Monday, April 13, 2009

Amy D. Curtis, R.N.

So I am thrilled to report that I FINALLY took my NCLEX (nursing registration) exam. I stayed overnight in Hong Kong on Tuesday last week with a total stranger who was kind enough to let me stay the night (You gotta love the Mormon network. I emailed one person who emailed others, and I had a place to stay within two hours of sending the first email!) I woke up at 4:30 am Wednesday, April 8th (the morning of my test) and could not go back to sleep -- nerves, gotta love em. I got to the testing center with plenty of time to spare (try two hours early! The last thing I wanted was to be lost in Hong Kong when I should be testing. Maybe I over did it a little...).

The testing center felt like death row:
-I had to finger print and take a picture every time I went in and out of the testing room; audio and video recording was taken the whole time.
-I had to raise my hand to go to the bathroom, and then be escorted out.
-They would only allow me to take unwrapped cough drops in (they wouldn't even let me take naked tums in -- come on people! I'm pregnant and I NEED those tums!!)
-They checked my mouth to make sure I wasn't eating anything upon entry.
-They even removed my visas from my passport because they were "loose paper" and I could not have them with me - oh please!

Anyway, this test has anywhere from 75 to 265 questions. It just shuts off when it is 95% sure you either passed or failed. My test shut off at 75 questions and I almost cried I was so happy! I had already taken 2 hours and 40 minutes on 75 questions -- I would definitely have run out of time if I had to do 265 questions (maximum time is 6 hours). Besides, by then my pregnant body was already screaming to get out of there! So I feel so, so, SO blessed to have finished that early. So even though I still did not know if I had passed or not, I was thrilled just to be done! Anyway, I checked Friday night before I went to bed to see if my results were up, and they were not. However, Sam got up to go to the bathroom at 1 am and decided to check if the results were in. Sure enough, I passed!!! Sam refrained from waking me right then, but he did wake me in the morning with breakfast in bed. My breakfast plate had a name tag saying "Amy D. Curtis, R.N."!!!

23 comments:

Laura said...

Way to go Amy! That is incredible! I loved the description on the testing center. I love reading your adventures there, they are always hilarious!

Jessica McKay said...

big congrats! You did it!

Kendra said...

Congrats congrats CONGRATS!!!!! Doesn't that feel GREAT!?!?! I'm so proud of you. You are done! Good work. :)

Sarah said...

first of all, congrats! that's exciting!!!!

and second of all, that is one intense testing center. imagine if it was like that at byu... :D

Aubrey Harris said...

Woohoo!!

R and A Brannock Fam said...

CONGRATS!!! YEA!!!! What an adventure! WAY TO GO!!!!

Jeanne and Nelson said...

You are fabulous, congratulations. What a great accomplishment. We aren't surprised though. We send our love.

Meg said...

Way to go Ams!

Meredith Shatzer said...

HOORAY!!! I'm so happy for you and SO jealous at the same time!! Hopefully I'll have that feeling in a few weeks/months here. Congratulations!!!!!!

The Smyth Family said...

CONGRATS!! That is GREAT news!

Liz Wilcken said...

Congrats! That's so exciting!

Sue said...

I got 75 questions too and it took me about 2 hrs. I could not have done any more. Your hubby is sooo cute!

Jared & Shannon said...

Hooray!!! Being pregnant while taking that test wasn't/isn't easy... I'm glad it was short for you. I spent an unfortunate 5 1/2 hours in there with 200 questions, but I still passed! Sam is so thoughtful to have surprised you like that!

ivana said...

Congrats, Amy! I am so happy for you! It is such a relief to have that test past you! 75 questions... figured that would be your end result :) That really is so cute of Sam. I took 2 hours on the 75 questions too... longest test of my entire college career.

Kelly said...

Congratulations!! Very exciting!!

Melissa said...

Congrats Amy! That is awesome. I just read through your whole blog and loved it. It sounds like an incredible experience. We miss you! --Melissa Kunz

Mike and Madelyn said...

Yay! That is HUGE! Congrats! Now where's the pregnant belly picture? I want to see it!

Emma said...

Congrats Amy on becoming a RN and a Mommy! I found your blog and it's so fun to see your adventures in China. That testing center is crazy! I'm so excited for you and your little one on the way. How fun!!

Tawny said...

Congratulations to you Amy! I knew you would do it. You rock, and TOTALLY deserved breakfast in bed. :) Way to go!

Krystal said...

Yea! That's awesome Amy---that must feel SO good to be done with the test!! (esp being pregnant).

Lee and Jane Curtis said...

Amy you are a nurse--all that schooling and testing and it worked! And then doing it in China. You are so, so SO blessed. Good work and congratulations!--Jane

Teresa said...

Yeah! congratulations! you are going to make an excellent nurse.

Kalie said...

AMY!!!!!!!!!!!!! (i realize this is old news...but it's new to me...) CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!! of course you passed!!! (although it doesn't feel that way after you come off 'death row'-very appropriate name!) (o: I'm SO happy for you! And, what a great husband you have!! cute story!