Confessions of a 30-something RN grad

I really enjoyed reading this, at least the page or two that I had time to make it through. I am a 33-year-old stay-at-home mom and an Army wife (full time job right there). Oh, did I mention that I have 4 children and the oldest is 10?

I have most of my prerequisites completed from back in the day when I went to college the first time. I will spend the 09-10 school year completing any additional courses that I need. Though I am not required to, I think I will take A&P over again. I am going to take a few math courses as well because although I am applying to an AS program, I do plan to go on to earn a BSN and college algebra seems to be a standard requirement. Depending on whether or not my college of choice will accept a few courses for transfer, I will apply to the nursing program for fall 2010.

I just completed a very intense 2-year program online so I can at least say that I am adjusted to the horrors of online learning. I was fortunate to find a college that is within 30 minutes of the base we're stationed at that not only accepts military orders military orders as proof of residency for tuition purposes, but also offers every single course I need online! So until I am actually in the nursing program for a 4 quarters, I can attend school online.

wow... flash back.... your story describes my experience except my Daughter was in labor with my first Grandchild... My mother drove me because my concentration was minimal if that.

Can't remember anything except thinking I can retake the test in 45 days. and that is behind me l NEED to get back to my daughter.

the Best Part of the story is I made it back in time to be there for my daughters Labor and the birth of my grand daughter AND the next day I found out I passed!!!

I all ready had an RN job so that was a blessing as well.

I am a 39 year old RN grad myself! I took the NCLEX yesterday and had to drive home 3 hours. Thank goodness I had my sons first baseball playoff game of the season to keep me busy last night. Today I am going crazy. I am taking the kids hiking and hope that will keep my mind busy. Tomorrow I go back to work where I have been working for 3 weeks as a GN. I left the NCLEX feeling positively pitiful. All the good test scores, all the well done care plans, all the skills that I perform daily do not matter anymore. It has all come down to this one test, this one day. I cannot imagine the humiliation of walking into work begging them to keep me on as a LPN until I can test again (45 days). So, I will believe that I passed, I will believe that tomorrow there will be an RN behind my name. I will know that I did all that I could to prepare, not just for the last month but for the last several years. I wish there was a way to make this process less painful and more positive (I guess I thought the same about nursing school). Good luck to all of you.

Congrats to all who passed the nclex and to those who will take it....i just accepted at my local nursing school so hopefully ill take my nclex in the summer of 2011 yikes!!!! and im 40yo...btw, whats the 75 Qs? do u have to have 75 Qs correct and then it shuts off? how many Qs are there altogether?

Congrats! Hey, have you ever thought about being a writer?

I'll be starting the nursing program august 2010!! I can't imagine how I will feel BEFORE,DURING, and AFTER the exam! I'm already a nervous person so I will be on edge! This was such a great story!! CONGRATS too!!

Oh man these great stories has me so encouraged! I am 36 years old, done with all my pre-requistes and is trying my hardest to get accepted at into a nursing program. After reading these posts I feel so rejuvinated to continue trying. All of your stories has inspired me and has given me faith that, I too one day will write about my experience in taking the NCLEX exam.

Thank you so much for your truly inspiring and humprous stories. Look for mine in the near future(God willing)

mine is a similar story, except I know that the NCLEX has 265 questions!!! I had to answer them all...at question 175, I knew I was getting them all. Quite frankly after about 200, I think I was just picking something. I had taken the LPN boards the year before, so I was not necessarily nervous. The LPN NCLEX turned off at 75 and I passed. After the RN NCLEX I got ice cream and had to drive 2 hours home. The next 3 days were hell for me and everyone around me, LOL. do I cry now or later, I did not know if I would be able to take the boards again anytime soon, I was moving to Germany to be with my spouse in one month. when I saw my name as a licensed RN for my state, I cried, my family tought it was bad news they were going to hear. it was the best feeling knowing all that studing paid off!

As it turns out, I will not have to beg my manager to keep me on as a LPN because I PASSED the NCLEX. All the struggle, anxiety and beating myself up was not really worth it. I am so thankful that you posted your story because it is the normal feeling after the NCLEX to feel like you did not make it. I ave heard that from so many people. I love my job and working the last month as a GN has cemented even further why I went to school and made a mid-life career change. In some ways I feel like those of us with "life experience" are better prepared in an acute care setting. It is certainly easier to avoid getting caught up in the drama that so often happens. Thanks for your words of wisdom and encouragement from another "30 something" who can relate to NCLEX hell.