** Quick version of this post **
Tuesday 05/28 I took my NCLEX
Wednesday 05/29 in limbo waiting for the next day's results
Thursday 05/30 - 48 "Business" hours from the time I took my test, I could find out my results.
I passed.
The End.
Now.. If you actually care to read on, I'm going to give you a little glimpse inside what it was like for me to take one of the biggest, scariest, hardest tests of my life.
NCLEX.
And off we go!
The Night Before NCLEX
Monday
Here I am on the eve of the biggest test of my life. On the test that is to determine whether or not I'm ready for my choice of career as a RN. My stomach is tied up in knots. I mentally cannot fit any more information into my brain. There is just SO MUCH to know.
In order to prepare for this humonstrous exam, I've been practicing NCLEX questions for at least a month - writing them and their rationale's down so I could go over and over them again.
I've been using NCLEX 4000 along withNCSBN's NCLEX-RNonline class. I've been reviewing those questions, all my critical lab values, disease states, and so on, and so on...
DO I know enough to be a prudently responsible nurse, able to take care of my patients?
So, what am I doing tonight??
After going strong for the better part of a full day, I've been clearing my mind by catching up on Army Wives (netflix) that I've missed since my 4 year old stopped taking afternoon naps.
Hailee is spending the night with my parents.
My test is not until 2pm tomorrow.
I'm going to get some sleep, look over things a little bit more tomorrow, meet my sweet friend, TerriLyn 1 hour before the test, then GO TEST!!
The Morning Of...
Tuesday
I just want to do my best and I think that is what it all comes down to.
Hi, I'm Misty and I'm an overachiever. {and I get it honestly...}
No one knows me better than my dad - because I'm more like him than anyone else.
He worked full time, and went back to school at nights part time while me and Austin were kids so he could get his master's degree in Counseling. After he retired from that, he went back to school to study massage therapy - made the highest grades in the class, and passed his licensing exam with flying colors. Then, he decided to go back and get his Physical Training license... get the picture, never stop learning.
I woke up, made my coffee, pulled out all my lab values, wrote them over and over again (that's how I learn best), grabbed my NCLEX study guide (all 35 pages) and have been reading through it.
Last night, I dreamed of NCLEX. I dreamed that my test was at 2pm and by 6pm, I still hadn't made it to the testing center. Then, I was on my way - Hailee (my 4 year old) was with me for some reason and I was riding on what looked like one of those iRobot Roomba vacuums that are remote controlled (??) strange, I know. But it wouldn't make it up the hill on one of the streets I was on. Then, Hailee started crying. Next thing I know, Roger (hubbs) was driving me to take the NCLEX. Then, I was done - and he had a laptop ready to go through some back way to find out if I passed before the standard 48 hours to see your results. Then, I was telling everyone that I passed...
My NCLEX Experience
My friend and I decided to meet at the testing center in Columbia at 1pm before our 2pm testing time.
30 minutes before it was time to go, I could SEE my heart pounding in my chest through my shirt. I took my pulse and it was racing - 103. I dared not check my blood pressure... mild anxiety is good for test taking, right?? right?
I had finally studied enough that I couldn't possibly read anything else.
So I got in my car and drove to the testing center. I met TerriLyn in the empty waiting room, and the testing administrator got us all ready and let us go in one hour earlier than scheduled! Which is good because I'm not sure my nerves could have handled sitting there for one hour, waiting.
They took our palm prints, finger prints, palm prints again, took a picture, gave us a locker, we locked away our stuff and went to the door of The Room with all the computers.
At that door was ANOTHER testing administrator.
There, we were to hand over our ID, get our fingerprints and palm prints verified - AGAIN, not even 10 ft from where it was done the 1st time.
Top security measures, people!!
These people with the NCLEX do NOT play around.
I sat down at the computer assigned to me and started reading through the tutorial on taking the NCLEX.
I was skimming and reading same sentences like 3 times just to grasp what it was saying.
After the tutorial, it was time to test.
I had to stop, breathe, and pray.
God had gotten me this far through nursing school, and as my sister in law, Blair told me earlier today, He put me on this path for a reason, and if it was His will, this too would be successful. It's still a big, scary test.
One and a half hours and 83 questions later, I was done.
I was rattled. I was unsure. But I was finished.
As I got up to go, I saw TerriLyn sitting next to me, and 3 other people from my class testing across the room. I said a quick prayer for them, then quietly walked out of the computer room.
I got my stuff, called my husband, and walked out to my car.
I think I scared him. I was SO unsure as to whether I passed or not. I was reading some person's NCSBN testimony that had failed NCLEX the first time with 78 questions. I had 83. I could have failed.
I drove to my parents' house to pick up Hailee.
And I told myself I wouldn't do the "finding out if I passed by going through the back way" but I did.
I got the good pop up.
