Oh, man....I took test this morning, and I'm totally torn up. I could tell partway through (like around 40 questions) that I was screwing up; I got some easy questions....and then some kickass hard questions....so I didn't know what to think! I'd get a couple of questions that seemed "too easy" and I'd tell myself I have to step it up a notch, I'm screwing up....and then I'd see questions that made me think "I'm supposed to KNOW this?!?". Sigh.
Then there were the questions that looked like they were supposed to be easy (or easier) and STILL I didn't know the answer!! I swear I guessed more than anything, and I don't feel comfortable that I guessed correctly. Not at all
I just KNEW when I got to the 60's, 70, this thing was NOT gonna turn off at 75. So I wasn't shocked when it didn't. However, it DID stop at 79! Totally clueless here....the last four questions apparently were enough to tell the computer I know what I'm doing, or I shouldn't get a license! AND, to make me feel worse, I'm pretty sure I got two of the last four WRONG! Although I *think* I got the last one right...
Ok, ok, getting the last one right or wrong doesn't decide. But still, having FOUR questions above the minimum is disconcerting to me. Particularly since I don't have any confidence in answering those last four correctly.
I had two or three math. Not normal dosage, drip rate math. Math for units per ml per hour per minute per....crap, I had NO clue! Was hoping it was "hard enough" that I was still in the ballgame. Actually, two straight maths, one where you had to DO the math (same kind of horrific, convoluted stuff!) to answer a multiple choice correctly.
I had a bunch of meds. Apparently a weak area for me, since I had alot of them. I DID have a lot of prioritizing, such as "who you see first, who you call first" as well as "which procedure do you do first". I had all of one delegation question, and THAT was a weird "reverse" one: you have an RN and an LPN, which pt does the RN get....and THREE of the four choices I wanted to give the RN!!! Checked the question....read it right...only one for the RN.
Not a single blood question (infusing, reaction, etc). A precious few on anything to do with electrolytes (apparently answered these well enough to move on). Three r/t maternity, although one was really a med question. Nothing directly peds, although babies/kids were used in the procedures. Where were the questions on Addisons/Cushings? Psych? I had one. Two or three if you count meds Where were the ABG questions? Not one. What about reading lab values? None...except I had to know the correct range for hematocrit to get one question correct. No blood, no urine values. No MI questions!
I feel totally sick. I'm really ready to cry, I feel like I blew this so badly.
My kaplan scores were great. My practice tests went well. I studied like a fanatic. And yet, after 79 questions, I feel absolutely nauseous.
Isn't it the most dreadful experience ever? At least you timed out at 79... i timed out at 265. Imagine the horror. I threw up 2 times since yesterday and didn't sleep last night. Lord help me.
Read the link I linked to earlier in this thread. It specifically discusses getting the max number - and what it DOESN'T MEAN.
It DOESN'T mean you failed. It means the computer graded your status AT THAT POINT. Just as likely that you passed, just like every other number you could have landed on.
Read the link I linked to earlier in this thread. It specifically discusses getting the max number - and what it DOESN'T MEAN.
It DOESN'T mean you failed. It means the computer graded your status AT THAT POINT. Just as likely that you passed, just like every other number you could have landed on.
~faith,
Timothy.
My guess is even if you KNOW that 265 doesn't equal failure any more than, say 79 does , you STILL hadda sit there sweating and palpitating for 265 questions.
Frankly, I don't know if I would have held up that long before losing it completely. I was already doing my Queen of Breathe exercises at 76.
It just means the torture continues on that much longer
My guess is even if you KNOW that 265 doesn't equal failure any more than, say 79 does , you STILL hadda sit there sweating and palpitating for 265 questions.
Frankly, I don't know if I would have held up that long before losing it completely. I was already doing my Queen of Breathe exercises at 76.
It just means the torture continues on that much longer
I KNOW that more questions doesn't mean anything and I'd still have a heart-attack on the spot if the machine tripped too far past 100 questions.
The other testers in the area would have a fresh and pertinent review of the MI questions on THEIR tests.
Again, even w/ the 3 month wait for results - God was looking out for me with letting me be the last of the great paper boards takers.
I KNOW that more questions doesn't mean anything and I'd still have a heart-attack on the spot if the machine tripped too far past 100 questions.
The other testers in the area would have a fresh and pertinent review of the MI questions on THEIR tests.
LOL!
Thing was, I was REALLY prepared for the thing to stop at 75. I know, you can't predict, but I saw so many people who were prepared about like I was, or maybe not even as much, kaplan grades like mine (and maybe not as high) shutting off at 75. It was a bit disheartening to see it move to 76. 77.78.79. I wasn't getting more comfortable the longer it went, I can tell ya.
Here's to hoping that those questions I had truly no clue on weren't counted, lol, or were way above where I needed to be!
Hi RNs2BRwe! I just wanted to wish you the best of luck while awaiting your results.
