I passed the nclex on my third try...Here is my story. I graduated in 2007. I took the nclex in October of that year. I did Kaplan and Saunders. Took the test and failed at 84. When I looked backed on everything I realize the first time I took it I was no where near ready. So I re-grouped read the saunders book from cover to cover, did a minimum of 100 questions per day, studied for 5 months and in March of 08 I went and took the test and failed at 265. I swear that time I was gonna pass. I felt confident and I had my hopes of the test cutting of at 75. Well when that did not happen it went all down hill from there. I got scared, starting saying to myself I fail while doing the exam and sure enough I did. One thing I learn while taking this test, make sure you are prepared to go all the way to 265.

After I failed it took me a year to try again. I started losing confidence in myself, at times I used to tell myself I will never be an RN. Fear and panic crippled me and stopped me from taking the nclex. The third time I signed up using ATI off and on. I am not sure if it really hepled me, but I keep doing the assessments and taking the exam. I had a friend who took the exam three weeks before I did. She gave me a vital piece of information that I think it helped me. she told me to write down all my labs values on the white board, take my time when answering the questions, and most importanly know what the question is asking me. So this time I did just that, I ran out of time at 240, I took my time on the first 75 questions and I took my time all the way, even when I realize I was going to run out of time, I did not panic...I just keep going.

This is my advice to all. I believe you have the knowledge, just practice your questions. On the day of the exam when you get your white piece of board, write down all your labs and the informaion that you think is importnat to you. For instance I wrote down lab values, the cranial nerves, hypo and hyperthyroidism, hypo and hyperglycermia, things like that, so when I got a question I went straight to my board and I did not even have to think. Also, I used ABC, the nursing process and malsow and If did not know I used my best judgement, I chose an answer that would keep the patient breathing and safe and if alll else failed I prayed like hell..

This is my advice my story. I hope it helps someone. Thanks to everyone on this site. I used to post in the past and did not have time, but would come every so often to read other people story and it would motivate my sometime. Good Luck to all..You will pass tooo!!!!

:ancong!:

Congratulations

Congrats to you. Best of luck:yeah:

Congratulations.. time to relax now.:tbsk:

Goodluck on your career.. God bless.:wshgrt:

Wow...congrats!! So you ran out of time but you still passed?? Maybe I should have tried that. I took my time through the whole test, I was on question 220 but only had 30 minutes left...so I panicked cause I knew I wasn't going to finish the test, I just started answering the questions without reading them...well of course I failed!! I had no clue though that if you run out of time you still have the opportunity to pass...good to know!!

Congratulations to you!!! Your hard work paid off!!! Good job!!!

Hey totally Lost,

I did that my second time, when I realize I was going to run out of time, I started to panic an did not really read the questions, I picked the first thing that jumped out at me. Also, if you run out of time the computer grades the last 60 question and of course you won't know the last 60 because who keeps counts, so do you best and take your time and don't panick. You will make it.

Congrats! Thank you for the post and sharing your story. I am retaking my boards next month and it will be my third try. I truly believe i will pass this time using the tools and advise you shared.

Thank you again...and Congrats RN!!!!

good luck to you ..From my experience I believe passing the exam is in the skills and techinque on how u answer the questions. I have given two friends who failed this same piece of advice and they have both passed. One of my friends ran out of time as well, but he took his time, wrote down all the labs values he could remember and everything else that was important to him. I stressed the important of not panicking and taking your time on the first 75 questions. You don't want to get stuck on the lowe level questions. When I did my exam this time around, it took me 15 minutes before I answsered the first question. I wanted to make sure I got it right so the computer could look for a higher level question for me