Freaking out after reading how many people have failed NCLEX!

Racer15, BSN, RN · Jan 5, 2013

If it makes you feel any better, Hurst review was all I did, and then I barely did that. I went to the live review, watched the videos online, did two Q-Reviews, and studied normal lab values the night before. That was it! I spent maybe 4-5 hours aside from the videos and Q-Reviews actually studying the content. I took my NCLEX on the third, got 75 questions, and got my license today. I felt that Hurst helped a little...but ultimately, I think I would have passed without any review at all. You know what you need to know, you spent two years in school and you'll remember more than you think! Most of my questions? Nothing that was covered with Hurst, I just remembered on my own. A lot of SATA, a lot of just going through what knowledge you already have, that you forgot you had till you see a question. I think you will do just fine :) And another thing to make you feel better: Over 12 people from my class have tested so far...and all of them have passed. And I'm not the only one that didn't really study. It seems like it's easy to say now that I'm done and have passed, but just trust yourself and don't freak out.

nurse2b121212 · Jan 5, 2013

Thanks Darre, Spika, and Racer15!!! Thanks for helping me feel better about it and giving me a heads up! Yea, I decided to not study or drive myself crazy the night before the test. I live in South Texas and the closest testing center is about 2 hrs away so I've considered staying the night before the test so I won't have to drive and then go straight into the testing center. Driving makes me real sleepy and I want to be as alert as I can be. Haven't scheduled it yet, most people from my class are taking it anywhere from 1/9-1/14. Pedi and OB are my weak areas so that is where I'll start studying. Wish me luck!

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Jan 5, 2013

Like others have said, your chances of passing are far better than your chance of failing. I remember reading somewhere (can't recall where now) that your chances of passing it the 1st time are greater if you take it within a month or so of graduation. We were encouraged by our instructors and the program manager to test ASAP.

I graduated on June 22nd, took my NCLEX on July 7th. In between that time I was on vacation for a week from 6/23 to 6/29 and did NO studying at all. When I got back I popped in my NCLEX CD and would do questions for about an hour or so every day. I know that's not much but I knew if I didn't have the info needed by the time I graduated, another bunch of hours studying wasn't going to help it sink in then. Had I had a longer time between graduation and testing I would have done more 'studying'.

best of luck to you.

katielady · Jan 5, 2013

nurse2b...i live in central texas and am testing about 45 mins away!! how is your studying coming along? i keep going through phases when i feel confident and other times i feel i know nothing and just want to break down and cry! i know what i have to do...believe i can do it and trust my gut! we got this!!

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Jan 5, 2013

What they mean by good pop is they didn't have to do all the questions one out every like three hundred people or so get all the questions on the test it is just a random chance who gets it, but I have never known anyone to get that to what I know. I would not worry about it tell you the truth

The 'good pop up" is not having to do all the questions. The good pop up is in regards to the PVT (PearsonVue Trick). In which if you attempt to sign up for another test you get a 'pop up' that says something to the effect of 'our records indicate you have already signed up for a test...'. The 'bad' pop up is when you attempt to sign up for another NCLEX test date and the credit card box comes up for your CC info.

According to PearsonVue, it is a myth that random people are issued all the questions regardless of their passing at a certain point or not.

Spika RN · Jan 5, 2013

All this time I was mis informed lol, well thanks something new every day learned

nurse2b121212 · Jan 7, 2013

Katielady, I will be testing in San Antonio (NW) on 01/28!!! I decided I needed more time to study. It was either Houston, Austin, Corpus, or San Antonio. I know San Antonio better so that's why I picked to take it there. I was freaking out when I went to register and just about everything was filled up for January already. I graduated 12-12-12 and did not want to wait until February. Good luck to you!!!

nurse2b121212 · Jan 7, 2013

Thanks for explaing that CT Pixie!

RN2serve · Jan 7, 2013

I graduated last year. Took NCLEX 6 weeks later after HURST review. Cried on my cell phone with my school friend, I was so scared, on the drive there (looked like crap for the picture). I had 75 questions in 1 hour and I passed. Just remember all the tips your instructors gave you and Hurst. Best of Luck

SENSUALBLISSINFL, BSN, RN · Jan 7, 2013

I agree with some posters, the odds are in your favor that you will pass, and if your school has a good passing rate, this should give you confidence to know you are graduating well prepared.

Best advise I can give you is to not concentrate on how many questions you get. As oddly as this may sound, I was relieved when I passed 75, it made me feel I was still in the game. DO remember you can fail with 75 questions as you can pass with 265. I got 115 questions, I took my time answering each question (since you cannot go back), I made sure to eliminate at least 2 choices, and once I eliminated them I never went back to those, then using my critical thinking I concentrated on the two remaining ones. I asked myself which one of this is the one that if I went home I would want to do before I left (a la Kaplan style).

For those that have yet to schedule to sit for boards, do not wait too long. Your chances go down the longer you wait.

Much success to the OP and to the other sitting for boards :yes: