God give me strength

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Hey, all.

My exam is this tuesday and the things that I've been feeling for the past few days has been excruciating torture. In fact, for the past several nights I wasn't able to sleep and would sometimes breakdown and cry (and I'm a guy for crying out loud...) for fear that I'm not ready to take this. I honestly don't feel confident enough to take this but I know that I have to stand up, face it and do my best or never at all. :cry:

What I've done to study for the past 2 and a half months is using Saunders 4e and strictly going through the questions at the back of each chapter, going back only to review what I've missed and read the rationales carefully. And I've been also using the NCLEX 4000, doing 75+ random questions a day and usually keeping my head above 70% sometimes peaking over the 80s. The CD that came with the Saunders book was also very helpfull, and I would often do 200 questions in exam mode and kept my head above 80%. :typing

And lastly, I used Kaplan's current NCLEX strategies book to better hone my test taking skills, did the 180 questions in the back of the book and scored 77% (it explained that if you've achieved over 70% of the content correct, you have a solid understanding of nursing content and critical thinking skills).

I had been so confident in my performance until recently when I purchased Kaplan's online Qbank a week ago. I've never seen such outlanding questions, so difficult. I had read that the ideal area to be is between 60-65% but after had just finishing over 1000 questions, my final tally had just barely made 60%. On a a few of the tests, my score would dip as low as 48%. Good lord...

Looking back, I think that I feel as if I hadn't done anything at all. I haven't really gone through any content in Saunders because I would only need to if I've scored poorly in the practice tests. All I've dont were relegiously doing hundreds of practice questions a week like I was advised by my parents (both nurses).

And only a few days ago I realized how poor my pharmacology was. I know the common ones for each medical condition, therapeutic levels, teaching, effects, etc, but I know its not going to be enough because from what I've read, the NCLEX can use any of the millions that I still don't know.

No ammount of words can describe how I feel right now. Its like waiting for the death sentence to be carried out. I'm honestly crying right now as I write this, confused, scared and anticipating failure.

I'm trying to pray to Him for courage and strength with the serenity to believe in myself, to feel capable of passing like I've used to before a few weeks ago. But its so difficult. Everyone I know and love believes in me, telling me that an intelligent young man like me should get through this gracefully but I can't bring myself to believe it.

God...give me the strength needed to get through these next few days and let not the morrow quiver my mind, heart and soul thereof.

:sniff::sniff::sniff::sniff::sniff:

Thank you for listening. And please pray for me. My name is Gene.

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Hello Gene,

I took the NCLEX RN on Wedensday and passed. I know that you can too. Try to manage your test anxiety; you know the information. Remember 85% of test taker pass on the first try; guess what, that includes GENE.

MAY GOD BLESS YOU !!!!!!!!!!!:saint:

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Gene

You do know your stuff but remember to take some 'me' time and relax, give your brain a rest from studying. Hang in there, get your anxiety under control and you will get there. Good luck

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Specializes in LTC, case mgmt, agency.

Definately take a day to just relax,like Silverdragon said. If your mind is fried from all the studying, you'll be burnt out for the test. Good Luck.

:onbch::tbsk:

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Specializes in Peds, PICU, Home health, Dialysis.

Regarding Kaplan QBank -- those questions are tough! Very very few of them are of the lowest level of difficulty. Most of them are medium to high difficulty. According to Kaplan, they advise you to try and achieve 65% on QBank questions.

On the NCLEX-RN, you only need to answer roughly 50% of the hardest questions correct.

I take my exam on Monday, so I know how you feel. But we have to stay positive and think positively. Everyone feels like they are going to fail, but 85% pass. WE WILL PASS. :)

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Thank you. Maybe you're right. Despite being told not to I've been trying to cram pharm and fuzzy content that I know I'm already familiar with and do feel like I'm starting to burn out and lose it.

I'll give myself a break today, relax, watch a movie, play video games like any 20yo should do and head to church tomorrow.

All I need to know is that I've done what I can. I did my best to prepare for this, and despite what Kaplan or anyone says, I'm ready to pass. Right?

Its just that what worries me the most is are the NCLEX questions really going to be as difficult as Kaplan's? Or are the format and priority questions the only similarity? Because I'm thinking to myself, it can't be this difficult, theres no way.

Anyways, thank you for the support and kind words. I'll let you know if I get the results.

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Specializes in ER.

Gene, You are ready! Give yourself the day of rest and worship tomarrow. Pray God gives you a peace and calm on Tuesday Imagine Jesus walking into that building and sitting at the station next to you because he will be there you will not be alone. I felt the same way you do now about not being ready after taking tests in a different source that made me feel like I didn't know anything. I took the test Tuesday and found out Thursday I passed (in 75Q's WOO HOO).

Good luck and let us know how you did.

TraciRN

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Specializes in LTC, case mgmt, agency.
Thank you. Maybe you're right. Despite being told not to I've been trying to cram pharm and fuzzy content that I know I'm already familiar with and do feel like I'm starting to burn out and lose it.

I'll give myself a break today, relax, watch a movie, play video games like any 20yo should do and head to church tomorrow.

All I need to know is that I've done what I can. I did my best to prepare for this, and despite what Kaplan or anyone says, I'm ready to pass. Right?

Its just that what worries me the most is are the NCLEX questions really going to be as difficult as Kaplan's? Or are the format and priority questions the only similarity? Because I'm thinking to myself, it can't be this difficult, theres no way.

Anyways, thank you for the support and kind words. I'll let you know if I get the results.

I passed NCLEX-RN and I did horrible on the Kaplan questions, the scores I got had me so discouraged. Keep in mind, you graduated from nursing school which is no easy thing. You have been preparing and studying to the best of your abilities. I'll be praying for you.:saint:

:flwrhrts: Good Luck!!!

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HI GENE God is in control and the only advice i would give you is just to begin to thank God for what he is yet to do in your life .thank him for the license that is yet to come and ask him for that inner peace and calmness that he gives to make you know that it is well on tuesday

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Specializes in medical surgical nursing, MAN-MSN.

dont lose hope you've done everything you can trying all the resources you have. dnt get bothered by how your score are doing so far. even I when I was still reviewing at kaplan and ncsbn online review my score where not as high but I just ignore it and continue with my studies. just make sure you read every ratinonale of each question you got right and wrong. you've done your part and leave the rest to GOD! best of luck on to your exam! :loveya:

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Specializes in ER/Long Term Care.

Gene,

It is nerve racking for every body, esp. for the 1st time. When you face it on Tuesday take a deep breath, say a prayer to help you to be calm. When you feel you're becomming anxious again, take a another deep breath and relax. Anxiety clouds the mind. Remember you're doing it for you and not for anyone else. You have the knowledge.

Remember to BREATHE. Good luck to you.:up:

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gene,

give yourself some break. :wink2: with what you have gone through reviewing and all, i think you have done well enough. :up: i got the same feeling after i finished some questions in too many resources. the more i encounter different questions, the more i realized that i still have a lot to learn. but then, think! nclex is just testing us for the minimum competency level, which i think you will get, far above your expectation. so, relax from today and put in mind..."i can do it"!

on tuesday, just do your best and god will do the rest! (with your f-a-i-t-h, i know god will never leave you. be still, and know that he is with you in the testing center). god bless us all! :wink2:

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