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Nursing Interventions in the Diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder

Diagnosis Bipolar Disorder: “Bipolar disorder is a severe biologic illness characterized by recurrent fluctuations in mood. Typically, patients experience alternating episodes in which mood is abnormally elevated or abnormally depressed-separated by periods in which mood is relatively normal.” (Lehne, 2004, p. 321)

The following is a short synopsis according to the DSM-IV-TR, “Criteria for Bipolar Disorder” includes a distinct period of abnormality and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood for at least:

- 4 days for hypomania

- week for mania

During the period of mood disturbance, at least three or more of the following symptoms have persisted and have been present to a significant degree:

- Inflated self-esteem or grandiosity

- Decreased need for sleep

- More talkative than usual or pressure to keep talking

- Excessive involvement in pleasurable activities that have a high potential for painful consequences.” (American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2000).

Psychodynamics of the Disease The onset of the disease usually occurs during late adolescence or in the mid twenties. However, the disease has been known to occur up into the fifth decade of life. The mood swings that accompany this disorder are of several types. They are as follows: the Pure Manic Episode, evidenced by hyperactivity, excessive enthusiasm, and flight of ideas, constant wakefulness without sleep,

Impairment in normal social functioning usually requiring hospitalization; Hypomanic Episode, evidenced by a milder form of the Pure Mania, without the loss of normal functioning that would require hospitalization; Major Depressive Episode, characterized by depressed mood consisting of symptoms such as anhedonia, avolition, alogia, affective flattening and thoughts of suicide and death; the last episode associated with Bipolar disorders is the Mixed Episode in which, “patients experience symptoms of mania and depression simultaneously. The combination of high energy and depression puts them at significant risk of suicide.” (Lehne, 2004, p. 321)

Case Presentation

A Caucasian woman in her mid twenties presented signs and symptoms of self mutilation with a straight edge razor inflicted gash across her lower abdomen approximately six inches below the umbilicus. The depth of the gash just stopped at the abdominal fascia. The patient was sent from the emergency room to the psychiatric floor. Upon meeting the patient one day after her admission to E.R., she appeared dressed in pajama bottoms and a t-shirt, shuffling down the hall in her socks. She was holding her abdomen with one hand and appeared in some discomfort. Her black hair was short and disheveled. When the patient arrived at her room she sat down on her bed. She acknowledged with blunted affect that she cannot stop self mutilation, and described how she cut herself through the muscles in her abdomen almost down to the fascia. Her voice was tremulous and fast paced. This could be due to the fact that she had just been given her first dose of Clozaril. She stated that her mouth was dry and that she needed to drink some water. She then went on to say that she was getting very sleepy. The client felt comfortable with the interview.

She shared personal information in regards to being sexually abused by her bother beginning at the age of seven until the age of fifteen. Her brother was two years older than her and died in an automobile accident at the age of eighteen. She went on to say that her mother never knew or acknowledged the sexual abuse and that she could not tell her because the mother idolized the son. The client was receptive to cognitive reframing; however she was very critical of herself and stated that she felt worthless and ashamed. She appeared very tired and stated that she wanted to sleep.

Table 1

Textbook characteristics of Bipolar disorder versus client characteristics observed

Textbook Characteristics:

Pure Manic Episode

Hypomanic Episode

Major Depressive Episode-

Affective Flattening

Alogia

Avolition-apathy

Anhedonia

Mixed Episode

Rapid-Cycling Bipolar Disorder- Patients experience four or Client

Characteristics Observed:

No current symptoms

Rapid breathing, rapid speech, however due to medication a client was concurrently exhibiting lethargy

Client acknowledged sadness/ worthlessness

Facial expression flat

Thoughts of dying, hard to focus

Hair/clothes unkempt

Expressed no interest in children or own

Client’s Symptoms

1. Hypomania

2. Depression

a.) Affective Flattening

b.) Alogia

c.) Avolition & Apathy

d.) Anhedonia

3. Mixed Episode

4. Rapid Cycling

(Varcarolis, 2004, p. 485)

Nursing Interventions

1. Observe the client every 15 minutes while suicidal, remove all dangerous, sharp objects from room.

2. Reinforce that she is worth while,

a.) Assist the client in evaluating the positive as well as the negative aspects of her life

b.) Encourage the appropriate expression of angry feelings.

c.) Schedule regular periods of time throughout the day for recreational/occupational therapy, encourage client to groom self, offer praise for completing grooming.

d.) Ensure client’s participation in taking mood stabilizing medications. Watch client swallow medication.

