Graduated 2yrs ago need to pass NCLEX

TheLeash · Feb 29, 2008

I graduated 4 1/2 years ago and I never took the exam - so here I am - just starting today! I am getting the Saudners book today and hope to start Suzanne's plan soon. I have no idea how much will come back to me once I start studying but I am terrified. I hope to take the exam in the next 2 months! I would love to hear from some of the others - and I am all for a study group! Good luck!!!

SeekingSuccess · Feb 29, 2008

-hey leash-

i'm hitting my 3 year mark this coming april and i've already taken the exam and failed just this january. i know your thinking how long 4 years is and how can you bring nursing content back, but it's possible! i used to think the same thing after one year of not testing. but trust me, once you start reading again and getting on track it's just like settled sediment, everything is still there. you just have to wake it up again, by reading what you already know. it will all come back to you don't worry. :up:

JAX_GRL · Mar 1, 2008

hi!

I graduated 2 years ago too. took the nclex twice last year and here i am in may preparing myself to take it again. hopefully, this may i pass it. im tired of living a non-RN life when i know by heart and soul and mind that i was born to be a RN. hopefully, ill get it......

right now, im taking up kaplans review and a little of suzannes plan. wish it will all help!

SeekingSuccess · Mar 2, 2008

hey -jax grl- well it feels awesome to hear from someone who's also in the same boat. it makes me feel less alone and less behind. i know exactly how you feel. i wana get over this period of my life too..it just sucks not being an rn yet. i work a non medical related job right now just to pay the bills. i've realized that over the time that i've spent not being an rn and living a life doing customer service jobs it just really sucks..people don't treat you the way you should be treated. they see you as uneducated or something but if they only knew like hey i'm not stupid i graduated from nursing..well that's just how i feel. i really would love to leave this job, get over this period of waiting and just pass this phase of my life which seems to be a nightmare. i'm trying to stay positive and i just feel that this year it's going to happen. i will not give up on my dreams, like i have in the past..i just wasn't trying hard enough and i have myself to blame. well anyways for those of you who are going through the same thing i am, i wish the best for us. i still have faith in attaining my dream, and i feel as if there's no other career out there for me but nursing. i was born to be a nurse and no matter how many trials i have to face in order to get there i will. i'm not giving up. i wish you the best of luck too jaxgrl, i really hope you and me will be posting on these boards and telling others the good news taht we have passed. i'm still awaiting my eligibility letter from ca. as of now i cannot schedule a test date yet, but i plan on taking the boards this april or may as well. i bought the saunders q and a and i have already taken kaplan before, but that didn't help me pass the test. hopefully kaplan works for you together with saunders. have faith girl.

JAX_GRL · Mar 3, 2008

hey -jax grl- well it feels awesome to hear from someone who's also in the same boat. it makes me feel less alone and less behind. i know exactly how you feel. i wana get over this period of my life too..it just sucks not being an rn yet. i work a non medical related job right now just to pay the bills. i've realized that over the time that i've spent not being an rn and living a life doing customer service jobs it just really sucks..people don't treat you the way you should be treated. they see you as uneducated or something but if they only knew like hey i'm not stupid i graduated from nursing..well that's just how i feel. i really would love to leave this job, get over this period of waiting and just pass this phase of my life which seems to be a nightmare. i'm trying to stay positive and i just feel that this year it's going to happen. i will not give up on my dreams, like i have in the past..i just wasn't trying hard enough and i have myself to blame. well anyways for those of you who are going through the same thing i am, i wish the best for us. i still have faith in attaining my dream, and i feel as if there's no other career out there for me but nursing. i was born to be a nurse and no matter how many trials i have to face in order to get there i will. i'm not giving up. i wish you the best of luck too jaxgrl, i really hope you and me will be posting on these boards and telling others the good news taht we have passed. i'm still awaiting my eligibility letter from ca. as of now i cannot schedule a test date yet, but i plan on taking the boards this april or may as well. i bought the saunders q and a and i have already taken kaplan before, but that didn't help me pass the test. hopefully kaplan works for you together with saunders. have faith girl.

wow! same situation. really. i used to work for customer service. got tired of it. 6 months of it drained me. before i resigned from that job i was really on the verge of depression. i wasnt happy at all with my job. i would even cry every morning before i went to work. then one day, i decided i couldnt take it anymore. i quit that job and focused into studying. a big step backwards to not having money for awhile but i know itll help me move forward. i want to pass this test and every thing will fall into place. right now, i have a part time job. nothing special. atleast i dont cry every morning because of it. plus it makes me feel good working with people who are also studying.

the first time i took the test, i went to a review center in the philippines. it was a really good one. it was me who had the problem thats why i didnt pass. then the second time i took the test i self reviewed. problem was, i relied on all the notes i had from my review center. this time i hope kaplan will do me best. i have no doubt about it.

has it ever occured to you how life will be the day u pass ur exam? i always think about it. parents will be proud. siblings will be happy. bf will rejoice. other relatives will talk in reference of me being the rn. hehe! simple joys..... :)

hopeful.....

TheLeash · Mar 3, 2008

Well - I started studying - but it's gonna take me longer than I planned to be ready for Suzanne's plan. I am planning 3 hours a day every day - I did half an hour already today! I will do this!!!

