Lea's Story

The final semester of my doctoral program in nurse anesthesia was by far the most stressful period of my life due to personal life struggles coupled with a demanding schedule. During this time, I was still working on my doctoral project, attempting to achieve the required benchmark on the SEE exam before graduation, and preparing for the NCE while fulfilling my clinical duties. Two weeks before I took the SEE, I went through a devastating breakup with my partner and missed the exam benchmark by over 20 points. I regrouped, took the exam again, and missed the benchmark again by 3 points. Each week, my cohort would take proctored exams in preparation for the NCE and we would share our scores with our director. I frequently scored below the national average and felt like a failure when I compared myself to my classmates, who had all met the SEE benchmark on their first attempt. My program director reached out to Matthew Zinder a few weeks before graduation to discuss options; however, time was not on my side.

I mistakenly thought I overcame my struggle after I scored 25 points higher than the required SEE benchmark during my 4th and final attempt, the day before graduation. My cohort prepared the entire semester for the NCE, so I thought I was ready to take it. Two weeks after graduation, I sat for the exam, collected my results after the computer shut off at 100 questions, and expected to see PASS on my paper. When I read FAIL, I was embarrassed and felt like I let my program down. I knew I needed help and had to overcome this mindset.

Matthew Zinder introduced me to daily hypnosis, deep breathing, and meditation exercises that I still practice to this day. No matter the circumstances, I can control my reaction to stressful situations. Additionally, Michael and Annette developed a personal plan for me to master the material. Michael and Annette coached me through the entire process and supported me with frequent communication and online meetings. Quality was key, so I spent 10 weeks preparing for my second attempt and was consistently scoring above the national average on Prodigy, Apex, and SmartBank exams using the material and techniques Michael, Annette, and Matthew provided. No matter the result of the subsequent NCE, I could wholeheartedly say I gave it my best effort and truly enjoyed the process. Learning was fun again! I practiced so much that I felt calm on test day, passed the NCE in 100 questions, and increased my score by over 140 points. Their approach encouraged me to learn difficult concepts through a different perspective and allowed me to be fluent with the material. My only regret is not working with them sooner since I believe all students would benefit from their expertise. Be kind to yourself by reaching out to Annette, Michael, and Matthew for a supportive experience during your SEE and NCE preparation.

~Lea F. (2024)