hello everyone! i was a sailor, a truck driver, a burn patient, then a CNA, after seven years as the latter, i decided to get my LVN, and it happened! I owe alot to my family and friends especially THE WIFE! She has the motivation I'm not really sure what I contributed? But as as CNA in the hospital setting for two years and a CNA in the Long Term Setting for five years, looking back, I guess it was a done deal. I took the NCLEX and it shut down after 35 MINUTES! (to my dismay) I studied school work but always (from day one the NCLEX CD ROM) And you guessed it! I passed the first time! It took some time and knowing the right people (from being in the field and i SCORED the awesome position in Assisted living at a very high end senior environment. Do not get me wrong life is not easy street but this is what I wanted and am glad to be the weekend supervisor. Yes it has been scary most of the time, but given the family support that I have I know I will succeed, also thinking more seriously about RN! So what the cost? at my age they probably will never collect. So I make sure my patients do!