"A Very Good Day"

The weeks and days before our vacation, Jacque was studying like a crazy-woman, trying to prepare for her Nursing Boards, which she was taking the day before we left on vacation.  This test is a little unorthodox in its grading procedures.  It's a pass/fail type of test.  There is a maximum of 265 questions, but everyone must answer the minimum of 75 questions.  As you are answering the questions, the computer is logging your pass/fail rate.  Once you reach the mandatory 75 questions, the computer analyzes your scores and shuts off after you have done enough to fail or pass the test.  Of course, the individual taking the test doesn't know if she is passing or failing, she is just trying to get through the very tough questions.  She was afraid of her test due to the types of questions she was receiving..."select all" type questions - THE very hardest! (Turns out this is a good thing.  It means that you are doing well enough to have hard question after hard question - and you're getting them right!  If you miss a hard question, the test gives you an easier type to try and get you back up to that passing level). 

That same week, Jacque had an interview with Phoenix Children's Hospital.  This is her dream job...working in the PEDS unit.  She thought it went well, but was uncertain they were hiring any more new-grads.

Wednesday morning, Jacque begins the test.....and after 75 questions, the computer shuts off.  This is either very good or very, very bad.  And she didn't know!  It was a rough day and we prepared for the worse...after all...only 75 questions were answered...the very minimum.  She would have either "rocked it" or "bombed it"

On the first day of our vacation, early in the morning, Jacque starts to check the State Board website.  She will find out if she passed or failed only by checking to see if there is a license number by her name on the public record.  Refresh....refresh....refresh...and so it went up until we were boarding the plane.  She refreshes one more time and lets out a squeal.  She had passed and was officially a RN!  But her squeal was a little loud, and then her proud father announced to anyone who would listen that our daughter just passed her boards.  The people on the plane clapped with congratulations.  Jacque was very, very happy!

After arriving in New York, we were all in our rental car each talking or chatting on our phones.  Jacque's phone rings and she says...."SHHHH....it's PCH calling".  We all hang up and listen very intently!  "Yes", she says.... "I passed my boards"...and then...."Yes, I would love to work at PCH!"  Jacque passed her boards AND had a job working in the cardiovascular ICU  all in the same day.

We celebrated all night long....it was a very, very good day!