2013 graduate, Passed on 4th time!

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I am finally an RN! I have struggled so much for those two letter to be in my name! Today I feel accomplished. I tested on Friday October 14th for the fourth time and passed after 5 hours and 265 questions. During the test I was so nervous because I kept seeing the same topics repeating over and over again, it made me panic. I had SO much pharmacology on my test and so that made me panic even more because pharmacology is not my forte!!!

I'll give you a little background on my journey. I graduated from nursing school back in Dec 2013 from Puerto Rico. I didn't feel like the school prepared us for the NCLEX since they are not required to take it. After I graduated I came home and right away I began applying for the exam. I finally got my ATT letter and to my SURPRISE I only had a 1 month validation to test! I began to panic because I was not ready, I had not been studying since December. It was March. Well I took the exam In April of 2014 and I failed it after 75 questions. I was so embarrassed and ashamed. I fell into depression, so I stayed away from studying. I finally decided to sign up again in Oct 2014, but only because I felt pressured by my parents and friends, but I was in no way ready (emotionally, mentally, or physically) to take it again, again I got the 1 month ATT letter and this time around, I would lock myself in my room, cry a lot, pretend to study when parents came in the room to see how I was doing, but in reality I was sleeping away my depression. I went in to the test and Failed once again at 75 questions, but I knew I would. I had no faith in myself.

After that failure, I decided nursing was not for me! That I didn't even want to be in this profession. So I put my books away, I put my notes away, I put my hope away. for 2 years I did not touch anything related to NCLEX. I wanted nothing to do with nursing. Then in 2015 I began working part time job and that helped me get out of the rut I was in. Come 2016 I decided maybe its time to try again. So this time around I purchased REMAR, PDA, Mark K and UWORLD. I began studying in May of 2016 and scheduled my exam for July 22. This time I prayed a lot more and I studied a lot harder. When the test came I just kept praying, saying please Lord let me go past 75 Q!!! I did! I actually did get past the 75 Q I was the happiest, I got to 111 and the computer shut off. I was relieved/worried all at the same time! I went home and then waited for my result. When I finally got them, there was a big FAIL! I was so devastated but, I had given myself the pep talk before I took the test! This time around I would try hard to pass, but if for some reason I didn't, I would not let that stop me from trying again.

I went on Vacations to Mexico and when I returned I began studying for the NCLEX once again. This time I changed my way of thinking! I did not allow myself to say anything negative! Everything that was related to the NCLEX was positive! I will pass! I will do great! I can do this! I began praying a lot more, having devotionals in the morning, that were motivational. this time around I just concentrated on UWORLD alone. I decided to do 75-150 questions a day. I would break them up into blocks of 25 tutor mode, all topics. For every question I got wrong I would do a flashcard. I would make sure to read all the rationales, and all the options that were wrong, as well as the learning objective. If I got the question right but mostly by luck I would do a flashcard as well! I did this for a whole month and at the end I had over 1500 flashcards!!! I had decided to give myself 2 months to study. So I started in August and scheduled my exam for Oct 14th.

During my studying I was working part time and studying anywhere from 3 hours-7 hours a day. I just made sure to at least get 75 questions/flashcards done for the day! I had a crazy schedule at work, but thankfully I was able to study at work a good 4 hours during my shift so that helped a lot!! A month after I began studying I because full time at work, and was no longer able to study at work. My hours were still pretty weird so now I was finding it even harder to study before work, during work, or after work. So for the last month before my test I somehow managed to do 550 questions out of the 700 that I had left. I was planning on using other study material such as PDA, ReMar, and Hurst but I just didn't have enough time. Work wouldn't allow it. I was panicking and began having negative thoughts again!! but I didn't let the devil get the best of me!!! Every time I had a negative thought I would right away correct myself and say a prayer, asking for guidance and reassurance that I would do great!! I concentrated on trying to finish UWORLD. When it was time for the test I had 150 questions left. I decided to look over my labs, precautions, the morning of my exam to refresh my memory.

Come the test, I prayed in the car, the whole drive to the center, when I was waiting, as I was about to start, all through the exam, during my breaks. I felt like I was doing horrible but I prayed anyway! Finally I realized that I was going to go all the way to 265 Qs and just like that it ended. Deep down I was so unsure I failed, but I still tried staying positive!! I got home. Nobody even knew that I was taking the exam! I chose not to tell anyone in case I failed I wouldn't disappoint anyone, or get any pity from them. Yesterday I couldn't wait anymore, I paid the $7.99 for quick results, I prayed before getting them and when I looked I had a big PASS!!! I began crying of happiness!! I was so overwhelmed with Joy!!! God is so good!! It was my time to pass! I declared it and God gave me this victory!!

Overall, I feel like UWORLD, and PDA, Hurst, and Mark K. Helped the most!!!

Remember if you are a repeat taker don't give up if you failed the first time or any time after that!! Stay strong, positive, motivated and pray a lot!

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Awesome Job congrats on passing. I am in the same situation you were. I have just started studying again after two years of denial and avoiding the test. You're story gives me encouragement that it can be done!

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Thanks Ryan_007! Hang in there, stay positive! Try using UWORLD it really does work! It made all the difference in the world for me! Just make sure that you really really read all the rationales, all the wrong answers and the learning objective! Try doing flashcards like I mentioned before and I am almost certain that you will pass this next time around!! I wish you the best luck and I hope you pass soon!

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That's a great post. You deserved it. CONGRATS í ½í± í ½í± í ½í±

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waaw good job.. congraats you deserve it!

i am in the same situation.. i gratuated 2012! Plus i am international student! i came US 2 years ago. i passed IETLS test and now i am struggling with NCLEX!

i started reading sounders last month, September ,

but i don't know how long it will take me to finish!

i am so scary and nervous; however, your story gives me encouragement and energy.. i will do my best, stay positive and keep praying.

thanks for sharing this wonderful post... congraaaats again.

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@sahra100 you can do this!! Try UWorld! It will help so much, I wish you the best, and for sure staying positive will make a big difference! As soon as you start having negative thought replace them with all good!! Keep telling yourself "I will pass! I will pass"

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