- Michelle
#BSNbabe
The first general tip I have for you is to go out and buy a large NCLEX study book. Barnes and Noble has their giant nursing school section, complete with NCLEX preparedness books. The Saunders edition NCLEX book is one that I have heard rave reviews about, and has very high ratings online.
HURST
I have sat in on four different Hurst information sessions to make sure that it was really the program for me, and I can say that I am very happy with my purchase. I am one of those people that are too terrified of NCLEX to not take a review course. I figured, I have now spent thousands of dollars and four and a half years of my life in nursing school to get to this point - a few hundred more won't kill me if it lets me take this course.
What I know of Hurst to offer is: One multi-day live review course (with all subsequent sign-ups free of charge) and one 90 day access to a plethora of online materials. I personally have not opened my online materials yet because the representatives have always told me to wait to open them until I am finished with my final live review day. However, from what I know about the online material, it is comprised of content lessons covering every single inch of basic nursing content, and has different quizzes and exams for practice.
Personally, I am a nursing student that does not struggle with test anxiety or test-taking strategies as much as I do with knowing nitty-gritty content details. I would get 100% of my select-all's correct if I knew 100% of the information. However, it doesn't always work out that way - so I am glad that I purchased an NCLEX test prep that was content based.
What I find the most reassuring about Hurst is that they have a money-back guarantee if you do not pass NCLEX on the first try, after using their services in the way that they have them scheduled (I have asked one of their representatives in an information session before, and they have a special analytic system to track the use of each person, so they are able to truly tell whether or not you have used all of your materials or were slacking off).
I am very excited about going to my second review course and being able to open up the different online materials. Now, if you cannot attend a live review you can always schedule an online-live review. Online live-reviews are sessions in which one is live-streamed so you can watch it at home on your computer. The last option for purchasing a HURST package is just purchasing the online course material without a review lecture attached. I had a friend last winter take NCLEX with only using the online content material, and she passed just fine, so the in-class sessions are a preference based item.
U-WORLD
The second NCLEX testing prep that I am looking into trying is U-World. U-World is something that I have only heard about for the past semester, but I am very interested in trying it. After browsing their website I have found that they offer different packages of practice NCLEX questions, each containing a varying amount of account access time. Each time limit has a different price attached. (For example, my friend has a three-month access period for practice questions for around $130).
I have previous classmates and friends who have used both Hurst and U-World, and say that the combination is a winning ticket. From these sources, I have been told that U-World test and quiz questions emulate the wording of NCLEX questions, so you are able to "warm up" to the feel of the test before it's actually in front of you on the computer.
________________________________________________________________________________
_
Now, depending on where you are in the program, you might be thinking:
"What, Michelle, I've only just begun, I don't want to think about NCLEX now".
Well, you will have this post to reflect on once the time has come for you to start thinking about NCLEX. There a lot of products out there that are promoted to help you pass NCLEX, and the whole game is finding the right product that fits your learning style. For instance, I will never use KAPLAN NCLEX prep because I know that I do not have a problem with the process of answering questions.
I will do a follow-up post with more in-depth information after I take and pass my NCLEX exam, so that way I can give a full, well-rounded review about products, tactics, and strategies that I used to bring me success. I hope that this post was able to open your eyes and tickle your ears with the new and exciting world of NCLEX prep!
Study hard!
- Michelle
#BSNbabe
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