I finally took the Nclex for the first time today. I had been putting it off for a while.
Frankly I was in a daze from the moment I arrived to the testing center. I did everything they tell you not to do. I stayed up for most of the night studying (bad, right?). I just couldn't sleep, I was so nervous. I didn't even eat breakfast either, because I was feeling nauseous. And boy did I regret that because my stomach kept growling loudly in the testing center.
For some reason, every question seemed beyond my scope. "Why am I spending 6 minutes on a question about basic hygiene?" I had to close my eyes and take a few deep breaths at the screen. It's like the NCLEX people knew I wasn't very familiar with meds, so they kept giving me med after med. In hindsight, I wish I would have made an effort to understand the meds a little more, rather than just learning a few of their names, what they treat and some adverse effects. I mean, why couldn't they have just given me a bunch of questions about Lasix, Dig, and insulin? I know those meds.
I felt dumb and unprepared. I almost wanted to get up out of my seat and walk right out of there. When I approached 70 questions, I kept praying that the test would continue on to 200 because I was pretty sure I was getting more wrong than right. Then as I hit the answer to 76, screen turned blue and I was done.
I walked out feeling like a dunce. I messaged my friends and family and told them that I had most likely flunked. They were all supportive. I then drove home and played with my two dogs, and debated doing the Pearson trick. Maybe I was holding on to a little hope... So, I've checked the site four times today I keep getting the same message, "our records indicate that you have recently scheduled this exam."
What the heck? Am I one of the few exceptions? It can't be right... I didn't even recognize a number of those drugs they questioned me on today! I was out of there so quickly and I'm usually the last person out of every other test. This has to be a fluke.
On another note, thanks to everyone on the forums for the advice and suggestions. I've never posted, but I check this site from time to time. A lot of what you've recommended is exactly what I saw I on the test... I just wish I would have spent more time going through it, rather than just reading it once and saying, "yeah, I'll remember that... what's next??"
In hindsight, I wish I would have made an effort to understand the meds a little more, rather than just learning a few of their names, what they treat and some adverse effects. I mean, why couldn't they have just given me a bunch of questions about Lasix, Dig, and insulin? I know those meds. 
A lot of what you've recommended is exactly what I saw I on the test... I just wish I would have spent more time going through it, rather than just reading it once and saying, "yeah, I'll remember that... what's next??" 