Yesterday I received my results from the state board exam and I am elated to report that I...
PASSED!!!!!!
Each day waiting for the results (4 weeks) seemed like torture but finally the envelope arrived. Then I was afraid to open it. My daughters were home so it was exciting to have them there. It seems so surreal to finally be able to call myself a Nurse.
Ironically, it was 3 years ago this month I started my pre-requisite classes not even sure what nursing was all about but that I wanted to have a great career and a steady income.
What is next to come?
Well, I am still working at the facility (acute rehab) where I was a CNA. I moved to the nursing desk after I graduated and I am doing ward clerk type duties (processing Dr. orders, faxing the pharmacy, ordering xrays and labs in addition to other paperwork). I will continue in this capacity (slightly expanded but still no patient care) until my license (and #) arrives in the mail in another 30 days or so. Then I will begin my training on the floor. I chose to stay at this facility because they are offering a tuition reimbursement program for current employee's who move up and it will be a good to have at least a year of acute nursing experience in a med/surg environment.
So, as my instructor used to say it's time her 'nurse-lets' fly from the nest.
I do plan on going for my RN but at a slower pace I have about 6 pre-requisite classes left. I plan on taking them (mostly sciences) one night class per semester and then enroll in the upward mobility program that is 1 year full time. So, by maybe 2010 I will be an RN.
A big thank you to everyone who has read the blog. I hope maybe some information was helpful to other student nurses. My original intention was just more of a journal but the feedback has been so encouraging especially on the rough days. The medical community is certainly a great one as well as all my other faithful readers.
I have no plans to continue the blog at this time. I don't have an interest in writing about my work but I also don't like to say never. I did start another blog but I find I am not writing much there either maybe I will take a small hiatus and then reconsider. Best of luck and happiness to everyone.
That's the name of the game with NCLEX. It's not a fact based exam, oh don't get me wrong, facts are mixed into the equation but it's all about judgment and critical thinking and a dose of common sense.
Is it possible to study? Sort of. Review terms, values, anatomy, meds and diseases. Do as many NCLEX style questions you can tolerate and call it a day. You either know this stuff by now or you don't.
I have all day tomorrow to study. Then it's the day I have been preparing for for three years. (That felt odd to type did I punctuate it right? ...for for...)
Anyways, no pressure, noooo (insert sarcasm).
Results take 30 days to receive by mail after the exam.
I was looking for the French word in card game I used to play as a kid called "Mille Borne" it's about an auto race and I thought one of the words was Coup de --?-- (graw?) kind of meaning the grand finale but alas Google has failed me or may patience ran out. Help anyone??
So, the title of today's blog describes my current state. I can't kick it --the listless part. I work part time from 1-9pm and on my days off I veg out. I am calm about my upcoming NCLEX-PN exam on July 12th. I know I should be a crazy woman about it but I took 4 days off of work prior and that will have to suffice for crunch studying. The feedback from classmates has been varied. But both had the exam turn off at 85-90 questions. One felt good the other completely unsure. One we heard nothing from.
Oddly, I thought I had posted since the pics. Does blogger eat posts entirely?
Today is day 3 of three off. I am nursing a pulled muscle in my lower neck upper back. Can't move my chin towards my chest or lean it back. Slept in a bad position. Damn this getting older sucks.
*Beep, beep* back it up baby...Pinning Ceremony and Graduation
Oh, how remiss of me not to blog about the pinning ceremony/graduation.
It was sureal. All that anticiption, planning, anxiety then it went by in such a flash. Not unlike a wedding. I want to rewind and do it again. Partly, I think, because I was nervous that I was speaking (I hate to call it a speech) therefore I was not able to absorb and relax about the event. According to family and freinds I did well (do they EVER tell the truth?) ...well, actually I spoke too fast in the beginning then I calmed down, realized it (had a nice internal dialog) and slowed it down to finish quite well if I do say so.
Three students recieved awards from either one of the facilities we did clinicals at or from the faculty. And then the 4 remaining were also honored by the faculty ...because they could not agree on who deserved the award the most so we all got one!
Of course we all looked like a blast from the past in our nursing hats and white uniforms. Guess I'll use mine now to either loan out for Haloween or use for adult dress up *smirk*.
Afterwards, my family and a few friends went out for a nice dinner and I stayed out to have a few cocktails with some girlfriends. A nice way to end a great day.
The future begins.............
update: pics will be delayed a few days the ones my daughter took are all blurry, currently waiting for pics other family friends took.
p.r.n.: Abbreviation meaning "when necessary" (from the Latin "pro re nata", for an occasion that has arisen, as circumstances require, as needed). One of a number of hallowed abbreviations of Latin terms that have traditionally been used in prescriptions.
Do I have what it takes to be a nurse? Let's talk about labels, one's that I can handle: daughter, sister, mother, ex-wife...but NURSE? My blog is a space to rant and rave about what I think is today's trials and tribulations while I go through my last two semesters of vocational nursing school. Wish me luck .....