Need some cheering up!

Published

Short version: After a HORRIBLE week, I took the NCLEX this morning and got all 265 questions. Of course (like most other first-timers) I fear I failed it. Completely. I'm exhausted - mentally, physically, emotionally - and I have to wait so long to find out if I passed...two business days from today (thurs) is MONDAY.

Long version:

After waiting for the NCBON to update my status as "ready to test" due to some paperwork, I finally received my ATT YESTERDAY at 8pm. By 9pm, I had a test registered for TODAY. I took my exam 12 hours after I scheduled it. I had to pack, hit the road, find a hotel, sleep for four hours, hit the road again, and fly into the testing center...

I live just north of Raleigh, NC and tested in Washington, DC - a five hour drive.

Here's where it hits the fan:

1) I was detoured 45 minutes out of the way due to a major car accident that completely shut the highway down (a main road - I-95). What would have been a two hour drive to my hotel in Richmond took nearly 3 hours.

2) I got only a few hours of sleep because of my nerves and the detour.

3) I hit MAJOR traffic in DC even though I got to the city limits around 6am.

4) My Mapquest directions AND the directions provided by Pearson were BOTH wrong. I spent an hour searching downtown DC and finally had to call three friends to get me to the test site.

5) I thought my car was stolen because after I handed my keys over to the valet, I was told by the receptionist at the test center that there WAS NO valet service...I didn't find out until right before my exam the receptionist was new and wasn't AWARE of the valet service......

6) FINALLY, because I scheduled my test so recently, there was trouble accessing my test. Pearson didn't have be as scheduled. It was only because I had a copy of my confirmation that they finally let me test (you aren't required to bring this, just FYI. I'm glad I did).

So now I'm stuck thinking -

- was I unbelievably stupid for doing that?

- did I get 265 because I'm so stupid, because they didn't have me scheduled, because I'm the lucky one who gets to take the whole thing no matter what, or because that's-the-way-it-goes??

- what do I need to do if I fail?

GAH!

(sorry, told you it was the long version)

Any encouragement, advice, nice words, e-hugs, or reality-slaps in the face are more than welcome.

I think I'm gonna go sleep for two days...

:o

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Specializes in Cardiac Stepdown.

Go ahead and sleep for two days. You deserve it!

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Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.

Wow, I am exhausted from reading this. A big hug from me and lots of positive vibes!!

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After reading back over that, it feels like something out of a dream or a movie. Anyone else have a bad experience like that?

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Specializes in a variety.
Short version: After a HORRIBLE week, I took the NCLEX this morning and got all 265 questions. Of course (like most other first-timers) I fear I failed it. Completely. I'm exhausted - mentally, physically, emotionally - and I have to wait so long to find out if I passed...two business days from today (thurs) is MONDAY.

Long version:

After waiting for the NCBON to update my status as "ready to test" due to some paperwork, I finally received my ATT YESTERDAY at 8pm. By 9pm, I had a test registered for TODAY. I took my exam 12 hours after I scheduled it. I had to pack, hit the road, find a hotel, sleep for four hours, hit the road again, and fly into the testing center...

I live just north of Raleigh, NC and tested in Washington, DC - a five hour drive.

Here's where it hits the fan:

1) I was detoured 45 minutes out of the way due to a major car accident that completely shut the highway down (a main road - I-95). What would have been a two hour drive to my hotel in Richmond took nearly 3 hours.

2) I got only a few hours of sleep because of my nerves and the detour.

3) I hit MAJOR traffic in DC even though I got to the city limits around 6am.

4) My Mapquest directions AND the directions provided by Pearson were BOTH wrong. I spent an hour searching downtown DC and finally had to call three friends to get me to the test site.

5) I thought my car was stolen because after I handed my keys over to the valet, I was told by the receptionist at the test center that there WAS NO valet service...I didn't find out until right before my exam the receptionist was new and wasn't AWARE of the valet service......

6) FINALLY, because I scheduled my test so recently, there was trouble accessing my test. Pearson didn't have be as scheduled. It was only because I had a copy of my confirmation that they finally let me test (you aren't required to bring this, just FYI. I'm glad I did).

So now I'm stuck thinking -

- was I unbelievably stupid for doing that?

- did I get 265 because I'm so stupid, because they didn't have me scheduled, because I'm the lucky one who gets to take the whole thing no matter what, or because that's-the-way-it-goes??

- what do I need to do if I fail?

GAH!

(sorry, told you it was the long version)

Any encouragement, advice, nice words, e-hugs, or reality-slaps in the face are more than welcome.

I think I'm gonna go sleep for two days...

:o

--

I would have planned a little better such as driving to D.C. 1 day prior and actually finding the testing center before hand (stay in motel), not the same day of the test. Your anxiety level would have definitely been at a lower level.

Good luck!

Praise, RN

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Not exactly making me feel better....

I did stay overnight - unfortunately in a large city like DC it doesn't even matter if you know where the site is - half the battle is finding parking, and that is constantly changing.

This opportunity was my only one for six weeks to take the NCLEX. As I'm finding out from other NCers, the NC sites have been completely booked for weeks through June and half of July. Nearly my entire graduating class is having to schedule their boards out-of-state just to be able to start their jobs on time.

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Specializes in ER, Teaching, HH, CM, QC, OB, LTC.

This test is never easy. It is always an emotional roller coaster. My car broke down on the wasy to take my test.

Keep your chin up! & get some rest you can undo any of this.

Faith

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Thanks for all the well-wishes...I think they paid off -

I PASSED!!! :balloons: :smiley_aa :yelclap: :monkeydance: :roll

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WOOT! WOOT! Good job, Jen!

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Specializes in Gerontological, cardiac, med-surg, peds.

congratulations!!:balloons::balloons::balloons:

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CONGRATS JEN!!! I'm not too far from you over here towards W-S. Keep in touch!!!!!

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I just read your post and it kind of freaked me out. I graduate from Nursing school in December ( I am going to school in NJ) and I am planning on moving to NC almost immediately after I graduate. Now I am thinking that I should test here in New Jersey to avoid having to go through all of that to take the test.

Did anyone take a Kaplan review before taking the test? Just wondering if its really worth the money?

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