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We met in April of 2008 at BYU-Idaho. 4 months later we were married in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on August 22, 2008. We moved to Colorado in June of 2010, bought our first house there in 2013. And now we have moved to Las Vegas, NV to start our next adventure. We have two active boys with a little girl on the way!

Thursday, February 5, 2009

NCLEX Woes No Mo!

Well, the time finally came for me to finish nursing and move on with my life, this includes finding a job and taking the dreaded NCLEX. Now I know most people have to some kind of test to certify for their degree, but this test has terrified me since my first day of Nursing School. So as Zac and I were deciding what we were going to do, we decided that the best option would be for me to focus more on my studying instead of getting a job. I did submit about 6 applications, but due to the economy none of the hospitals are hiring. Which just meant that I spent the time studying. Now, this is not just any old test. The NCLEX is a computerized adaptive test that can last anywhere from 75 to 265 questions and a maximum of 6 hours! The test can shut off at any point between the 75 and 265 and you have no idea whether or not you passed. So needless to say, my worries were well justified. And take make things even worse their is no where in Idaho to take this test except for Boise! So I ended up taking it in Draper, Utah and Zac had to work of course, so I asked his Mom to go with me. It was a fun trip, we talked the whole time, and just kind of relaxed. So I left a 6:45 in the morning to go and take this test that I was hoping would only be an hour and a half. Of course, 265 questions and five hours later, I left the testing center, having taken every last question of the worst test of my entire life! Some people are chosen to take all 265 for statistics purposes, and are not necessarily doing so badly that they have to keep answering questions. I was hoping I was just one of the ones for the statistics. But knowing I took that many questions did not give me much hope. I actually cried myself to sleep that night because I thought that there was no way that I could have passed. The testing center allows you to pay a few dollars and get your results in two days, or you get to wait four weeks to get your results. So this morning before Zac went to work we got on the computer and I have never been so nervous. We waited for the screen to pop up and read down until the last line said Grade: Pass. (This is a pass or fail test, no percentages) I was shocked! I cried for like ten minutes and I was so happy. So I passed the first time, and I never have to take this test ever again! Today I am officially and RN! Yeah! I actually thought this day would never come, and to be honest, I still can't believe it!

4 comments :

  1. I am SO happy for you! What a wonderful feeling to be DONE! CONGRATULATIONS! You deserve it!

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  2. WooHoo!! How exciting!! Congratulations Chelsea!

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  3. Congrats Chelsea RN on passing that horrid test!! 265 questions!?! Wow...how did your brain keep going and not turn to mush. The most I ever did practicing was 200 and I thought I would blow my brains out. Reading about your experience reminded me of my own. I remember that awful feeling of 'this is it...this is what I have spent the last 2 1/2 years of my life studying for.' Thankfully I only had to endure 125 questions. But I honestly left that same testing center feeling like I had failed. I cried alligator tears all the way home but like most of us do...I passed. But all that worry and work is worth it in the end. Being an RN is great. I'm surprised you didn't have employers knocking on your door asking you to work for them. You should come to Seattle...they are desparate for nurses. Good luck on getting a job and getting used to being an RN. I would say it takes a good 9 months to a year before you are really comfortable going to work and not thinking, "I hope I don't kill anyone today!"

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  4. Way to go Chelsea!! I just knew you did better than you thought you did. Holly always tells me she thinks she failed her test when in actuality she did great. I am sure the test was scary, but we were all praying for your success and you did your part by studying hard. This is really exciting news!!!! How is your apartment coming?

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