www.littlenars.com | Dianne Peña

Some of the “During the Board Exam tips” are already here. But I would like to share some more if you don’t mind. Hehe (If it’s not being the “Ms. Know-it-all” type)

• Be OC but not to the point that you consumed all your time. Refer to this.
• Listen to the instructions of the proctor. Error should not have a place on that day— exaggerating this part. Haha
• Ignore all the others who were already finished—making noise when standing up and passing their papers. As long as there is time, You can still continue. Don’t get distracted. Be focused.
• During breaks, spare yourself from comparing answers with your friends. It will definitely not bring you any good. I know it is very tempting but trust me, it will just heighten your anxiety at the middle of your exam.
• Attract positive energy. As the saying goes, you are what you think.
• Take a leak. Go to the bathroom before the exam starts because the proctor will not allow you once the exam already started.
• First day of the exam is from 8:00AM to 3:00PM and the second day is from 8:00AM to 12:00PM
• During breaks, its much better if you wont browse reviewers anymore. Just relax and prepare your mind for the next set of exam.

Lastly, DON’T FORGET TO BREATHE but don’t hyperventilate. LOl!

See you on the broadsheet topnotcher!

Got not enough sleep because of last night and today but I don’t care beasue I just want to share my “LittleNars” way on this one.. ?
Now, What to do the day before the Nursing Licensure Examination?
1. Prepare the things that you will need for tomorrow. Here are the “What to bring during the Nursing Board Exam”:

• Notice of Admission (NOA)
• Long Plastic Envelope
• Long Brown Envelope
• PRC Mailing Envelope
• At least 2 Number 2 Pencil
• Eraser
• Sharpener
• Black Ballpen (not sign pen)
• Calculator
• Snacks/Water/Candy

You can bring a bag but you have to place it outside the room at your own risk.

Set your alarm clock. Make sure your allowance of time can accommodate your morning preparations, eating breakfast and travel time. You need to be at your room assignment 30 minutes before the time. You should be at the venue at 7:00AM or even earlier (much better) because you still need to fill up some details for answer sheet and the test starts at 8:00AM

Bring/Wear your lucky charm, security blanket or whatever “Anting-Anting” you have there. Its not prohibited as long as it doesn’t contain the answers. Haha!

Don’t forget to wear your wristwatch and synchronize it with your proctor at least for the duration of the exam.

2. Relax! Do whatever stress management thing you know of and comfortable of doing. I know your anxiety levels are way higher than day one of your review, its normal. Now is the right time to open your Facebook accounts and enjoy their games. LOL. Do whatever makes you feel relieved as long as it’s not committing suicide. LOL.

3. As much as possible don’t review anymore unless it is very important and crucial to passing this examination. I mean, don’t over use your neurons. It needs a lot of resting and rejuvenating to be able to function at its maximum for tomorrow.

4. Rest! Come on. Look at yourself. You look like a vampire-wolf all stitched into one. JK. From the stress of your review and all the pressure from family and friends, you deserve at least 5-8 hours of sleep before the big day.

5. PRAY! Nothing is more powerful that prayers. Surrender everything to Him and ask Him to send his Holy Spirit to guide you as you rake the exam. If you claim it, It will be yours. ?

Good Luck! It’s all in your hands now! You can do it! God Bless RNs

MANILA, Philippines—A total of 95,282 nursing graduates will take the nurse licensure examinations scheduled on November 29 to 30, an “all-time high” in the history of the exams, said Marco Antonio Sto. Tomas, a member of the Professional Regulation Commission’s Board of Nursing.

Click here for the full article.

Whoa! That is a record we have there. I have lots of friends who will take the November 2009 Nursing Board Exam and with this number of examinees; I think they will get out of it alive. LOL! (I believe in you Friends, GO GO GO!)  For me, If there are a many examinees, I think there will be of great chance that many will also pass because they are getting the “Mean” or the average of scores per Nursing Practice as well as for the general average.

