don't get put into a box like i did ;)

[learning&yearning]

During the past few weeks, as I was preparing for NCLEX-RN, I often found myself on allnurses.com. I appreciated being in touch with so many who were going or had gone through what I was experiencing. It became my guilty pleasure during my study breaks. Perhaps it was by chance but I seemed to stumble upon mostly stories about people who had failed NCLEX one or more times and were now exclaiming victory as they had passed. While I read and appreciated their success stories, this was somewhat discouraging to me. YIKES!

Hopefully, in even the smallest manner, my story will help to ease your anxieties, as that's all I wanted and needed during the time before NCLEX.

After receiving my ATT, I was too nervous to schedule! Scheduling made it all real. I waited 4 days after getting my ATT to schedule and when I did, it was exactly one month away. I spent the rest of that week doing the live Hurst Review. This was my second time doing Hurst's live review as I also did it in December. I strived to continue on my "NCLEX plan" which was required during my final semester of school. I had to change it a few times because I had added more sources. Then, my plan consisted of way too many sources and I had to narrow it down and form a more realistic plan. I was aiming to complete one Hurst topic (which I listened to and took notes--making 3 times doing Hurst) and then study notes from the NCSBN website each day. I did NCSBN's quizzes and questions relating to that section from LaCharity's book after that. But even that became overwhelming! I had taken the NCSBN diagnostic test and only passed one section: Physiology. So, I used Hurst for all of that content and NCSBN for the remaining seven sections. My nights were spent lurking on allnurses.com and doing ATI quizzes. When I got to the final week, I had planned on doing questions and questions only. That, of course, did not happen. I continued doing content plus tons and tons of questions. Thankfully, my scores were steadily rising on the questions I was doing. My test was last Friday and I had planned on doing no studying on Thursday. That didn't happen! That morning my anxiety was uncontrollable and I was unable to sit at the coffee shop. However, that night, I stayed up until 11 doing more questions (which I obviously don't recommend). I even brought lab value notecards and reviewed them in the car before I went into the exam!

When I finally got through the check-in procedures and into my seat, it was surreal. I even laughed to myself as I couldn't believe I was FINALLY taking NCLEX! I have a tendency to click and click and click and go through computer tests way too fast and this frightened me. I did it though. I sped through the test. When I got to question 70, I got so nervous because I DID NOT want the test to shut off at 75! I felt like I needed more chances to get more questions right! If it were to cut off at 75, it would not be good! There were several questions with topics of which I did not recognize! I became more nervous than I had been the entire day and had already decided that if the test went past 75, I NEEDED a bathroom break. But it shut off and 75 and like many others, I was terrified. Of course, I tried "The Trick" and I got the "good pop-up" and this eased my mind. I found yesterday that I passed!

Throughout the entire month of intense studying I was not myself. I spent many hours with a classmate studying but she has her test scheduled in another month. Because of that, my studying was far more intense that hers. She was my main source of support throughout this trying time. Everyone I mentioned the test to (co-workers, family, friends) would proclaim their confidence in me but none of them had ever taken the test. None of them knew anything about being a nurse. Their opinion was appreciated but it didn't count! By having my classmate around, at least she understood the enormity of the exam. Anyway, I was so strict about studying that I deactivated my facebook account because it was distracting. I stopped respoding to phone calls and texts (which wasn't hard because for some of the time I was having phone trouble). My friend placed me in her "box" for crazy people because I let this test drive me crazy! I told her, "I don't care where you put me, as long as I pass this test!" By the end of it, my mom was texting asking if I'd disowned her!

This all brings me to my whole point in writing all of this. If you can do anything to calm yourself, DO IT. I drove myself crazy and there was nothing anyone could say to change that. Every night, I laid down and I my heartbeat was out of control! I prayed numerous times that I would be able to relax during the test. And I was unbelievably relaxed that day. THANKFULLY. And after passing with 75 questions, I believe that many people underestimate themselves. There's no doubt that we all must give this test tons of respect but at the same time, it is obviously something that is accomplishable. Keep on with your Kaplan Qbanks and your LaCharity questions, relax yourself and BEAST THAT TEST! :redbeathe

[ounsrey]

CONGRATS!!!

I find myself lurking this site & facebook during study breaks too haha. I take mine in 2 days! EEEKKK.

[CJB_11]

Great Post and Congratssss!!!!

[learning&yearning]

Thanks, y'all! Looking forward to hearing good news from y'all in a few days! Good luck!

[katm0]

thanks for sharing! congrats! :yelclap::yelclap::yelclap: i'l be taking the exam 2 weeks from now! and anxiety is starting to shoot up! whew!:redbeathe:redbeathe:redbeathe

soon it will be our time to shine! thanks again :)

[mommyof2Tees]

:ancong!:

[india37]

:ancong!::clpty:

[Aspiringnurse_1111]

congrats!

[caliotter3]

:ancong!:

[learning&yearning]

thanks y'all!!! :thankya:

My first interview is Thursday! YIKES! :redbeathe

[Tree525]

Lovelauren, when I was reading your post I was saying to myself " OMG she just described me ! " -- personality and all. lol, too funny. I am also doing similar to what you are doing..I have the hurst online review and I am aiming to complete 1 video/topic per day and studying the associated handouts. I was wondering though, when did you find time to do questions? After studying hurst? During hurst? So far, it takes me about a day to watch and fully retain the content in the videos, and I haven't had much time to do questions because of this. Given that there are 14 videos, it'll take me about 2 weeks to get through studying the content. Did you find this to be the same in your case as well? Any tips/pointers on studying with Hurst? Btw, I do not have a date yet ( financial reasons) however I am aiming for early July. Thanks and congratulations :)

[mbuttar]

thank you so much writting all this.!!