Tomorrow morning I am driving by myself to the nearest city to take the NCLEX-RN exam. I opted not to take this trip with friends or family members, because I knew that I would need to focus and internalize my thoughts to the big test ahead. The whole nursing school journey I have made to this point has all been due to my own hard work and ambition. It seems fitting that I will once again be taking a long road by myself with an unknown fate lying at the end of the road.
This past month since I have graduated I have been busy focusing on finding a job and tying up all of the loose ends related to nursing school. I’ve also been taking a much-needed vacation and resting while I can before I start a career that will last my lifetime. Although I have been studying, the closer I get to taking the NCLEX exam the more I wished that I had studied more while I could.
The past few days of studying have been the hardest on me. I keep thinking “how do I study for everything I have learned in the past four and a half years?” Simply taking lots of practice tests and answering questions are all that I seem to be able to do anymore. I think my brain is past absorbing any more new information so answering questions is a great way for me to keep it active and alert for the big day. On some days, I have also found myself to be too stressed out to study. I will sit in a chair and stare at questions and then get so restless I have to stand up and walk around for awhile. I am grateful that short breaks are allowed while taking the NCLEX because I have a feeling I may get so stressed out I need to walk it off before calming down again.
All of my classmates and friends that have taken this exam have all told me that they were convinced they failed it when they walked out of the room. They all passed. I keep reminding myself of this as I have a feeling my journey back home after the exam may be a struggle. But, I know I can do this.
The number one piece of advice that I have received about taking this exam is: “Just breathe.” I hope any of you that are taking this test shortly follow the same advice.
The next time that I write a blog I will either be a Registered Nurse or a very sad Graduate Nurse. I will keep you all posted.