Finally an RN after 12 years!

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Good morning nurses and student nurses! i posted here before years ago regarding my nursing journey. I promised God that I will post some updates to inspire and help people specially the students who failed, once I become an RN.

I started my nursing school journey in 2002 as a nursing student in the BSN program, didn't make it. So I went for an Associate's and didn't make it either. My school nursing advisor at that time told me it is hopeless, that I should just change my major and not go for nursing. When I went home, my friends and even my husband were discouraging me, telling me to just give up nursing school and that I am too dumb for nursing. I cried. But I told myself I'll never give up. I went to this forum and some nurses were not nice, telling me also to just give up, that it is not meant for me to be a nurse. While other nurses were very nice to advise me never to give up. They said "if it is a nurse that I want to be, then it is a nurse that I will soon be". I was inspired by that.

So I prayed to God that if it is really his will to make me a nurse, to please give me one final chance in nursing school. So I was accepted in LPN school, I became class Vice President and even graduated Valedictorian with 4.0 GPA. I have been working as an LPN since then for 5 years while continuing to take pre-requisites for LPN to RN school. In 2013, I was accepted in the LPN-RN bridge program at a local community college. I did very well in school and even graduated Cum Laude last year Dec. 2014.

I finally took my NCLEX-RN last August 5, 2015. The test was very hard. I was praying to God to please be there for me, my deceased loved ones to help me and even some saints to just please help me while I was taking the exam coz it was very HARD. I prayed that pass or not, to please only give me 75 questions coz I can't stand taking anymore hard questions that are mostly select all that apply and prioritization.Only 50% of what I studied from my Saunders reviewer were on the exam, the others I have to just make an educated guess because I never saw them on my reviewer. Finally, after 75 questions, the computer screen went blank. I was shocked. I thought I failed because the questions were so hard. I even told my family not to expect too much because I thought I failed. I did the Pearsonvue trick 1 hour after and after 24 hours, and I still got the good pop-up. I felt relieved. Finally at 9 AM today, Aug. 7, 2015 after 12 years, I got my Quick results and it said PASS. I am finally an RN (Registered Nurse).

I am so happy. I finally got the fruit of my years of labor because I never quit or gave up in my dream to be a nurse. Thank God and thanks to those people and very nice nurses here who were very nice to inspire me never to stop in reaching my goals. Because of my faith in God, hardwork, perseverance, family and some nurses here, I am finally an RN.

So it is my turn now to advice people,specially the student nurses, never ever to give up on your dreams. Even if it takes a very long road, you will still get there in the end.Never ever listen to negative people who try to discourage you or tell you to just give up. If it is a nurse that you want to be, then it REALLY is a nurse that you will be. I am a living testimony of that. Once again, thank you everybody and goodluck in your nursing journey.

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Hi Belle,

Such an inspiring story of perseverance and success! I'm really awed, thanks for sharing and can't wait for your future articles!

I'm a new nursing student in a community college! :) Looking forward to chat :)

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Amazing. Congratulations. Wishing you all the best and God help you with every other dream you have. I am inspired....xoxo

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Congratulations OP! Thank you for sharing your success story and inspiring me to pursue my dream despite the obstacles in my way. You are a true testament that when one path becomes closed, you find another route to get to your end goal =)

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Thank you so much for posting this. I am in community college getting ready to apply to nursing school this fall and sometimes it gets really hard to stay positive. Nursing school admittance is *so* competitive and I constantly worry that I won't get in. Posts like yours keep my chin up. Thank you *hugs*

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your story reflects what I noticed in my cohort. the LPN students did very well compared to others. I guess the real world experience made a difference. I'm a believer in 2nd, 3rd, 4th...nth chances. As long as you hold yourself accountable and succeed even if it takes 100 times, I'll be cheerleading for ya. Not all grapes ripen at the same time. I'm happy for you and I hope your story inspires others. One small thing - your very last paragraph - you "advise" people (verb), you give "advice" (noun) to people.

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Very inspiring! I was also thinking of going the LPN to RN route, working as a LPN so I can afford RN school. I am currently a LVT in animal medicine and am eager to switch to human medicine. Your story inspires me! Thank you for sharing!

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