I know this may sound mean and selfish of me but I did prayed when I was one of the examinees, that the score of highest will not be that high and the score of the lowest will be so low so that there is a great chance that your score can get to the average— it will not pull you down, instead it will pull you up. I am not saying that you should pray for it, I mean, come on, I know there are most of you who can relate to what I am talking about.

On the downfall, if there will be a lot of examinees, MAYBE, just maybe, the Board of Nursing will make the board exam hard for the examinees to control the number of “New” Nurses but I hope not.

Anyway, whatever happens, its you who can determine if you’re going to pass or not— its with your own assessment. Think of your performance in your review classes or review time or even during your student years… Whether the test will be hard, or you have many competitors. The results will surely surprise you but that is why there is what we call, the power of PRAYERS.

Good Luck and God Bless.

Don’t worry, I am praying for you, yes… YOU! )

TOP 10 DISEASES IN THE NURSING BOARD EXAM

These are the most common diseases that are frequently in the Nursing Board Exam. For these diseases you need to know the etiology, drug of choice, priority nursing diagnosis and nursing intervention.

10. Diabetes Mellitus
9. COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
8. AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome)
7. DKA (Diabetic Ketoacidosis)
6. Burns
5. Pneumonia
4. Suicide
3. Schizophrenia
2. Renal Failure
1. Cancer

Disclaimer: This is just a compilation of the common topics that is included in the Nursing Board Exam. It is also stated in the PRC-Board of Nursing syllabus.

TOP 10 DRUGS IN THE NURSING BOARD EXAM

These are the most common drugs/medications that you need to know its action, indication, side/adverse effects and most importantly NURSING CONSIDERATION when administering because it frequents the Nursing Board Exam.

10. Valium
9. Cytoxan
8. Dilantin
7. Rifampicin
6. Isoniazid
5. Prednisone
4. Neomycin
3. Flagyl
2. Co-Trimoxazole
1. Lithium

Disclaimer: This is just a compilation of the common topics that is included in the Nursing Board Exam. It is also stated in the PRC-Board of Nursing syllabus.

Pencil is one of the most important thing you need to consider in passing the Nursing Board Exam with that, I give you these tips:

Number 2 pencil doesn’t necessarily mean its MONGOL. I mean, Mongol is pretty much overrated already. Choose any #2 pencil that you are comfortable with. I personally used #2 green Faber Castel pencil during the actual board exam and #2 black Stabilo during our Nursing Audit.

Never use a new pencil during the actual board. Use a pencil in which you are used to using already. Any brand of pencil will do as long as it is #2. New pencil can affect your shading. Jut sharpen the pencil you have practiced your shading skills with during the board exam. Shading/Technicalities are some of the controversial issues in the board exam.

Use an eraser with the same brand as your pencil. If you are using Faber Castel, use a Faber Castel eraser, Stabilo pencil and Stabilo eraser, Mongol pencil and WHAT??? Well, that is the problem with Mongol. They have no separate eraser, yeah it has an eraser at the tip but it leaves an orange/rd mark to your answer sheet. Plus, it doesn’t erase the pencil mark completely. Don’t be thrifty with the things you use for the Nursing Licensure Exam because its much better to spend than to repeat.

Beware of fake pencils. Make sure you buy your things in a bookstore not just in any vendors. I am pretty much sure that Mongol pencils have imitations an I’ve bought 1. When I used it without even doing any erasures, 7 points have deducted in my score during the review. It’s quite big right? So don’t risk it.

Take care of your answer sheet. Don’t leave any marks on the answer sheet and as much as possible, don’t make any erasures. Answer 1st in your questionnaires. It is not prohibited. When you shade, make sure you are in the right number. Many have troubles when transferring their answers when they have overlooked one number.

Bonus tip: They say bring extra pencil, I say, Bring an extra but use only 1 pencil throughout the whole board exam, just sharpen every time so that your way of shading would still be the same.

Disclaimer: I am not against Mongol. I just had the luxury to experiment with the pencil that I am going to use for the Nursing Licensure Exam because we had multiple exams in our review center provided with pseudo-Nursing Licensure Exam answer sheets that is why I know the difference.

