Conquered the NCLEX-RN with just 75 clicks!!!

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I took the NCLEX-RN exam for the first time on Thursday, April 10th at 8am. I arrived at the testing site an hr early just so i could avoid any unfortunate mishaps, ate breakfast at a cafe with my mom and aunt across the street from the testing site, and reviewed lab values until 7:30am.

***If this post seems too long to read please scroll on down for my study schedule and materials i used to prepare.

Everything went smoothly, and before i knew it i was sitting in my little cubicle and clicking next for my first question. This is where it all went downhill for me. I never once in my life suffered from test anxiety, i didn't even think i would be all that nervous on testing day, but for some reason while i was taking the most important test of my life, i had my first panic attack!!! I was trembling, shaking, my heart literally felt like it stopped beating at one point, i couldn't read anything, i was a MESSSSS!!!! I'm surprised the proctor didn't come and ask me if I'm OK! I took my first break at 15 questions, that's how bad it was! This totally took me by surprise and when i went to the bathroom i did some deep breathing and prayed that God would guide me through the rest of the test. I went back to my seat took a deep breath again and started.

Most of the questions on the NCLEX, to me, seemed sooooo unanswerable!!! I was sitting there looking at them thinking, "no, this is a joke!!!"... "I can't believe this!! I thought Kaplan would prepare me for this!!!"...." Pyrosis??!! What the hell is that?!!".. "Why did i give away my Saunders book?!! Now i'm going to have to wait another 45 days to retest!!!" By question 50 i was begging God to shut the test off at 75 questions because i mentally, physically, and emotionally could not endure another question!!!:cry::confused::crying2::nono:

Finally i reached number 75, i answered the question and glanced at the timer and saw i had 2hrs and 47mins left. I then thought "Fine, i'm just gonna have to put any answer for the next couple of questions because i just wanna get out of here!" I clicked next and the screen went blue and said loading results. I was both relieved and heartbroken that it shut off. I couldn't believe i did so badly that i finished at 75 questions.

For the rest of the day i was in a bad mood, as anyone would be. There was no doubt in my mind that i failed. I know they say its a good thing when you feel like this, but i literally felt like i guessed the 90% of the whole exam so there's no way i could of passed. I didn't bother with the PVT because i swore i wouldn't do it since i read stories on here of people who got the good pop up and still failed. Plus, i already had it set in my mind that i failed.

Fast forward to Saturday morning 9:30am. I still didn't want to check the quick results, but i just wanted physical proof so i could tell my family and friends because i knew they wouldn't believe me, since they were always telling me there is no way i could fail because i studied like a maniac!

I paid and clicked submit payment and said to myself Oh GOD! now i'm having some type of psychosis because next to status it said PASS. I got up and walked away from the computer and looked again and it still said PASS! :wideyed: No! no! no! no! this is wrong! I actually logged out of my Pearsonvue account and logged back in and it still said PASS! I could not believe it!!!!! I screamed and cried and ran around the house yelling I can't believe it!!! I can't believe it!!! Nooo!!! NOoooOO!!! I was in complete unwavering shock!!! My mom, cousin, and BFF all looked at the screen and said Yes RN!!! It's true!!!! LOL I could not stop crying!!! I actually PASSED!!! with 75 questions at that!!!!!!

Here's a list of the study materials i used:

Kaplan RN-Review- Classroom Anywhere Course- It was provided by my nursing program and i paid $300 to enroll. I finished the Qbank, did Qtrainers 1-7, watched all the content review videos, and did almost all of the focused review tests.

NCLEX 3500- I only used this for alt item questions and SATA questions. They have excellent rationales which are very thorough. Just google NCLEX 3500 and you'll find it. Its free!

LaCharity: Prioritization, Delegation, and Assignment 3rd edition- Interactive Review of Questions. This IS NOT the textbook version. This only contained questions that are in the textbook. Its $20, you can find it on Evolve. YOU MUST USE THIS!!!! Either the textbook or review of questions. End of story!!!!

My Study Schedule/Technique

This schedule and technique is verryy intense i have to admit that. I'm in my early twenties, unemployed, have no kids, live at home with my mom and grandma, and definitely struggled sticking to this schedule. So, for those of you who have way more responsibilities or are working, I'm not sure if this is do-able, but you can adjust it to your preference!

