NCLEX

NCLEX

The 5 letter word all Nursing students dread to hear. It is the test we prep for that determines whether or not all our sweat and tears were worth it.

One would think since I took the NCLEX when I graduated from my LPN program that I would know how this process goes and be a bit more prepared for it. WRONG. It felt as if it had been 20 years since I registered for the NCLEX. I need to applaud the work of the BATC LPN program because they helped make this transition so easy the first time around. I may have leaned on them a bit too much back then because this time around I was so confused. Weber being a university has a different way of doing things such as posting final grades and getting your transcripts so that was an adventure. But we got it all figured out and I got my test scheduled-thankfully I was able to schedule it before our cruise because there was NO WAY I was going to be studying on a cruise ship haha!

So January 10th I drove down to Ogden and found the testing center (random room in some business building). But I actually arrived a bit early (maybe an hour or so haha). But it gave me time to calm myself down and say some prayers ;) I finally decided to go into the room to at least check in and found the room empty (which is completely opposite from my LPN exam). The lady at the front desk asked me if I would like to just go back and get started since I was early and they had an open spot so I said sure (wasn't going to learn anything new at this point haha). So I went back and prepared for the worst, the test itself was not as bad as I expected which was nice. I do believe having done this before did help here. I went in with the expectation of getting all the questions (265 or something of that sort) so that helped me stay focused. But boy was I shocked when the computer shut off! I still hate that. You go to click on the next question and BAM the screen goes blank and you think you broke the computer! First you panic you broke it and hope you don't have to start over. Then it sends you to the completion screen where you then begin to bargain with this screen for just a few more questions because you are sure it cut off because you failed and if you only had a few more questions you could prove you knew the information. Then comes the realization that it is over and you have to get up and get out. And if you are me, you try to get up quietly and then hit everything in the way. Oops. Well I went outside, felt like a zombie. Went to my car and called Kristie (nursing classmate/friend) and she goes "well that was fast, must have went well". I love Kristie for her optimism. Because I responded with "nah, they probably cut it off because they didn't want to deal with me and my wrong answers anymore haha". Thankfully I have Krisitie in my life. 

The next 48 hours were the longest of my life! Thankfully I kept busy with getting everything ready for our cruise but that didn't stop me from checking the Department of Licensing website every free second I had haha!

Thursday morning as I was getting Nate ready for work, I decided to check it even though I figured it still wouldn't be up this early to find this:

I about FREAKED....okay scratch that I FREAKED!!!!! Nate wasn't quite sure what was going on as I showed him my phone and he saw that photo. So I told him I passed-I am an RN now! He was super excited, gave me a big hug and said we'd celebrate when he got home. I then attempted to go back to sleep...haha that didn't work too well so then I texted and called people to share my excitement with them! I was so happy to finally have achieved my dream. It is crazy to believe that I did it, I am a registered nurse. :)