oh boy... 85 questions and feel like an idiot.

[alabastershadow]

Hi. The name is AlabasterShadow. The game is... well waiting.

I (being a night person) woke at the super early hour of 8am on Saturday, August 16th. I then travelled two hours by car to get to the Little Rock, Arkansas pearson center.

After I got to the building, I walked to the door. The same door I'd watch my sister go in only a week and a half before to take her test. It was LOCKED!!!!!!!!!!!!

I promptly felt faint, and wanted to go home. I mean they were closed, I just didn't check the date correctly and apparently I wasn't meant to take the test.

did I mention I was already freaking out a bit?

I calmed down enough to light a cigarette (yes i know filthy horrible *YOUR A NURSE..almost.. HOW COULD YOU!* habit) and walk around to the 'other' side of the building. Where a note was taped to the door.

"IF you are here to take a test today, please press the button at the right."

I pressed the button and a sweet serene voice asked "Are you here to take a test?"

I replied to the affirmative, and they buzzed me in. I bid my sister adieu and walked to the elevator.

After pulling a "monk" and checking the room number three or four times (fully getting on and off the elevator each time) I climbed inside and felt as if I would die. The walls were caving in. i was going to... oh I'd made it to the second floor.

I walked to the room where my entire future would be decided and nearly ralphed on my shoes. I bit it back, and opened the door.

By this time I was shaking so badly i was afraid I'd vibrate out of the room and back to the car by the time the woman had handed me the information sheet to read.

I sat down, and honestly I can't tell you now if I read anything on the laminated sheet, but I handed it back, gave the silver/blonde haired older woman my license and my ATT, signed my name on some little blank input device, and had my photo taken.

I was then escorted to the 'proctor's room'.

The proctor was also silver or blonde haired older lady, who had me put my finger on a probe again and take my indext fingerprint. I tried to do it backwards, and they laughed. I think that helped minutely.

After being asked if I was taking the proper test, if the picture they'd taken 2.4 minutes before was still me. I was given my own personal ear plugs, a dry erase board AND marker.

I was taken to a computer #3 I think. All I could think at that moment, was at least the chair looked comfortable. I was afraid if i thought of anything else, i'd ralph.

the first question, the very first question I'm almost sure I got wrong. In fact when I read it, I wanted to raise my hand and inform that they'd given me the RN test. But I continued.

The test took me around 45 minutes, and the majority of my questions was based on prioritizing, delegation, medications. I had around 10-30 select all that apply, they seemed to come in endless swarms. Sometime 5 at a time.

I felt like a bumbling, blithering idiot as I answered question after question, and then when I got to 84 I thought to myself. "After the 85th question, I'll take a break. I have to have a break. I need a cigarette. I feel like I've been violated." Yes this thought honestly went through my head.

I answered the 85th question and my computer seemed to stall, it's shimmered twice, and went blue! I though "Oh crap I broke it!" I raised my hand, and the exit survey came up.

I have no idea if I answered them or not, other than it said I had completed the test.

After being led out by the proctor, asking again if I were the woman in the photo, I was allowed to leave. I walked to the car and sat numb.

Little was I to know that this was the least of my worries. It is now Monday the 18th and I've still no word if I passed or failed. I'm sitting on pins and needles, the edge of my seat, the pinnacle of a huge freaking MOUNTAIN, and I have no idea if I will climb back down into a new life, or crash HARD into the one I was in before.

But as the song line goes "Waiting... is the hardest part."

I'll keep you updated. Hopefully I passed.

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

Good luck

[spalata]

OMG, your story is so funny,you deserve to pass.....well,we all do.....Please keep us posted.good luck.....

[alabastershadow]

thanks! I hope I did! and it's all true.

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

All that ralphing! Good luck! Let us know when you find out that you passed ... because you know, most people feel like idiots/failures after NCLEX, and 85% find out they pass. :)

[booski]

I can relate to everything in your post even the cigarette part. I had the same experience this past week. I kept telling myself that when the computer reach 85 I was going to empty those two cups of coffee from my bladder and smoke a cigaette, then regroup. Because none of the questions where making any scense to me. I also had the same patteren and quality of questions as you, one after another. I studied hard so I knew that it couldn't arise a question that I shouldn't have known the answer to. But once I sat down and the first question came I was like this couldn't be the right test. Then I kept saying after each question that there has to be at least on question that I will definetly know the answer to. Low and behold the computer cut off at 85 and I left there stuck, upset and lose for thoughts and words. Good luck too you and lets pray that you pass.

[Mermaid in the Sea]

i had to read your story twice as i was laughing so hard, i'm sorry i don't want to sound rude, but i know you must be nervous about your results.. just have lots of faith!!! good luck and let us know your results.:tinkbll:sending good wishes!!

[chevyv, BSN, RN]

OMG!!! I was laughing so hard because I felt the same exact way at 2pm today. I actually looked by my comfy chair for a waste basket just in case I had to puke! I told myself at 86 I was taking a br/water/fruit break but it shut off at 85. I thought right away "I can do better, just come back on". Then I thought, "Thank God I'm done, this stress is killing me and so are these ear plugs". I took the survey, not because I wanted to, but because I didn't want the bad juju to get me . I left feeling like I was in a dream. The night before the test I had nightmares all night. Everyone was passing and I was trying to get back in because I didn't finish. It's been the most bizarre night/day ever! Please keep us posted.

[JoanieDee, LPN]

Wow, I REALLY needed to read that tonight!! After my experience this morning taking NCLEX-PN, i needed that laugh so very much.....thank you!! I mean no offense (and i am certainly in no position to really be laughing since i just know i didn't get 1 question correct on mine)..but still........still laughing!! You said it better than anyone ever has.....that is just great!! I just KNOW you passed and hey, you got to have your ciggy after Q85, just like you wanted, so everything is going to be just fine!! I just cannot wait to hear your reaction when you find out you passed......do post, please!!

[alabastershadow]

I woke up this morning... crawled from the bed at 7:15. Again, not my forte. I knew that I had to check, I was afraid to check. In fact my hands were shaking like I was holding a vibrating massage tool.

I logged and... nothing. I still had no results. I didn't even have emotions at this time. I knew that I had to be at a job interview at 1pm, and I was just way too sleepy to give a darn.

So I somewhat stumbled into my room collapsed on my bed, and woke up again at 11.

I checked again, hoping that they forgot to update at 7. Nope, still no news, but as they say no news is good news right?

left the house and did the interview thing (where I was hired). Headed to my mother's to spend an hour or so with her, when She decided I should check again.

I dunno if I was too exhausted, or if I didn't know my social security number or what. But When I entered the information, and used her credit card (cuz I well, left without one.. yea that sounds infinitely better than mycreditsucks) I found out that yes. I indeed passed.

I screamed. I'm sure the people who live down the street, thought that i'd been killed. I cried. Like a baby. The whole while, my mother is asking 'What!??! What!?!?' Once I calmed down enough to tell her, the congratulations started.

I don't think I've finished calling everyone to tell them. I'm just so glad that it's over. The stupid thing is over. Now I can go back to my 'monklike' existence and start my new job, where even a little OCD is appreciated.

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Congratulations!!!

[chevyv, BSN, RN]

I'm so happy for you!!!! Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Good luck in your new job and career.