Passed NCLEX-RN 2nd time!

Hello everyone!!

I just wanted to share my journey with you guys. I graduated on the 12th of December 2013 and scheduled my test for Jan 31^st. I devised a study plan 5 days a week, 6-8 hr/day, weekends off, with a million different resources (books, study guides, CDs....you get the point). As soon as I opened those books I realized that there were so many topics that we didn't cover in school. Right away I felt overwhelmed and began studying content. I knew that I was wasting hours and hours of my time because how many questions was I actually going to have about Kawasaki's disease on the NCLEX? I then decided to read through the Kaplan Strategies book. It was such a great book that I felt that I didn't need the Kaplan course to pass because I am an independent studier and this book has it all. I was running out of time and I looked to online discussion forums as my savior. Well that didn't help! I read all the horror stories and all the tips on how you should and shouldn't study. My anxiety began to grow. I listened to everyone else when they told me I was ready and that I had nothing to worry about. I was so stressed out and had no confidence what so ever but convinced myself that I was ready.

Test day number 1: On test day when I got to question 76 I started to panic. So I took a break and told myself "I will pass"! After getting to around question 150 I started to get discouraged. I knew that the more questions I was getting didn't mean I was failing it meant that I was hanging in there. As I continued and the number of questions increased, I started to give up. I stopped critical thinking and just started answering questions to get it over with. When I looked at the clock I had 20 min left and I was only on question 200. I hated everything about myself at that point and ended up running out of time at 245. Who runs out of time?!!! I was so heartbroken like as if someone close to me had passed away. The pain was unbearable but I knew that I needed to continue.

I fell into a depression (naturally). I made the mistake of going to the state website and looking up all my friends names to find out that they have all gotten heir licenses. I went through all the stages of grief (like we learned about in school lol), I even started going back to church after a 10 year hiatus. Then I kicked myself in the butt and forced myself to get up, dust myself off, and start again! I then began to do some research on what new study material I needed. I took my own advice and didn't follow anyone else's study plan or advice this time. I didn't want to do Kaplan because I couldn't afford it and their practice questions were so lengthy and exhausting, nothing like NCLEX questions! However I did refer to the Kaplan stragety book a few times. Then a simple Google search brought me to the learning extension. I didn't read a lot of good reviews on allnurses but it was only 50 bucks so I tried it out. When I logged in I thought to myself: "Why didn't I find this review the first time?!" I stared by attempting the review sections, which seemed time consuming since I already knew content so I skipped straight to the review questions. I also used the LaCharity Prioritization, Delegation, and Assignment book since the NCLEX consisted of a lot of those type questions. I studied less than I did the first time, about 2-4 hours a day, 3-4 days a week but only practicing questions (75-120/day). I was relaxed and less anxious but of course not ready to do my retake. I rescheduled my test 3 times before I finally decided on a date.

Test day number 2: I was comfortable answering the questions this time because I felt more prepared and less stressed. I answered the questions the same way I practiced with learningext. I reached question 76 once again. I took my break, ate a snack, said a prayer, and then pressed on. I told myself that I would take another break at question 120. I was a bit shaky when I restarted but closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and continued. After about 10 min the test shut off at question 86! I was so relieved, and happy, and grateful, and excited, I just knew I passed!

I checked the state website today and there was my RN license number!

Sorry this is so lengthy but I had to share!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you learningext!

So even though I think that taking others advice is a total no-no I just want to recap what I did:

1. Pray!

2. Don't read negative discussion threads!

3. Only you can determine and devise your own study plan!

4. Learning ext and LaCharity were my best resources!

5. Stay positive!

6. Explore ways to relieve stress/anxiety!

7. Remember the reason why you wanted to be a nurse before the stress, anxiety, and debt!

8. Just because you failed once, twice, three times, it doesn't mean it's the end of the world!

"In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure." ---Bill Cosby