2nd Timers for NCLEX--MUST READ & My NCLEX journey :)

Hello everyone!

I always found this site to be useful in preparing for the NCLEX & have been inspired by the success stories of those who have been successful in the NCLEX! I promised myself that when I pass, I would write a post here to help others during their NCLEX journey. This post is lengthy but here it goes!

To start off, I graduated with my BSN & took the Kaplan course before graduation. My first NCLEX attempt was in June. I failed at 75 questions. I honestly think this was due to anxiety and I was second guessing myself when I was answering the questions despite doing okay on the Kaplan QTrainers. Although I prepared myself and studied Kaplan for a month prior to taking my NCLEX, I still felt that it wasn't enough preparation for the NCLEX, and I had to take in June due to personal commitments. After walking out of the testing center, I knew that I failed. I know myself better than anyone, and although my friends encouraged me that I passed because it shut off at 75, I knew that I didn't pass. I cried home to my mom bawling and she told me, "I'm sure you passed." I kept telling her I didn't pass. I didn't do the PVT on the day of my NCLEX because I knew that I failed. Sure enough, the results showed up on the BoN website the next day and there was a big fat FAIL next to my name. I had the biggest anxiety taking the NCLEX the first time around. I mean, big anxiety. I never get anxious, but this is exam is the biggest exam of my life!

So what to do after this horrible experience? Get back up again and study. This time with a different approach. I used Saunders this time and read the entire book and did the questions from the CD. I was apprehensive on doing this because I thought this would be too much, and I had a time constraint for my next attempt. But I did it. It was difficult getting through that book because sometimes I would just cry and get frustrated reading it and thought I would fail again. With the support of my family and closest friends, I couldn't have made it without them. I studied harder and even reviewed Kaplan again (only the QTrainers this time) for reassurance, even though I thought it didn't help me the first time.

I took the NCLEX on Aug 7th. I felt calm and I had a good feeling this time, although I still had some doubt. But hey, it couldn't be as bad as the first time, right? I felt that I was over-prepared, but I kept my eye on the prize, and I had to pass. I made the testing center my home this time, I brought lunch and took like around 5-6 breaks! As I got closer to 75, my heart kept pounding and I was just hoping that it would go longer because I failed at 75 the last time. The exam kept on going and going. SATAs left and right, I passed 100, 150, and I knew I was going to 265. I was prepared, and I knew that if I was going to get 265, that I would PASS at 265! I took my last break at around question 180, and ate my lunch. I still had two hours left, so that was plenty of time. After my last break, the screen turned blue after like 10 questions or less later! I freaked out! I was so set on going to 265. I honestly don't know what question it stopped on, but definitely close to 200 since I was determined for 265. I drove home, thinking that there's no way I could have failed, but I was definitely feeling uneasy. I prayed before I did the PVT because I promised I would do it this time no matter what and bam, got the pop up! I cried because this was a good sign and I knew in my heart that I did it!

I checked my results this morning at my state's BON website and there was PASS next to my name! I never felt so relieved in my life :)

As for studying tips:

I highly felt that the Saunders helped me! The questions in my opinion were similar to Saunders, but the priority questions were similar to Kaplan. You must know your content before getting those priority and SATA questions on the NCLEX!

I also read the PDF that has been floating around here to refresh my memory during the last few studying days.

Relax and do not study the day before, and be confident! The first time around I was definitely not confident, and it was detrimental.

Do not give up, and PRAY if you are religious! I prayed every day with my family and went to church every day during the last two weeks as my exam date was approaching. I believe that everything happens for a reason, God works in mysterious ways, and if it's not your time, then don't worry, he will make sure that the timing is perfect for you!

I hope this helps anyone who is repeating the NCLEX, and trust me...YOU CAN DO IT AND WILL PASS!

"Fall seven times, stand up eight!"