Since July 2009 (yes, after I passed the NLE), I’ve been meaning to make a blog post on the people, event, things that made me thankful for my life…I don’t know why I am finding it hard to write it. Anyway, In coordination with the National Thank You Day to be celebrated on October 20, 2009. Here is mine (trying my best).

10 Things LittleNars (Dianne) is THANKFUL OF..:

10. Destructors/Temptations/Pains
Well, Let’s say, you are one hell of a motivator for me. Enough said.

9. Little Angels
This goes to the random people who made my everyday as less stress and worry as possible. The person who washes and irons my uniforms and clothes, the jeepney driver who brought me safely to my destination, the owner of the canteen in which I ate frequently, the security guard for assisting me whenever I ask for directions etc., the person who offered me his seat at the LRT, my anonymous crush during the review (yeah, I didn’t got the chance to know his name. LOL), to those person who send text messages that made me smile and many more…

8. Technology
I never would have survived the stress and pressure that my academics and review proper brought me without the help of technology. Particularly the world wide web (blogging), which help me unload the most unbearable things, the TV series that I diligently follow and the music, which boost up my mood during travelling, sleeping and free time…

7. SMACC (St. Mary’s Academy of Caloocan City)
My High School Alma Mater, which helped me develop my comprehension and analytical skills. It reaaaally helped me a lot and I think, this has a big percentage that made me pass the 4 toxic years of BS in Nursing and most especially the Nursing Licensure Exam.

6. R.A GAPUZ Review Center
My Nursing Review Center (my mum’s choice though). Thank you for polishing my knowledge, skills, abilities and attitude as I take the Nursing Board Exam. Thank You for the tips and strategies you’ve given me. I also found new friends and made my stay there worthwhile.

5. Far Eastern University
My College Alma Mater, My training ground, my home. To the school, the administrators, the coordinators and my professors/clinical instructors… Thank you for teaching and leading me to the field that I have chosen— Nursing. Thank You for providing me the things that I need to be the great nurse that I envision it to be.

(more…)

I can clearly remember that day… The weather was the same as now…
It was raining… Cozy… Gloomy…

July 25, 2009

Everybody’s texting, checking the web and online whether it’s on Facebook, Friendster, Multiply or YM…

I put my fone away where I can’t see nor hear it… I was offline(which rarely happen)… Instead, I went to my room, watched Lost where I can be far from all the anxious, stressed, nervous and toxic people saying news that IT IS ALREADY OUT…

I fell asleep… I was exhausted…

Then, Something woke me up, around 9PM… (maybe it’s my gut…)
I went to the other room and checked on my fone…
There were 30+ messages about THE RESULTS…
Yes, THE RESULTS of the NURSING LICENSURE EXAM…
The long awaited has finally arrived…
As I’ve checked on it… There were 2 of my friends who congratulated me because I WAS ON THE LIST.

I PASSED.

My heart was pounding (heeey, I need Amniodarone.)… My hands are stone cold and I was starting to grasp for air…
I checked it for myself, looked for my name with my sister, Roxanne…
and there I WAS…

I jumped like it was New Year… I felt Christmas in July… I shouted like there was no tomorrow…

I PASSED!!!

I am a REGISTERED NURSE…

This is the greatest birthday gift that I’ve ever received… (since my birthday is on July 27)

My sister and I went nuts— or should I say… I WENT NUTS. Complete state of EUPHORIA…
Mama wasn’t there with me for she and my brother went out for a swim… (She actually got angry for I didn’t come… she didn’t understand what I was feeling… I felt it coming and so I didn’t join them…)

I was practicing before breaking her the news… I was actually practicing “Ma, ginawa ko naman lahat ng makakaya ko… pero wala talaga eh… gagalingan ko na lang sa susunod na exam… hindi ko nakita yung name ko eh…”

Oh well… It backfired. She already knew because my tita already told her. Mama called me and she was CRYING… Yes, CRYING because of HAPPINESS…

THANK YOU GOD FOR THIS WONDERFUL GIFT…

The rain indeed poured out blessings for those who made it, while for most, as the rain was pouring hard, tears simultaneously ran down their faces and their loved ones and I believe you know why…

I was saddened too for some of my closest friends were not on the list… and though I know what therapeutic communication is, I don’t know how to comfort and console them…

This is not to brag… Cry until your eyes fall out but rest assured, there will be a greater glory for you… It is hard and painful, I know, but the fight is not yet over, it will only be over when you give up and if you did give up, that is when you call yourself a LOSER because you see, every after the rain is a rainbow, and at the end of the rainbow is always a pot of gold.

