Getting ready for NCLEX attempt 2

RN403, BSN, RN · Aug 8, 2014

Sorry to hear. Perhaps the reason you did not pass was because you went into the exam when you truly were not ready (per your statement that your family pushed you to take it). It must be nerve-wracking being in this situation but please try not to panic. Just take it one day at a time up until your exam date. The day before, relax, don't study anything. Most importantly, believe in yourself, and be sure you are going in on your terms. Good Luck.

RN-joy · Aug 8, 2014

You can do it! The most important thing is if you feel that you're prepared. One of the advantages of taking the NCLEX once is knowing what to expect in terms of the type of questions you're going to get. Did you not feel prepared because you didn't know how to answer the questions? Or because you didn't know the content? For me I usually can understand what the question is asking and am able to eliminate two answers right off the bat but I get it wrong because I don't fully understand the content and choose the wrong answer

If you're scoring high 50s and above on kaplan questions though, I think you're in good shape. Make sure you're going over the rationales and understanding why you got the question wrong (even going over the ones you get right). I also go over any topics mentioned in the question or answer choices that I don't know or understand. Also aim to finish all the of the question trainers and qbank questions before the test

Don't lose hope, I take the NCLEX next week and though its my first time around, I understand what you mean about isolating yourself. I deleted my facebook because seeing everyone else posting about passing and getting jobs just made me even more anxious and start to doubt myself for waiting so long to take it. But remember that it doesn't matter how long it takes you to get there as long as you get there. You made it through nursing school and you'll make it through this!

NurseMama2014 · Aug 8, 2014

Thanks for your encouragement. My family tried to be encouraging but they just don't understand how I'm feeling. I think a big part of the problem when I took it the first time was that I didn't understand how to take the test. I reflected on real life experience in clinicals and approached the test the same way I did tests at school and that didn't work for me as I found out when I started Kaplan that book answers and real life experience are not the same thing. The other area I suffered was pharmacology. There were meds on the test that I had never heard of before. It didn't help that my body revolted the day I graduated and I got sick with a virus that had me feeling like complete crud for an entire month right up to my exam. I really should have postponed it. It's my own fault but now I'm completely panicked. I can't fail again.

dbrenda1510 · Aug 8, 2014

You are going to be pass that puppy! :yes: Don't let your nerves get the best of you. You know the material or you would not have graduated. You just have to learn how to change from testing like the school wanted to testing like the NCLEX people want you to.

I know you can and will be a great nurse. Remember nurses are called and God does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called! Hold on to that. God bless you as your journey continues.

RNfindingherway, BSN, RN · Aug 9, 2014

You are going to be pass that puppy! Don't let your nerves get the best of you. You know the material or you would not have graduated. You just have to learn how to change from testing like the school wanted to testing like the NCLEX people want you to.
I know you can and will be a great nurse. Remember nurses are called and God does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called! Hold on to that. God bless you as your journey continues.

Thank you Brenda for this word of encouragement. It means a lot to me and it touched me a lot especially the latter part of your statement. I really needed to hear that. It is like a glass of cold water in the hot summer sun. Thank You my Dear.

plastic100% · Aug 10, 2014

Hi Nursemama keep your head up take a break and restrategize, you can do it, change your study methods. Pray and let Him work on your behalf. GOD BLESS

Marsdgrove33133 · Aug 11, 2014

I just took it today NursMama!! It stopped at 80 questions. This is my 3rd attempt. On the 1st and 2nd attempt they both stopped at 265! :facepalm: I thought seriously that God was trying to tell me to move one! Instead i gave it one last try!

I just want to tell you that im one of those NON traditional students. Im old and i have been out of school since forever and a day. I got accepted to a great nursing program in West Palm Beach fl. however, I failed out after the first semester. :no: Then a year later i got accepted to a "mickey mouse" vocational program where half the teachers spoke with such broken accents that it was hard to understand anything! Also for some strange reason everybody were getting 99% on their tests!

I had to teach myself everything all over. I am grateful because now i know my stuff! The point is not to give up! I used Hurst's review for content! Sometimes, when i was clueless, i would go over some topics with my text books just to have a better understanding of what i was studying! :yes: I also used KAPLAN for questions. honestly i didn't focus that much on KAPLAN(qbank). I only went over all the lectures and the the QT test (4-7) and did the readiness test. I scored over 60% on all of them. Of course i went over every question after to establish a rhythm, to see what was missing in the sense of strategy. I did not answer 1000 plus questions. I focused on Content and Strategy only; Hurst's and KAPLAN. I gave myself 3 months. Everyone is different ofcourse however i just want you to know that it can be done! Find your style of studying and if you need any help, you can always send me a question!! :up:

NurseMama2014 · Aug 11, 2014

Thanks everyone for your words of encouragement. The closer I get to the date, the less confident I feel. I'm just terrified.