3. Engage client in interpersonal therapies, cognitive-behavioral therapy,

4. Encourage client to attend group therapy, and journal episodes.

Table 2

Medical Interventions, Bipolar Disorder

Drug therapy using

Mood stabilizer

Antidepressants

Antipsychotics

Education and Psychotherapy

ECT

(Varcarolis, 2002, p. 483)

Clients Medical Interventions

Drug therapy includes

Lithium 300mg every h.s.

Not taking any Clozaril

Client is receiving psychotherapy, family counseling, group therapy while in hospital, and cognitive restructuring.

None

References

Lehne, R. (2004). Pharmacology for Nursing Care. Missouri: Saunders

Varcarolis, E. (2002). Foundations of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing: A Clinical Approach. Pennsylvania: Saunders

Visit us at The Nursing Entrance Test Study Guide for more information.

Pass the Nursing Entrance Test the first time with our guide at Nurses Learning Center. Written by a Professor of Education for nurses, the guide has over 600 pages with details answers to every question.

Nursing Scholarships Introduction

Are you considering a career in nursing? Before you begin you need to check out all of the wonderful scholarships available. You may not consider yourself eligible, but you will be surprised to find that there are nursing scholarships out there that are just for you. When considering a career in nursing, most of seek out financial aid only to find the resulting funds are usually never sufficient. This is the reason that scholarships were created. You have a specific ethnicity that predisposes you to a number of scholarships. Many people wonder if you get a nursing scholarship, can you apply for another. The answer is yes, you can apply for as many scholarships as you want. Whether or not you will get them depends on a number of factors. Some of which are, have you filled out the proper forms, submitted the correct documents, and have the necessary qualifications. These are all factors which must be looked at carefully when applying for a nursing scholarship. If you follow to the letter all of the requirements then you should have no trouble obtaining a scholarship for nursing school.

Cost is another factor. Sometimes, even with the maximum amount of financial aid, this includes loans as well, the money falls short of what’s actually needed for tuition and books. Scholarships can cover the bulk of these expenses. Another consideration is the college or university that you plan to attend. A private university credit hour can be up to five times that of a community college. If you are considering attending a university, then you are probably going for a Bachelors of Science in Nursing. This is commendable. However, many accredited community colleges offer excellent two year nursing programs leading to a ADN or Associate Degreed Nurse. Upon finishing at the community college, many hospitals will pay your tuition to finish your bachelors degree. Also, there are programs that allow the Associate Degreed Nurse to go straight for their Master in Nursing. These are very attractive alternatives to spending a lot of money for a four year Bachelor of Science in Nursing. It is important to weigh the alternatives and to be knowledgeable about other avenues that lead to a nursing degree. Generally speaking, most hospitals pay the same for a Associate Degreed Nurse as for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. This may not seem fair to a lot of nursing that are going for their Bachelors Degree. The nursing description of each degree dictates the scope of practice for a nurse. Therefore the scope of practice for a Bachelors of Science in Nursing is different than an Associate Degree in Nursing. This is another option that the would be nurse should consider. For instance, for an Associate Degreed Nurse their main scope of practice if to give direct care to patients in a hospital care setting. For a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, their main scope of practice includes not only giving care in a hospital setting but to provide leadership, education to families as well as communities.

The point to be made from the above discussion is that the individual that is considering going into the field of nursing, should carefully consider the scope of practice that they hope to achieve when finishing a degree, and plan their financial aid and scholarships accordingly. This means that they must learn about the programs of various universities in their vicinity and surrounding area. Seeking the advice of the school’s nursing counselor should be an important part of deciding and determining which college or university is right for you. Only once you have made the decision on which schools offer the educational degree that you seek should you start to plan for financial aid and scholarships. This wise move is based on preventing one school from keeping your monies after you decided to go to another school. This can create a bit of a problem when college monies get held up in red tape.

