Help!

I took NCLEX today and am devastated. I did well in school, aced the HESI but feel almost certain that I failed. I got LOTS (maybe more than 15?) of the choose 1-7 answer questions (which I think are harder than regular multiple choice). What REALLY worries me is that I got a REALLY, REALLY easy med calculation very late in my 75 questions. I've seen on these forums that easy questions at the end of a 75 question test are really bad news. Has anyone ever heard of anyone passing after getting a REALLY easy question toward the end of 75 questions? I'm looking for a glimmer of hope here....
Thanks.

Originally Posted by DukeSirValentine

I took NCLEX today and am devastated. I did well in school, aced the HESI but feel almost certain that I failed. I got LOTS (maybe more than 15?) of the choose 1-7 answer questions (which I think are harder than regular multiple choice). What REALLY worries me is that I got a REALLY, REALLY easy med calculation very late in my 75 questions. I've seen on these forums that easy questions at the end of a 75 question test are really bad news. Has anyone ever heard of anyone passing after getting a REALLY easy question toward the end of 75 questions? I'm looking for a glimmer of hope here....
Thanks.

Hi DukeSirValentine!
I haven't taken the NCLEX yet, so I cannot relate to you (Yet) but it sounds like everyone that takes it immediately feels the way that you do. I do recall seeing a post, where someone posted that they thought they got a really easy answer towards question 75 or 76 and KNOW they answered that question wrong. They mentioned something about going to the car or getting back home afterwards and looking it up and knowing they answered it wrong. The poster also stated that it was a basic easy nursing question - and guess what? They passed! And remember, there are 15 pilot questions on there - so some of those multiple answer questions could have been pilots! Take some deep breaths - and let us know how you did as soon as you hear!
Take care!

Nclex

DukeSirValentine,
I got both of my easy med calculations in the last part of my test. I mean they were so easy that I almost stood up and yelled, "Yeah, I got two right for sure!" My machine went off at 76, not 75 but 76. I did pass though, so don't put more worry into this than you already have. It will drive you crazy.

Thanks for providing a glimmer of hope. The med calculation at the end of my test was so easy that when I got home and asked my 3rd grade daughter what the answer was she came up with it immediately! If the test really does "callibrate" to your competence as you go along, it just doesn't make sense to see questions like that so late in a test (if you're going to pass). This really is torture, but thanks for the hope. Not to belabor this (but it feels like forever before I'll find out on Wed), has anyone else passed after getting a REALLY easy question near the end of a 75 question test?

helloeveryone...I'm new here...and about to take my SB and am scared shtless...I've been reading all the responses about the test...
I'm taking the Montana SB...........anyone else??

Reading the posts ---

Dear Theresa, and others-

Reading the posts can have 2 effects,I think. Either they validate that everyone approaches the NCLEX with some fear, or they scare the &%$#@@ out of you....

Clearly, if you completed nursing school, and have been preparing for the test, you have already passed some major challenges.
Instead of focusing on your anxiety(remember from mental health-a little anxiety is a good thing).....focus on the strengths that you bring to the exam. The exam tests your knowledge yes, but moreso, your ability to think through and solve problems.

To do that effectively, you need (besides nursing school) oxygen and glucose so your brain works- yes?.....Breathe-slow down----look away from the computer for a moment, and then think the problem through...

Make sure you have some protein in the meal you eat before you go in to the exam...protein makes the carbs last longer.

You have 6 hours to complete the exam, and you get 2 breaks. If you are too scaed to think, take the breaks, slow yourself down, and move on.

It does not matter how many questions you get. Don't psych yourself out by focusing on how many questions you have. As long as you are getting questions, you are still in the game...

When you are finished, you will not feel successful- so don't expect to feel like you did well. Everyone feels challenged and unsure after the exam. If you do the best you can, what more can you expect of yourself?

So, focus on your strengths, remember to breathe and use your thinking, and take each question as a new question, without judging how you are doing by whatever number it is.

Good luck to you....and.. breathe.............breathe...............breathe. ....

Catherine

Originally Posted by Thressa

helloeveryone...I'm new here...and about to take my SB and am scared shtless...I've been reading all the responses about the test...
I'm taking the Montana SB...........anyone else??

I took the NCLEX on Saturday, only had 75 questions, got a question that my 3rd grader could have answered at the very end, and spent the last few days certain and despondent that I failed. Well, I PASSED! The lesson here is don't believe what you read about if you get an easy question at the end, it means you failed. Buying into that has caused me a lot of heartache. Assume the best unless you hear the worst. Good luck to everyone. And thanks again for the supportive words.

Anne, RN!

I wanted to mention to all preparing for nclex to check out learningext.com. This is the same company that writes the nclex. They cover all the basic areas that will be on the test, with study outlines. I took the test yesterday and have been freaking out! I think I didn't pass and I am really upset. But what can you do but take it again? Good luck to you all!

hopefullyRN

Hey Catherine, I sure appreciate your notes you have sent us they seem to help me relax some hearing some nice comfortating words. I'm studying from 5 NCLEX books and the CD plus a DREXEL NCLEX EXCEL study prep class...I also like reading everyones success stories thats comfortating also...I have 4 days left to review...I justr keep taking tests...and anwsering questions...and love the rationals...........so hopefully I will be ready ...we shall see...but I just wanyted to say THANKS.......your words of wisdom are soothing.....................THRESSA (( I take the Montana SB the 20th))

cjmmsn98]Hope you all do not mind- I teach a NCLEX coaching course at the BSN level, and felt like I wanted to tell you about the # of questions you get and what that actually means.

The NCLEX adapts to your skill level. The first questions that are presented to you are determining your ability level. Once your ability level is determined, the questions are presented in increasing level of difficulty/decreasing difficulty until you have answered enough questions for the computer to determine (with 95% statistical certainty) that you have met the passing standard.

The minimum number of questions you will have is 75 (60 questions plus 15 pilot items). You will not be able to distibguish pilot items from "real" items. SO, if you get 265 items, that means the computer has not yet determined that you have met the passing standard at the 95% confidence level. There is no random number of candidates that get the exam with 265- that is a myth.

The test is now 6 hours long, and you should take your time. Rushingthrough the questions will most likely lead to failure, because each one you get wrong due to guessing means the next question is easier, and then on and on, until you fail because you are guessing at them all. Take your time to think each question through and choose the best answer.

If you visit http://wwww.ncsbn.org you will find the explanation of CAT and scoring.

NCLEX is given throughout the US and its territoiries, so the same format is used and the same question bank is used across the US.

ANd I have a question for those of you that have recently taken the NCLEX-
about how many alternate format items did you get, and what type were they? Please email me privately, and thanks!

Catherine M., MS, RN, NCSN,AE-C[/quote]

Hi everyone! I checked this morning and I PASSED!!! What I relief! I can't believe it! I bet the rest of you did well also! I am praying for you all!!!