Your post sounded exactly like me this past weekend while I awaited my results. I took the NCLEX-PN exam on Sat, 7/15. I was a little nervous because the NCLEX is such a huge step in starting a Nursing career. But ironically, when considering how I normally am about tests, I was not as bad as I thought I would be. In fact, while sitting in the waiting room at Pearson Vue on Saturday morning, there were about 6 other women that I did not know waiting to take their exam as well. They all were "cramming" last bits of info into their (probably) over-stressed brains. When my name was called to go back, I stood up & looked at the women and said "Stay positive & have confidence. We can all pass this exam." Before I started the tutorial, I gave myself a little pep-talk & said "You can do this". Also, in the last 2 months while I waited for my test date, I would read posts on here from people who had passed and I paid attention to what they said regarding the # of questions they were asked before the computer shut-off and the types of questions they said they were asked about. I know that info doesn't mean anything specific about whether a person will pass or fail. But I kept praying that my test, when it ended, would be like theirs(shutting off at the minimum # of questions for the NCLEX-PN and consisting mostly of questions about prioritizing, delegating, select-all-that-apply, etc).
Well once the actual exam started, and questions were firing away, my mind just went blank. Within the first 5 questions, I got asked about a specific GI issue that my class had just discussed two months ago(and I had probably read about a million times when studying for Boards). When I read the choices I was given for answers, none of them sounded right. All I kept thinking was " I can't believe my mind is failing me at a time like this." I know I got the question wrong because I remember how I answered it & looked up the info when I got home. But there were many questions like that on the exam where it seemd like the test was in Portuguese. The video-recording of me must be a hoot to watch because I probably have the most funniest expressions on my face that say "What the h*ll?"
In the end, the computer did shut off at 85 & I did get the types of questions that I had prayed for: some prioritizing & delegation(but not as much as I had hoped for), LOTS of teaching & infection control, about 10 select-all-that-apply, several on OB & Psych, & several dietary(which I screwed up on 2 that I know of). Also, I was asked about at least 7 different meds, most of which I had heard of or just administered the week prior at work. There were no math questions. Throughout the exam, I used my ABCs, Maslows, & Nursing Process as much as possible. But alot of the time, it either didn't seem to help or there always seemed to be 2 "right" answers. So, using my critical thinking to the best of my ability, I ended up guessing on most of the answers.
As soon as I left Pearson, I felt nauseous & sooooo miserable. I couldn't believe that I had blown the biggest test of my life. I drove my family nuts all weekend long & they actually forbid me from discussing the exam & how I thought I did. I was even more worried about going into work Monday because my unit educators knew I was testing on Saturday & would probably be checking the State's website to see if I passed or failed. Well I found out Monday morning that I did, indeed, pass. But it was the worst 48 hours of my life. So, for that reason, I am keeping my fingers crossed for you & everyone else who is waiting to take the exam &/or get their results. Good luck!!
Yep, your experience sounded alot like mine! Totally guessing too much of the time, I think. And if I KNEW those questions were in the "hard enough" category, I'd probably feel a tad better. It's just not knowing if those questions were in the right league, AND if my answers kept those questions in the right league.
I now see a pattern of what kept coming back to me, what my weak areas were testing in. Funny thing is, like you said, they weren't necessarily stuff I didn't know, just that the choices they gave me weren't ones I'd MAKE! lol...."what would you do, Nurse?" "Something else...."
So that's where I sit. Worried that I didn't hit that magic area in Statistics Land that gets me a license.
I was outside since early morning today and didn't get chance to access my computer, but i knew you were testing today and prayed for you.
What you are feeling, was exactly what i felt last week. For 48 hours post nclex i started realizing what all i got wrong and honestly felt like i must have got like 2 questions right . I was having nightmares about these questions, feeling nauseous, just horrible!!!!. For 2 days i kept going to pearson website and refreshing everytime hoping the results were there. After 48 hours finally i saw results were there and i was so anxious, never been this anxious in my life. I had to call my husband at work and he said he would come home since i didnt have the courage to look by myself.
You know that I did not do that well with kaplan scores and you have studied way more than I did. If i could pass inspite of that, I know you will too. There is no way to describe the feeling after giving the text. It just seems hopeless, but thats how majority of people feel, yet majority of people pass inspite of that. So just hang in there and you will do fine. Will continue to pray for you and really try to stay busy for next 48 hours, dont go opening books, trying to figure out wht you missed. Good Luck!
Where were the ABG questions? Not one. What about reading lab values? None...except I had to know the correct range for hematocrit to get one question correct. No blood, no urine values. No MI questions!
ZASHAGALKA, RN
3,322 Posts
It's such a different test that it is MIND-BLOWING.
Every test you took so far for nursing was made for the masses. How MANY you got right or wrong sized you up against your peers.
This test - this humdinger - sizes you up against yourself. It isn't the quantity of questions but the QUALITY that matters.
Trying to interpret what this means, or that, is nothing more than reading teas leaves. And no more empirically valid.
You know that. . .BUT! Yeah.
Good luck all test takers.
~faith,
Timothy.