I would first off like to thank everyone that has posted to this website for success stories about the NCLEX-RN.
I took the NCLEX the first time in January with 265 questions and failed. I was absolutely crushed. I took the HURST review course and felt confident that I would pass with 75 questions, but clearly I was wrong.
I recentely retook the NCLEX on March 7 with 76 questions and found out that I passed!
I'll keep this short and sweet, because I remember looking through post simply looking for ways to do things differently the second time around in efforts to pass. So...
THINGS I DID DIFFERENTLY THE 2nd TIME:
-I bought the Que Test on the Kaplan website for $299. I did ALL of the questions (about 1300). I usually did about 50-150 questions a day. My scores were ranging in the 60's. Kaplan says they want you to be in this range. The last quiz I took I got a 75 and was thrilled. I felt this was a definite indicator I was ready!
-I did the 45 day remedial course from Kaplan. On the days I would work (I was working full time), instead of doing que questions, I would just review a section, whether it was endocrine or respiratory. I would go over the section 3 or 4 times, then answer the questions from the remedial packet.
-I purchased LIPPINCOTT'S REVIEW FOR NCLEX RN book.This book was WONDERFUL! When I would go over a section such as Oncology in the Hurst book, I would go over the same chapter in this book to do review questions. This helped me apply the core information and to see exactly what the NCLEX thought was important.
-I purchased LaCharity's Prioritization, Delegation, and Assignment book. I had trouble on the first time on these topics and this book HELPED A LOT!
-I went over infection control. On my first test, I didn't review this at all. So I remembered this little saying to remember the precautions to take.
AIRBORNE PRECAUTION
My - Measles
Chicken - Chickenpox
Hez - Herpes Zoster (Disseminated)
TB - TB
Private room
Negative pressure with 6-12 air exchanges per hour
UV
Mask
N95 Mask for TB
DROPLET PRECAUTION
think of SPIDERMAN!
S - Sepsis
S - Scarlet fever
S - Streptococcal pharyngitis
P - Parvovirus B19
P - Pertussis
P - Pneumonia
I - Influenza
D - Diptheria (Pharyngeal)
E - Epiglottitis
R - Rubella
M - Mumps
M - Meningitis
M - Mycoplasma or meningeal pneumonia
An - Adenovirus
Private room
Mask
CONTACT PRECAUTION
MRS.WEE
M - Multidrug resistant organism
R - Respiratory infection - RSV
S - Skin infections
W - Wound infections
E - Enteric infections - clostridium defficile
E - Eye infections
Skin Infections:
V - Varicella zoster
C - Cutaneous diptheria
H - Herpes simplex
I - Impetigo
P - Pediculosis
S - Scabies, Staphylococcus
Private room
Gloves
Gown
When I finally was ready to retake the NCLEX, and my 45 day waiting period was over, I signed up for another test. This time, however, I signed up at a completely different testing center. I wanted to be at a completely different place, not thinking of what happened last time.
The day before the test, I didn't do ANYTHING. I simply relaxed. It was a pretty day outside, so I took a walk. I watched a few tv shows. This time, I didn't tell ANYONE I was taking the test, so I wasn't getting any text the day before telling me "good luck." I did this on purpose because I didn't want this too add to my anxiety.
-IF YOU HAVENT READ ANYTHING ELSE, PLEASE REMEMBER THIS STEP:
PRAY! I was very specific in my prayer. I asked God to allow me to have 75 questions. I'm not good with Pharm, SATA, or math questions so I asked to not have very many questions on those, but if I had to have some, I prayed it would be something I knew like the back of my hand.
I ended up getting 0 math questions. The pharm questions were ok. I was able to guess based on the ending of the name of the drug.
Whenever I would feel discouraged and overwhelmed, I would say "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
A few days before my test, I saw a poster with the words "You can't worry and pray." I felt like the Lord was speaking to me. I had been praying all along and worrying at the same time. From that day on, I told myself to have faith.
By repeating scriptures and having faith, God allowed me to pass my test on the 2nd try.
I am now a registered nurse!
Don't give up! Praise Him in Advance!
10Mar 5, '12 by HelloM1M1hello all,
0Apr 10, '12 by NurseKat274Congrats HelloM1M1 & RNTN!! This post is awesome. Thank you everyone for the helpful reviews & tips. I will be sitting for NCLEX next week, I'll let you know how it goes, but until then just keep PRAYING PRAYING PRAYING!
How can I get this Kaplan MP3 download thing.
