I've passed the NCLEX-RN and you can too!

It feels quite unreal to be able to call myself an RN now (and I honestly feel like an impostor still) BUT I have done it and you can too! I thought I would give you all my experiences and study tips in that it may help you in some way when you take your test.

To start, I studied with Virtual-ATI and three NCLEX-RN prep books with their CDs (Kaplan, Comprehensive Saunders, and Exam Prep-from Exam Cram).

Once I had graduated, I was dead set on taking my boards within a month of graduating because I just wanted to stay in the groove of school and studying and just finish strong. I was so set on doing this, I sent my application to my BON and Pearson 2 and a half full months ahead of graduating. Unfortunately, my BON application got lost in the mail and I only found about this after a month had already passed by after graduating because the BON insist you do not call them, they will call you for any problems. Well, there was a big problem but no one knew it existed until I got impatient... (Mind you, those applications have your whole identify in them; SS#, birth certificate, drivers license, picture, signature... The works, so that was a headache in itself - it also still hasn't turned up...) So, I hand delivered my second application to ensure it got there. Fast forward another month and a half, I FINALLY GOT MY ATT E-MAIL! I scheduled my test the first date I could, August 1st, at 1:00PM because I am not a morning person. So the race was on, and I had two full weeks to get ready.

I also want to mention that I did study for about 1 month post-graduating until I discovered the application mishap where I stopped studying because I had no clue when I would receive my ATT and did not want to use all my resources way before I even got to test. So all in all, I studied for about a month and a half with a large month and a half gap...

For the studying aspect, Virtual-ATI was my main source of studying and this is what I mainly used during the post-graduating month. I had completed all 8 of their modules along with my remediations. On almost all of my practice tests with V-ATI, I got between 70-78% except for one, I got a 64% which I focused on more since my score was so low. However, when I was finished with the V-ATI modules and only had my Comprehensive Predictor to take, I waited to take that until I found out my test date because I wanted to see what my abilities were closer to my date. So fast forward to two weeks out of the NCLEX, I took my predictor and scored a 97% chance of passing NCLEX (which correlates to about 75-78% ish). V-ATI wants you to have >93% on this so I was confident with my score.

After I had taken my V-ATI predictor, I fine tuned my knowledge with the three prep books I mentioned above. I mostly used the saunders book because each chapter focused on a specific subject and then gave you a 10-15 question quiz at the end. This way, I could study and then test myself and see if I actually retained what I was reading and studying instead of just endless reading without much retention, which it pointless. I also used the CD that came with the book (which I did not favor too much because of the organization of it). However, the CD just gave me more practice questions that get me use to sitting for prolonged periods of time answering questions.

The second book I "used" was Kaplan. I say "used" because I read a few pages in and decided it wasn't for me. I was too far in the game to all of sudden change my thinking style to their's and was not going to be pressured to do so. Kaplan's method may work, I just wanted to progress in the way I was instead of trying to remodel my thinking to their way. However, I did use their CDs practice test, (there was only one) and I think I scored around a 70%.

The third and final book I "used" was Exam Prep from Exam Cram. I initially picked this book up because Pearson either owns or endorses it, I'm not sure, but I thought it must be close to NCLEX style since it has a big fat Pearson label on it... So the same kinda thing that happened with the Kaplan book happened to this book because after looking at it, a lot just wanted to change my thinking. So I basically just used their CD too and they had 4 practice exams with endless questions! You could set the amount of questions (max being 160 I think) and what subjects you wanted to be tested on. I always just did all of them to actually simulate the NCLEX. These practice tests were BY FAR the hardest questions I answered in my studying. On all 4 tests, I got a 61% which is a fail... A pass is 70%. And I took these 2 days before the NCLEX, so I was a bit scared... However, being that this company has something to do with Pearson, I figured the questions would be very similar to NCLEX style questions and possibly harder with a high percentage set in order to pass. This is because if you are in the passing scores, they probably figure you have no doubt of passing. If that makes sense...

So that's my account of the study tools I used and what I thought about them. Honestly, I could have probably done without V-ATI just because I kinda believe it is a scam/rip-off. My "coach" simply sent me access codes to practice tests that I could have obtained myself... I didn't need someone there to give me them. Also, their "remediation" is questions that are collected automatically based on what you missed on which assessment. Again, I could study this without someone telling me what I missed, I can clearly see what I missed... Lastly, my last blow to V-ATI is that I took my predictor exactly 2 weeks away from my test day, which they recommend. I only had one subject below a 65% which I promptly remediated on and passed. I jumped through all of their hoops in order to obtain what they call the "green light to test". This "green light" signifies that you can take the NCLEX-RN and should pass, however if you do fail, V-ATI will still help you study as you try to take it a 2nd time. Well, once I jumped through all of their rules in order to get my "green light" I am told the day before my test that "ATI is still evaluating my green light status". FOR GOODNESS SAKES! I do everything you want me to do, pass all of your little tests, do all of this in the timeframe you want me to do it in, take multiple extra, not need assessments to make you happy, and you are still "evaluating my status"? Get real and quit scamming. I say this because they want you to do this stuff in a certain time frame so you remain ready, but it is impossible because they drag their feet in hopes that they will not have to continue helping you study in the event that you fail because you did not wait for your "green light". So this event made me more anxious because I would be out $400 from this V-ATI if I did not pass with no access to my PAID FOR resources from them if I had to take the NCLEX again.

