I am looking for advice, encouragement and prayers!

NCLEX_CareBear · Dec 14, 2004

Hi melissa! I wrote the NCLEX-RN 3 times before I passed. It was a tough journey...but I did it! AND I know you can do it too!!! Many new grads have to write the exam more than once too...you are not alone! And there is no need to be embarrassed...After you pass the exam, you will become a RN. It doesn't say how many times you wrote the NCLEX or whatever. You can write the NCLEX once and pass, and you will become an RN. You can write it twice and pass, you will still become an RN. =)

My advice to you is: Do as many practice questions as you can before your exam day. Do about 150 to 200 questions per day is good. After you do the questions, mark them and see which ones you got wrong. Then read the rational for them...even for the ones you got correct. Pay close attention to the ones you got wrong. It may stick in your mind better if you make notes as well.

Disregard what percentage you get on each practice exam. I know many people say if you get 70% or above then you will pass the exam. I don't think that's true. I know people who have gotten 60's on their practice exams and passed the NCLEX. They did LOTS of practice questions. Do as many new (questions that you have never seen before) exam questions!!!

Your exam is next week...between now and next week...continue to do practice questions. When you are doing the questions, try to simulate the "exam room" experience. For example, do questions on the computer, get rid of any distraction (even if you have kick everyone out of the house...just kidding!), and set a time limit.

Along with doing practice questions, THINK positive and pray! Instead of saying, "I'm going to fail."...say "I can do this! I'm going to pass! I am going to a RN!"

When you are at the exam room, take a deep breath before you begin the exam. THINK POSITIVE! Take a break when you feel you need to step out of the room. Do eat breakfast that morning. Bring a snack with you. Pay no attention to the people around you.

I wrote the exam on Nov. 1 of this year. I had 100 questions or so. I had lots of questions on priorization (Who would you return a phone call to first?). I also had 3 questions on medication calculation (i.e. drop rate, how many pills to give patient). I also had questions on "which statement shows that the patient teaching was effective?" Overall, know infant and children's vital signs (heart rate, BP, respiration rate), normal lab values (Na, K, Mg, Cl, fasting glucose, hemoglobin, hematocrit).

Phew...I wrote quite abit. Hope this has been helpful to you. Best of luck to you. E-mail me if you have any other questions. Don't give it! You can do it! I'm cheering for you!!!!

CareBear : )

xmaxiex · Dec 15, 2004

Quick word of encouragement .One of the best nurses I know failed three times . I would trust this woman with my life! It's just a test, no matter how many times it takes you will pass ! Good luck and no stress ! Do the practice questions , dont deliberate too long . and good luck !

Karen · Dec 15, 2004

One trick I tell students to do before an exam if they are really anxious is to write on their scrap paper a short narrative about how they have really prepared for this exam, have done 500 practice questions,how they are prepared and ready to pass this test etc. This gives you some positive affirmations while the epinephrine passes (short half-life). The other important thing on NCLEX is to take your time on the beginning questions. Take some deep breaths and recheck to make sure you are reading all of the question and all of the answers. You didn't say what happened the first go round but unless you ran out of time it is best to start out slowly.

Rhoresmith · Dec 15, 2004

YOU CAN DO IT!!!! just keep chanting that all the way there and before you start the test say that to yourself!!!! We have been told that many people flunk that first time and alot of it is the computerized test format and anxiety. You know what to expect now and can do it....

Rhonda

pie123 · Dec 16, 2004

NCLEX Carebear (and anyone else interested):

I took the NCLEX Tuesday for the 2nd time. I got ALL 265 questions! The first time I got 75 questions. This time around, I took the Kaplan online course. The only thing that I didn't do was 3,000 questions. I started off doing questions, in addition to the Kaplan studies, but there are only so many hours in the day, and sometimes I would start early, maybe around 8am, and not be in bed until around 1 or 2 am. I guess looking back, I should have just stuck with it. The first time, I did questions, but not nearly 3,000. Also, the first attempt, I can honestly say that I wasn't nearly as prepared. This time, of course hindsight being 20/20, I felt there was more that I could have done. I wanted to reschedule it, so that I could breeze through more material. I was going to reschedule it to Dec. 21. When I initially shared this with my husband, he said if I needed to, to go ahead and do it, but his tone of voice was one of disappointment, so I didn't do it. We talked yesterday, and he mentioned that if I have to take it again, he will not try to get me to take it until I feel ready. I know that people probably don't ever feel ready, but I just feel like going over some of the content again (such as MEDS) would have been better. I know that if I don't pass, I will take it again. I am just so scared---I just want to pass. I am starting to cry, so I will need to hurry up and finish this. I guess I am one of those people who measures MY own success and self-worth on certain things. Passing this test is one of those things. Mind you, I wouldn't think one thing about it if I met someone who told me that they had to take the exam more than once, but for some reason, when it's me, I feel like it reflects on my intelligence. I feel like people think, "She must have been an awful student (and I did get the occasional "C"), since she can't pass this test." Also, there was a guy at work and the last time I knew, he had taken the NCLEX twice. I was sharing this with my former classmate one day, and she replied, "Man, I would hate to be his patient." Meaning that he must not know anything if he had to take NCLEX 3 times. Those are the types of comments that make me sad. Thanks for taking the time to read this long post. Sorry it was so long.

CCU NRS · Dec 16, 2004

I always tell N-CLEX takers to go to the site I am going to post and read the letter it helped me more than anything I else did to prepare.

http://caring4you.net/concept.html

Lauran · Oct 14, 2005

I may sound too simplified but this how I have always studied. I read the text, etc 3 times underlining and highlighting each time. I also write everything I want to remember in the form of a question so when it is asked it is already familiar. Don't second guess; go with your first response.

My father says that oatmeal and tuna are brain foods; I always ate plenty during crunch time. Do not consume artificial sweetner and diet drinks unless they contain splenda; believe me the other brands cause short-term memory loss.

Stop beating yourself up. Many people have been in your shoes. When you do pass you can always move on if you feel the need.

Some people are super intelligent but are not good test-takers. For practice do as many practice tests as you can. Don't over analyze. Read the questions completely; the use of words like "always" or "never" should throw up a red flag.:redlight: This would not be the the correct answer.

And most importantly: PRAY. Ask God, "Lord, if it is your will....etc. Also, ask others to pray for you.

Forgive your self; and, after you pass remember that the best way make something unpleasant go away is to never talk about it again. :deadhorse

Stop the worry. My parents each had advice when I was discouraged: My mother would say. "If it can't kill you and they can't throw you in jail for it, don't worry about it." My father would say, "there is alway a balance to everything."

Good luck!

Bambury · Oct 14, 2005

Hi Lauran,

The time on this thread is from 2004!, not 2005.