I kept my boards a secret from everyone around me except for the people in my house. I was afraid that I would fail. I even went through the trouble of taking them out of town for fear that I would definately fail if I saw someone I know on test day. My classmates always made me nervous. I only had a couple of people that I still communicate with after graduation, and I did not tell them I was taking my boards this early. I studied for 7 weeks, but after taking the boards today, I am sure that it was not enough.
My grades during school average. I have not seen an "A" since Psych class, but that was factual information. I got mostly "C's" in my tests.
We were told by our professors that the "C" students will be the ones to take the NCLEX more than once. I guess I just did not want them to be right.
Now, after taking the boards, I am pretty sure I did not do well. I think that makes it worse.
Is there anyone out there in the same boat or a different boat of your own?
I took my NCLEX last week and the only people that knew were my parents - my Dad actually drove to London to sit it, my sister, grandma and a friend I have who has already passed so she had really been helping me thru everthing! I will tell people when I have results!!!
It never crossed my Mind to keep it a secret. In fact, one of my best friends in NS took boards the same day and I had NO idea lol. Until she told me the next day when she texted me to say "Congrats RN!".
She said she didn't want ppl to know that she passed or failed before she knew. HuH?
Well I have a positive attitude anyway, and never thought that way. I figured I had a B average in NS, passed HESI first time..so why wouldn't I pass.
WOW!! I thought I was the only one!! I failed my first time and when I scheduled it the second time I didn't tell anyone...in case I failed. I passed the same day my little nephew was born. I had 2 hours sleep the night before... I say he's my little lucky charm. But really, I thank God. :)
Not to tell cos of unnecessary pressure is good but i believe if you can lie to cover up the day of your test,then find it worth it not telling anybody if you pass.I told pple wks before taking the test.call some pple and tell them that i am out of testing center.Thou i wasnt so sure i'll pass but God,knowing that i have prepared so hard for the test,granted me succes.I had a friend whom i've been so honest even thou i wasnt sure i'll pass,i told her all the questions i got only for her to lie to me when she took hers.The most annoying part is that she discussed her questions with me and lied that it was question some other person got only for her to tell me when she passed that it was her that they asked the questions that she was afraid to tell me it was her in case she failed.All i told her was,so if u had failed,you wont tell me?Since that day,i cancelled her as a friend since she is a liar and i hate lies.I believe in truth.If you want to keep it a secret just dont lie about it,be yourself.
I know better now not to say anything to anyone about my test. I just took them this past Monday and failed after 230 questions. I had 2 jobs lined up, both waiting on my results. I was supposed to start this coming Monday with my classmate who has already passed...now I have start all over again; take another test and try to find a new job. I WILL NOT tell anyone but my husband (and maybe not even him) when the date is. I advise everyone else to do the same because it does add stress, which is the last thing that's needed when a nervous breakdown is already possible! I was an A & B student all the way through nursing school...I really believe it has nothing to do with passing. You have to be able to figure out what they are asking (even when you don't know the material). The questions I felt I did know I was unable to narrow it down any further than 2 questions...My heart goes out to anyone taking these miserable tests...myself included :) Wasn't going through nursing school and passing enough to determine our competence?
Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
I know better now not to say anything to anyone about my test. I just took them this past Monday and failed after 230 questions. I had 2 jobs lined up, both waiting on my results. I was supposed to start this coming Monday with my classmate who has already passed...now I have start all over again; take another test and try to find a new job. I WILL NOT tell anyone but my husband (and maybe not even him) when the date is. I advise everyone else to do the same because it does add stress, which is the last thing that's needed when a nervous breakdown is already possible! I was an A & B student all the way through nursing school...I really believe it has nothing to do with passing. You have to be able to figure out what they are asking (even when you don't know the material). The questions I felt I did know I was unable to narrow it down any further than 2 questions...My heart goes out to anyone taking these miserable tests...myself included :) Wasn't going through nursing school and passing enough to determine our competence?
Your screen name fits perfectly, because it is true...NCLEX owns us until we pass. I passed the first time with minimum questions, but when I walked out of there, I was angry, disillusioned and miserable. Why...because with all of the questions I practiced, almost nothing was recognizable and I came to the conclusion that I did all that I could do. I also felt that school was enough. It was a horrible experience, and it only added to my resolve to never sit for such mess again. Nursing school has us in shambles, then, a crappy exam with an attitude can determine if we can practice or not. NCLEX does NOT assure that a caring and competent nurse is walking out to practice, it only means that we know how to regurgitate what those idiots want to hear. Reality nursing is NOTHING like the textbooks, anyway.