So, cheer up my friend…

This is where you learn and this is when you will know how many your true friends are. I may seem to be far and seem not to care… I hope you know that I was giving you your personal space until your ready. I hope you know that I am always here for you… Never did I cease to pray for our success and I’ll continue to pray for it…

There is always a reason for everything and why this had happened, let us just trust HIS plan…  There is nothing to be shy or afraid of, it is not the number of takes you made… it is on how you will be the great nurse GOD has planned you to be… Don’t punish yourself, instead, find strength in yourself as God has always believed in you. One thing that I’ve learned from one TV Series that I watch… “Never allow other people to tell you things that you CANNOT do…”. Look at it as one hell of a motivation and move on…(sounds cliche but its indeed true…)

Keep up the good fight. I know you can do it because you are a FIGHTER… you are a WINNER…

You were not left out, you’re plane hasn’t come yet… as you know here in the Philippines, flights are always delayed… LOL!

As one of the television ad said… “Never say die, there is always another day…”

P.S
This is not my thank you speech, I would just like to give a big hug to my friends out there who…. (well, I can’t say it myself… *sigh*). This is what I say when we were texting/chatting…

In my review class today, our concept is about professional adjustment. Our reviewer told us that to be able to pass the board exam, the trick is to know the specialization of the Board of Nursing because from that, you will know on where to focus in the review. He showed us the pictures of the current Board of Nursing and their specializations at the same time, he discussed their qualifications and how they made it to their positions (one of the sub-topic in Professional Adjustment).

Our reviewer told us to visit the website of the Board of Nursing and download the course outline/syllabus of the Nursing Licensure Exam. Less do people know that there is such thing. As I visit the site, I noticed that from the thousands of people who will be taking the Nursing Board Exam, there are only 1000 hits in that particular downloadable file.

I would also like to share it with you and I hope that this will help you in passing the Nursing Board Exam and not only to pass but to top it.

Good Luck and God Bless!!!

Please click here for the downloadable file in MS Word format.

If it doesnt work, please click here.

Now that I am half through my formal review class, there is one thing that I realized…

It’s a good thing that FEU added the NURSING AUDIT in our curriculum because it became very advantageous for me since in my review, we are just tasked to answer test examinations and then the reviewers will just discuss the rationale behind the correct answers. If they will discuss the specific disease or topic, it is just brief due to time constraints.

I am very thankful that we had great reviewers and I had taken the lectures and the exams seriously (though, I am always late or even half day… hehehe!). Yes, I must admit that IT IS SOOOOOO D-I-F-F-I-C-U-L-T but it made me confident because I feel that Tamaraws really has an edge for that matter.

With that, I would like to share with you a text message containing some taglines of our reviewers, compiled, forwarded and revolved around FEU-IN BATCH 2009’s text messages. I, myself received this text message couple of times. This was made last February 2009.

“Hindi importante dito kung gaano kataas anf scores mo, ang mahalaga, natuto ka…”
- Maam Mhel
“Hindi hadlang anf below average lang na I.Q…”
- Sir Aliswag
“Para pumasa ka sa board exam, di pwedeng aral ng aral…”
- Maam Tan
“Matuto kayong mangaram mga AMBISYOSA…”
- Sir Nonog
“An intelligent person is the one who admits he doesn’t know ever-zeirything…”
- Sir Ranjo
“You’re not a chicken, you’re an eagle…”
- Sir Pondang
“Gawin mong inspirasyon si Bebe boy, Bebe girl…”
- Sir Asuncion
“Gwapo pala ang kuya mo, sana noon mo pa ko sinama sa bahay niyo, Beybeh…”
- Sir Laboy