How I passed the NCLEX

[FrankU]

Hello future nurses:

I passed my NCLEX in December on my 2nd try. Like a handful of others, I promised myself and God that if I passed my NCLEX, I would join Allnurses and post how. Before taking the NCLEX, I searched this site up and down for people with circumstances like mine and intelligence and study habits described as I would describe my own in order to weigh my chances of passing.

First a little background on myself: I am single, in my early 20's, no kids, no wife, and I wasn't working during the program. I graduated from an accelerated BSN program with a mid 80's NCLEX pass rate. My previous degree is in biochemistry, but I would describe myself of average intelligence in all honesty. I feel like my school didn't do much to prepare us. Faculty members were older and seemed ready to retire. Course tests weren't NCLEX-style questions. Our school used ATI. I scored a 32% chance of passing NCLEX on the first try and a ~80% of passing the second time.

FIRST TIME TESTING: The first time I took NCLEX, I studied for 3 weeks prior using NCSBN (I purchased the online 3 week review) and HURST. NCSBN content and questions are A LOT to shovel down for someone who isn't planning on studying months before. I got through maybe 1/8 of it. I like it because it's straight to the point, but it's also really specific. Hurst is good for those without ADD who can sit still long enough to get through videos. It is a good review for someone who already has a good foundation. DO NOT expect for Hurst to teach you everything you need to know to pass NCLEX and to be a confident new nurse...or else what's the purpose of school? I bought a new notebook just for NCLEX notes. I transcribed all the Hurst videos word-by-word. By the time that I finished this, I had to take my NCLEX 2 days later and didn't have enough time to review everything I wrote down, but I thought I retained enough info to still pass. In addition to that, people in my class seemed to be posting their passing results on Facebook in handfuls everyday (even those I thought were poor students), so I was even more confident that I would pass. I failed my test at 109 questions. I got only 1 medication question, 5 select-all-that- apply (SATA), 1 EKG, 0 drag and drop.

SECOND TIME TESTING: I NEEDED to pass this time. My financial aid left-overs were running out, I had several months left on my lease, and I needed to start my career. I deactivated by fb (didn't need people rubbing their fake happy lives in my face). I scrapped the idea of picking up where I ended my studies the first time I took it. I needed a new strategy. I couldn't risk using the previous study materials and failing again. I bought the Saunders 6th edition (purple) book and "Priority, Delegation, and Assignment (PDA)" 3rd ed. by: Linda LaCharity, Candice Kumagai, and Barbara Bartz. I also paid a friend to let me use her online Kaplan when she wasn't using it. I matched up the PDA sections to Saunders sections. I read a Saunders section and then answered the matching PDA questions relating to the same material I studied (i.e. Pediatrics, Electrolytes, Cardiac, GI, etc.). I read the WHOLE book (about 4 chapters a day) and I actually enjoyed it. I highlighted important info and paid extra attention to the pyramid points (things most important to know). The info in the book was very well organized! I didn't have to depend entirely on critical thinking skills to answer the PDA or NCLEX questions because I KNEW the info from the Saunders book and I was confident. I kept the book. It was truly a pleasure to read, and will serve me as a good refresher/reference as a professional nurse. I was missing from 3-11 questions in each PDA section. My lowest score on the q-trainers was a 58 and my highest was a 60. My scores on the q-bank were 60-80's. I passed the 2nd time with 92 questions. I got 1 drag and drop, about 10 SATA, and about 5 med questions. I got numerous infection control (more than anything). I ended the test with a med question. After 75 questions, my stamina was wearing down, I had already taken up 3 hours of my time, and I thought I was going to fail. I took my sweet time on all the questions because I was banking on not getting all 265 questions. I couldn't tell if the questions were easy or hard, but I kept getting infection control questions thrown at me.

PEARSON VUE TRICK:

I have probably done more research on this trick than anyone on Earth. I also have personal experience with it and...I will tell you: IT WORKS. There is no way Pearson is going to take a non-refundable fee from you if passed. HOWEVER, if you are one of the people whose test ended at 265, you might be an exception. The test is graded twice, and you are close enough to passing to benefit from this on the small chance that a test question is reconsidered. EVERY SINGLE person I have asked and read about online in several forums confirm that the trick worked for them. When I failed, it took me to the credit card page, I put in my credit card info and got a reciept. When I passed, I put in my credit card info, went to the next page, and got the "pop-up" saying, "Our records indicate that you have recently scheduled this exam. Another registration cannot be made at this time."

