I promised I would post my story in hopes to give someone who I know is going through all nurses.com trying to find something to give them hope because they have failed their nclec the 1st time and are now on to trying for the 2nd time. I HOPE THIS MAKES YOU REALIZE YOU CAN DO IT JUST BELIEVE! Trust believing in yourself is the biggest, hardest part and will take you a long way.
So I graduated from my BSN program Jan. 2014 and scheduled myself May. I studied here and there and did a program called "GREEN LIGHT" provided by my school also known as ATI ( VIRTUAL ATI). When I received my "GREEN LIGHT" I waited 3 weeks to take my test ( FIRST MAJOR MISTAKE ) they suggest to schedule 3-5 days ( a week max ) after receiving green light. For two weeks straight before my exam I did 100 questions a day of ATI questions ( SECOND BIG MISTAKE ) I already had done so many questions on ATI I had memorized majority of them. I wasn't learning anything new just picking the answer because I already knew what it was. Even though i was doing a lot of questions it wasn't challenging me at all.
ACTUAL TEST DAY:
I wore comfortable clothing ( one thing i did right ) i arrived to PASADENA TEST CENTER an hour early my test was at 1pm. Since i arrived early i was able to take my test early. I did the whole check in process. Little Tip SMILE when you take your picture, it takes a load of stress and makes you feel confident before going in. I DID NOT do this my first time it made me feel awkward and nervous because I usually smile for pictures.
When i went in i did not ask for headphones or earplugs to muffle the noise ( THIRD BIG MISTAKE ). It was hell when i heard everyones mouse clicking little tapping coughing or talking when the proctor would bring someone in or take someone out. I also wore stud earings that day I tried to put the headphones they provide for audio clip question but the backing of my earings was poking me and it bothered me so much ( EPIC FAIL ).
TEST :
I ended up having 265 questions. I remember hitting 75 wishing it was over and being extremely discouraged when it kept going and kept getting discouraged each question when it didn't shut off. I also did not take one break at all because i wanted to get the test over with ( BAD CHOICE ). I ended up going Pearson Vue Trick and it went to Credit Card page did not get pop up and got my results in mail DID NOT PASS. In all categories i was " NEAR PASSING " in all subject areas.
POST TEST:
Cried for days didn't get over it for 2 weeks. Submitted re-application that took forever to get my new ATT. Till then i slowly got back into it doing SAUNDERS NCLEX-RN questions from their book. I did about 500 something or more when i enrolled in KAPLAN COURSE CLASSES. It was alot of money but i told myself passing the nclex means more to me and ill end up spending more money re-applying then to just take KAPLAN they have a high success rate and alot of my friends who took it passed so i was set on using it this time around and i needed a program to stick to.
I ended up taking the KAPLAN classes with an instructor I liked this because I did the class with friends and it was like school all over again taking notes, listening, and doing questions. It was nice i really enjoyed going to the classes and they give AWESOME TIPS PERTAINING TO THE NCLEX. The NCLEX is tricky KAPLAN helped to break it down and make those questions not so intimidating.
I then did their q-trainers, and their sample tests. TWICE ( i wanted to make sure i learned from my mistakes. I also finished 100% of the qbank and redid the questions i got incorrect.
I won't get into my scores because it isn't the scores that count is if you feel confident about answering the questions and that you learn from them " READ YOUR RATIONALES" also understand why that is the answer and why the others are not. But if your dying for a number please be aiming at least for 50% and higher.
2nd TIME NCLEX:
I ended up taking my test in the morning 8am i felt like when i took it in the afternoon i was so nervous i ended up waking up early anyway and then freaking out having so much time to kill ended up doing questions DAY OF ( DO NOT DO THIS AT ALL ). So morning i felt i could wake up, get ready, eat breakfast ( COFFEEE!!!) , and GO. I got there 20 minutes before my test. SMILED ! When i took my picture and wore comfy clothing NO EARINGS this time and asked for those earplugs. Surprisingly they tuned out alot of noise it was AMAZING the difference it made. I TOOK THREEE DEEEP BREATHS before taking my test this helps set your mind.
TEST:
Finished with 75 questions, took my time if i felt i rushed reading the questions i re-read the questions i emphasized in my mind the words that really stuck out to help me understand what the question was asking. If this is your second time no need to hurry this is YOUR CHANCE YOUR MOMENT don't regret rushing it. When you click your answer DO NOT DOUBT YOURSELF you clicked it and picked it for a reason! MOVE TO THE NEXT and take your time on each and every question. BE CONFIDENT say YES THIS IS THE ANSWER and if you dont know the answer say " I THINK THIS IS THE BEST ANSWER" just positive self talk it really helps to calm your nerves trust me my heart was still beating but after a while it went down because I knew this time I HAD IT. At 75 i told myself if it kept going to not worry take
deep breaths and take a break. I took my sweet sweet time on questions 75. AND BOOM BLUE BLANK SCREEN. I was done . I went out of there smiling because i knew I had done it.
OVERALL:
USE KAPLAN it will be worth it even if it doesn't work for you at least you know you did all you could to pass this time.
I heard sticking to ONE program or source is beneficial instead of bouncing from different ones.
BE COMFORTABLE, BE CONFIDENT, DON'T RUSH, DON'T NEGATIVE SELF-TALK
" IF YOU PREPARE FOR SUCCESS, EXPECT SUCCESS "
YOU GOT THIS !!!! YOU WORKED HARD FOR THIS, IT IS NOT OVER , YOU HAVE A CHANCE GRAB IT , IT IS YOURS FOR THE TAKING!
and wore comfy clothing NO EARINGS this time and asked for those earplugs. Surprisingly they tuned out alot of noise it was AMAZING the difference it made. I TOOK THREEE DEEEP BREATHS before taking my test this helps set your mind. 
