Week 1

I graduated in 12/22. I worked full time during Nursing School and am the sole provider in my home. My son, and only support system was in his junior year of a BS in Kinesiology/Sports Medicine. Between the 100 hour weeks, caring for my mother in a nursing home and having a Primary Immunodeficiency disorder, I became very ill, and extremely unconfident. I took the NCLEX in March one time. I did not study that much. I expected failure.

I have ulcers and have lost my job now, but it is a blessing in disguise. I can finally try to focus. I am seeing a therapist to undo years of damage. Our financial situation is very poor, but we will survive until I take the test 11/3. I am slowly beginning to think I can do this. After 40 years of caring for others, I am stepping away from toxicity, and caring about myself. I only wanted 1 person to believe in me and not make fun of the way I learn. ADHD is miserable and I cannot take any medication for this.

One step, at a time. Work in progress.

Week 4

I know I can pass the NCLEX. I feel more confident and understand the correlation between rest, nutrition, stress, a toxic environment, and preparing to succeed. I want to improve many things to succeed in this class. Eating, exercise, studying, mental health, and confidence. Time to study. Time to get humble and grateful for the incredible opportunities I’ve been blessed with. To improve I will be increasing questions, review notes, and listening to PasswithPass videos. Right now, I have left toxicity behind me. 

Week 6

This tutorial has been a journey of discovery and I learned how to think in a safe and open environment of TRUST. Being in this class means you must be vulnerable, humble and LISTEN. I feel a strange sense of calm and peace right now. It is not like graduating from nursing school; I was continually asked by my peers and coworkers about when I was taking the NCLEX.

I was emotionally anxious from a patient assault and struggling with bleeding ulcers, asthma and an ongoing Primary Immunodeficiency, (genetic) disease. On my 2nd attempt, I believe I will pass. I had to fix my head, so that it was open to receiving the information. Trauma, stress, and anxiety will close the learning portal. I sleep with headphones that play CALM-prayer and bible verses.

After passing the NCLEX

I passed! It is finally over. I have been offered a scholarship for my BSN at Galen College, but a great deal depends on getting a job that I am physically able to handle.

My advice to anyone taking this class is this:

Do the work. Show up. Make sure your mind is clear and ready to learn. You can’t do anything if your mind is sick. Get enough sleep, take your vitamins, and pray. Listen to the videos on your headset while you are doing the UWorld questions. Make Flashcards from UWorld rationales. The pictures make you learn. Nick is a nurse whisperer. He just knows how to support everyone and lift you up. Everyone that puts in the work will pass!

Never forget that nursing is about being an advocate and serving that purpose. It starts with that spark in yourself that makes you want to continue in a tradition of a better world for someone else; a better outcome. Having someone tell you that you saved their life, is IT. YOU WILL DO THIS. Thank you Mr. Nick