Hi Guys!
This is a video that was long over due, sorry for everyone that requested it earlier!!
Here is the video... but below I have included the section from the book!!
I hope you find this helpful!!
My Story
When it
was time for me to graduate nursing school, I told my mother I didn’t want to
celebrate with a party. I explained that my degree was worth nothing unless I
passed the licensing board examination. My mom got her way, and we had a nice
party anyway. I have to admit it was nice to celebrate making it this far, and
I enjoyed it thoroughly. Directly following the party, I switched back into
serious mode. I said every day to myself, “Wow, you passed in 75 questions, you
are so intelligent!” In my head over and over while I was studying, I said this
to myself.
I was blessed
to attend a school that provided us with NCLEX reviews. I attended every single
one, every single day. I noticed many of my classmates taking vacations or
simply time off studying. I often wondered why, as our four years meant nothing
without passing this final licensing exam. After the review every day, I went
home and studied what we had gone over that day. In my head still, “Wow, you
passed in 75 questions, you are so intelligent!”
I
signed up to take my exam the first date I could, which happened to be a month
after graduation. I was surprised to see that I could sign up for a two o’clock
test time. As I like to sleep in, this was the time I chose. I also found a job
at Central Carolina Hospital that allowed me to follow an RN before I passed
the board examination, and get paid while doing so. On the days I didn’t have a
NCLEX review or follow my RN, I allowed myself only one luxury. This was to
sleep in until 10 a,m. Once awake, I made myself repeat question after
question. I still repeated in my head, “Wow, you passed in 75 questions, you
are so intelligent!”
Two
weeks before my exam, I was introduced to Pearson Vue. This company had NCLEX
review questions on the computer. Every morning I answered question after
question. In the evenings I would go over questions I didn’t understand with my
mother; she would help me understand the rational or help me look up the
answer. In those two weeks, I completed every single question on that website. Sometimes
in the mirror I would say to myself, “Wow, you passed in 75 questions, you are
so intelligent!”
Many of
my NCLEX reviews suggested taking a few days off before your exam so you would
not be too stressed out. Some of my classmates did this and it worked perfectly
for them. I knew myself and realized I wasn’t comfortable with that. During my
entire time in nursing school, I studied until my instructor told me to close
my book. For the last most important exam, I was not about to change my
strategy. Again and again, “Wow, you passed in 75 questions, you are so
intelligent!”
Two
days before I drove to the location of the exam. I wanted to make sure I knew
exactly where to go on “the day.” I went home and again repeated question after
question. I still allowed myself only one luxury of sleeping in until about 10 a.m.
because I was able to get a 2 p.m. test time. I knew I could also do this on
test day. While driving back home, I
kept looking in the mirror saying to myself, “Wow, the test shut off in 75
questions, you know what that means!”
Test
day. I woke up at 10 a.m. just like I planned. I went through my morning
routine of telling myself, “Wow, you passed in 75 questions, you are so
intelligent!” I ate breakfast while still doing more questions. Time flew and
before I knew it I was driving to my test location.
Fear
suddenly came over me. I suddenly thought, “Oh, I need something to make me
feel better or give me some energy.” Right away I pulled into the nearest gas
station, tires screeching and all. I went straight for a Mountain Dew. It had
been so long since I drank one, possible five years, but when I consumed them
before I was always buzzing off of a sugar and caffeine high for hours. I drank it immediately and continued onto my
destination. By this time, I was practically screaming, “Wow, you passed your
NCLEX exam in 75 questions!”
I
arrived at the location about an hour early. I began looking over notes, my
nerves, however, would not let me comprehend anything I was reading. I looked
over these notes for 30 minutes then finally went inside the building to take
the test. The test room was much smaller
than I was expecting, and there was almost no one in sight. I expected to be in
a crowded room with many more nursing students about to take their exams. However,
it was nothing like that.
I was
early, but it didn’t matter. I went right up to the counter, handed the person
my test information and my license, then posed for my photo. They gave me a
locker for my sweater and said “Okay, you can go ahead.” As I went up to the
exam room, I was closely examined by the proctor who asked me what the bump in
my pocket was. “Ummm, I’m not sure.” I reached into my pocket to find my chap
stick. I was told to put that in my locker as well.
When I
came back, I was told the rules of the room. I was given a small dry erase
board if I needed to write anything down. I was told I could have as many bathroom
breaks as necessary; I simply needed to raise my hand and he would lead me out.
I then was led to my cubby, which had my computer on it. I entered all of the
information it asked, and then answered three example questions. I was told at
one of my reviews these example questions would determine the level of
difficulty your questions would begin at.
Question
one. The question came up but I couldn’t see it! My heart was beating out of my
chest and I felt like I was going to pass out! “Maybe the Mountain Dew wasn’t
such a good idea, oh my gosh, what if I fail my exam!” Panic-stricken, I sat
there, unable to read the first question and drowning in fear. “Breathe, Caroline,” I said calmly to myself,
“just breathe, slowly, easily. If you don’t pass, you can take it again,. Everything
will work out.”
It felt
like five minutes that I was breathing and talking calmly to myself. The clock
however said 30 seconds. I finally blinked one last time and was able to read
the question. Question after question
came. They were so difficult, just like I imagined. I did every question just like I always
practiced, reading, rereading, then reading the answers, then again rereading
the question. Then finally, selecting what I thought was the most appropriate
choice.
I went
though each question like this. The majority of my questions were med-surg
based. I was pretty nervous about this, because this had been my hardest course
while I was in school. I kept getting “select all that apply” questions, too,
which I always thought were so difficult. I had to do breathing exercises
several times during the exam. As the numbers began to rise, I had to make
myself breathe slowly even more.
73, 74,
75. I looked at the number 75 for about 30 seconds before I could even read the
question. I read, reread, then looked at the answers, then again reread the
question. At one of my reviews I was
told that if you remember the last question you had and you knew you got it
right, you probably passed. I selected my answer and tried desperately to
remember this question. Every time I was
about to press the submit key I completely forgot the question.
I did
this several times before I finally said to myself, “Caroline, if you have to
do more questions, it’s ok.” I talked myself into truly believing that and
breathed some more as I pressed the submit key. The computer screen went blank.
“Oh no! I didn’t remember the last question!” Did I pass? Did I fail? The whole
time I imagined myself taking this exam I saw myself feeling so confident
afterwards. I felt nothing of the sort.
Driving
home I could hardly talk. My nursing school friends called me and assured me
that I passed. I didn’t feel as good as
I wanted though. Over the next few days, while waiting for my results, I just
didn’t feel that great. When the third day came and I was able to go online to
see my results I was so nervous to do so.
I sat
in the living room with my mom and dad. I went to the website, put in my
information and waited for what seemed like an eternity. I was concentrating so
hard on the screen I didn’t even notice my parents disappeared. Finally, it
came up and said my result in tiny little 12 point font, “pass.” “I passed!” I
exclaimed! My parents came into the kitchen carrying a cake that said,
“Caroline Porter BSN-RN” and a bottle of champagne!
As
proud as I was that I passed my exam in 75 questions, not one person besides my
classmates ever asked me that question. My boss didn’t care what my grades in school
were and when I got my license, they were just happy I could work as an RN. Bottomline, no matter how many questions or
times you take the exam, pass is pass. In the end if you’re a licensed or registered
nurse. That is all they care about. I have come to find out myself that is
really all that matters as well.
