I guess third times the charm

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Specializes in Cardiac Nursing.

..well I got my letter today., I was kinda hopeful that i might still had passed because like i said i have klike 8 people that tested with me that week in CA that no one had got their results yet, and monday was a CA BRN holiday, so i said to myself "mabye, i have till fri or sat" "then, if not its over"

but i knew once i saw my wife carry in the big envelope, she gave me that "look"

I am more detemined now than ever. mostly out of spite. this will not beat me. I am going to pass this and get a tatto that has NCLEX-RN/CA BRN with a circle and a line through it !

I was going to start today to study but, im going to play with my 2yr old son and be with him this week. "recharge" the batteries. last time i failed i started the next day. im going to use the saunders book for content review, and im going to buy the kaplan QBANK for questions.

the only thing i wish is: the way i learn the most is reading the rationales on the questions, especially the ones i miss....i wish that i could see my NCLEX test to see the ones i missed and see the rationales. but, alas, i know those quesions will never see the light of day.

It would be so easy for me just to quit and go back to being a cop again, the money is the same, the hours and shifts are the same, my ex-co-workers and SGT would love tohave me back,

BUT i have never quit in anything i have done, many posts i read in here (daily) are from people that have passed on 3rd, and 4tn, even the mod silverdragon says she passed on her third time.

the first 2 times i took the exam i took the long drive alone to the test center, next time im gonna bring my family with me for support..might as well do everything i can to increase my "luck" or "karma"...

My lucky rabbits foot is coming in the mail next week.

To those of you that im in contact with that also tested that week in CA, dont give up hope..you could have better news. good luck.

JON

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Specializes in Cardiac Nursing, ICU.

Sorry to hear that you didn't pass. My prayers go out to you. Like you said there are many nurses who didn't pass on their first, second, third and so on attempt. It seems that you have determination, which will see you through to the end. Remember the race is not given to the swift but to the one who endures.:icon_hug:

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Specializes in Cardiac Nursing.

Hey cardiheartnsg, i just saw your msg, you tested yesgterday ? 75 questions ! im sure you did good.

i also work the cardi/telemetry floor (well im on a LOA, obviously) but i love it there., tell me what you did to study this last month, i reas that you failed in feb ? and you tested almost at 45 days right ? what was your game plan ?

thanks, and good luck, ( I wish AGAIN CA offered quick results but i have a better chance on finding those WMD Pres bush is looking for)

JON

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Specializes in Cardiac Nursing, ICU.

I tested Jan 29. and failed. I had all 265 questions. My results were near passing in all categories except two, which I got above passing. I waited 60 days to retake. I studied using Saunder's 2008 comprehensive review and kaplan complete online (second time). The first time, I just did kaplan, however, I didn't finish the q bank or the question trainer. I think when I took the test the first time I only answered about 20% of the questions. This time I answered all questions and q bank average was a 67%. My question trainers ranged from 56%-78%. I got a 65% on question trainer 7. I also answered questions from saunders. I got around 70's-88's. Kaplan questions are alot harder and more like boards. I also made a notebook to study from saunders. The notebook had a test section, a question section, and an answer section. If I was answering questions and came across a topic in the question that I didn't know...I would right a question about the topic and find the answer in my peds,medsurg, ob or psych books from school. This is a tedious process and I felt like I was getting know where because at one point....I had pages of pages of info. I do believe that by doing this my scores improved and I gained more knowledge epecially on ob stuff. However, results are pending and I will have to let you know if all the hardwork paid off!!! let me know if you have anymore quesitons!

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Hello,

I have been following your post and kept hoping and praying that you passed. I will be taking it for the third time this may as well. I failed in Feb and got near passing on everything..I have not brought myself to studying again..But God is good..We shall over come!

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

Jon,

Good for you for keeping such a positive attitude. I remember your post from the first time you took the exam and you definitely have the right attitude now. Do you think anxiety is playing a factor with you when your taking the test? I'm curious because it seems like you probably know the content but anxiety is probably taking over once you sit down to take the test. I'm usually not an anxious person but during the months it took me to prepare for NCLEX I felt myself sometimes getting very anxious so I started doing breathing exercises, even during my test I had to remind myself to take it easy and breathe, I think it worked. Good luck to you!!!

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Specializes in Cardiac Nursing.

Carribeanbeauty-

-we can do this !, may it is then, third time for us. where are you located ? i test in fresno CA. anyway, take time off-its what i should have done and what im going to do, then in a week-study-im gonna study Mon-friday 3-4 hours per day, im gonna review content from scratch (like suzzane said)-then questions, questions , questions-with rationales---ill take the weekend off to play with my son.--basically it will be my job.