So, in conclusion, whatever degree it is that you seek in nursing, remember that there is a wealth of financial aid and nursing scholarships to choose from.

Visit us at The Nursing Entrance Test Study Guide for more information.

Pass the Nursing Entrance Test the first time with our guide at Nurses Learning Center. Written by a Professor of Education for nurses, the guide has over 600 pages with details answers to every question.

Nursing Scholarship Types

Are you considering a nursing school scholarship? Great! Then, this is your first step to achieving your goal. Find out what types of scholarships are out there. The internet is a good place to start. The information highway is certainly a cornucopia of information. But be careful to review where certain websites get their information. Not everything you read on the internet is a fact. However, it is still a good place to begin to get a feeling for what types of scholarships are out there. Many people that are going into the nursing field are older than those who attended nursing school twenty or thirty years ago. With the older group of students, many feel that they just don’t qualify for scholarships. Actually the reverse is true. There are many scholarships out there for people that are older. Some scholarships are even bestowed on some just because of their age. This is indeed a wonderful country that we live in. The careful planner can certainly plan their finances for nursing school without having to pay anything back when they graduate, or very little if that. Before we look at some of the nursing scholarships that are out there, let us first look at the professional nursing organizations that participate in many of the scholarships offered, and serve as excellent reliable resources for the pre-student nurse, the student nurse, and the graduate nurse. Here is a list of the following nursing organizations, you may want to take some time later and look into the background of each of these organizations. You will find it very enlightening and encouraging.

You may not consider yourself eligible, but you will be surprised to find that there are nursing scholarships out there that are just for you. When considering a career in nursing, most of seek out financial aid only to find the resulting funds are usually never sufficient. This is the reason that scholarships were created. You have a specific ethnicity that predisposes you to a number of scholarships. Many people wonder if you get a nursing scholarship, can you apply for another. The answer is yes, you can apply for as many scholarships as you want. Whether or not you will get them depends on a number of factors. Some of which are, have you filled out the proper forms, submitted the correct documents, and have the necessary qualifications. These are all factors which must be looked at carefully when applying for a nursing scholarship. If you follow to the letter all of the requirements then you should have no trouble obtaining a scholarship for nursing school.

1. American Nurses Association or (ANA), is the nationally known professional organization for nurses in America. The functions of the American Nurses Association are many. Their goals are to foster high standards of practice, engage in lobbying in Congress and the House of Representatives on behalf of Nurses, to help pass laws that sustain and promote the respect, pay, retirement, benefits, responsibilities, and proper treatment of nurses in America. This is no small task. Which is why all nurses are encouraged to join the American Nurses Association. By doing so, each nurse is helping not only their own futures but futures of other nurses to come. The American Nurses Association also gives scholarships You may find them on the internet at their web address: http://www.ana.org You can find much up to date and reliable information on the nursing scholarships that are offered, as well as a lot of other pertinent information that will be useful in deciding on a career in nursing.

2. National Student Nurses Association, (NSNA)

This particular organization represents all nursing students from those in the Associate Degreed Nurse Program all the way to those Nurses who are obtaining their Doctorate in Philosophy. This is the type of nursing organization that is the grass roots of nursing organizations. What that means is, that the National Student Nurses Association is a integral part of the student nurses journey through nursing school. At every nursing school there will be flyers and on campus activities sponsored by the National Student Nurses Association. Be sure to look closely at all of the paper work on the desk for students in the nursing office, so you won’t miss the scholarships that this organization offers. The smell of fresh baked cookies and brownies are usually always a sight for sore eyes when walking into the nursing division. You can’t help but not see the large banner, entitled “National Student Nurses Associations Bake Sale”. It is these same bake sales that raise money for scholarships for those in need. Way to go NSNA. They also have a web site. Their web address is: http://www.nsna.org Check it out to find out about scholarships.