ANOTHER TRICK: If you got the last question right on the test you passed, especially for those who got over 75, but under 265. The computer is not going to shut down right after you got a question right unless you passed. It's either going to keep asking you questions until it decides you have reached the minimum to pass or shut down because it was your last strike because you got the question wrong and you didn't meet the minimum to pass (above passing standard). When I failed, I knew I got the last question wrong. When I passed. I knew beyond a doubt that I got it right because I KNEW the medication, I had a family member that took it, and I learned about it. I also remembered it and looked it up after. Remember, after 75 questions you're on your own. If you are relying on this trick, you must treat every question like it's your last and memorize it and the answer choices too.

FINALLY....do NOT feel bad if you fail. It doesn't mean you're dumb. There are very intelligent people that I know(engineers, teachers, drop-out medical school students, lab techs) failed and many below average, goof-offs that passed. Sometimes we just don't know exactly how to study, we are too nervous, we sleep too much, we have kids to take care of, we forgot material, we are over-confident, we misread test questions, we rush through them, we over-think, we don't use the process of elimination, or we go with our gut instead. Everyone has a different story and everyone is a different person. In a couple of months, I am going to post on here a way to remember medications based on the suffix. I am also going to create a lengthy review and post it. For now, try downloading the NCSBN'S NCLEX Review app (free), review the med flashcards, and find trends for medications within the same classification if your test is around the corner. Remember that you CAN'T use antibiotics to treat a virus. It know you are thinking duh, but it's easy to forget when you're testing. Lastly, I'm a Christian man, but if you are going to pray (which I did much of), remember to not rely on praying alone because God also gave us the POWER to make decisions for ourselves and if you choose to leave it all in God's hands and put your study materials aside, you're going to be up a creek without a paddle.

There is a NCLEX 35 page review someone awesome created that has been circulating around here. Print it. Bind it. Read it. I tried to attach it, but by computer isn't letting me so if someone has it please share or i'll try again later. KNOW the airborne/droplet/contact precautions. Know your all your electrolytes and the symptoms for when each one is too high or too low. Remember that calcium and magnesium act as sedatives. Feel free to ask me questions and GOOD LUCK!

[Suns1113]

Thank you so much for this post!!! I will be taking my NCLEX in a couple of weeks and I would really appreciate it if you post the lengthy review of medications. Once again, thanks a lot! How many questions did you a day?

[azula]

Congratulations RN! I just took mine this morning. I did the PVT 10 minutes after the exam and i got the good pop up. I tried it several times after and i still got the same message. Hopefully i pass.

[FrankU]

I definitely will post as soon as I finish it! I would say that I did about 50 question a day, a week before the test I was doing up to 150-250 a day from Kaplan and any online site I could find on google that provided free NCLEX questions. CONGRATS Azula! It's safe to say that you passed, relax and celebrate

[babyisa, MSN, NP]

congratulations, RN! thanks for this post and i laughed a little when i read the part about the Pearson Vue trick; i too, feel like i have researched about that trick more than anyone on this planet. LOL. i also recently took my NCLEX, almost about 2 weeks ago, and i'm in CA, so i'm still waiting for the results. I have been getting the good pop up, but somehow, despite the innumerable posts i have seen about the trick, i am still hoping for the best and expecting for the worst. again, congratulations and i'm certain you'll be having a great holiday!

[Suns1113]

Thank you!!! Congratulations on passing! I know I will the feel the same joy soon.

[dbrenda1510]

Congratulations Franku. You are very much needed in a private group of nclex registers. We could really use your helpful hints and insight. Message me and I will give you additional information and web address. Thanks

[ebrooks1013]

So I did the pvt trick as soon as I got in the car. Is that too soon for it to be accurate?

[medic2865]

That's inspiration for me. I am still 5 classes away from being able to take the NCLEX and I am already getting anxious. I am 47 y/o and have anxiety about that too.

I am going to print ur post and take it above my desk at home. I will use ur advise when I get ready to test.

I am taking online classes thru excelsior and so far so good. I will continue on to get my BSN.

Any other advice from anyone would be great. You can send message on my profile.

Congratulations on passing. Woo Hoo!!! 😀

~medic2865

[gmonee33]

Congratulations! Thanks for all the tips!

This is truly what I needed to here, especially since I'm waiting to hear from the boards whether or not I'm eligible to take the exam. I graduated almost 20 years ago and has taken the test more times than I can or care to remember. The last time I tested was June 2010.

I have taken Kaplan Review, Sally Langerquist and a review with Sycamore Learning Center of LA. Yes. I've read and studied a lot of information to no avail, but I haven't and will not give up.

Is it possible to have the 35 page information emailed to [email protected]?

Also, where would you suggest I start and focus my study?

Again, Congrats and thanks!

MzG

[DESDEAJEN]

I took my lpn today and Im super nervous about the results. I got stopped at 109 questions and quite frankly idk how to fail after the test. Im a nervous wreck right now.