Don't Give Up

Students NCLEX

Published

I don't post here often but I thought I should share my NCLEX-RN story just to help someone who may be in the same situation and I'm sorry in advance this is a long story.

I am a wife and mother of 4 (oldest 13, youngest 5), I graduated with my LPN in March 2012 and continued right on into my RN program which I graduated from in September of 2013. My LPN boards seemed to be no problem, minimum amount of questions and finished in less than an hour, passed the first time, Great!

However, my RN NCLEX was a total reality check, I tested less than a month after graduating and since my school seemed to think that ATI was the greatest gift to nursing all I studied was ATI info and questions, I tested on my grandma's birthday and planned to call her later in the evening with the best birthday gift ever (well in her eyes). But my plans changed of course! 265 questions, nausea, and anxiety took a huge toll on me, by question 125 my mind went blank and I couldn't even see straight much less think straight, all I kept thinking to myself was God PLEASE let this end I don't even care any more. Got home did the PVT and FAIL (went directly to the cc page). I was devastated and to top it all off 2 of my friends from school followed right behind me and failed as well. After about a week of depression, I said to myself "OK get it together and lets do this!!" so I started having study sessions with my classmates that hadn't tested.

Fast forward to February time to test again!! At this point one of my friends had failed a second time, which really had me worried since we failed together the first time and we were neck and neck with grades in nursing school. This time ATI was not even on my long list study materials, I received tons of materials from classmates that were passing and co-workers, which included the hurst review book, Mark Klimek review book, bought Kaplan review book, flash cards, Prioritization book, NCLEX review materials, and that seemed to make me even more anxious. I had someone tell me "your using to many sources, only use one or two" d/t discrepancies in materials. So the day of my test we had a horrible snow storm so I left my house 2 hours before my test to make sure I made it to the testing site (15 mins from my house)on time. I get there and 4 others are camped out in the parking lot, so I start studying my material (I have an hour to spare). Low and behold 265 questions AGAIN and AGAIN I lost focus at about 125 questions:( Go home and of course my results are on hold, I check all day to see if it changes and nothing! The next day I finally have the hold lifted and of course I FAILED AGAIN!! At this point my whole world is crashing around me and I almost lost control again but my heart, family, and friends wouldn't let that happen a second time!

A week after failing a second time I decided to refocus and dust myself off. This time would be different, I thought long and hard about my study strategies and what I could do differently, I decided to purchase ONE study source, but which one? After reading reviews and discussion boards, I decide to do the Kaplan On-demand which is all online, it's rather difficult for me to do it any other way with the kids, husband and full time LPN job. At this point I spend a month on kaplan just going over the videos, reading the book and focusing on my test plan.

Finally I receive my ATT and began the long journey of by buckle down study plan (I made this up myself), and my friends who have already passed are still studying with me:) I have now chose to do questions DAILY no matter what, work a 12 hour shift come home do questions, have a day off do questions off and on all day. My personal goal was 3,000 questions before test day 3 weeks away, so I am studying like a mad woman.

Here we go, I start this week and everything is going well and if I keep to my schedule I will have completed my 3,000 questions on Wednesday the day before I test, however I decide that I will not study the day before, I will make myself relax. I end up just shy of my goal (by 250 questions) and I feel good. Wednesday night I begin to feel the pressure, What if I didn't study enough?, what if I fail AGAIN?, what if, what if. This of course starts to take a toll on my home and my husband and I have a little tiff, after realizing my nerves are on edge, I apologize and have a complete break down, all my husband says is "it's OK I knew immediately why this happened, which is why I just let you continue on your rant, I love you and stop worrying, we've been each others back bone from day one and that's not going to change, now let's pray!!!" LOVE THIS GUY!! After all this I call my mom who has my children for the night so that I can relax and she says "you know the devil is hard at work, when your husband dropped the kids off we prayed together and when you started telling me what happened when he got home I immediately began to think that this is just a ploy to throw you off your game but don't let the devil take you under your blessing is coming". After talking to them both I go to bed. Before falling asleep I have a talk with God which results in more tears but I just prayed that he would see through this awful test and give me a clear mind going in.

