Hello, everyone! My name is Alexis, and ever since I was a little kid, I knew I wanted to make a difference in people's lives. Nursing seemed like the perfect career choice for me. Today, I’m excited to share my journey with you, filled with ups and downs, perseverance, and the unwavering belief that I could make a meaningful impact through nursing.
I began my nursing studies at Miami Dade College in South Florida. As a student, I thrived in study groups with my friends. We discovered the best study methods together, and that’s when I started creating concept maps. My notes weren’t the prettiest, but they were straightforward and helped me pass my tests.
However, nursing school wasn’t without its challenges. During my time, students were required to take Medsurg 1 and Pharmacology in the same semester. There was a daunting statistic at the school: 50% of students would fail one of the classes, sometimes both. Unfortunately, I became part of that statistic and failed Medsurg 1. I felt like the biggest failure, especially seeing the majority of my friends move on to the next semester.
Determined to overcome this setback, I retook Medsurg 1 with the same incredible professor. She saw me in her class and pulled me aside after the first session. She told me something that changed my perspective: "The best nurses fail in nursing school." She confessed that she had failed Medsurg twice during her own studies. This professor, who was the most knowledgeable person I knew, read Medsurg textbooks during her vacations. Her dedication to teaching and her personal story gave me hope.
That semester, I studied like never before. My concept maps became more detailed, and my friends—both old and new—started making copies of my notes to help them study. After passing Medsurg the second time around, my love for nursing grew even deeper. I didn't fail another class after that.
When it came time to study for the NCLEX, I wanted the best resources available. I highly recommend UWorld, which I used diligently. After finishing school, I didn’t take a break. I treated studying for the NCLEX like a full-time job, practicing questions from Monday to Friday for about eight hours a day. I completed all the questions UWorld provided and read every rationale.
On August 5th, 2020, I took my NCLEX. Because it was during the pandemic, the number of questions was reduced. The minimum was 65, and the maximum was 120. My computer shut down at 65 questions, and my heart sank. I felt ashamed for taking my test so fast. I took my test in 30 minutes not to second-guess everything. However, my friends had found a trick to know if you passed: If you tried to register for the NCLEX again and it didn’t allow you to, you passed. With a pounding heart, I tried to register, and it didn’t allow me. I screamed with excitement—I had passed!
I started my career as an adult Medsurg/telemetry nurse at a local community hospital. I worked there to get my six months of experience and get out, as I knew I wanted to work in pediatrics. Boy, was that traumatic. After seven months of working with adults, I applied to an all-children's hospital as a surgical nurse. With my experience as a Medsurg nurse, I had gained a lot of confidence in most of my skills since I had to learn quickly. Once I was comfortable on the surgical unit, my confidence grew in pediatrics, and eventually, I became a relief charge nurse and a preceptor for nursing students and new graduate nurses. I worked bedside for a total of three years.
With a lot of thought, a new opportunity opened for me at another local children's hospital. In my new role, I work with the pediatric general surgery team as a fetal nurse navigator. I work alongside the surgeons in creating a fetal care center for high-risk babies. People ask me all the time if I miss the bedside or working three days a week. My answer is always: of course, I miss working the bedside. I truly miss caring for patients and having four days off. But on a deeper level, my mental health is in a much better state, I am no longer stressed every time I go into work, I am making more than when I was bedside, I can actually spend time with my husband, I have holidays off, I still have good vacation time, and I have better time management. So, of course, I miss bedside, but I don't miss the way I used to feel mentally and physically.
Creating Nursaholic was a way for me to give back to the nursing community. I wanted to create a safe space where nursing students and new graduate nurses could find the support they need, ask questions, and get help without feeling ashamed or intimidated. My mission with Nursaholic is to build a nurturing and empowering platform that helps nurses at all stages of their careers thrive.
Thank you for joining me on this journey. I hope my story inspires you to overcome your own challenges and pursue your dreams with passion and resilience. Stay tuned for more insights, tips, and support from Nursaholic!