Discouraged about the NCLEX? Advice from a 3 time NCLEX veteran

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My mom, who is also a nurse, introduced me to allnurses.com While I was preparing for my NCLEX exams, I used to read this site all the time. It made me feel so much better and helped to motivate me.

I have taken the NCLEX-RN 3 times. I took it for the third time this past Friday, and I just found out this morning that I PASSED!!! My test shut off at 75, and for the first time EVER, I left the testing room feeling confident I had passed. Of course I had doubts during the past 48 hours of waiting, thinking "this test seemed way easier than the first two, maybe I was answering lower level questions, etc"

During my first test I went to 246. I ended up early on through the test getting a terrible migraine and getting nauseated. I had to stop a few times to throw up. Finally about 150 questions in, I was just answering questions. My only concern at that point was that my test would end so I could get out of there. I threw up on the way home and later in the evening. My head was still pounding and I was in absolute misery. In my gut, I knew I had failed. Naturally, my gut was right and I lost my provisional license and had to quit the job I had. I was so ashamed and depressed. I had used ATI to prepare for this test. I had all the summary books, got a 98% chance of passing the NCLEX via a few predictor tests.

The second test, I went all the way to 265. This time I came armed with some Imitrex shots and had to take one during a break. My vice on this test was I only spent about a week preparing for the test, which as all of you know, you can't cram for the NCLEX. I really was so discouraged and disgusted this go around, that I didn't really care. Graduating with my BSN at 20 meant nothing at that point. I felt I had achieved nothing and just stopped caring. I hated nursing, I hated studying and I REALLY hated the NCLEX.

The Third time, got very motivated. I drug out my med-surg books, took notes every day. I and answered at least 150-200 questions daily. I did this for about a month, and all the hard work paid off. Most of all, I attribute my passing to God. The most pivotal thing about the third time, besides studying harder, is putting my fate in the hands of God. I have never been that type of person, but I believe because of that, I was successful on this test. I wasn't even nervous when I went in, and there was NOTHING on the test I hadn't read and wasn't familiar with. If anyone is interested, this what I did over my 1 month study regime:

Study Books: -Saunders Q&A review for NCLEX Review 3rd Edition

-Kaplan 2008-2009 edition

-Prioritization, Delegation & Assessment Practice Exercises for Med-Surg Nursing

(Lacharity, Kumangi & Bartz)

Question Banks: -Saunders Q&A review question bank

-Comprehensive review for NCLEX 2008 ed. (Marry Ann Hogan)

Method: Every day, I would first do one chapter out of my Prioritization, Delegation, and Assignment for Med-Surg Nursing. Then for 2-3 hours I would hand write in a notebook notes exactly from my med-surg book. I would choose one or two topics a day and write everything about it with a big focus on nursing interventions and teaching. Later in the day, I would use either my Comprehensive Review for NCLEX CD or Saunders Q&A CD and answer 150-200 questions daily. ALWAYS read the rationale and ALWAYS read the strategy after you've answered your study questions. Once my notebook started to fill up, I would go back every night and read my notes. In my last week, I read my Kaplan book, and practiced the strategies intensley on my study questions. I did my Kaplan practice test on CD the week before NCLEX. I only got a 66% on it, but I thought Kaplan was way harder than my actual NCLEX!

My advice is adhere to a regular study routine, answer questions like crazy, DO NOT GIVE UP IF YOU HAVE FAILED BEFORE, HAVE CONFIDENCE (you won't believe how far confidence can take you, who is going to pass going into the testing room already mentally defeated?!), TRUST IN GOD and you will pass your NCLEX. Take it from someone who has failed the thing twice: IT CAN BE DONE AND YOU CAN DO IT.

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Specializes in peds,home care, dietican.

Thanks for sharing your story with us:D. Yes, I agree there is hope and to trust in God. I have also failed my NCLEX twice in 2008. I'm making the third time a charm in a about 2 months. Congrats on passing your boards as well!!!!!!!!!!:yeah::yeah::yeah:

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Congratulations!!!. God bless you !

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Congratulations

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Thanks for providing your complete plan. It should prove helpful for some. Congratulations on sticking it out until you succeeded!

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Specializes in mental health.

I just took my nclex-rn for the first time 2 weeks ago and found out that I failed. Everyone else in my class is passing so far and I feel so ashamed and discouraged. I have to wait 45 days till I can take it again so I am going to spend everyday studying for it. I heard that sanders Q&A review book is really good. I will have to try that. But thanks for your advice and I hope I will pass the second time.

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Congratulations and Thank you for sharing your story.. it gaves us hope and encouragement. Im hoping that Ill pass too.. I am taking the nclex on April for the 5th times.. yes 5th!!! Exhausting but I know Ill pass this in God's will.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
I just took my nclex-rn for the first time 2 weeks ago and found out that I failed. Everyone else in my class is passing so far and I feel so ashamed and discouraged. I have to wait 45 days till I can take it again so I am going to spend everyday studying for it. I heard that sanders Q&A review book is really good. I will have to try that. But thanks for your advice and I hope I will pass the second time.

Welcome

Sorry you have failed but it is nothing to be ashamed of. People fail but do not rush to resit, study properly and good luck to next time

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wonderful...really nice....i liked ur advise....telling us ur hardship....about books....i really appriciate it ur time for writing all this....congrates to u a lot.....i am going to follow ur steps...going to order these books. i failed my NCLEX exam before but but but i want to pass NCLEX NOW....THIS ME NEED NOW.....i feel very embarace when my own family member ask daughter y u r not giving ur exam?? so n so given NCLEX AND WORKING...I FEEL BAD ABOUT IT.......WITH GOD'S BLESSING.....I WANT TO PASS THIS..

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