Finally Conquered the NCLEX

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Specializes in L&D.

I finally after the 4th time passed the NCLEX. This is a little motivation for those of you that are doubting yourself. If I can do it, then so can you.

Here is a little background on me. I graduated May 2012. The last semester of nursing school was very emotional for me. I became pregnant with my daughter and when I was 4 months pregnant my dad was diagnosed with lung cancer. During my last 2 weeks of school my dad had major surgery to remove his entire right lung (He is in remission 2 years now :) Shortly after that I went on bedrest for the rest of my pregnancy. I had my daughter at the end of Aug. 2012 and 5 days later my Grandmother passed away. I took the NCLEX for the first time Nov. 2012, then again May 2013, and May 2014. I got 75 questions, 75 questions and then 103 questions. I knew I was bombing it and was so frustrated. I have too many study materials that I was getting overwhelmed with it. I took the Hurst Review before my 3rd attempt and felt like it helped some. I decided this last time to stick with ATI (that's what I used to pass the NCLEX PN). I went through the Pharm and MedSurg book from ATI. I decided to go with a different approach to answering the questions. Before I was trying to find the "right" answer. This time I decided to eliminate the "wrong" answers. I took the test for the 4th time on Nov 1, 2014. I felt like I was doing good on the test. I started getting a lot of SATA and I had 2 that I had to put in the correct order. I did not get any medication calculations. When I got to the 75th questions I was scared to hit submit because I didn't want it to shut off. I felt that since I was getting the minimum amount of questions and failing then in order to pass I needed to have all the questions. I finally clicked submit and the screen went blue. I was so upset. I went to my car and tried the PVT. I did not know that they changed the website and since it went to the credit card page I knew I failed. I went home and purchased another study program. I decided to go on this site and see if the PVT changed because the website changed and sure enough I came across some postings saying everyone will get the credit card page. So I decided to try the new trick and pay for the test again. I got the "good" pop up. I was nervous about it because its still fairly new and I kept telling myself how could I pass with just 75 questions when I failed 3 times with 75 questions. I waited the 48 hours for the quick results and the words "PASS" popped up. I couldn't believe it, but its true I finally passed the NCLEX. 4 days later my license number showed up on the BON website.

What I mainly used to study:

"Prioritization, Delegation, and Assignment" by LaCharity

the ATI books

Hurst Review

but I think the most important thing that I did was change my strategy to answering the questions. I eliminated the wrong answers instead of finding the right answers.

Believe in yourself and never give up. It took me 2 years and 4 tries but I got there and so can you!

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Congratulations!!!!

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Congratulations AwsomeAmber, I am so proud of you. You are truly a reminder and a testimony that, the race is not to the swift nor the battle to the strong but to those that endures to the end. Enjoy your success and I am sorry for your lost.

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Congrats! oh my god i have taken nclex three times and failed it. Where do you live? I live in florida and now its required to take a remedial course which is long and expensive, i don't know what to do. I was told to take it in another state but i don't know what are the requirements, what to have or do in order to apply to take it out of state, do you know?

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I got goosebumps from reading your posting, it;s almost the same as my story of my life with nclex (monster), I have two toddlers at home graduated in 2011 and last i took the Rn exam was last month and failed it. I feel deppressed at this point..

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Congrats! Did you take the NCLEX PN?

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Specializes in L&D.

I too live in FL. I applied the 4th time with NY. The application process is easy. It pretty much explains everything they need on the application. You will need to send your application, contact your school to send your transcripts, take 2 short courses online (about 30 minutes each) and verify your LPN license if you have one. It took 4 days to post my license on NY BON site. I just now completed my application for my FL license by endorsement. It says it take about 2 weeks for the whole process so I will let you know when I get my license.

Don't give up. You have some challenges and I know how hard it is to study with 2 little ones. My children are 4 years old and 2 years old. My husband played a HUGE part in me being able to study. For at least 3 days a week he watched the kids for at least 3 hours straight and I left the house, went to a parking lot that I could pick up wifi and studied. I couldn't study in my house because of all the distractions.

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Specializes in L&D.

Yes I took the NCLEX PN back in 2010 and passed the first time.

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Specializes in L&D.

Thank you everyone. I still feel like its a dream and I am gonna wake up to reality any minute now.

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Just curious, did you have to go to NY to take the test on your fourth attempt? I'm in FL and failed 3 times. I'm looking into taking the exam in GA but I was under the impression I'd have to travel to that state in which I applied for...Please let me know. I'm so beside myself about this. I did great in nursing school, worked in the medical field my entire adult life. I get very stressed on tests and my nerves take over :-(

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Hi! how long did you have to wait to take the test after you failed in florida...did u still have to wait the 45 days even though you tested in NYC! Cause i failed my first time and i need to take it with in 5 weeks.. so i was wondering if you did or didn't have to wait the 45 days even though NYC is unlimited.

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This is exactly what I was looking for, your situation is quite similar and I hope you can help. Your story was very informative thank you so much! My question is, Did you use the Lacharity to study and pass the LPN NCLEX? BCZ from most reviews I've read ..... people who are studying for the RN NCLEX are the ones that use it the most.

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