After college...

(WARNING: long and boring...it's kind of journal entry for myself. Feel free to skip it all and scroll down to the bottom!)

I started college as soon as I graduated high school not knowing what I wanted to do or who I wanted to be. I wanted a career and not in an office. I don't like to sit and do paperwork...but I do love the organization and interaction with people. It wasn't until after I was pregnant with Kegan that I wanted to become a registered nurse. I looked at schools for a while and didn't want to wait the 2+ years to even start a program. So we headed out to BYUI with faith that it was what we were supposed to do. I took the prerequisites, earned a 4.0 in every semester, and applied for the program. To our surprise I was accepted on the first try, which can be very difficult to do! Everything was falling into place as we had prayed for :) I went through the program with 4.0 every semester until I was pregnant with Cooper. I had Cooper in the middle of my last semester and struggled with putting in the time to study...even though I knew that I could jeopardize my place in the program. Thankfully, I made it through with an A and an A- in my nursing classes! Woohoo! I even did 12+ hour shifts at 38 weeks pregnant! I graduated in April and did not pass the exam I needed to to be approved to take the final NCLEX. I studied and procrastinated to take the 2nd exit exam. When I finally got around to it I didn't pass once again. A serious disappointment. So some more time studying and took another test and my director was confident that I was prepared to take the NCLEX.

Last Friday I took the NCLEX. I drove up to Boise Thursday night and stayed in a hotel. I had to be at the testing center at 7:30 for my 8:00 appointment. I wasn't very nervous but more anxious to get home to Cooper (Cooper cried the entire night I left until bedtime)! After 91 questions and only an hour at the center my screen went blue...I was done. Seriously scary! That's when my nerves hit me. I am the kind of person that needs to know the results right then and there but the NCLEX doesn't let you find out for 2 business days (if you pay the extra money). So I went home thinking of the questions and how I should've taken more time. The weekend was a little stressful but I knew that whatever happens I would get through it. Even though I knew I wouldn't be able to see the results I checked the website several times this weekend. This evening I thought "I'm sure the results aren't there...it's Sunday. But what the heck, I have nothing better to do." The "unofficial" results WERE in!!! I paid the extra money and I...

PASSED!!!!!!

I am "unofficially" Kelsey Ellis, RN

I couldn't be more proud of myself! I have successfully graduated from college, took the NCLEX, and became an RN. I accomplished something that I have worked so hard for. It's such a relief and now I can't wait to spend more time with my family :)

Oh...and I had an interview last week!! It sounded as though they were interested in me but told me to call them (on their cell phones) when I found out the results. The job opportunity seems kind of perfect right now so we'll see!