Anyone wanna have a study group?

JAX_GRL · Mar 3, 2008

im cool with that. i need a study group anyway. basically, i just want to know and compare study habits like hours in a day, topics and all. makes me feel secure on my pace.

SeekingSuccess · Mar 4, 2008

LOL god I know..the family too huh? I work 4 days a week at my job and it's frustrating sometimes but hey, someones got to do it in order to pay half the rent. I think I should definitly cut down my hours to maybe 3 days a week of work so I can focus more on my studies..I REALLY WANA LEAVE THIS JOB RAWR! God I wish all of us lived in the same town that way I can bother you guys all night and call you guys to come over so we can study..xD Well I feel lucky enough as it is having a study partner with me who has yet to take the Board..I used to think ahead like that..like put a picture and imagine myself a Nurse already. Happy.. settled.. secure.. all my family proud..agh..just makes me more sad that I'm still here! And I so envy you, since you work with people striving towards the same goal. A determined environment working towards the same goal surely helps keep your mind set on the prize. Anyways I love you guys even if I don't personally know you lol. x.x We'll pass, and if we fail again? So what, at least we're still here trying! Give us an update when you schedule your tests, I'll tell you guys when I'm taking my too.

wishiwasarn · Mar 5, 2008

hi all of you! stumbled upon this link today. you all are so inspiring and very motivating. i have failed 4X, since grad may of 06. started suzannes plan about 2 weeks ago, but finally got motivated last night! knocked out 10 chapters. am very excited for my little man to go to bed tonight, so i can get through some more. once i started reading the questions and many of the info in the chapters, stuff starting coming back quickly...i feel tons smarter! i used to feel embarrassed about not being a nurse, and saying to people, well i grad nursing school, but i am staying home with my son now! don't get me wrong. i love being home. but i really want to get out and work, and try to make a difference. i want to start my life! i feel as though i have been stuck in quicksand for 2 years. oh well, will be praying for all of you that have yet to take your exam. if i have any advice, it is to find one program and stick with it! i have done books, and courses, and all that info is overwhelming. i love the way that suzannes plan begins. she makes sure that you know the content.

can't wait for tip 2!!!

keep pushing, never stop!!!

SeekingSuccess · Mar 5, 2008

hello and welcome wishiwasarn. I'm sorry to hear that you've failed 4x, I hope it gives you comfort in knowing that this will be my THIRD TIME in taking the boards...I have already failed twice, took the Boards just recently this past January. I'm glad you found this thread and decided to post here. Knowing that you have a son and that you've already graduated from Nursing is already an accomplishment in itself. I'm proud to know that you've already gotten this far, and that your not giving up. I do have a question since you said that you've taken many reveiw courses etc..Did you take the kaplan course already too like I did? Also if you have the kaplan book, would you recommend that I buy Saunders still even if I have Kaplan already? I bought the Saunders Q and Q but I'm still sticking to the Kaplan book..I'd also like to do Suzannes Plan since it's worked for alot of people on here.

lvlytxn · Mar 6, 2008

hello and welcome wishiwasarn. I'm sorry to hear that you've failed 4x, I hope it gives you comfort in knowing that this will be my THIRD TIME in taking the boards...I have already failed twice, took the Boards just recently this past January. I'm glad you found this thread and decided to post here. Knowing that you have a son and that you've already graduated from Nursing is already an accomplishment in itself. I'm proud to know that you've already gotten this far, and that your not giving up. I do have a question since you said that you've taken many reveiw courses etc..Did you take the kaplan course already too like I did? Also if you have the kaplan book, would you recommend that I buy Saunders still even if I have Kaplan already? I bought the Saunders Q and Q but I'm still sticking to the Kaplan book..I'd also like to do Suzannes Plan since it's worked for alot of people on here.

The Saunders book helped me a lot in regards to content. I had a lot of catching up to do since it's been 8 years since graduation. If you feel like you're lacking in content, then that's a good book to have. I'm rereading bits and pieces of it now in preparation to test in April. I'm working through the CD questions as well.

I read through the Kaplan strategies book and I don't seem to like it. I get more confused trying to do it their way. I even purchased the Kaplan Qbank which only discouraged me because I wasn't scoring so good. But I haven't completed it and don't think I will.

And Suzannes's plan really only recommends the Saunders book. After working through the Kaplan Q's, now I know why. Studying from too many sources can make you get confused as there seems to be conflicting information.

I love Saunders rationales. Kaplan's not so much. I have been breezing through the Saunders questions and got stumped on many Kaplan Q's. So either I'm learning with Saunders or not prepared enough according to Kaplan standards.

I will test in April so time will tell. Good luck to you and all the posters on the thread!!

Katchik99 · Mar 7, 2008

I wanted to share my story with you all. I graduated nursing school in June 2004. Took the NCLEX for the first time Jan. 2005 and failed. Retook the exam in Oct. 2006 and failed. I then retook the exam for a 3rd time Dec. 2007 and passed, over 3 years since I had graduated school. I used Susanne's plan the 3rd time and really believe that is why I passed. Never give up no matter how long you've been out of school, cause if you want it, it will happen! :nurse: