Week 1

My name is Kelly Cummins. I graduated Nursing School in May of 2014 from Good Samaritan College in Cincinnati Ohio. I unsuccessfully took the NCLEX four times within the first 2-3 years. It honestly took my feet out from under me, and I gave up trying to take it again. Since then, I met my husband, got married, and had a kid. I have continued my job at the hospital. Life has been busy, as it is with kids.

My previous manager had contacted me about getting in touch with Nick about taking an NCLEX review course. The first time I tried to coordinate things didn’t work out between babysitting and my husband’s schedule. I heard of a previous coworker passing the NCLEX after working with you and felt there was hope for me. So here I am now, almost finished with week 1 of this course. I would be lying if I tried to say I’m not nervous about it. I have been out of school considerably longer than all the other students and I am not nearly as fresh with knowledge. I am still encouraged about getting the help to be able to move forward though. It’s a juggle to try and figure out how to fulfill my wife, mother, and student duties. I am struggling to find the time to be able to do the questions. But I am going to get it figured out. I want to do this. I am going to do this!!
It’s hard to believe that we are already halfway thru this class. And today is even harder to take in given everything I’ve texted you about. It’s definitely surreal and scary! But the difference this time is that I am actually taking the steps (with help from you!) to get to be able to take the NCLEX confidently! I am more confident than when I first started but I most definitely have room for improvement.

Week 3

It’s hard to not compare myself, when I’ve been out of school for as many years as I have, to students who are fresh out of school or maybe a year at the most. 
I feel that my tests have improved. I started off bumpy in that I didn’t have a routine down for being able to achieve my questions daily. I really appreciated your constructive criticism after week 1 to get my ass in gear. So, I started waking up between 5-6 every morning to either finish or get a great head start on my questions before my daughter wakes up. That helped me be able to not only get them done but have time for even more! I also noticed a difference in my test taking in correlation to my mindset and my distracters. I am hands down improving in my pharm knowledge and my ability to critically think with answering questions. 

You greatly encouraged me by letting me know my scores are at or above the other students. That really encouraged me to know that I’m not that far off and that this is achievable for me! I am definitely recognizing answers quicker. I already stated above how much you motivated me with your constructive criticism and making sure that I’m putting in the effort and work to get the results that I want. The repetition and the little sayings that you teach are a huge help for me. I am very much a doer type of learner so reading textbooks have never been my strong point, but I really like your style of teaching. The way that you explain things and can build on what has already been taught are amazing. It’s clear this is a passion for you and not just a job. I appreciate how nonjudgmental you are with participation-and with letting you know about my past difficulties. I am not the most confident in my knowledge given my absence from school and can easily get flustered when put on the spot but I’m working on that and I feel more comfortable in class.

Week 5

The anxiety of this last week is all too real. I am trying to calm my nerves and reached out to my doctor to get some help with that.

I generally feel decent on answering the questions but there are bits of things that I don’t know due to my length of being out of school and effect my answers. Aside from the random diagnoses or procedures that they throw in that I don’t know and have to guess on. I don’t know the cranial nerves. I am hit and miss on some pharm-mainly the psych meds and some antibiotics. I’ll work on reviewing them this week. I have been doing good with getting my questions in every day by waking early to be able to get them on. You gave me such a huge compliment that I am doing the same or above all the other students in the class and that really boosted my confidence. I am trying to stay positive amongst my fear & anxiety. 

I can’t believe that we’re already on week 6 of this class. It’s flown by for sure.

After the Test

Holy crap. I am still replaying the last 3 hours over and over in my head. I have been on pins and needles, my nerves an absolute mess since I walked out of that building Saturday afternoon. I had convinced myself that I had failed again. After I got to question 76, I thought here we go again. I’m gonna get all 145 questions and be bordlerline passing much like all the previous tests. When it shut off at 80 I nearly hyperventilated. I kept thinking I for sure failed since the last time I took the test I had somewhere around the same amount of questions. Taking the tests on uworld in your own setting and getting that instant satisfaction of passing or not hits differently than hitting next without knowing how well or not you’re doing.

I still can’t believe that I passed. That I finally got my chance to take your class and work with you. I’ve said it before but it’s clear that you have a passion about this and I knew I wanted to be a part of your class. Without your help I would still be working, unhappily as an aide/clerical wishing that I could find someone to help get me to where I want to be.
I told my husband last night that I didn’t have any regrets in not doing enough. I knew that I did what you asked and more. I did over 2000 questions and I read the NCLEX study resource. Logically, I couldn’t imagine not passing the test. It was emotionally getting there that was hard for me.  

I can’t wait to go to work tomorrow and talk to my manager about orientation and what my schedule will now look like as a REGISTERED NURSE!!!

Thank you again, from the bottom of my heart. I said it before, but anything you need-just let me know. I’ll gladly sing your praises to anyone that will listen!!

Kelly Cummins, RN