Here are a couple of other organizations that you might want to check out as well: 3. National League for Nursing

4. American Association of Colleges of Nursing

5. International Council of Nurses

6. Sigma Theta Tau International

7. Specialty Nursing Organizations

Visit us at The Nursing Entrance Test Study Guide for more information.

Pass the Nursing Entrance Test the first time with our guide at Nurses Learning Center. Written by a Professor of Education for nurses, the guide has over 600 pages with details answers to every question.

Nursing Scholarship Sources

There are many scholarships available to any and all people that are going into the nursing profession. Some people don’t want to take the time to find out about scholarships for nursing school. Many believe that the monies that they receive from financial aid will be sufficient. Indeed, sometimes it is, that is if you also take the student loans that eventually have to be paid back. The payback period usually begins approximately six months following graduation from nursing school. But be careful, if you drop out of nursing school for any reason, and do not apply for a hardship extension, you will be liable to begin paying back the student loan, in spite of your circumstances. With scholarships, you do not have to pay them back, period! This is true even if you have to drop out of nursing school for a short period of time. There is another false hood that is widely accepted. That is, that one has to have a 3.0 grade point average or greater to be eligible to apply for a nursing school scholarship. Not true.

There are many factors that allow an individual to apply for a nursing school scholarship. Maybe your are a single mother living on government aid, there is a scholarship for you. Maybe you are of a low income bracket and have a particular ethnicity, there is a nursing school scholarship for you, maybe you just live in an area that is considered economically challenged, there is a nursing school scholarship for you. The list goes on and on.

Where do you begin to find out if there is a nursing scholarship available for you. Other than the internet, the best other place to begin is in your home town, at your place of worship, your place of employment and the schools that offer a nursing program. You will be surprised to find that there are scholarships out there just for being you! Many places of employment or large companies have foundations and wealthy founders that put monies into funds for scholarships. Maybe your parents worked at a company for most of their lives that now makes you eligible to obtain a scholarship. Automotive company founders offer scholarships. Even large supermarket chains offer scholarships for nursing school.

The main idea behind scholarships is to promote education in the community. So don’t ever feel that you are left out in the cold. It might be that you may run into a counselor that may not seem to have the time to do any research for you, but don’t let that discourage you. Sometimes when you are going after something that you really want, like a career in the nursing field, you have to take the reigns and be assertive. That means finding someone to help you, if someone else won’t. The point is, that there are people that are hired to help you find the scholarships for nursing school that best fit your needs. That does not mean that you shouldn’t do your own research as well. The chances of you finding some other scholarships for nursing school in addition to those found for you can only help not hurt. So, with that let’s take a look at some of the different nursing school scholarships out there.

Visit The Nursing Entrance Test Study Guide for detailed resources.

Pass the Nursing Entrance Test the first time with our guide at Nurses Learning Center. Written by a Professor of Education for nurses, the guide has over 600 pages with details answers to every question.

Nursing Scholarships Your Ethnic Roots

Have you ever considered finding out if you are eligible for a scholarship? If not, my advice to you is to try. Why? Well, for one, you would be surprised at how much money is actually out there for you. It is certainly worth the effort, instead of having to pay back school loans at a given interest rate for years to come. Remember, the most important thing about nursing school scholarships or scholarships in general is that they do not have to be paid back. They are given free to those who qualify. Do you think that you won’t qualify? Again, do give up. Chances are that you do qualify for a scholarship to nursing school. Some good resources to find out if there is a scholarship for you would be to visit the nursing school of your choice. There are counselors on staff that you can make an appointment to see, to find out about other nursing school scholarships that best fit your needs.

Nursing school scholarships abound, and are not only offered from diverse places and entities in America but are offered from other countries for those students going to school in America that have some type of affiliation with that particular country. One would be wise to get in touch with their ethnic roots. Whether you are a fifth generation American or a third generation Irish, there is a scholarship for you. It is also important to consult your local college or university of choice to find out if there may be others that fit your situation. Yes, you can have more than one scholarship for nursing school. Actually there is no limit to how many scholarships that you can get, as long as you qualify for the particular scholarship.

