Joel's Story

I had graduated from a doctorate program in nurse anesthesia. I had thought, "I know this stuff and I have been doing pretty good on Apex tests, and I've taken the review courses I think I'll pass."

I was wrong!

I didn't give the test the adequate respect it deserved and I didn't study like I should have. I continued this trend thinking I just needed a tiny boost or a trick to get to pass on my next two attempts.

This again did not work.

After my third failed attempt, I felt frustrated and embarrassed. However, I swallowed any pride I had and said, "I need help. Whatever I am doing is not working." I immediately booked the Apex review course and it helped a little bit but it wasn't what I needed. It's the final dash of salt on a completed dish. I needed to go back and read the ingredients again.

When I moved back to my hometown, my father asked if I could find a tutor. I hadn't really looked to be honest. We found Peter Strube and Matt Zinder and began to look at the testimonies they had. I knew I could get help and not be judged if I needed a little additional time.

Sadly with Peter Strube's passing, I was unsure of how I should continue until I spoke with Michael and Annette Storm. They were kind and honest with me. They suggested I take the time and get back to basics and learn the concepts so well that no matter what the question I could answer it. So I took the plunge! I went back to day one and read and studied every body system. This almost immediately starting increasing my testing scores and raising my confidence in my knowledge.

I struggled with ADHD and focusing on tasks that took long consistent effort. I was not helping myself by not setting a concrete plan. I had been "addressing my weaknesses" rather than learning or relearning the concepts. Michael and Annette helped form a study guide for me and allowed me to make the decisions on when I needed more or less time on a subject. They provided wonderful guidance and they believed in my ability to succeed. I took three months with them to go over the material and felt much more confident in going to sit down for the NCE for my fourth attempt.

I took my time on each question like we planned and I took my breaks like we planned. I was answering my 100th question and going to take a break when my exam ended. I had felt this feeling before and felt cautiously optimistic. This was either really good or really bad. I jumped for joy when I opened my paper to see PASS. I had kicked this exam's behind this time.

Michael and Annette were the first people I called after my parents. They were so happy for me and it showed their heart to me. I wasn't just another student or another number to them. I mattered to them and they worried for me, but they also believed in me. They helped me to pass the last hurdle I needed to move on in my career, and I thank them from the bottom of my heart.

Joel D. (2024)