It still was not enough to convince me that I passed. Not until I saw the result: PASS on that Pearson Vue website would I be able to relax, knowing that I passed.
So, this is what I did...
Wednesday
One more day.
In a little less than 24 hours I can get my results.
I threw some pork chops in the crock pot for dinner and I'm not going to study. Not one bit.
I'm just trying to keep myself busy so I don't have to think about it and stress over it.
I met Cynthia (my other sister in law) at the All Star Gym where the kids ran around and played on all the gymnastics stuff for a few hours.
Still unsure if I passed or not.
Waiting is one of the hardest things. ever.
Results Day
Thursday
Oh my. Oh my. Oh my. Oh my.
I had a hard time falling asleep last night anticipating the results I'd be getting today.
Woke up - drank coffee - worked out - showered.
Met Cynthia at the Zoo for a few hours.
Again, staying busy is a GOOD thing.
I was so glad for the distraction but of course, I'd been checking the Pearson Vue website *just in case my results should pop up early* EVERY HOUR.
I was checking facebook to see if any other friends had gotten their results.
I was still getting nervous butterflies in my stomach just thinking about checking the results. again.
So many people know that I took my test Tuesday - SO many more than I originally wanted to know.
NOW, they're all waiting to see how I did.
And this waiting is Unnerving.
From 2:15 pm until 3:00 pm, I had the website up, pushing "Refresh" like every minute.
nothing.
At 2:56 pm, my dad called to see if I'd gotten the results yet and I think that just made me even more anxious. He was about to walk in and do a massage at one of his customer's houses and wouldn't be out to call me for another hour.
At 3:01 pm, I refreshed again and Up Popped "Your Quick Results Are Available"
My hands were shaking as I entered the numbers on my debit card to pay the $7.95 to view my results and...
PASS!!!
I could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
I'm now Misty Venne, RN
I cannot believe that chapter in my life is through.
It seemed like such a long road with many different struggles and obstacles, but it also seemed like it went so fast and has just as easily blurred along the edges.
2 years gone.
I start working June 17.
I'm a nurse, y'all ;)
Last night, we ate dinner, then I was able to clean the kitchen without worrying about finding time to get away and study.
IT was hard. But now, it's done.
Time to give back to my family.
Time to be the wife and mother that they deserve.
Time to be a better friend (sorry manda panda bear!! i miss you and can't wait to hang out again after you get back from the beach)
Time to start my grown up job and be a nurse.
On to new adventures!!!!
Tuesday 05/28 I took my NCLEX
Wednesday 05/29 in limbo waiting for the next day's results
Thursday 05/30 - 48 "Business" hours from the time I took my test, I could find out my results.
I passed.
The End.
Now.. If you actually care to read on, I'm going to give you a little glimpse inside what it was like for me to take one of the biggest, scariest, hardest tests of my life.
NCLEX.
And off we go!
The Night Before NCLEX
Monday
Here I am on the eve of the biggest test of my life. On the test that is to determine whether or not I'm ready for my choice of career as a RN. My stomach is tied up in knots. I mentally cannot fit any more information into my brain. There is just SO MUCH to know.
In order to prepare for this humonstrous exam, I've been practicing NCLEX questions for at least a month - writing them and their rationale's down so I could go over and over them again.
I've been using NCLEX 4000 along withNCSBN's NCLEX-RNonline class. I've been reviewing those questions, all my critical lab values, disease states, and so on, and so on...
DO I know enough to be a prudently responsible nurse, able to take care of my patients?
So, what am I doing tonight??
After going strong for the better part of a full day, I've been clearing my mind by catching up on Army Wives (netflix) that I've missed since my 4 year old stopped taking afternoon naps.
Hailee is spending the night with my parents.
My test is not until 2pm tomorrow.
I'm going to get some sleep, look over things a little bit more tomorrow, meet my sweet friend, TerriLyn 1 hour before the test, then GO TEST!!
The Morning Of...
Tuesday
I just want to do my best and I think that is what it all comes down to.
Hi, I'm Misty and I'm an overachiever. {and I get it honestly...}
No one knows me better than my dad - because I'm more like him than anyone else.
He worked full time, and went back to school at nights part time while me and Austin were kids so he could get his master's degree in Counseling. After he retired from that, he went back to school to study massage therapy - made the highest grades in the class, and passed his licensing exam with flying colors. Then, he decided to go back and get his Physical Training license... get the picture, never stop learning.
I woke up, made my coffee, pulled out all my lab values, wrote them over and over again (that's how I learn best), grabbed my NCLEX study guide (all 35 pages) and have been reading through it.