It is very important in considering a career in the nursing field to research scholarships that are available for nursing school. You will find many on the internet, but be careful of those that seem too good to be true. This article is written to help direct prospective nursing school students to the many resources that are available to them. There may seem to be a lot of reading, but it is well worth your time and effort. But before we begin with a list of important sites to help you, here is a wonderful true story of a woman who has been blind since birth. Her name is Melissa Resnick and she has always dreamed of becoming a nurse. Read this excerpt by Kathy Quan, you will find it awe inspiring. You know why? Because she has actually begun her studies as of 2005. The moral of the story is, if she can do it so can you.

Here is a list of some websites that may prove helpful in your search for information on nursing school scholarships:

www.afrotc.com/scholarships/hsschol/schools.php

www.nasa.org

www.ana.org

www.fafsa.gov

nursing.sdsu.edu/scholarships.php

aid.military.com/scholarship/search-for-scholarships.do

www.globalscholarship.net

www.uic.edu/nursing/programs/gep-admissions.shtml

http://www.butlercc.edu/fin_aid/index.cfm

Graham School of Nursing Scholarships and Awards

University of Michigan School of Nursing Homepage

Scholarship information for student nurses and nurses looking to further their education at http://About.com

John Hopkins Institutions Alumni and Friends

Yahoo’s directory provides information relating to the education and career opportunities available in the nursing field.

NurseWebSearch.Com Scholarship Information

NursingPower.Net Scholarship Information

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

National Student Nurses’ Association Promise of Nursing Scholarships

March of Dimes offers four $5,000 scholarships annually to registered nurses.

The above web sites can be accessed from their prospective addresses. Some of these web pages deal with foreign aid in the form of scholarships for students studying in America. You will notice that some of the sites deal with Israel, Czechoslovakia, Japan and several others. These were hard to find due to the hardships that the U.S. government is placing on foreign immigrants on U.S. soil. However, there are scholarships from foreign countries out there. Usually, with these types of foreign scholarships, the student must return to that country to practice in the field that they were trained for. However, this may be a plus for many foreign born students.

The key to all this is that one must search out where to find the scholarship that meets their qualifications. One more suggestion for the foreign born student is to contact their countries embassy within the United States to see if their country is offering nursing scholarships or scholarships for school in general. There are also books that you can check out in your local library that will help you find scholarships. So much of what is actually out there is not published on the internet, so don’t get caught up in the ads with a lot of flash and promise. Nursing is a difficult but very rewarding career. Anyone who is truly interested in pursuing a nursing career will find a way.

Visit us at The Nursing Entrance Test Study Guide for more information.

Pass the Nursing Entrance Test the first time with our guide at Nurses Learning Center. Written by a Professor of Education for nurses, the guide has over 600 pages with details answers to every question.

Nursing Scholarships For Men

O.K. men, it’s your turn. Take the nursing field and run with it. First of all congratulations and salutations to all men entering the nursing field. It is about time, thank you. With that said, how about finding some scholarships to help you achieve your goals. Yes, there are scholarships out there just for you gentlemen. Take advantage of them. Nursing school is a whole other ball field now that men have entered into it full swing. As most of you know, it is not a pretty sight.

Many of the nursing instructors have been holding their own as women for quite sometime. I really don’t think they had planned to see so many men in the field. So What! Right? Wrong. I realize that it is an uphill battle sometimes. The mind and mentality of a nursing student with respect to their instructor is not much different than the humility that the student must show his Samurai Sensi, as he backs up to leave the room never turning his back out of respect for his teacher. Yeah, I know, corny, but hey you have to know how to roll with the punches. Sometimes that doesn’t even work. However men, hang in there. You will make it, and be good nurses, no, great nurses you will be.

Up to this point, I hope that I have not shaken, not stirred those men who are contemplating going into the nursing field. From my own personal experience as a second year nurse with only fifteen weeks left to go, all I can say is that the male nursing students are intelligent, kind, patient and all around very pleasant to be with. Albeit there are not many men in our clinical but those who are do fantastic. So, with that let’s get down to business and get those scholarships for nursing school. Where to go? Well, there is an excellent scholarship for men going into the nursing field called, The American Assembly for. Men in Nursing. You can find out more about what they have to offer by going to their web site at: http://www.aamn.org/aamnfoundationscholarships.htm

That is not the only nursing school scholarship that you can or should apply for. Your sex has nothing to do with nursing school scholarships. The key is to apply, apply and apply. Get as many as you can. If any of you are veterans, then you must already know that you have some excellent scholarships available. Just like the nursing school scholarships for women who are the sole head of household and bread winners, so too can men apply for the same scholarships.

