Still in Shock!

Nursing Students NCLEX

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Specializes in Neonatal and Pediatric ICU Nurse.

I really enjoyed reading success stories so I wanted to share mine! I took my RN boards on January 6th and just found out today I passed! Talk about dreams coming true!!!

This is was my first attempt, I passed with 75 questions. I strictly used Kaplan and studied for about a week and half solid (I graduated in December). I did roughly 2000 questions and rationales. My scores weren't the greatest, I ranged from 53%~63% mostly mid/high 50's. I also kept track of the areas of content I was weak in and buffed up on those from the Kaplan book as well as read over procedures. I think content is extremely important for this test!! I personally hardly used the decision tree, but it was nice to have and use if I really needed it.

My school was really tough (top 4 school in Texas and it was only a ADN program). I felt they really prepared me and at times I wasn't sure I was even going to survive to graduation. We used Hesi as indicators, I got a 1012 in my exit hesi.

I was so nervous before I tested but as I was walking up to the testing center this calm came over me and I never looked back! I prayed a lot, cried a lot, stressed a lot.

Still surreal! I left the test feeling okay, which really scared me. However, at times during the test I was like this is impossible - so don't get me wrong this test was not easy. Do not second guess yourself I did that a lot in my studies and saw how much it hurt my scores.

I had a ton of SATA - honestly I lost track on exactly how many! I practiced a lot on these and I thought the Nclex was more straight forward then Kaplan. So I feel like Kaplan over prepared me which was what I was hoping for.

Sorry for for the book, but I know felt better after reading other peoples stories!

Good luck and congrats to everyone, I have faith you all can do it!

jmein RN

Specializes in GI Surgery Step-down.

Congrats .. Your story make me feel a bit better. I graduated December 19 and starting my

Residency program an other state. I rented apt and so. However I don't have license yet and I have to be

Licensed soon after start orientation. I don't even wanna think to fail since it will cost me a lot that I probably loose the residency opportunity and move that state without Job. Anyway

So we use kaplan and I'm also ADN grad. My school #2 school in New York State by nclex passing rate. I did well on kaplan diagnostic test 62.7% . We starting kaplan in class course next week for 4 days. Hopefully will help me. (all previous grads said it helped a lot). I am doing QBank question on kaplan each day 50Q. Getting 56-64% usually high 50s or 60s.

I agree that some kaplan q are so complicated. I hope as you said nclex would be more straight forward. But I'm agree that even adn school prep us so hard exams. And kaplan also hard as u said. So hopefully

This will help a lot for passing nclex.

Should I take nclex exam right after kaplan course or wait a week or so ? However next day of kaplan I am movng other state. So wondering if it would

Effect negatively on me to take there or should

I take In NYC . Any suggestion ?

Specializes in Neonatal and Pediatric ICU Nurse.

I waited a week after I finshed the 4 day online live review, but that was because I hadn't really studied or done any qbanks except the diagnostic. I got a 63% on the diagnostic and that was my highest score of all tests so I was definitely scared! I can't tell you when your ready but make sure you feel comfortable with labs, content, procedures and go from there. Good luck!!

i was also really nervous to because I had a PICU internship I was afraid to lose if I failed.

What a great story. ! Congrats. I'm using Kaplan only. Graduated ASN program dec. 19th. Testing jan 27th... I'm so scared ! Scoring on kaplan trainers is 60-68, but qbanks more like 53-58... So def a little scared. So it was nice reading your story! I feel my school prepared us well also.

Specializes in GI Surgery Step-down.

I did not start to take q trainer yet. Is it similar to Q bank?

Specializes in Neonatal and Pediatric ICU Nurse.

All I did was qtrainers 1-7, Samples 1-4, readiness and diagnostic and a few from the qbank in areas I was weak in.

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