I just found out today that I passed my RN NCLEX. I am so overcome with emotion. Here is the story of my long, emotional journey to becoming an RN. In 2001 I was working as a Human Resources Manager at a company in a nearby city where I live. I was a single mom raising a 10 year old daughter and a 7 year old son. I was feeling very burnt out and wanted to try something new, so when the opportunity came for me to run a temporary employment agency I jumped at the chance. Within a few months of opening my office several large companies in the area that I found people employment in closed their doors, and within 6 months I was forced to close my doors also. I saw this as God's way of telling me I should do something different with my life and go back to college. I decided to go into Respiratory Therapy, signed up for classes and began attending college. My mom had COPD, emphysema, and had a hx of 2 massive MI's back to back. She was always receiving "breathing treatments". My son had chronic asthma. I was up at least 4 times a night administering breathing treatments to him and dealing with his medication regimen on a daily basis. I figured I might as well get paid for what I do all the time anyway, and to get a better understanding of these diseases. To make a long story short, in January of 2002 my mom died, and exactly one month later my son had an acute asthma attack and died. I took a week off from school, but kept plugging along with my studies. My heart just wasn't really into it and I started doubting if I would be able to handle a situation similar to what happened to my son. (to this day, I still have a hard time dealing with patients who are having a hard time breathing) I talked to a career counselor and she suggested I change my degree to RN. I was skeptical at first because I couldn't stand poop or puke. LOL After some thought I decided to do it. I went to college full time until January 2003 and worked full time at a hospital as a CNA. Right after my semester began in Jan. 2003 my car broke down and I left it on the side of the road and called a tow truck. In between me getting my car back and it being towed someone broke into it and stole all my textbooks. I didn't have the money to buy new ones so I had to withdraw from school. I continued to work full time, met a wonderful man, and got married. On January 1, 2005 I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy!! My husband and I decided it was time for me to go back to school and continue on my path to becoming an RN. So, when Ryan was 8 months old I went back to school and finished all my prep classes before entering the nursing program. Here I am now in 2008 a newly graduated RN who passed my NCLEX!! My daughter, Shelby, is getting ready to turn 18 in two weeks, my son, Brandon, is loved and missed every day, and my son, Ryan is 3 1/2. My husband has been wonderful throughout all of this. Without him I would not have been able to accomplish this. I guess what I'm trying to say is that if I can accomplish this, with all the obstacles put in my way....anyone can. God Bless All of You!!!