Balancing a family, job and nursing school is no easy feat. The more time that you devote to nursing school the better off you will be. Studying the nursing texts are not the same as taking pre-requisites. Those texts are the big guns and you need time. So, don’t hesitate in applying for as many grants as you can qualify for. Always go to your school of choice to determine what types of grants and nursing school scholarships are available. Then go online to see what else you may qualify for. Many web sites have toll free numbers that you can call. Just don’t get caught up in the free money traps. Those flashy ads won’t get you anywhere but in debt. Also, ask around. I have found that the more you communicate with other students in the nursing field the better informed you will be. It is surprising to find out that no matter how much you think you were able to dig up on scholarships, there is always that someone that found another one. So be sure to ask. There are many nursing forums online. These are an excellent way to give and take information. Let’s face it, there are not enough nurses, so the more that join the field the better. Best Wishes in your careers.

Visit us at The Nursing Entrance Test Study Guide for more information/

Pass the Nursing Entrance Test the first time with our guide at Nurses Learning Center. Written by a Professor of Education for nurses, the guide has over 600 pages with details answers to every question.

Continuing Nursing Competency

For those student nurses who are about to graduate, their main priority is to pass the NCLEX-RN examination. The practice of nursing is regulated according to licensing authorities in each state jurisdiction.

Each jurisdiction must ensure that each nurse has the minimum competency to practice nursing in their state. In order to ensure such requirements, the National Council of State Boards of Nurses, Inc.

(NCSBN) has developed a comprehensive examination entitled, National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). The NCLEX test plan occurs in several steps. The first step is to conduct a practice analysis. This is used to collect data on the practice of entry level nurses. By collecting this data the board can design NCLEX test questions that will be applicable to the majority of graduate nurses.

For instance, it has been found that the majority of new graduate nurses find work on medical/surgical units. The majority of the new graduates surveyed also indicated their primary responsibility was in the delivery of direct patient care. (1) Therefore, questions regarding the care of patients on medical/surgical units is pertinent and important for graduate nurses to know. Although some graduate nurses will tell you that they had more questions on psychiatric nursing or maternity nursing on the NCLEX, this is not the norm.

Six thousand or more newly licensed registered nurses are asked about the frequency and priority of performing more than one hundred and fifty care activities. These activities are analyzed in relation to the impact on patient care, safety and client settings where they are performed. It is in this framework that NCLEX test questions are designed to be applicable in real world settings, thus requiring graduate nurses to be knowledgeable of such practices.

The second step in the NCLEX test plan is to develop a method to test behaviors regarding the content formed in step one. The NCLEX-RN, Test Plan, provides a focused summary of the concepts to be tested. It serves not only to delineate what content to cover and the method of presenting the test questions but also serves to assist in developing a study guide in preparing those who will take the test. The NCLEX assesses the graduate nurse’s knowledge of required skills to practice nursing safely and competently.

Beliefs about people and nursing underlie the NCLEX-RN test plan. People are finite beings with varying capacities to function in society. (2) Each person is a unique and special individual existing in a system that they exert some control over, such as their beliefs, social systems, family systems, health customs. It is in this underlying theory of each individuals beliefs that the nursing process guides in the intervention to promote psychological and physical wellness.

Nursing is an art as much as it is a science, founded on a scientific body of knowledge that has been tested and proven effective in meeting the goals of each individual. The cognitive learning domain is a integral part of the NCLEX test plan. The use of Bloom’s taxonomy is the basis for writing and coding items (Bloom,e tal.,1956: Anderson & Krathwohl, 2001) Since the practice of nursing requires application or higher levels of cognitive ability, it becomes imperative to test graduate nurses complex and abstract reasoning.