I studied for about 2 and a half months everyday from 8am to 9pm. During the first 3 weeks i read the Kaplan content review guide textbook twice and did no questions. I just focused on understanding the content, which i believe is just as important as doing questions. Additionally, i graduated from an accelerated BSN program so reviewing content was a must for me. After those 1st 3 weeks i started doing 100 questions a day, 50 ques from Kaplan, 25 ques from NCLEX 3500 and 25 ques from LaCharity. I had about 4 notebooks that i used to write down rationales BOTH for correct and incorrect questions. For example my blue notebook was for Kaplan rationales, red notebook for LaCharity rationales etc. I read one or two notebooks a day, this helped engrave what i wrote down in my mind. I also had index cards of important things to remember like stages of labor, order for donning & removing PPE, different insulin types; their onsets, peaks, duration, addison's vs. cushing's, basically anything that i had difficulty remembering. Between 8pm-9pm at night i studied a class of drugs. When i woke up the next morning i studied the same set of drugs for 2hrs. I think this technique made pharm one of my strengths. When i saw med ques on the NCLEX they kinda made me calm down because they were all easy to me even the ones that were SATA.

Looking back, i guess i was doing well throughout the exam, i had about 25 SATA, 3 med math ques, 3 ordered response, about 5 meds, and 2 ECG ques. Everything else was priority and delegation. I had one or two safety and infection control questions, they weren't too bad since i studied that section religiously, and i would highly recommend you do so as well! In general, the questions i saw did not remind me of any of the study materials i used, but clearly they helped me tremendously since i passed with the minimum amount of questions.

Most of all, the one thing that helped me pass is prayer. I prayed everyday that i would retain what i studied and prayed while i was taking my exam. It's funny how the NCLEX has helped strengthen my faith and relationship with God, because personally i was going through a realllllyyy rough time while preparing for this exam. However, He carried me all along this journey and i owe everything all to HIM! Please feel free to ask me any questions and i wish all of you upcoming test takers the best of luck! You are all in my prayers!!! You CAN and WILL pass!!! :)

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Unexplainable happiness...congratulations...:roflmao:

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congratulations! can you tell us your kaplan scores? thanks!

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congratulations! can you tell us your kaplan scores? thanks!

Don't get too caught up with scores just make sure you understand all the rationales. I will say however, if you get 60 and above on kaplan then you're right where you need to be.

Diagnostic- 51.7%

Readiness- 57.8%

I took the diagnostic, readiness, and QT 1-3 tests before i started studying during the first two weeks of the classroom review where the kaplan instructor explained how to use the decision tree and how to use the website.

QT 1- 46.7%

QT 2- 60%

QT 3- 47%

QT 4- 65%

QT 5-60%

QT 6-66%

QT 7-69%

Sample test 1- 60%

Sample test 2-48%

Sample test 3-96.7%

Sample test 4-16%

Cumulative Qbank score (100% completed)- 61%

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Specializes in Mental Health.

How inspiring! I am just about to purchase some nclex-rn study materials and I am in a similar situation, early 20s, no kids etc. to know that you studied for 2 1/2 months makes me feel very excited and I hope I can pass like you did. Thank you for sharing your success with us!

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How inspiring! I am just about to purchase some nclex-rn study materials and I am in a similar situation, early 20s, no kids etc. to know that you studied for 2 1/2 months makes me feel very excited and I hope I can pass like you did. Thank you for sharing your success with us!

Aww thank you! I'm sure you will pass as well!!! Its only a matter of time! :)

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congratulations

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Congrats RN!!!

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Congrats!

your question trainer scores are putting me at ease, no offense. I wasn't sure what the preferred score was for them. My diagnostic was a 76 with the first four trainers all over 70 percent. Makes me feel somewhat excited...

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congrats RN! , same here, felt horrible after it shut off at 75 and just prepared myself to retake it, like it even took me sometime to answer question NUMBER 1(8-10 mins),,i was able to eliminate two, but still I'm left with two and I'm having a hard time selecting which one.. that's why when i reached number 75 , i just bowed my head and take sometime to pray asking him to stop already and i just literally surrenderred everything to him,. and as soon as i submitted my answer, my screen turned blue., went home completely shattered and depressed.. but 6 hours later, when the pearson site is again accessible due to maintenance, i did the PVT and to my surprise, i got the good pop-up!! and 48 hours after, i received the official result saying i PASSED! :D truly god is good, continue praying and I'm sure whatever you ask, he will deliver! GOD BLESS to those future nclex examinees! :)

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Congratulations RN!!! You made it! Yay!!! :D

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Congratulations RN!!! You made it! Yay!!! :D

Thanks Angel!!! Congrats to you as well!!!!!

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