I have a Date!!

I finally got my authorization to test from the ANCC last week and selected a date (in early August)! I feel like now I have a target to shoot for and the heat is on! I feel like before I didn't mind staying later at work (6:30, 7 pm) because I was in school/clinical mode at work. Now I feel like I need to get into pass the boards mode and study after I get home from work. In general it is fair to say that I've felt (and still do to some degree) wiped out after work and more in the mood of watching episodes of Weeds on Netflix and relaxing than spending time with my Fitzgerald books. BUT, now that I have a date I have something to keep motivated on.

I have to get a new Drivers License because my married name (what the ANCC knows me by) and my maiden name on my license don't match. My social security card is up to date but that's about it as far as government issued IDs. And I certainly don't need or want any problems with with this. I attempted to go to the DMV after leaving work early only to find myself driving around the town of Braintree, MA and exceeding the 5 pm closing time. I shall try again another day!

Status Post Starting New Job

I've started my new job, and as expected have fallen off the studying wagon. I'm back to studying 15 minutes (at least) each day, but at this rate I'm going to be ready by the winter. My next strategy would be to hone in on studying from the Fitzgerald workbook from the course and the Leik book and doing practice questions. I've already read the published Fitzgerald book, and while re-reading it would be helpful, but unless something changes soon I don't think I have the time for it. Slowly but surely I am trucking along and even though I am tired after a long day today I am going to study.

I (unofficially) passed

Today I took a practice test. I completed 150 questions in 1 hour and 31 minutes and scored a 74%. This is nothing to brag about, but within the passing range (70%). I am happy because I am still early in the studying process. I expect that I will see improvement in the next practice tests and of course with more studying. I found the questions pretty straight forward and several of them I knew right off the bat. There were 3 questions that I had not the foggiest clue and guessed. I was kind of surprised how many questions on pregnancy, and several repeat questions on the positive and probable signs of pregnancy. I expect that these questions (from the Leik book) were representative of the break down of questions on the actual boards, but who knows. I accomplished my goal of taking a full-length test and seeing where I am at- which is with a lot of work ahead of me. I also noticed that when I would miss questions, I tended to miss the next question, and sometimes a string of questions. This shows me that I need to work on staying calm and utilizing good test taking techniques. I will say that around question 75 I was starting to get antsy and feeling the painfulness of the test taking process. Not really what I would have liked to spend my day off doing, but it had to be done to get me out of my lull. In retrospect I feel like I could have done much better. But I feel like I will do better and definitely feel more grounded in the fact that I need to buckle down and study more than I have been. I also need to work on staying calm during the test and thinking critically through each question and not second guessing myself. The boards are more straight forward than the NCLEX which is good. I have a lot of confidence that I will pass, but at 74% today, I need to do better. Thank goodness I won't have to prove this tomorrow, but in the near future! 

My Lull

My progress so far has consisted of cram sessions then lulls. The past 2 days have been lulls. I have been working for the past few days and then not studying when I get home. This has me concerned about how my studying will progress after starting work full time in a few days. I feel pretty comfortable in my role as an RN, so I am wondering how I will fare in a new role with the additional challenge of studying on my days off.

I have covered 95% of cardiac so far and will most likely finish that tomorrow. In order to get me back on track, I was thinking of taking a practice test and seeing how I do. That would give me some actual data on what I need to focus on, because at this point I don't have a clear next move. I could continue in the body systems, but not sure which one is next on my hit list. They are all equal as far as my comfort level at this point.

One of my co-workers, Rose also recommended purchasing the ANCC book but as you can see it is quite expensive and I feel that having too many study materials might become overwhelming. My co-worker did say that it was helpful and that she wished that she had it earlier in her studying process. That being said, I have adopted a handful of Rose's books and have found her advice very helpful so far. I think I'll mull on this some more and perhaps look for some used copies (it is from 2009).

Tomorrow I will take a practice test and see where I am. I also need to get in touch with the ANCC and see where my application is at. For tonight, I am continuing my trend of taking the night off then picking my studying back up tomorrow.

Pulmonary!

I'm chipping away at the pulmonary system, including the antibiotics. So far I've been reading in my A&P book (which is the most time consuming part), my Fitzgerald workbook, the review book by Fitzgerald and then Leik book and finally looking at practice questions from Hollier & Wirfs. In the review class they recommended looking at a good A&P book and my preceptor advised reading an A&P book cover to cover. I am finding that this whole process is taking a while, at least longer than I originally thought it would. But, I am feeling that this is the best way to study that I have found so far.

Early on in my final semester, we had graduates from the previous class come and talk about their experiences after graduating. One of the grads said that she strictly stuck to studying her Fitzgerald workbook and not looking at other references. That's definitely one way of focusing studying and needless to say she passed. Right now I don't feel extremely pressured for time. I expect that will change once I have a test date and once I start working full-time.

I also want to be thorough. I feel that the time spent reviewing A&P is worthwhile because 1. it's a big part of the boards and 2. I want to know normal and abnormal A&P cold and this will only serve me, and my patients for the good. If I do get crunched for time, this is something I can skim but most likely won't eliminate. Also, I feel that most of this is a review. And, I am targeting the more difficult sections first, so, once I come closer to test time the bulk of the work will be out of the way. Or so I hope.

Next section will be cardio. 

Trying to Shake Vacation Mode

I recently came back home after some traveling and have a little over a week before starting my new job. The weather has also been very beautiful in Cambridge, and after a long cold winter I am soaking in the beautiful weather. All of this has contributed to my still feeling like I am in vacation mode. Admittedly, I am not in study mode and it's been a painful process trying to get back on track. It's been hard to stick to the 'at least 15 mins of studying a day' rule. But I know I'll have to stay on track with this because once my job starts my time will be limited to evenings and weekends and I want to get some of the harder, bigger sections out of the way first.
So, today I am on the tail-end of studying maternity. I spent part of a transcontinental plane ride reading the Leik book and Fitzgerald prep book. Today I read a chapter on maternity in my physical examination & health assessment book by Jarvis, looked at some practice questions in Hollier & Wirf's Certification Prep exams book. Next, I plan on reading what Fitzerald has to say on the topic and calling it a wrap.
I think after this I will move on to the body systems (HEENT, cardiac, respiratory, endocrine, etc) or to review antibiotics, as this is something that I will need to memorize and know. It's difficult to get into the swig of things, but I've already had a relaxing vacation and now it's time to get back to work (easier said than done) but keeping focused on my goal to pass the boards with flying colors!!!