Deetonia-

absolutely !, it IS my nerves...up till now i have never met anything that i cannot beat, miliatry, police academy, college etc.. nclex has beaten me twice ! and i am my hardest critic-there will be no way that i can get rid of the feeling i will have while taking the test come may.

for me, its the time thing --im always looking at that clock-i figure im gonna be there for the whole 265 questions so i try to balance a question a minute--some questons i have to think longer on--so i look down at the clock, and if i am "behind" i tend to panic and rush a little, i know this is bad.-my first time i didnt take any breaks, my second time i did and i felt it helped but they were very breief breaks.---

someday, i will look back on all this (look at my tatto--see above) and smile

"that which does not kill us, makes us stronger"

-Friedrich Nietzsche

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Hey Jon,

I am in washington DC...I wished I knew someone here that I could partner with and study..but thus far I have not had any luck..All my friends have passed except me and moved on.

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Specializes in ONcology.
Carribeanbeauty-

-we can do this !, may it is then, third time for us. where are you located ? i test in fresno CA. anyway, take time off-its what i should have done and what im going to do, then in a week-study-im gonna study Mon-friday 3-4 hours per day, im gonna review content from scratch (like suzzane said)-then questions, questions , questions-with rationales---ill take the weekend off to play with my son.--basically it will be my job.

Deetonia-

absolutely !, it IS my nerves...up till now i have never met anything that i cannot beat, miliatry, police academy, college etc.. nclex has beaten me twice ! and i am my hardest critic-there will be no way that i can get rid of the feeling i will have while taking the test come may.

for me, its the time thing --im always looking at that clock-i figure im gonna be there for the whole 265 questions so i try to balance a question a minute--some questons i have to think longer on--so i look down at the clock, and if i am "behind" i tend to panic and rush a little, i know this is bad.-my first time i didnt take any breaks, my second time i did and i felt it helped but they were very breief breaks.---

someday, i will look back on all this (look at my tatto--see above) and smile

"that which does not kill us, makes us stronger"

-Friedrich Nietzsche

Hello Joni,

SOrry to hear that u didn't make it 2nd time.... i too rememeber ur post from DAy one..... think positive and keep it that way. you will pass it... i'm retaking it for the 3rd time in like 48hrs..... m not studying but praying hard.... cuz this exam is not a knowledge test..... i'm straight A student since junior high... yet failed NCLEX twice.... this exam doesn't determine ur knoweldge or doesn't judge how great nurse you could be...... it is just a standardized exam we have to take to parctice..... Good luck to you.... take sometime of to and study..... OKEy...... will be praying for you....

It sucks' that CA BRN doesn't take part in quick result...i just hope that i see my name on the site next monday/tuesday...... testing in Orange County.......

great day.....

btw, this 3rd time... i follwed Suzzane's plan.... and i like it... i learned so much......

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Specializes in School Nursing.

goodluck to you.... i will include you in my prayers.... ask for Gods guidance...you will make it....

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Specializes in Trauma.

NO BIG DEAL!! So you failed 2 times?! So did I! I took it three times. First time I got food poisoning the night before (I think it was that) and I took it anyway. 90 questions, FAILED. I failed three areas. Second time I went for 6 hours and all 265 questions. Here's the kicker on this one. I got ABOVE the passing standard on ALL areas except for the psycho social area which is one of the SMALLEST areas and I was NEAR the passing standard. That means that I missed passing by only 1 or 2 questions. Talk about awful. I felt like dying. Third time is a charm and I went the entire 6 hours with the full 265 and I PASSED:) It's doable! Don't worry, it's ONLY A TEST that has no bearing on what kind of nurse you're going to be. Really! Pay attention to the questions next time through and see just how silly the wording is. it really is silly.

Anyhow, here in Ca you only have to wait the 45 days. Do it again. Good luck:)

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Specializes in Cardiac Nursing.

Thank you studentnursebean--you know, when i tell my story to my co-workers, i am utterly suprised by the nurses that tell me that they took it 3, 4 even 5 times--one of the nurses was our hospitals employee of the year !! she is one of the BEST nurses i know-i would love to be half the nurse she is. very suprising,

it IS only a test-people like you give me hope that it is possible, i read posts in here ALOT !,-I just want to get back to work ! i love my floor and the nurses i work with. my boss is the greatest !, they are all pulling for me. people in here as well--

i keep wanting to study ASAP, but my wife tells me to take the week off to "recharge", so im gonna do that--tommorrow is "texas hold em" night--I will feel better when i win my friends money :) (that is , at least something i CAN do) :)

JON

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