Northern Marianas College 2018 nursing graduate Ernest Javier has joined the long list of NMC students who have passed the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses or NCLEX-RN.
Nursing graduates must pass the NCLEX-RN to be able to practice nursing as a Registered Nurse. The exam tests nursing graduates' knowledge, skills, and abilities to certify that they can apply entry-level nursing practices correctly.
“Congratulations to Ernest for his successful passage of the NCLEX-RN,” said NMC President Galvin Deleon Guerrero, EdD. “Our Proa Tribe is proud to see the growing list of nursing graduates passing this rigorous exam.”
“We are proud of Ernest and his accomplishment of passing the NCLEX-RN,” NMC Nursing Department Chair Rosa Aldan said. “The Nursing Team wishes him the best in his future career as a registered nurse wherever it may lead him.”
Javier’s motivation for pursuing a nursing degree stemmed from his experience in high school where a nurse aiding in the care of his grandfather left an inspiring impression on him. “Soon after I enlisted in the US Navy, I was a Corpsman. I gained my foothold in the medical field,” he stated.
During his time stationed in San Diego, he worked with nurses and mentor figures who helped him learn more within the nursing field and eventually built a passion for nursing. He became a licensed practical nurse in 2016 after passing the NCLEX-PN with his experience in the military. He decided to take a step further toward his goals by pursuing a nursing degree with NMC.
“NMC set the foundation I needed to be flexible with the way I study and look at the subject material,” Javier stated. “The field of medicine is always changing and we must be flexible. A prime example is how the NCLEX changes every 3 years, with new questions and new ways to approach them. NMC helped me greatly with that.”
He expressed how his successful passage of the NCLEX-RN was a result of his support system of friends, family, co-workers, and his wife, along with his dedicated study plan, prior experience of practicing as a nurse, and his determination to push forward despite the results.
In advice to NMC students who are planning to take the NCLEX-RN, Javier shared his experience and observation that the exam no longer relies on answering questions on a Qbank and memorizing rationales.
“With the introduction of NGN NCLEX, getting out of that habit and focusing on understanding instead of memorizing was especially hard. You need to think like a nurse, not a student. You need to understand multiple disease processes and treatments as well,” he stated.
“Anticipating care and patient needs are stressed in a more complex way, and ultimately I believe it does what it needs to ensure quality and safe patient care moving forward.”