The framework of Client Needs was selected for the NCLEX due to its all encompassing body of nursing knowledge that must be applied to successfully meet these needs. There are four distinct categories of Client Needs that are integrated into the exam, with two of the four categories subdivided to more adequately cover all subject matter. The categories are as follows:

A. Safe and Effective Care Environment

1. Management of Care

2. Safety and infection control

B. Promotion and Maintenance

C. Psychosocial Integrity

D. Physiological Integrity

1. Basic Care and Comfort

2. Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies 3. Reduction of Risk Potential 4. Physiological Adaptation

Integrated concepts and processes are fundamental to the nursing practice and are applied to the various and categories of client needs.

These integrated concepts are as follows:

A. The nursing process- a scientific problem solving approach to client care that includes, assessment, analysis, planning, implementation and evaluation.

B. Caring- interaction between the nurse and client that provides for a nurturing, positive, and helpful environment whereby the client feels special and important knowing that the relationship that develops between themselves and the nurse will provide the needed assistance in their achieving a higher level of psychological and physical wellness.

C. Communication and Documentation- verbal and or nonverbal interactions between the nurse and client, significant others and multidisciplinary health teams. Validation either through written and or electronic entry which reflects that what has been done is documented and is within the scope of the nurses educational and licensure level as well as meeting the policies of the hospital or other client care environment.

D. Teaching-Learning- facilitating the acquirement of further knowledge which will lead to a more informed and skilled nurse with the application of the newly learned material.

The distribution of content and the percentage of test questions assigned to each Client Needs subcategory in the NCLEX test plan is based on the results of the Report of Finding from the 2005 RN Practice

Learn how you can pass the NET the first time the the Nursing Entrance Test Study Guide.

Pass the Nursing Entrance Test the first time with our guide at Nurses Learning Center. Written by a Professor of Education for nurses, the guide has over 600 pages with details answers to every question.

Nursing Entrance Test, Test Anxiety and Stress

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, http://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 prowess.

So your plan of success is simple, get a copy of, The Nursing Entrance Test Study Guide, and study, and use the toll free number for help and assistance for some of the math problems. Remember, you are not alone in this. You and thousands of other hopeful nursing school students are going through the same thing. Get your test anxiety CD, relax and listen. Then go and pass the Nursing Entrance Test. You will pass, and that’s a guarantee. What ever your choice of study material, may you have much success in your endeavors.

The developer of The N.E.T. Study Guide software, Dr. Nancy Lydia Kimmel devoted much time and effort in making sure that the student is well prepared. In this aspect, Dr. Kimmel has been able to help those aspiring to go to nursing school the advantage of being able to jump the greatest hurtle, passing the Nursing Entrance Test, the first time.

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The Nursing Entrance Test the 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 be calm and answer the questions as honestly as you feel comfortable. You don’t want to spend too much time on answering the questions. Your time should be used judiciously. The subjects that are graded, such as the math and reading comprehension, is where you should devote the most of your time.

The positive aspect in answering psychological questions about yourself is that when you are done you come away from the test knowing a little more about you. Life is a constant teacher. Especially in the nursing field, one learns to understand themselves. It is in this ability to understand ourselves that we can better understand another person. You may not have ever asked yourself the question, “How do I like to study? Do I like to study alone, in a group, with the television or radio blaring, or maybe not at all?” The point being is, what makes you the person you are?

For instance, it may be that the typical nursing student who does well in the program doesn’t have to work a forty or more hour work week, but instead only works five to eight hours per week. It is in this context that the person or people who crunch the data from these tests determine the characteristics of the typical nursing student. Whatever the type of nursing student may be, one thing is definite, only you can determine what type of student you are. A good example of the type of assessment that is given on the Nursing Entrance Test are the standardized personality test that the government workers must take, like the civil service tests. So, don’t be nervous when you are answering the questions. Nothing is going to be done with your information other than entering it into a very impersonal data base. There are many free personality test sites available on the internet that give the student a good idea of what types of questions will be asked on the Nursing Entrance Test.

