Finished NCLEX-RN in 75 questions---but feel like I failed!

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I'm a recent grad and sat for my nclex today. I finished my four day kaplan course three weeks ago, and have been steadily tackling all of the question trainers (averaging about 59%) and all of the qbank questions (averaging about 65-70%). I felt like I really had my testing strategies down, especially the decision tree, and I really put in the time and effort of understanding the content when remediating. I felt like my scores were on target with the kaplan testing material as well.

However, when I took my test today I felt like many of the questions were on unfamiliar topics and obscure material that was barely touched on in nursing school and not covered at all in the kaplan content review! I had no delegation questions, no questions involving the analysis of lab values, no hot spot assessment questions, nothing on common surgeries or med-surg type diagnoses-- it was all completely out of left field! And when there was a familiar topic, I found all of the available answers undesirable. I didn't find that I could use the decision tree on any of the 75 questions-- if anything, I only used kaplan's "who do you see first" strategy on a couple questions.

Has anyone else ever had this kind of experience with the nclex before? I'm praying I did pass but can't help but feel that it could go either way.

Thanks for reading!

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I think another day and you should be able to see your grade

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You sound like me today. Took my exam today and left like I am sure I failed. Wanted to cry... My test blueprint was nothing like I've read in here. I stopped at 75 and someone made me do the trick and so far got the food pop up.. But we will see what quick results say in two days.

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Good luck your in my prayers

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with 75 questions, it can go either way, but stay positive, relax & wait for your official results. i hope you pass.

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Op What's the update with you ? 24 hrs later I'm still getting good pop up

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Hey. Your test sounds just like mine. Had no delegation, no obvious labs, only about 15-20 sata , but many priority and trends questions,... Basically it was a weird test. Nothing like many other posters. And I shut off at 75. Waiting for quick results this afternoon.

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Do you guys recommend buying an NCLEX comprehensive review book to use while still in school? I'm seriously contemplating this but I want to see if it is truly helpful.

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Dorkypanda the Saunders NCLEX review guide is awesome used it all through school

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I'm a recent grad and sat for my nclex today. I finished my four day kaplan course three weeks ago, and have been steadily tackling all of the question trainers (averaging about 59%) and all of the qbank questions (averaging about 65-70%). I felt like I really had my testing strategies down, especially the decision tree, and I really put in the time and effort of understanding the content when remediating. I felt like my scores were on target with the kaplan testing material as well.

However, when I took my test today I felt like many of the questions were on unfamiliar topics and obscure material that was barely touched on in nursing school and not covered at all in the kaplan content review! I had no delegation questions, no questions involving the analysis of lab values, no hot spot assessment questions, nothing on common surgeries or med-surg type diagnoses-- it was all completely out of left field! And when there was a familiar topic, I found all of the available answers undesirable. I didn't find that I could use the decision tree on any of the 75 questions-- if anything, I only used kaplan's "who do you see first" strategy on a couple questions.

Has anyone else ever had this kind of experience with the nclex before? I'm praying I did pass but can't help but feel that it could go either way.

Thanks for reading!

Did you try to register for the exam again?

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Dorkypanda the Saunders NCLEX review guide is awesome used it all through school

I won't be graduating until 2017 since it's a 2 year program. You're talking about the comprehensive review book right? The 5th is cheap but it's from 2010 and the 6th is from 2013 but I hear content is very similar just slightly updated. the whole edition thing is driving me a little nutty.

Do you know if the NCLEX exam changes in a few years? I'm a bit worried about that and that's why I haven't bought any NCLEX book as of yet.

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The NCLEX just changes April of 2013 so should be good for awhile but they are always updating and keeping up with advanced in Nursing. Here's some unsolicited advice don't worry about the NCLEX just get through Nursing school. The tests should be geared to help you get through the NCLEX (depending on your school) if they have a high pass rating that's exactly what they're doing. When you get to your final semester start to plan with NCLEX prep like Kaplan, Saunders or Hurst. You will get content all through school focus on those tests then the NCLEX

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