I PASSED!!!!!!

I cannot begin to tell everyone how much of a relief it is to have finished the credentialing exam and actually passing it. UNBELIEVABLE!!!

It was broken down into two parts and I wasn't feeling too confident about how well I did on the first part but I thought I had enough right answers to pass. (They don't tell you if you did or not at this point). Then comes the second half of the exam. This is the half that a lot of the girls who took it failed. I was nervous and I saw on the clock that I had a little over 3 hours to finish it. There were only 63 questions/snippets but let me tell you - I took all that time to finish it. It was hard. There were things on it I had never heard of before and didn't know how to spell but I did the best I could and answered them all. Rechecked them a couple of times and clicked the end button with five minutes to spare. It asks you if you are sure you want to end. Hell yeah I'm sure. After clicking the end button one more time....I waited what seemed like an eternity for the screen to change and in very small letters at the top of several paragraphs was the word "Pass."  I guess I was expecting colorful balloons and streamer showing up on the monitor screen and the word PASS to be in large letters....kind of disappointing but heck I passed what do I have to be disappointed about.

I dropped my head to the table and I swear the weight on my shoulders got lighter, my eyes welled with tears and I couldn't believe it. I'm so relieved it's over and that I passed.  I will never take a test like that again - ever.

So now that I'm certified medical transcriptionist it will make no difference where I work. No extra benefits, no higher pay, nada.....  But I'll work on that.

Thank you everyone for the support and love shown to me during the weeks before the test. I appreciated it all and hope that I can show the same support for you when needed.

 

 

I spent the majority of my evening studying for the CMT test that I'm taking next Wednesday. This is a credentialing test to become a certified medical transcriptionist. The hospital I work for is paying for (eventually) and encouraging us to become certified. I'm not sure what the game plan is as they are starting to outsource our work and we are getting less and less reports to type. Maybe if they have to cut back, they will take in account who are certified and who aren't.

Keep in mind the last time I had to sit for a LONG test was almost 18 years ago to become a certified dietary manager. I was younger and I knew my "stuff." This time around, I'm way older, my mind wanders and there is so much to remember. They are going to ask questions such:

A patient with VRE (vancomycin-resistant enterococcus) would likely be treated with:
A. Lidex
B. Zovirax
C. Zyvox
D. Frova

Hey, I type what the doc says but apparently I need to be able to think like a doctor. oh by the way, the answer is C. Zyvox.

This test scares me. All the above factors plus the fact that some of the girls took it already and half passed and half failed. It is THAT hard. I'm trying to get my little engine to say "I can do it, I can do it, I can do it" but it gets hard when I go through material and do the sample questions. But, I'm not a quitter and I have off five days before the test to really, really cram this stuff in my head. It's what works for me - I hope.

As for my list of things to do. I would like you to know that I did accomplish a majority of them. Some I just don't have the time for right now - such as putting the printed pictures in some kind of order. I do have them sorted into events, trips, people, etc...Hey that's a start (there's that positive thinking). I didn't get the copy made of the CD as I left in my car and even when I did go away today to my mom's, I forgot about the CD. Everything else got done though with more studying than I thought I could handle.

Next week, my friend, Lori, is taking me away as a Christmas present. She won't tell me where. She won't tell me anything. Kind of exciting. I hope we will have something to celebrate as I will know if I pass the exam the day I take it. I'm looking forward to getting away.

Well, that's it for now, bedtime as I need to get another early start on my day tomorrow.

Remember me mentioning how I think of things to post but when it comes to posting them, my ability to record those thoughts escape me. Well, there is one thing I have been meaning to do and that is to formulate a TO DO list. Yikes, I know I'm thinking the same thing - putting it down on paper is like daring yourself to succeed or fail. Either I will accomplish all, some or none. In no particular order or time schedule (whew that cuts me a slack)....

*Call the vet to cancel Bentley's surgery.
*Study, study, study.
*Make a copy of the CD that Lori gave me for card making and return hers.
* Finish going through the pile of magazines on my desk and finding a place to donate them when done.
* Burn/shred receipts from god only knows when (at least 3 years ago).
* Now that I have begun to organize my printed pictures, put them in chronical order Even that makes me laugh cause it seems like an ongoing process cause I keep finding pictures everyewhere. WTF was I thinking.
* Study Study Study...

That's it for this week to come. I have a longer list but there is no way I can do all it. I didn't even put the housecleaning/cooking on the list. Oh and let's not forget the mother thing - unpredictable as that is.

You know what is silly and a sign of something I just can't quite put my finger on is that even though I haven't had time to just sit and put my thoughts down on my blog, I think about what I would put there. I might be driving somewhere and I'll think about how I would word it or what story of growing up I would tell, etc. Does that mean blogging is addicting?

I read over my last post and oh my gosh, I sure sounded depressed and well.....pitiful comes to mind too. But to be honest that was exactly how I was feeling at that time. I have moved on thank goodness. I still have moments but then again who doesn't. A lot of feeling better is from having a break from mom. I need to do minimum with her and realize that it's just not worth getting worked up over.

The auction was this past Saturday. I didn't go. I have yet to find out what she made off of it. I may never know as she doesn't like to share those things with me. I hope she feels it was worth it. We still get her dog Bentley on a regular basis. Of course I love sharing pictures of my "baby" so here is a picture of Bandit keeping an eye on Bentley even though they are "sleeping"


And just because I really love sharing pictures of Bandit. Here is bandit sleeping on his window perch...

Gotta admit he is a cutie!! But oh so spoiled. Not by me of course!

Things have been generally going well otherwise, surprisingly so I might add. Not that I'm looking for something bad to happen but....well.....you know. I'm waiting to hear from AAMT about my certification exam that I want to take the end of this month. I'm suppose to be getting a confirmation email so I can then register at the test-taking place. I'm running out of time - yikes. I'm hoping my ease at test taking is still in me somewhere. I'll be cramming that's for sure.

My friend, Lori, the one who was going to have a hysterectomy due to fibroids came through her surgery good and is recuperating at home. I have another friend who found out she had a complex ovarian cyst and I'm hoping that all turns out to be benign. It really makes one think when it happens around you. When was the last time you had your yearly? I know that I'm due and I'm not even sure why I'm procrastinating. I don't pay anything for it. Insurances cover it all. I know that I'm consider high risk, yet I drag my feet. Maybe deep down I don't want to deal with the news my friends had to deal with. I was told ten years ago I will need surgery and I have put it off this long. I'm starting to feel more effects and may have to honestly consider my options before something more serious occurs. I need to set a good example for my daughters so that they take care of themselves. I do love them so


I have many blogs I want to try to catch up on so I'm going to end this now but believe me I will be thinking about the stream and all the wonderful people here and try to blog more!!!