Another suggestion is to find out ahead of time what kind of learner you are. The internet offers many free learning style tests. It is actually quite fun. You may be surprised to find out just what type of learner you actually are. Most of us are a combination of audio and visual learners. When we find out how we learn best, it is then possible to adjust our studying methods to maximize our learning potential.

The developer of The Nursing Entrance Test Study Guide software, Dr. Nancy Lydia Kimmel devoted much time and effort in making sure that the student is well prepared. In this aspect, Dr. Kimmel has been able to help those aspiring to go to nursing school the advantage of being able to jump the greatest hurtle, passing the Nursing Entrance Test, the first time.

Pass the Nursing Entrance Test the first time with our guide at Nurses Learning Center. Written by a Professor of Education for nurses, the guide has over 600 pages with details answers to every question.

The Nursing Entrance Test Reading Comprehension

How does one approach the reading comprehension section on the Nursing Entrance Test? Many for one are unprepared for the wealth of reading that is required and the computerized method of testing. It can be difficult for those who are not computer savvy to comfortably navigate from page to another and go back to re-read. Time is of course of the essence in taking any test. The questions are at best hard to assimilate due to the ambiguous nature of the way that they are asked. This can be a stumbling block for those who are not prepared afore hand for the reading comprehension section of the Nursing Entrance Test.

To sufficiently prepare for the type of questions that are asked one must practice reading passages and answering questions in a similar format. The software, The Nursing Entrance Test Study Guide, has successfully prepared many nursing school students to pass the Nursing Entrance Test with higher than the national average score. This is due to the fact that the author, Dr. Nancy Lydia Kimmel, a professor of Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Chemistry and Math, author of several books on education took the Nursing Entrance Test, has tutored many students on and scored in the top five percent in the nation herself.

Upon taking the test, Dr. Kimmel conceived and wrote the software entitled, The N.E.T. Study Guide. Dr. Kimmel, designed the reading comprehension section in the same format as the Nursing Entrance Test and provided the student with complete explanations and methods for answering the questions. The essays included in The N.E.T. Study Guide are of equal if not longer in length from those on the Nursing Entrance Test and the computerized format is the same. This gives the student the advantage of practicing in a similar situation, thereby eliminating the initial shock and adjustment time needed when actually taking the exam.

The student can scroll back and forth at their leisure or use the timed method. Each of the essays deal with the subject matter that requires the student to carefully read and comprehend. Similar in format to the actual test, The N.E.T. Study Guide is an asset to anyone that is preparing to take the Nursing Entrance Test. All of the students who have used Dr. Kimmel’s software have passed the reading comprehension section on the Nursing Entrance Test.

One of the pitfalls that students find when taking the reading comprehension, is that they have a hard time assimilating new knowledge and answering questions that have a high level of difficulty associated with them. Dr. Kimmel’s software that also includes math preparation covers the important principals and assists the student in mastering key words when reading.

Certain key words are typically used over and over again in reading comprehension questions. Words, and statements such as, the author assumed, inferred or the paragraph stated are key to understanding and grasping the questioning methodology.

When answering questions, it is sometimes hard to relate concepts that seem totally unrelated. This type of questioning requires abstract thinking. The questions are designed to test the reader’s analytical reasoning while at the same time test their vocabulary. It is always advisable when reading to have a dictionary at hand. Other examples of similar reading comprehension tests can be found in graduate entrance exam practice books. Entering into the nursing field will indeed require unique analysis skills in many different forms.

It is therefore beneficial to the student to seek preparation for the exam in order to assure that he or she will receive a passing score. It is the goal of Dr. Kimmel that all those who use the software, The N.E.T. Study Guide will not only score higher than the national average, but that they will receive a full refund if they don’t pass. So far Dr. Kimmel has not had to give any refunds!

The developer of The N.E.T. Study Guide software, Dr. Nancy Lydia Kimmel devoted much time and effort in making sure that the student is well prepared. In this aspect, Dr. Kimmel has been able to help those aspiring to go to nursing school the advantage of being able to jump the greatest hurtle, passing the Nursing Entrance Test, the first time.

Pass the Nursing Entrance Test the first time with our guide at Nurses Learning Center. Written by a Professor of Education for nurses, the guide has over 600 pages with details answers to every question.

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