Last night, I dreamed of NCLEX. I dreamed that my test was at 2pm and by 6pm, I still hadn't made it to the testing center. Then, I was on my way - Hailee (my 4 year old) was with me for some reason and I was riding on what looked like one of those iRobot Roomba vacuums that are remote controlled (??) strange, I know. But it wouldn't make it up the hill on one of the streets I was on. Then, Hailee started crying. Next thing I know, Roger (hubbs) was driving me to take the NCLEX. Then, I was done - and he had a laptop ready to go through some back way to find out if I passed before the standard 48 hours to see your results. Then, I was telling everyone that I passed...
My NCLEX Experience
My friend and I decided to meet at the testing center in Columbia at 1pm before our 2pm testing time.
30 minutes before it was time to go, I could SEE my heart pounding in my chest through my shirt. I took my pulse and it was racing - 103. I dared not check my blood pressure... mild anxiety is good for test taking, right?? right?
I had finally studied enough that I couldn't possibly read anything else.
So I got in my car and drove to the testing center. I met TerriLyn in the empty waiting room, and the testing administrator got us all ready and let us go in one hour earlier than scheduled! Which is good because I'm not sure my nerves could have handled sitting there for one hour, waiting.
They took our palm prints, finger prints, palm prints again, took a picture, gave us a locker, we locked away our stuff and went to the door of The Room with all the computers.
At that door was ANOTHER testing administrator.
There, we were to hand over our ID, get our fingerprints and palm prints verified - AGAIN, not even 10 ft from where it was done the 1st time.
Top security measures, people!!
These people with the NCLEX do NOT play around.
I sat down at the computer assigned to me and started reading through the tutorial on taking the NCLEX.
I was skimming and reading same sentences like 3 times just to grasp what it was saying.
After the tutorial, it was time to test.
I had to stop, breathe, and pray.
God had gotten me this far through nursing school, and as my sister in law, Blair told me earlier today, He put me on this path for a reason, and if it was His will, this too would be successful. It's still a big, scary test.
One and a half hours and 83 questions later, I was done.
I was rattled. I was unsure. But I was finished.
As I got up to go, I saw TerriLyn sitting next to me, and 3 other people from my class testing across the room. I said a quick prayer for them, then quietly walked out of the computer room.
I got my stuff, called my husband, and walked out to my car.
I think I scared him. I was SO unsure as to whether I passed or not. I was reading some person's NCSBN testimony that had failed NCLEX the first time with 78 questions. I had 83. I could have failed.
I drove to my parents' house to pick up Hailee.
And I told myself I wouldn't do the "finding out if I passed by going through the back way" but I did.
I got the good pop up.
It still was not enough to convince me that I passed. Not until I saw the result: PASS on that Pearson Vue website would I be able to relax, knowing that I passed.
So, this is what I did...
Wednesday
One more day.
In a little less than 24 hours I can get my results.
I threw some pork chops in the crock pot for dinner and I'm not going to study. Not one bit.
I'm just trying to keep myself busy so I don't have to think about it and stress over it.
I met Cynthia (my other sister in law) at the All Star Gym where the kids ran around and played on all the gymnastics stuff for a few hours.
Still unsure if I passed or not.
Waiting is one of the hardest things. ever.
Results Day
Thursday
Oh my. Oh my. Oh my. Oh my.
I had a hard time falling asleep last night anticipating the results I'd be getting today.
Woke up - drank coffee - worked out - showered.
Met Cynthia at the Zoo for a few hours.
Again, staying busy is a GOOD thing.
I was so glad for the distraction but of course, I'd been checking the Pearson Vue website *just in case my results should pop up early* EVERY HOUR.
I was checking facebook to see if any other friends had gotten their results.
I was still getting nervous butterflies in my stomach just thinking about checking the results. again.
So many people know that I took my test Tuesday - SO many more than I originally wanted to know.
NOW, they're all waiting to see how I did.
And this waiting is Unnerving.
From 2:15 pm until 3:00 pm, I had the website up, pushing "Refresh" like every minute.
nothing.
At 2:56 pm, my dad called to see if I'd gotten the results yet and I think that just made me even more anxious. He was about to walk in and do a massage at one of his customer's houses and wouldn't be out to call me for another hour.
At 3:01 pm, I refreshed again and Up Popped "Your Quick Results Are Available"
My hands were shaking as I entered the numbers on my debit card to pay the $7.95 to view my results and...
PASS!!!
I could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
I'm now Misty Venne, RN
I cannot believe that chapter in my life is through.
It seemed like such a long road with many different struggles and obstacles, but it also seemed like it went so fast and has just as easily blurred along the edges.
2 years gone.
I start working June 17.
I'm a nurse, y'all ;)
Last night, we ate dinner, then I was able to clean the kitchen without worrying about finding time to get away and study.
IT was hard. But now, it's done.
Time to give back to my family.
Time to be the wife and mother that they deserve.
Time to be a better friend (sorry manda panda bear!! i miss you and can't wait to hang out again after you get back from the beach)
Time to start my grown up job and be a nurse.
On to new adventures!!!!