Week 1

Hello, my name is Tabresha Bell. I graduated from Beckfield College March of 2021 with my RN. When I first began nursing school, I loved it. Everything about becoming a nurse excited me and I was doing extremely well. I made the dean’s list several times during the first school year and I felt confident in what I was becoming. Once COVID hit things took a turn for the worst. Everything went online which was extremely tough for me. I am a kinesthetic learner so not being able to have in person classes really affected my learning process. I learn best by doing, seeing, and hearing and without those it is hard for me to retain information. We had a problem with our online instructors refusing to lecture which ended up taking a toll on our entire class. I believe that if things would have continued the way they began I would have been successful on the NCLEX the first time around.

I am anxious, nervous, but overall excited to reap the benefits of this six-week training course. During the first session I didn’t know what to think about it all. I was beginning to doubt myself and to wonder if I was even capable of ever passing the NCLEX but as the week progressed my thought process shifted. After Friday’s session I noticed I have gained my confidence back. I walked out of that room feeling more motivated than ever. If this is what I am feeling after the first week, I can’t wait to see how far I have come by week six.

Week 3

So excited to do this week 3 update because so much has changed for me over the past couple of weeks. During the first week, I had no confidence in myself and was beginning to self-doubt. I was under the impression that may be nursing just wasn’t for me, but I had a quick reality check. These past weeks have been an extreme confidence booster for me. I am no more focuses than ever. I know that when it is time to sit for the boards, I will go in more confident than I ever have be for. It came as a surprise to me that I am feeling this way after only 3 weeks of the class. I just know once we reach the six week mark my confidence will be tripled what I am feeling now.

I would say that I am improving with understanding the information better. After taking this course I realized that I had been prepping for the NCLEX wrong the other times and probably shouldn’t have even taken it. The first and second time I took the boards I cannot say that I was knowledgeable of the information. I knew labs and the ranges, but I didn’t really know that they meant. I didn’t know what caused lab changes or anything of that sort and now I can rattle them off confidently without thinking twice about it. I can honestly say that I now feel knowledgeable on many different levels. I’m excited to continue to gain knowledge over the next could of weeks.

I can honestly say you have helped me in every way listed. When it comes to confidence, knowledge, motivation, accountability, and repetition they have all been extremely beneficial when it comes to my new learning strategy. I can say that I reap the benefits from everything that we do in class. From the pep talks to the sternness in your voice when it comes to reading our chapters and answering practice questions. You are teaching this class such an amazing way and I don’t think anyone would be capable of doing it the way that you do. It is obvious to us that you care and that you want to see us succeed. I can’t speak for everyone else but for me personally, after failing the NCLEX twice, it’s nice to know that I have someone in my corner who still believes that I can do this. So, thank you for that!

Week 5

Now that we have reached week 5 of the 6 week review my anxiety is at an all-time high. Although I do feel more knowledgeable when it comes to the material my nerves are still getting the best of me. As my practice questions scores increase my confidence seems to decrease but I’m sure that it is all mental. At this point, along with making sure I am retaining information I also need to work on my confidence. I need to be able to go in with the mindset that the Nclex is just another test just like the practice once’s that I have been killing! What I am most nervous about at this point is failure. Although I try not to entertain such negativity, the thought of failure still lingers in the back of my mind because of past attempts made. I’m afraid to let myself down because I’m not sure how it will affect me mentally. Overall, I feel way better than the last time when it comes to the material and that’s what matters the most.

Week 6

Going into week six I was full of confidence. I had this overwhelming feeling of power as if I was ready got sit for the boards at that very moment, but it was short lived as I was knocked off my high horse. During week six we did a post assessment and I did not do as well as I thought I did. Leading up to the day and even during the test my confidence was at an all-time high but the moment I pressed submit I felt discouraged all over again. Although I did do way better than I did on the pretest I still couldn’t help but to feel disappointment. I allowed myself to be upset for that evening but I then I had to snap back into reality. I no longer have time to dwell. I am in full grind mode and minor setbacks are to be expected so all I can I do is learn from them and keep pushing forward. With that being said I found other ways to study, and I also doubled the amount of questions I answer daily. I accept nothing but positive thoughts into my head when it comes to testing.

As my test date is approaching I now feel more competent and confident than I ever have when it comes to the information but I also feel slightly more relaxed. This six-week refresher course was the best thing for me. I did not realize how much information I did not know or understand until now. Now I get to walk in there way more knowledgeable than I ever have before. The feeling of knowing that I actually applied myself this time around and reached out to receive the help I needed makes this go around all worth it.

Post Pass

I am now Tabresha RN!!!! Thank you, Nick and CodeBreaker, for the help!