Northern Marianas College nursing graduates Jeanelyn Gomez, Minjung Kim, and Michaela Gariguez recently joined the list of students who have passed the challenging National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses or NCLEX-RN. All three graduates graduated from NMC’s nursing program in 2022.
The NCLEX-RN exam is the exam nursing graduates in the CNMI have to pass in order to be able to practice nursing. The exam tests the knowledge, skills, and abilities of nursing graduates in order to certify that they are capable of applying entry level nursing practices correctly.
“I’d like to congratulate Jeanelyn, Minjung, and Michaela on this amazing accomplishment,” NMC President Galvin Deleon Guerrero said. “I wish them all the best in their future endeavors.”
NMC nursing department chair Rosa T. Aldan also praised the three for their accomplishments.
"These three amazing students worked very hard to achieve their dreams and I have no doubt that they will succeed in their nursing careers," Aldan added.
Gomez said she wanted to pursue a career in nursing because it is a very respectable career.
“I love the opportunities the nursing field provides,” Gomez said. “What kept me motivated throughout the journey was that I would be able to give back to my community by providing care as well as being the inspiration for someone to pursue nursing. My family, friends, and instructors are what encouraged me to do well in my studies and succeed with the exam.”
She also said NMC prepared her well for the exam.
“NMC's nursing program has utilized Kaplan to simulate what taking the NCLEX would be like,” Gomez said. “The great thing about Kaplan is that it can help you identify what content areas you need to strengthen in order to increase your chances of passing the NCLEX. I am very grateful our program required us to do weekly tests as it prepared me for the exam.”
Gomez’s advice for graduates who are planning to take the NCLEX-RN exam is to not dwell on what others did to pass.
“By this point, you know how you study,” Gomez said. “Make a plan that you can stick to and manage your anxiety. Focus on your goals and do not let fear consume you.”
Kim, a classmate of Gomez, said it was her dream to enter into the healthcare field.
“Being a nurse has always been a dream of mine,” Kim said. She attributes her success to NMC’s use of the Kaplan test prep program.
Kim also encourages other nursing students to work hard and to always make time for studying.
For Gariguez, her primary motivation for pursuing a nursing degree was wanting to have the knowledge and ability to help family and friends whenever they are sick.
“The constant support from the people that are close to me helped me succeed with the NCLEX,” Gariguez said. “They continued to encourage me and believe in me when I had doubts.”
Gariguez advises other students looking to take the exam to study at least an hour per day or a few hours per week.
“You can watch short videos, or use flash cards,” Gariguez said. “And when studying, don’t feel guilty for taking a break because you deserve it.”
For more information about NMC’s nursing program, email Rosa T. Aldan at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call (670) 237-6744.
From left to right, Michaela Gariguez, Jeanelyn Gomez, Minjung Kim