Finally Passed on the 10th try

[ugRN19]

I am writing this to hopefully encourage someone out there who might be getting frustrated while preparing for the NCLEX. I took my exam on February 23rd and out that I passed on the 25th, on my 10th try. Yes! You read that right, I took this exam TEN times before passing it. I graduated back in 2011 and when I initially took the exam, I did not give it the respect it needed and thought it would be like one of my nursing school exams. The second through the eighth time I took the exam I studied but I kept focusing on content more than questions, thinking I needed to continue to study up on my content due to the time that had lapsed between my nursing school and taking the exam but I was still doing something wrong because I kept failing. The ninth time, I used Hurst and Uworld, which I feel like it helped me and while taking taking the exam I felt like I knew the questions I was getting wrong and the ones I got right. I also knew when I started failing because I started having a bad headache and I couldn’t focus on anything else but the headache, so I just started choosing any answer without reading or understanding the question completely.

The last time I took the exam, I registered for the ReadytoPass class in Hempstead, NY. It was a five day, 9-4pm class and I can honestly say the class definitely helped me. It’s pretty much like going to nursing school all over again. They teach literally everything, including the dreaded pharmacology. While taking the class, I made flash cards of the important information, things like lab values, nutrition, drug classes, side effects, nursing implications, religious practices in healthcare, herbal treatments, etc., I would write down on index cards, which really helped me. At the end of it all, I probably created about 500 index cards and that might seem like a lot but that’s what worked for me. I also did this because I had never created index cards while studying the previous times and I knew I needed to try something different. I also registered for Uworld again. I answered about 800 questions from the q-bank and my average percentile the day before I took the test was in the 92nd percentile. I know everyone says don’t study the day before the exam but I had to do what I felt was right for me and for me, I studied right up to the last minute. I kept answering questions everyday and every minute I had to answer questions. I even did practice questions on Uworld, on my way to the testing center because again that’s what worked for me.

So this is to encourage anyone that feels like giving up. DON’T GIVE UP. You graduated from nursing school, so you can do it. If I can pass it after graduating from nursing 8 years ago and taking it ten times, then anything is possible. Pray and study hard everyday. I definitely had days when I didn’t study because I got sick but just keep studying and you will be to pass the exam.

P.S. I studied for about a month and a half before taking the exam. Oh and I just got hired as a nurse. So YOU CAN DO IT!!!??

[ABRN19]

Congratulations!!!! I also recently passed on my 8th attempt after graduating in 2014. It still feels so surreal!

[ugRN19]

9 hours ago, ABRN19 said:

Congratulations!!!! I also recently passed on my 8th attempt after graduating in 2014. It still feels so surreal!

Thanks and congratulations to you too. It definitely is surreal.

[n_cole12]

Congrats on passing!! I just passed my pn nclex after taking it 4xs! It def is the best feeling ever to see your name on bon! Now i gotta focus on going back to school (at some point) for my RN ?

[Workitinurfava, BSN, RN]

Congrats! I often wonder what happens to people that can't pass the exam past the 3rd attempt. Where you working in the meantime, doing something else, I am just curious?

[EssentialsforNCLEX, BSN]

Congratulations

[buzzbuzz1]

On 4/19/2019 at 7:24 PM, Workitinurfava said:

Congrats! I often wonder what happens to people that can't pass the exam past the 3rd attempt. Where you working in the meantime, doing something else, I am just curious?

This is exactly what I'm wondering.

[ugRN19]

On 4/19/2019 at 2:24 PM, Workitinurfava said:

Congrats! I often wonder what happens to people that can't pass the exam past the 3rd attempt. Where you working in the meantime, doing something else, I am just curious?

I was working as a case manager at a clinic, while also working as a volunteer at a hospital.

[buzzbuzz1]

8 minutes ago, ugRN19 said:

I was working as a case manager at a clinic, while also working as a volunteer at a hospital.

Very inspirational!

I'm moving to the States in two weeks. Taking my nclex in England right before I go. I'm an RN over here, but I'm thinking I'll get a job in a hospital as an HCA to see how the US hospitals works (assuming I don't pass the NCLEX)...and carry on studying!

[Nancy14]

Congratulations. I have also failed 8 times, and i’m very frustrated. But reading your story has given me a little push. I’m glad that you have gotten a job, awesome!????