(Sorry this turned into a small rant but I want to let you all know what I have discovered in studying. ATI practice tests are very good, but their system is lacking.)

So the second part of this post is my actual NCLEX experience. After all the intense studying had been done, there was almost nothing else I had left in me the day I took my NCLEX. I woke up bright and early, (totally unlike me), ready for the day. I spent the majority of my morning distracting myself with facebook, chive, and allnurses, being careful not to go to the NCLEX forums! It was around 11AM when the nerves started setting in. I got dressed an hour ahead of schedule in comfy clothes and then couldn't resist picking up my short study guide I had made including lab values, s/s of common diseases that I was tested on, precautions and their diseases, etc. etc. An hour went by doing that, and I had a short 15 minutes before I would have to leave my house to go test. I never pace, but I defiantly was pacing for that 15 minutes. Never had I wished more that I just had scheduled it for the 8AM time. But the time finally came where I got in my car and drove to the site. I sat in my car for a few minutes until I absolutely needed to go, but I assured myself that I still have 30 minutes until I test because they wanted me to be 30 minutes early. DEAD WRONG! I guess they bring you to a computer as you come instead of everybody starting at once, so I didn't get to relax, but I also didn't have to squirm in agony as the minutes ticked away.

So as I got seated, I went through all of the rules and then started my test. The first 70 questions breezed by and I was only 45 minutes in. As the questions got closer to 75, I just wished my computer would turn off so I didn't have to be in there any longer. Well, the computer didn't turn off. Not at 75, not at 76, not at 78, not at 95. It just kept going. It was awful. But I just kept focusing on the questions, not spending too much time since my first instinct is usually correct. Then the big 150 started approaching. It came to 150 and it kept going to 151, 152, and so on. At this point, I remember taking a mental break and really starting to feel defeated. I just sat their staring at the screen hoping I wasn't completely off in knowing what my abilities were. I even almost had the urge to just give up and walk out. I am not sure why I thought that would be a good idea, maybe because if I did fail it would be better to say I choose to instead of saying I didn't pass the test. All of these useless thoughts went through my mind. But all in my head, I had to really talk to myself and believe in myself and finish strong no matter what. And just all in a minute or so I had all of these thoughts and then I just snapped out of it. I started answering questions again and what do you know, question 160 was answered and I got the blue screen. I remember thinking in my head saying, "Nooooo, give me another chance!" or "WHAT WAS THAT LAST QUESTION AND WHAT DID I ANSWER!" It was over and I just had to leave. Just shy of 2 hours. I quickly filled out their silly survey and raised my hand. The proctor came and got me and I checked out and left. I left feeling like I failed. I truly had no idea what had happened or what I could have possibly scored at. I had no clue if I passed or failed. But I sure did not feel like a champion.

I got home and like usual my mom asks how I did on my test. Like are you f*n serious? IDK! (Jokingly of course, just how my family is.) But I had told my mom of the PVT and I was surely going to do it because it was better thinking you knew something than to be left in the dark for the 48 hours. So an hour had passed and I finally got up the courage to try to register again with Pearson. I had no idea there were 4 different pages to fill out, so after every one, I hoped to not see a stupid credit card page. Lo' and behold, I saw the shining "The candidate has recently scheduled an exam. Another registration cannot be made at this time." pop-up showed and all I could hear was "Ahhhh". I jumped up and down not knowing whether I wanted to cry or scream or just fall down. I PASSED! (My mom being skeptical, not believing "tricks", (the same women who looks for her s/s on WebMd... HA!), didn't get too excited, but I knew she believed it...) 48 hours later, and I can legitimately scream I am an NURSE/RN!!!!! Except I don't because it feels to weird... Ha.

So after all my emotions and stupid things that happened, I passed. I think that is the big thing I wanted to send with my way-to-long post was that you should never give up and to, "don't pet the sweaty things, and don't sweat the petty things". Everyone story is different and their hardships vary in degrees, but one thing you can control is your drive and motivation. You can put behind your mishaps and failures and none of it matters because you are looking forward. I don't know what it feels like to see the credit card page or the word "FAIL" and I never will. But I know those of you that have seen it have just as much business in this field as anyone else. As long as you continue to try, you have a shot. Maybe you have taken the NCLEX 8 different times and my advice to you would be to slow down. Take a breather and figure out what you really need to be focusing on. Stop thinking the quicker the better. Keep your motivation and build on your knowledge, don't destroy it and try to build it differently.

Lastly, I'm not going to lie, the NCLEX was hard. Not to scare you, but I didn't know a lot on it, but I knew safety and I knew what will kill my patient. SATA and priority questions are on the rise and they don't get easier. I think the best thing I can say that would help you when you are studying is to answer A TON of questions, especially SATA and priority because you better bet you will see them.

So I hope this helped one person, but I just wanted to throw it out there for people having problems with any part of the NCLEX experience.