I passed my final preceptorship (practicum) last Friday. My school confirms with the CRNBC this week that I passed (and it takes a few business days for the CRNBC to tell me that I can pay for my provisional licensing), and then the CRNBC tells Pearson Vue that I passed and therefore an eligible to write the NCLEX. Confused yet?

School talks to CRNBC, CRNBC talks to Pearson Vue, Pearson Vue emails me and goes “Hey, you can write this $360 exam now”.

As of right now, I am a nurse – sort of. I don’t have a provisional license yet, so I cannot work at this moment in time. However, once my school confirms I’m done, I’m eligible for my provisional licensing (which I believe is $450), and I’m eligible to write the exam. If and when I pass, my provisional license turns into a regular license which means then I can call myself a registered nurse (and not a moment sooner).

But I passed my final practicum! I passed the nursing program. It’s been a long (and at times, short) three years of my life. This time in 2012, I was finishing up my B.Sc and excited about getting into the nursing program at the school I’m at now. Next month, I will be walking across (yet another stage) and receiving my Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Over the next few weeks, I will be studying for one of the most important exams of my life. Keep your fingers crossed for me!