My NCLEX Journey 🩺🇺🇸

Dear Diary,

I still can’t believe that it has been 11 years since I left my home country and started a new life in this beautiful country, New Zealand.

A lot has happened in those 11 years. First of all, I am now married to my Chinito. I am also now a nurse coordinator, working at my dream hospital here in Auckland, New Zealand. And just recently, I started blogging again.

As I look through the photos from 11 years ago, all the memories come flashing right before my eyes. As I recall those memories with a smile on my face, I am reminded of a dream that went beyond my NZRN (New Zealand Registered Nurse) title: my journey towards earning my second international nursing title—becoming a USRN (United States Registered Nurse).

It all started many, many years ago.

After passing the local nursing boards, I tried applying to take the NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination). However, for some reason, my application was not approved.

So, I started working at a local hospital in our province and eventually got the opportunity to study—and later work—in New Zealand.

However, because of life's circumstances, I had to step up as the breadwinner of my family.  Life became busy.  I worked multiple jobs in order to support my family back home and to help my twin sister financially with her application to the US.

At that time, I was enjoying my life as an NZRN but deep inside my heart, my dream of eventually becoming USRN never completely disappeared.

For five years, I worked tirelessly for my family back home.  I worked as a nurse for the District Health Board in New Zealand while also taking casual nursing jobs in different rest homes.  During those years, I sometimes thought that my dream of becoming a USRN has quietly died.

But perhaps dreams don't really die.  Sometimes, they simply wait for the right time to come alive again.

When my sister finally got the opportunity to work as a nurse in the US, something inside me was rekindled.  My dream of becoming a USRN came back to life, and I finally decided to begin my NCLEX application with the help of NEAC (Nursing education and Assessment Council).

It was also during this time that I sought the help of INAP (International Nurses Academy of the Philippines) Review Centre in the Philippines and started attending their online classes.

I received my eligibility to take the NCLEX during my trip to the US (United States) in December 2023, and I could honestly say that it was love at first sight. However, despite finally being eligible to take the exam, I knew in my heart that I wasn’t ready yet.

Then, I eventually got engaged.

And as you can probably imagine, my focus shifted towards planning our wedding. 💍

After the wedding, however, I finally felt that I was ready to pursue the dream that had been quietly waiting for me all those years.

I officially started preparing for my NCLEX exam in December 2025 and finally
took the exam in March this year.

But what happened during my review journey—and on the day I finally sat for the NCLEX—is another story to tell.

So, bye for now, Dear Diary. 💜

And I hope you’ll join me for the next chapter of my NCLEX Journey Series.

Love,
Maica 💜

✨ Credits & Creative Collaboration

Written & created by Maica
Simply Maica • Nurse Diaries

With AI-assisted creative and editorial support
Brainstorming • Writing assistance • Editing • Visual concepts • Slideshow design

Research & reference support
National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)
Pearson VUE

Personal experiences, photographs, and final creative decisions remain Maica’s.

Simply Maica
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