I am a recent grad from the Practical Nursing prog...

I am a recent grad from the Practical Nursing program who has taken and passed the NCLEX in 75 questions! If there is one thing I am good at it is keeping it real so here it goes. When I got accepted into this program, every nurse I knew told me to get ready because my life was going to change. They never lied!

My mom went into cardiac arrest two weeks to the day that I started my program, remained hospitalized for the next four months and passed suddenly. I lost my oldest dog on the same day. My father was in an out of the hospital, rehab and I ended the program with him in hospice. My husband also had two ER visits and a week long hospital stay. Two weeks to the day following graduation my only child, 19 year old son left for boot camp.

The program itself I felt adequately prepared me for what I experienced on the NCLEX; however, I mentioned all of the above to simply say it is your determination that will see you through. I dealt with multiple departments and everyone was always helpful and went above and beyond in my opinion to help with any issues that arose. Some of my classmates were able to zoom but technically it was reserved for COVID purposes or so I was told but I maintained attendance and even showed up for a test the morning following my mother's passing. The month before graduation when we received students from other programs and while waiting in line to enter the building for the NCLEX I truly realized how fortunate we were to have the experience and instructors we had. We got clinical experience during a pandemic at a hospital, COVID vaccination site and rehab facility, while so many others did not. Many neighboring companies came and made presentations to us for employment opportunities and they usually bring lunch or a dessert. For every challenge, there was an equally yoked blessing.

You certainly get everything you need but you have to apply yourself, study and if you're smart you will learn to lean on your classmates before you are two thirds of the way through the program. They are the only other people who can relate to the struggle and it gets real at times. I suppose I should also add I'll be 40 in less than six months and graduated with a 3.4 GPA, if I can do it you can too!