So, on May 1, I took the NCLEX. Go figure that the day I took boards would be "Mayday, Mayday"! Lalita and I drove out to Topeka on Wed. and spent the night so we wouldn't have to get up and drive at 6 am! We had a great drive out there and had a wonderful conversation that had nothing to do with the test we would be taking in the morning. Thursday we got up and had a good breakfast and then headed over to the Pearson testing center. If anything could psych a person out, it would be the process of getting in to take the test. First you have to give them your paperwork and ID, then sign your name and have your picture and fingerprint taken. After that you have to completely empty your pockets and put your belongings into a locker. Then you go to the proctor's desk where they tell you that they are video and audio recording you, then they sign you in by taking your fingerprint again. It was nerve wracking as I sat down to take the test, but what was worse was that every question felt like I had no idea of the answer! I got 75 questions in all before the computer shut down (yeah they shut it off and don't give you any advanced notice) and felt completely stupid as I left. Lalita also got 75 questions and we lamented the fact that we probably both failed all the way home.
Well, I told Andrew that I wasn't going to check on Saturday because I didn't want to be a mess for the nurse pinning ceremony. So early Saturday morning, while I was sleeping, Andrew checked to see if I passed. He came bouncing into the room and shook me until I thought my brains would be scrambled (this was so he wouldn't wake up Kaitlyn). He told me I passed and I was so relieved and excited all at the same time. I had to call Lalita! When I told her that I passed she said that she would look at her score and call me back. She called me back about 5 minutes later to tell me that she passed too! What a day! We would be graduating as Registered Nurses! It was an awesome feeling to know that I was completely done! Nothing left to do! I called as many people as I could think of (and had numbers for) to let them know! You know, Alkaseltzer got it right "plop, plop, fizz, fizz, oh what a relief it is!!!
