NCLEX-RN

NCLEX-RN.  Only one of the most difficult and important tests of my life.  The exam that determines whether I'm a licensed nurse or not.  The exam where "everyone walks out feeling like they failed."  The exam that analyzes your every answer to determine which question to give you next, up to the point where you should have a 50% chance of answering each question correctly.

Needless to say, NCLEX-RN is the source of more than just a little stress in every nursing student's life.  To me, this is the test that determines whether I am fit to be a nurse or not, meaning it determines my forever future! Because of the immense weight of this exam, I kept it mostly secret.  I only told a handful of people that I was taking it, and that was pretty much a need-to-know thing.

I feel like my experience with the NCLEX-RN was unusual.  It took me 2 months to get authorized to take the exam, and by that time I was working out of state at a summer youth program called EFY.  I hadn't studied for at least 3 weeks, but I signed up to take the exam just 3 days after 2 exhausting weeks at EFY.  I was mildly panicking when I received confirmation of my exam date.

I prepared carefully and quickly for the exam, the select few people aware of this monumental event fasted and prayed with me.  Thankfully, when the time came, I was surprisingly calm, despite how little last-minute studying and review I'd completed.  I walked into the exam surprisingly confident and unconcerned about the outcome.  I walked out glad to be finished, though anxious to receive my results.  Just today, I was able to check online and I'm pleased to say, I am a newly licensed, registered nurse. (Officially, my results won't come for another month, but the state of California recognizes that I can legally practice as a registered nurse which means... I PASSED!)

I want to send out a major THANK YOU to everyone who supported and encouraged me, everyone who helped me get here, and everyone who sent up prayers in my behalf because you really do make a difference.