Holy Moly!!!

I seriously do not even know where to begin on how to explain how I feel right now.

I am beyond relieved, but stressed, exhausted, and overwhelmed!

Today has been a whirlwind of emotions that have gone from fear to excitement to exhaustion.

The last 5 years have been leading up to today and now that it is here, I am a bit overwhelmed.

I have spent many days and nights studying at the kitchen table while my friends and family were going about their lives as my life was put on hold the best I could due to nursing school.

Going back to school at the age of 37 with ZERO college credits and starting night school while working full time during the day was not something that I ever thought I would be able to do.

However, I was determined to do it and succeed so that I could better myself and help others.

Little did I know just how difficult nursing school would be and how it would turn into a full time job while trying to juggle family life.

The 3 years leading up to the nursing program while doing my pre req’s was not a walk in the park, but they were cake walk compared to starting the nursing program at 40!

Even though there were many of days when I wanted to throw in the towel when things got tough during the last 9 months of school, I am so glad that I stuck it out and completed the program!

I graduated  June 16, 2015, I waited 6 weeks before I was able to schedule my state board exam and then another 4 weeks before taking my exam.

During the 6 weeks that I was waiting for the authorization to test, many of my classmates were scheduling their exams and passing NCLEX-RN!

I started to get discouraged as I waited, but I took the time to unwind a little bit after 5 years of school and I finally got my authorization to test on July 23rd.

Once I scheduled my exam, I started to study everyday for the exam and I completely went off of all social media the last 2 weeks in order to be able to focus on the exam and not get wrapped up in things that I did not have time for.

BTW- If you are reading this blog post from a Facebook or Twitter link, I am still taking a break for a couple of more weeks from social media so that I can continue to de-stress and go on a very much needed vacation. ❤

I took my exam the morning of August 20th and I have been freaking out thinking that I did not pass the exam.

However, I found out today that I am now a Licensed Registered Nurse in the State of California! 🙂

I do not think that there is anything that can truly prepare one for the NCLEX-RN exam!

I did every single Kaplan qbank question, practice exam, and trainer test to study with, some of them multiple times until I got them correct and I still did not feel that I had passed when I left the testing center.

I did do the Pearson View Trick when I was done with the exam  in the parking lot of the testing center and I got the “Good Popup”, however, I did not feel that it was 100% that I had passed!

There is something so mental that happens to you when you do this exam and you have to wait for your results, but I cannot explain it to be able to put it into words!

Only that it is BRUTAL! 😥

On the way home from my exam, I started to think of a backup plan for my career since I knew that I could never (would not) take that exam again!

Not only did I not want to pay the crazy fees to retake the exam, but I never wanted to put myself and my family through that stress again!

And now the REAL FUN of looking for a position as a New Grad begins! ❤

If you have any questions about studying for NCLEX-RN or how to do the Pearson View Trick, send me an email and I will be happy to help!

Peace, Love, & Hugs,

Julia McCabe, RN

916-622-9015

juliamccabe72@gmail.com