I wake up on Thursday (yesterday) and I have a feeling that I've never felt before, I'm calm, I'm confident, I'm ready!!! I jump up and get dressed, get my son that isn't on spring break ready for school, do my hair, and my make-up (and for me this is quite a morning, I HATE mornings). I go pick up a smoothie (did I mention I got braces on Wednesday, so I also hadn't eaten in about 24 hours), I put gas in my car and head to the testing center, get there and still not a worry or doubt in my mind that today is the day that the NCLEX will go down!!!

After the test: 79 questions and I'm thinking that was way to easy either I did an amazing job or I just BOMBED this test!! I do feel like I passed and that makes me excited for my results, I get home check the PVT and I'm on hold Again:( so I talk to my friend who has her quick results available and Low and Behold she passed!!! I'm checking pearson all night long, wake up today and decide I have to share my story because deep down in my heart I know I passed. Well as I'm typing this novel I check pearson one last time and guess what, I got the GOOD POP UP!!! Thank GOD its over!!!

My long emotional NCLEX journey is finally over, now to wait for my official results!!

The moral of this story is DO NOT GIVE UP, if you get frustrated and feel like the world is against you just get back up try again and if necessary again and again. Words can not explain how I feel right now I can't even hide my emotions!!!

Sorry it was long sorry I rambled and I hope it helps at least one person!

Leiloo

91 Posts

To begin with Congratulations my dear RN!!!!!! I'm very happy for you, as a working wife/mom myself, I know it wasn't easy. For some reasons I feel like your post is for me. Well I graduated last December, I quit my job last month so I can focus on my study plan. Still not happening! Last night I went to a conference at my church, Bishop T.D. Jakes' message lift me up! I woke up this morning full of energy, faith, and confidence in myself. And here that I just read your post! Oooo Lord!!! I won't give up! I will stick to my study plan from now on. In other words, I will do my part to pass the Nclex, because I know that God will do His part! Thanks again and CONGRATULATIONS sweetie!!!!!!!

Congrats my Dear, I am so proud of you. You give me hope that one day I will pass my NCLEX exam. Keep praying for us who are still in the battle. I know your family is proud of you. You have a great family. I Thank God for your victory. Celebrate your success!

mommycruz3

120 Posts

I am so happy for you!$@#$^#!@@~!@ Congrats RN!!!!! :yes:

naureian

25 Posts

Congrats Hun I am yet to schedule mines ...however I am wigging out ..already did it twice and failed ..also a mom,wife and I work full time ..you gave me hope ..thank you

Henrica80

60 Posts

Your post made me shade some tears.... congratulations!!! so happy for you..you gave all of us HOPE... now pray for us.

Almond224

6 Posts

Congratulations to you. I really enjoyed reading your story, it helps me to believe that all things are possible!

2013rn2BScorpio

322 Posts

Congratulations to you! THIS story just gave me so much hope

charnsuka, ADN

214 Posts

Specializes in Psychiatri.

Congrats! Your story inspired me.

fawnmarie, ASN

284 Posts

Specializes in Psychiatric Nursing.

Thank you so much for sharing. I took the NCLEX-RN for the first time on March 28 and failed. I have been an LPN for 12 years and I was feeling very humiliated by my failure. My test was a nightmare...I ran out of time! Six hours and I was only able to answer 181 questions. I have never known anyone to run out of time and I felt like such a failure. I realize now that I was terribly underprepared. I became distracted with a political situation in my city the week before my test, and studying fell to the wayside. I waited until April 2 to try the PVT trick, and of course, there was no good pop up. I KNOW I can do this, and reading your post gave me a good, positive boost. Thanks again. I plan to test again in 45 days.

Nurse gay

3 Posts

Your testimony is giving me hope.

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