Hi everyone,
Since I have been searching on and off on AllNurses throughout my entire NCLEX experience and found so many answers and positive people, I thought I would share my experience for anyone who is searching the web like I did.
**I just want to remind everyone that everyone is different and this is just MY personal story on what I had to do to pass NCLEX**
I graduated nursing school in May and didn't get my ATT until the beginning of July. I took the Hurst Review and was told that if I studied that and did well on the Q Exams, I was sure to pass. I took my first NCLEX on 7/31/14. Unfortunately, I failed with 78 questions. **HOWEVER, I do know people who have passed in 75 with just Hurst and who passed Hurst and Kaplan. Hurst is GREAT for content. However, for me personally, I needed help with the actual test and how to take the test. Hurst was not the right class for me and it might be great for someone else**
When I found out I didn't pass, it was extremely hard for me. All of my nursing friends passed boards on the first try and I thought I was the only one in my nursing class that failed (I wasn't haha, but it sure felt like it).
Thank the Lord I have wonderful people in my life who reassured me it was okay. I gave myself a break and thought; "Okay I will redo this in 45 days."
-During this time I took a Mark Klimek class ($295). I heard really good things about this class. IT WAS AMAZING. If you live in Ohio or live out of state around Dayton or Cincinnati Ohio, I 110% recommend this class. Mark teaches you what you need to know for NCLEX and how to TAKE the test (something I personally needed help with). (http://markklimeknclexreview.com/) (Side note, and DON'T quote me on this...I heard Mark was trying to get his classes out to the East coast. I DON'T KNOW WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN, IT WAS SOMETHING HE SAID BRIEFLY TO OUR CLASS)
-I also bought a 3 week class ($50) through the NCSBN (https://www.ncsbn.org/index.htm) I didn't do the content I just did the questions. I liked this because a lot of these were like NCLEX questions.
-I also bought an app called NCLEX RN Mastery ($30). It offers you a 200% back guarantee if you buy this app and fail the FIRST time (more info on the app). There is a free version if you want to test it. I liked it because I always have my phone and it was always there. The rationales were great too. There are tips, an explanation on how the NCLEX works and more! (I would check this app out!)
-I also got a book from my friend, NCLEX-RN Exam Cram 4th edition (around $20 on Amazon). There were 6 chapters with 250 questions in each chapter. These were GREAT. I would sit down at a desk and do sections of 10-15, and then check my answers. (I completed 4 chapter all together and did every question on the app I bought). This was a VERY good book.
-There was also a FREE website I used to do questions: http://nursing.slcc.edu/nclexrn3500. You could do reviews or tests and pick how many questions you wanted to do and what sections you personally needed to work on
My focus for round 2 of NCLEX was QUESTIONS on top of QUESTIONS and read rationales (if I missed the answers or not) for about 4-6 hours a day. And thanks to the Mark Klimek class, I knew how to answer the questions (I also memorized his book: front to back, back to front, side to side). You don't need to know everything for NCLEX, but you do need to know how to APPLY the knowledge you have and have studied (and you have it, because you passed nursing school).
*** I know I spent a lot of money the second time around, but I knew this is what I personally had to do. Everyone is different and has different situations, but this is what I did***
Another thing I did, which I would recommend to first, second, third, forth, etc takers is to not tell the whole world when you take it. Keep it between you and your parents, or you and your husband, or you and your best friend or boyfriend. I told very few people (my mom, boyfriend, and 3 VERY close nursing friends when I was taking it. These people are EXTREMELY positive people in my life and the 3 nursing friends gave me such encouragement (since they knew what I was dealing with). This relaxed me a lot. There was no pressure from too many friends or family. Also, RESEARCH the NCLEX and how it works. If you don't know about CAT testing, LOOK IT UP. The more you know about it, the less you'll freak out the first, second, third time. And lastly: DON'T GIVE UP. A test shouldn't define who you are as a person. If you want this, you will do anything to get it. I stayed positive and thought positive thoughts about the NCLEX, worked out every morning, and ate well (I did eat chocolate whenever I wanted 
.
I didn't get my second ATT number until the beginning of Oct, so I was doing questions before then and scheduled it the first day I could. I took my second and final NCLEX on 10/21/14 and in the afternoon (I took mine at 8 am the first time and I wasn't awake at all). Got to 75 questions, took a break, came back and finished with 110-130 questions in 3 hours. It wasn't that bad because I was use to doing so many questions. I came home, very calm I should add, and went to do "the trick." Well I heard the trick changed and my results weren't even delivered yet, so I gave up and went to sleep. The afternoon of 10/22 I looked on the Boards website and searched my name, and there is was..."ACTIVE." It was an awesome feeling. YOU CAN DO THIS. Fall down 7, get up 8. And remember; you are NOT alone.
I wish everyone nothing but success and hope that you don't have to take it a second, third, forth, and so on time. But if you do, WHO CARES (you are alive, healthy, and in 5 years this will be nothing but a memory on how you became a stronger person to fight for what you wanted)! Sign up again, fix your mistakes, give it your all and all will fall into place. xx
p.s. this is also a GREAT article written about NCLEX which inspired me to share my story.
https://allnurses.com/nclex-discussion-forum/how-i-conquered-953823.html
