I thought about posting this in the nclex forum, but it seems more people are freaked and/or comforting each other and those that need to take it several times.
I think it's possible to pass on the first try, (please say it's possible) but what I'm getting at is what was your mindset? Did you go in confident or is that impossible with this test? I'm familiar with the content as I've read numerous posts on it, and I've even leafed through Springhill's book at the bookstore, I plan to start getting the various books around Christmas b/c I want to try to read a little each year, but maybe that's impossible.
Right now even though I'm doing well, I also feel these are basic classes and something would be seriously wrong if I couldn't do well! :chuckle I go into my tests, prepared, but still a bit nervous, I generally have a feeling for how well I've done, but I'm wondering for those that passed nclex on the 1st try, did you go in with a kick a** attitude, or did you think "oh I hope I pass". I fall to the later catagory even though I'm doing well...I like not being overly confident for some reason..and it seems to work well for me! Perhaps I have self esteem issues? :uhoh21: ...or perhaps I should just stop studying Psych...those folks ARE a bunch of nut jobs.
Sometimes I think being overconfident can also be deadly with tests and that's really at the core of what I'm getting at. Ex: I'm doing well with my Psych tests, I felt pretty confident about my next one, but I go online and take mock tests and really bombed! Either my cc is really dumbed down, or it matters what version is being taught! My son said just don't get cocky and study more! Now why can't HE listen to that advice?
Thanks...(and sorry you guys for my uber long posts...I just like to be clear ...I'm trying to give as much background so you understand the why's and what not but maybe it's TMI!...and once I get typing...I can just fill up space!)...my mom always did want me to be a writer (see? there I go again... )
Specializes in obstetrics(high risk antepartum, L/D,etc.
:) I was required to take NCLEX by my BON last year. I had taken boards in 1959(!) and had always worked in OB.
I studied several review books, Kaplan, NCLEX Made simple, etc. I went into the site with the feeling that I knew the stuff, now all I had to do is dreg it up. The test cut off at 75. I figured I either passed or failed by a whole lot. I paid the fee and got unofficial report two days later that I had passed. Good thing I got the unofficial report. I hadn't received anything for six weeks from my BON. When I contacted them, they affirmed that I had passed and told me they "just forgot" to send out the notice. Just believe in yourself. If this old "retread" nurse can pass, so can you!!! Good luck.
Don't worry about the NCLEX until you have registered to take it. Focus on learning while in school - get some nclex books & CD's to start doing practice questions (these will help tremendously with nursing school exams). By the time you are ready to take the NCLEX...you will be prepared. All you need is a score of 51% to pass. Plus 85% of those who take it pass on the first try. You will do fine! I think the majority that don't pass the first time are more nervous rather than lacking knowledge. Don't let test anxiety hold you back!
U cannot possibly read enough or study enough. Read all you can..Study ALL you can and be prepared for this test to blow you out of the water. Only the "fittest" survive.
I answered 80 question was out of there in 1 hour.
I thought about posting this in the nclex forum, but it seems more people are freaked and/or comforting each other and those that need to take it several times.
I think it's possible to pass on the first try, (please say it's possible) but what I'm getting at is what was your mindset? Did you go in confident or is that impossible with this test? I'm familiar with the content as I've read numerous posts on it, and I've even leafed through Springhill's book at the bookstore, I plan to start getting the various books around Christmas b/c I want to try to read a little each year, but maybe that's impossible.
Right now even though I'm doing well, I also feel these are basic classes and something would be seriously wrong if I couldn't do well! :chuckle I go into my tests, prepared, but still a bit nervous, I generally have a feeling for how well I've done, but I'm wondering for those that passed nclex on the 1st try, did you go in with a kick a** attitude, or did you think "oh I hope I pass". I fall to the later catagory even though I'm doing well...I like not being overly confident for some reason..and it seems to work well for me! Perhaps I have self esteem issues? :uhoh21: ...or perhaps I should just stop studying Psych...those folks ARE a bunch of nut jobs.
Sometimes I think being overconfident can also be deadly with tests and that's really at the core of what I'm getting at. Ex: I'm doing well with my Psych tests, I felt pretty confident about my next one, but I go online and take mock tests and really bombed! Either my cc is really dumbed down, or it matters what version is being taught! My son said just don't get cocky and study more! Now why can't HE listen to that advice?
Thanks...(and sorry you guys for my uber long posts...I just like to be clear ...I'm trying to give as much background so you understand the why's and what not but maybe it's TMI!...and once I get typing...I can just fill up space!)...my mom always did want me to be a writer (see? there I go again... )
Michele
I never studied for my boards, i was iin the process of divorce, worked 11-7 am, and lived with abusive husband while going through a divorce,and had 2 small children..... what saved me was that i worked my butt off in nursing school..........this probably won't help , but i needed to vent
According to the Pearson webpage, Approx. 80% of people who take the NCLEX pass it on the first try, so don't be discouraged. You will do fine, and it is ok to be confident. It will save you a lot of needless worry and maybe help you on test day. Many people fail due to test anxiety.
Couldn't agree more !
That's not to say to go in OVERconfident.. just CONFIDENT. And know that when it's over , most feel like they surely bombed it !
All I did was study, study, study... then gave it the "well.. I can do no more than what I've done, so here goes.. time for worrying is over, it's time to do it!" And hope for the best.
Mostly what I did was use the elimination technique, and the most common sense answers.. and of course the prioritizing.
The most important thing is to not read too much into the questions or you'll get yourself all nervous and read stuff in there which isn't there.
Go in with the mindset that if you don't pass, it's not the end of the world, you'll just take it again the next itme. I realize that you or NONE of us want that, but it's a good, calming mindset nonetheless.. act (pretend) as if it's not really the big deal it is.. get it? That's what I did. But I DID study my butt off.. for MONTHS.
Eighty one questions, if I recall correctly.. about an hour and a half... and had NO idea when I left there how I did... didn't feel good, didn't feel bad.. just had no idea... that's the worst of the whole stinkin' part !
Specializes in Rehab, Neuro, Travel Nurse, Home Care.
I did not think negatively, I was confident. I told myself I will pass. Also I did many practice tests and CD Roms after I graduated. The Kaplan book helped me because it gave test tips and taught me how to answer the question. I also brushed up on maternaty and psych because I was not working in that area. If I had to do it over again I would not have worked as a graduate nurse. It was too much stress. Lastly, my school had a high pass rate
If you have legitimate reason to be concerned about passing NCLEX on the day you take it then I think the problem is more than likely with your nursing school, not you. It is their job to prepare you to be a nurse and a basic part of that is to pass NCLEX.
I took the test about 3 weeks ago and I was nervous just as I would be before taking any big test, but I felt confident that I would pass. Honestly, the test wasn't any harder than some of the finals I took in nursing school. I passed in 75 questions.
Also, my school uses the ATI tests to prepare their students. At the end of each semester we took their tests on the subjects we had just studied in addition to all sorts of other NCLEX prep stuff that is built into the curriculum. During our last semester we took a comprehensive NCLEX predictor from ATI and according to the results all of us had a greater than 95% chance of passing NCLEX had we taken it that day. So, after that I felt pretty confident that I would pass.
I think a lot of people who fail do so simply because they are so nervous they can't think straight.
I had a great study group in school and kept it even after graduation. We used SAUNDERS NCLEX-RN Review and every week, starting a month before we took it, we'd all get together and make a long study night doing questions from the book and quizzing each other.
We ate, laughed hysterically, and made it fun and by the time we took the NCLEX, we were ready. We all four passed the first time.
yes, it's possible to pass nclex one time. i studied for 3 months using different cd (Saunders, Kaplan, lippincott, springhouse) and saunders/kaplan's book. everyday i'm taking 100 questions per day, 3 sets of that. if i'm soooo bored i'm taking 10,20,25 or 50 just to tell myself... "there you go, you finish practice test today. so you're done" :)
i'm studying alone at home because most of my classmates already passed nclex early dec.of 2004. that became a challenge to me. if others can do it.. i can do it also!
but ofcourse no amount of review materials will ever give you the confidence that you're ready to face the exam of a lifetime.
and most importantly, prayer gives me strength to believe that God answers our desire. so i keep praying, God is good- i passed nclex-rn one time. :)
Failed my first time. Didn't study too much and studied the wrong things. I went to a local university that had several software programs for this. I bought a program that taught me how to take the NCLEX and then a program that gave me over 2000 questions!! I did them all in two months time. I passsed. The computer shut off at 75 questions. I freaked. Did good though. Some of the questions I studied were on the exam just reworded. My advice is to review nothing but questions out of a book for NCLEX or computer software. I gave these programs to 3 other nurses and they all passed their first time. Good luck!!!:)
How did you do it?
I thought about posting this in the nclex forum, but it seems more people are freaked and/or comforting each other and those that need to take it several times.
I think it's possible to pass on the first try, (please say it's possible) but what I'm getting at is what was your mindset? Did you go in confident or is that impossible with this test? I'm familiar with the content as I've read numerous posts on it, and I've even leafed through Springhill's book at the bookstore, I plan to start getting the various books around Christmas b/c I want to try to read a little each year, but maybe that's impossible.
Right now even though I'm doing well, I also feel these are basic classes and something would be seriously wrong if I couldn't do well! :chuckle I go into my tests, prepared, but still a bit nervous, I generally have a feeling for how well I've done, but I'm wondering for those that passed nclex on the 1st try, did you go in with a kick a** attitude, or did you think "oh I hope I pass". I fall to the later catagory even though I'm doing well...I like not being overly confident for some reason..and it seems to work well for me! Perhaps I have self esteem issues? :uhoh21: ...or perhaps I should just stop studying Psych...those folks ARE a bunch of nut jobs.
Sometimes I think being overconfident can also be deadly with tests and that's really at the core of what I'm getting at. Ex: I'm doing well with my Psych tests, I felt pretty confident about my next one, but I go online and take mock tests and really bombed! Either my cc is really dumbed down, or it matters what version is being taught! My son said just don't get cocky and study more! Now why can't HE listen to that advice?
Thanks...(and sorry you guys for my uber long posts...I just like to be clear ...I'm trying to give as much background so you understand the why's and what not but maybe it's TMI!...and once I get typing...I can just fill up space!)...my mom always did want me to be a writer (see? there I go again... )
My advice is to review nothing but questions out of a book for NCLEX or computer software. I gave these programs to 3 other nurses and they all passed their first time.
I couldn't agree more. Trying to re-study everything that you've done over the years in nursing school is just going to make you more frenzied and nervous. There's no way to cram it all back in. The most important thing is to practice the kinds of questions you'll find on the boards. There is a pattern to it, and once you get into the grove of what they're looking for, things are much easier.
Plus, it was a lot more fun to just sit at the computer and do practice questions for hours on end, than to have my nose in all my old nursing books.
Now why can't HE listen to that advice?
)
judy ann
225 Posts
:) I was required to take NCLEX by my BON last year. I had taken boards in 1959(!) and had always worked in OB.
I studied several review books, Kaplan, NCLEX Made simple, etc. I went into the site with the feeling that I knew the stuff, now all I had to do is dreg it up. The test cut off at 75. I figured I either passed or failed by a whole lot. I paid the fee and got unofficial report two days later that I had passed. Good thing I got the unofficial report. I hadn't received anything for six weeks from my BON. When I contacted them, they affirmed that I had passed and told me they "just forgot" to send out the notice. Just believe in yourself. If this old "retread" nurse can pass, so can you!!! Good luck.