Shane Noyce, RN

So there were no other mishaps over the weekend, and I took my boards yesterday. My sweet husband got up at 5:45 AM with me so he could go with me. He's so sweet. I could've been in there taking my boards for up to 6 hours, but he wanted to go anyway. So we drove our way up to Wayne, PA, about 20 miles north of us. We got there nice and early since we left early in case we hit traffic. We did hit traffic, but only for about 5 minutes, so it was no big deal. So I left my husband in the car to study for his classes and I went into the testing center. There they checked my ID and took my fingerprint. They gave me a key to a locker to put all my stuff in. I was surprised that they let me wear clothes into the test. They were so strict that nothing could go in there with me. No chapstick, nothing in my pockets, I couldn't even wear a watch. Then they checked my ID and fingerprint again and let me in to sit at the computer. I had to take a little pretest showing me what types of questions (multiple choice, select all that apply, etc) might be asked on the test. Then came the 1st NCLEX question. I am forbidden by law to discuss what was on the exam (seriously), but it was tough. The NCLEX exam can be anywhere from 75 to 265 questions. The test kicks you out when it can tell with 95% accuracy that you are either above or below their standard of proficiency. So, you can pass on a shorter, harder test, or a longer, easier one. It just depends on how you are doing along the way. The computer spits out questions based on that. But the length of your test really doesn't tell you too much. If you get kicked out at 75 questions, it either means you proved your proficiency in the smallest number of questions possible, or it can mean that you proved that you aren't proficient in the smallest number of questions possible. I don't know if that made any sense. In any case, I was watching the question count like a hawk. I don't like to take exams, which is one reason why I take them so fast. The sooner you're done, the sooner you're outta there. As I creeped toward 75, I was torn about what I wanted to have happen. I kinda wished I would just be done at that point, but as long as the test is still going, you know you haven't failed, so I also was apprehensive about the moment when it would kick me out. Well, I answered the 75th question, and it did indeed kick me out. I was horrified and relieved at the same time. So I got outta there. Thank heavens my husband only had to sit in the car for as long as he did. And we headed home.

I do not know my score, but I have been watching the website where the state posts all the licenses that it gives out, and this morning it said that I have a valid license to practice as a registered nurse, so I passed. Unfortunately, they misspelled my name on there (thus the title of this blog post), so I gotta work that out, but who cares. I passed! I can be a nurse now!

In other good news, we found an apartment to live in until December (and possibly beyond, depending on where Zack decides to do grad school). Zack's job also agreed to keep him on until the end of the year (and beyond if needed) with a raise, which we are very pleased about.

Now it's time for me to get started on the job hunt. It's gonna be ugly in this economy. I expect it'll take a couple months at least. I hope I can find something. I am gonna revel in my excitement a little before I worry about that too much though.