Well it is late... 10:45 and Leno is on. I have had one heck of a day. I honestly hope I passed because I don't want to ever take that test again. It was HARD. I arrived early. About 2 hours early. I found the place and then I went to McDonalds since it was the only place nearby for a early lunch. I talked to Becky and responded to Shanessa's encouraging text message. I then proceeded to the testing center. I reviewed some notes in the car and decided at about 10 minutes to noon to head in. I was focused and ready. I signed in, scanned my fingerprint, scanned my palm vein and handed over my cell phone. The gal put it in a sealed bag and gave it back to me. She told me to keep it in there and once I was done I can have them unseal it. Then I went to the bathroom and after I was directed to the back area where I met this big huge man who looked like a navy seal. He reviewed instructions with me again. I was brought to computer terminal number 2 where I would sit for the next 3.5 hours. The test starts with some rules and signing your life away as to not spill the secrets of the NCLEX. Then there are examples of each type of question asked from one answer, to multiple select all that apply, to drag and drop and point and click... oh and listening too. Oh and exhibit too, those are questions where you have to basically look at extra information and try to figure out what is wrong with the patient in relation to the question.
Then the test begins...
The first question had me at "Hello"... I was like seriously? I remember being unsure of the answer and I just shook my head and knew I was in for a ride. I took one break at an hour and a half and went to the bathroom. I raised my hand and a lady came to my rescue. I didn't want to return... I wanted to stay in the bathroom and just cry. When I went back in I was at question 40 or so. I knew that the minimum was 85 questions. My next break screen came at question 75 and 3 hours in. I skipped because I knew I only had 10 left. Well I hoped I only had 10 left. I figured if I went over 85 which definitely meant I was below the baseline I would have to take a break just to regroup.
I made it to question 85. I spent some time on that one as well, wouldn't you know it was a select all that apply. It was hard. Who knows if I got it right. I feel like I got them all wrong at this point. Then the test stops. I am done. I am relived because I am so ready to be done. But... I am scared because I feel like I failed. I answer the survey questions... seriously! At this point I just want to cry and vomit and crawl in a hole. I raise my hand (more like my white flag) to be rescued and from behind the lady comes. She saves me... we walk to her computer and she scans my palm vein and takes my white board and says have a nice day. I walk into the lobby with my key to my locker. I see a new victim sitting in the chair, I stay focused to my exit and the lady behind the desk asks if I am taking a break or if I am done. I state done and she asks for my phone in the bag so she can unseal it. I hand it over she unseals it like it is a bomb and hand it back. I take it and grab my stuff and walk out of the evil room. I look for the main exit and I walked to my car. Thinking back to this now... I can't even remember the walk to my car. It was all a blur. It was like I was in a fog of NCLEX. I got in the car and turned it on. A few tears roll down my face. I decide to drive out of the lot and then I called my mom. She answers and I can barely talk. She was a little freaked, asked if I was okay and I just blurted out that I think I failed and I am pretty sure I let everyone down and that I hope she won't think I am an idiot if I failed. I was just beside myself in emotion. I turned to go to Target because I needed a few things and she kep reassuring me that it would be fine. I just said I guess... it is what it is what all I could say. As I walked into Target I was still on the phone with my mom and then Robert called. I answered and again said the same thing trying not to cry while in Target. I decided to hind in the comfy clothes area for women and I am not sure why I didn't grab a pair of those pants to wear. Robert tired to reassure me too. I spent the next 1 hour and 15 minutes wandering Target. I called Becky and she tried to do the same as the previous calls. At this point I am finally accepting the fact that I will have to do this again. I text a few people and pay and head out of town. My Aunt Laurie calls me as well as Shanessa and I try to tell them how hard it was and ask them to please not judge me too bad if I fail. I then drive some more... I get a call back from Robin a classmate and she did the best job a making me feel better because she just took her test and she passed but she felt just like I did. She told me that I passed... I didn't believe her but I did feel a lot better after. I then called Nicole and she told me not to worry. I then took her advice and cranked open the windows and blasted the music for my remaining half hour drive. Melissa text me and told me to do the Pearson Vue trick as well as Robin. It remains to be seen if I passed or not, officially I won't know until Thursday. Everyone says I did but I don't know. I really hope I did. I did the Pearson Vue trick where I tried to register and it wouldn't let me register for another exam. Hopefully that means I passed! I have no idea. I just want to know! I really don't want to have to do this again!! I really feel like I could puke!
I hate the NCLEX!
I know that feeling when the test is done and you can't go back and change any answers. Probably a good thing, though. My Mom always told me to never change my answer. I'm so sorry that they didn't give test results right away. That's insane with the technology, they should be able to. For my boards, the lady at the front desk knew if I passed or not before I even walked out of the computer lab. I turned right away and look her direction to see if she'd crack a smile. I swear, those people do it to us on purpose. So glad to hear that you did pass. You know your stuff, Genal!!
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