One reason why I don't think it is good to let people know too much is because not everyone wishes us well, and I happen to believe in negative energy. I think that I mentioned it to about 6 people...none of them from class or my co-workers because it was just too emotional and stressful to me. It was the best decision for me. I do not criticize others that choose to share; it is an individual choice, but for me, it was better to bear with it in silence. And, my heart literally bleeds for people about to walk in and take it. I want everyone to do well. Nursing school was MORE than enough for me...:angryfire
Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.
I didn't keep my plans to take the boards a secret from anyone. By the way, I was a 'B' and 'C' student who passed on my first attempt. Then again, there are two 'A' students from my former class who have not passed their boards yet, and approximately 2 years has elapsed since we completed this program.
What NCLEX owns me said about her two lined up jobs is why I would never get employment contingent upon passing the boards. It is too easy for the employer to give those job openings to another applicant or to develop a negative attitude about me. Anything I need for a job, I have in my hot little hand when I go looking. I also think that the nurse who always let everybody else know when she was taking the NCLEX-RN for the next umpteenth time was not creating a very favorable image of herself. Her story was known throughout the nursing community. I would rather have people have no idea who I am, than to have it said that I'm incapable of passing the boards after graduating with a BSN and practicing for so many years.
I WILL NOT tell anyone but my husband (and maybe not even him) when the date is. I advise everyone else to do the same because it does add stress, which is the last thing that's needed when a nervous breakdown is already possible! I was an A & B student all the way through nursing school...
I will do the same thing too. I will never tell anyone on my next scheduled exam. i had the worst 45 days in my life after I failed the first exam. Everyone knew when i would take the exam and everybody called me and checked on me if I passed or not. how nosey can they be. I even had a trusted friend who called me 715am the DAY AFTER i took the exam and asked me "so, when is the celebration?" I wouldnt know the results by that time. I felt so betrayed, feeling they made fun of me (or was i too paranoid - since i had a very strong feeling that i failed) I was a B student and even got a 1100 on the Hesi Exit Exam. 2nd day after i took the exam, i found out that i failed and my phone was ringing off the hook. all the nosey friends were trying to check on me. Never answered my home phone not even my cell phone. Can't they wait if i will be the one to call them and let them know. Dont they have anything else to do? I was so disappointed, so frustrated and even so mad...it went on for 3 weeks, people were calling me and even left messages on my voicemail that even if i will not tell them the results, they can look it up on the BON website. So, why bother calling me? I dont need those people around me while im trying to prepreparing myself for the second try. i'm literally inside the house trying to review and do practice questions. putting off all parties and summer activities. My husband and my son would go attend to parties without me since i dont want to see anybody nor talk to anyone and might get upset with any of their comments. It is only during your rough times you would know who your real friends are. I am so blessed to have a husband and a nine year old son who are so supportive and they were with me the whole time i was down. Also, prayers helped me to lift up myself and then started to open my review books again.
Specializes in Did the job hop, now in MS. Not Bad!!!!!.
Well I TRIED to keep it a secret. But too many people knew it was my full time job studying and preparing. They continued to ask when I was testing. And of course if I failed, it would take another 3 mos of study and prep til I could take them again. So next thing you know, I'm answering straight up to anyone that asked. And I found terrific support from those that are still in my life after the stress and solitude I demanded all those months of study.
It was worth it. Friends, family, and some wonderful folks on this forum have been integral to my progress. And it was here that I realized that if I don't make it the first time (b/c I was a very "B" average student in school that took longer to study (I"m older) than the younger student who managed to have fun and enjoy nursing school) that it was ok. I wouldn't be the first, nor alone.
Check the sticky at the top of the thread New revised tip suzanne plan it will help you so far it is helping me and going to take it again on Oct 19 for a third time. Keep your head up and have faith in your self.
I know that I could not handle everyone asking me a million questions..."When are YOU taking them...what was on the test...did you hear about anyone else...". I closed down my email, silenced my phone, took off from work and I didn't even read here at allnurses when it got close to a week before. the best!
I really wish I had read your reply 4 weeks ago when I decided to "take advice" from a friend who had passed the boards. I think it was the one of the reasons I may not have passed(results still pending). We spoke about everying from what book to study from to what were some hot topics from the actual exam. I relied so heavily on her advice that I even changed my study plan!
Suffice it to say, after taking the exam I wished I hadn't ever asked my friend anything.
Also, before taking the exam, I kept thinking... What if I fail? Would I tell anyone? No, I shouldn't. I'll tell them I moved the date. But then realized, I can't do that without getting caught in my own lies.
:uhoh21:Worrying about what people think about you and then lying to try to keep people from thinking bad about you is just... well simply looney tunes. Well, that's at least what I am telling myself.
angiebaby2
43 Posts
I took my NCLEX last week and the only people that knew were my parents - my Dad actually drove to London to sit it, my sister, grandma and a friend I have who has already passed so she had really been helping me thru everthing! I will tell people when I have results!!!
Yep I am a coward!!