I Passed NCLEX!! Sharing What I Did...

We see all the time on allnurses how people graduate with honors, do Kaplan/Hurst/PDA Reviews, answer hundreds of questions and hit the benchmarks and still fail this exam - sometimes multiple times! I can tell you what I did but this test is so bizarre and thousands have done what I did and more, and did not pass it. I honestly don't know exactly how I was successful nor do I know why others failed who did what I did. My biggest tip is probably that there really isn't only one way, but that there are multiple ways to pass this exam. Nurses Announcements Archive Article

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I Passed NCLEX!!  Sharing What I Did...

OMG! I can't believe it!! I checked on Nursys too and my name is there!!

I can tell you what I did but this test is so bizarre and thousands have done what I did and more and did not pass it. I know that is so disheartening but it's true. I have a BS in Education and taught kids and adults for many years with a strong interest and experience in curriculum design and tests and measurements. I have lots of issues with this whole process but that's another topic.

I had 75 questions. I graduated in May from an ADN program and barely worked this Summer and studied a ton! I got a prescription from my PCP to calm me down since I know that I can get bad test anxiety.

Here's What I Did To Pass The NCLEX

✔️ Kaplan Classroom Review on my own and 93% of the Qbank completed with 62% correct. I watched almost all of the videos and read all of the Content Review Guide- a lot of the time taking notes while watching the videos. I did 2 Sample Tests and the horrific Alternate Type Quiz (25% less than a week before I took the exam and that's not an uncommon score!) Their screen looks almost exactly like the NCLEX and that was so comforting!

✔️ Memorized all of the lab values by writing them on index cards listed in the Guide. I did not use the Decision Tree knowingly (maybe sub consciously I did a bit!) but I think it's a valid and helpful exam strategy.

✔️ I had to do ATI all through school and had to go through their Live Review and used the book and online questions minimally. The best thing that I got from ATI was 9x12 card with all of the Content Areas, specific sub topics and percentage range. You can print out the same info from the NCSBN in several pages-which I highly recommend-but the card was so convenient.

✔️ I bought Prioritization, Delegation and Assignment by LaCharity and did questions by hand in the book and also did them using the interactive textbook. I liked this BUT I ran across a question that I got wrong where the rationale was the opposite from Kaplan. Also, if you do the interactive questions they can repeat. Overall, it was helpful and feel it was worth it even just from a psychological perspective.

✔️ I did about 100 SATA questions from NCLEX-RN 4000 that I borrowed from a friend who passed using it.

✔️ I went over a ton of content lectures from school. Skimmed through my A&P book on the Brain and the Heart mostly, skimmed through my entire Fundamentals book. (It's amazing what I forgot and highly recommend it as a refresher!)

✔️ I am a visual learner so I looked at bunch of stuff on Pinterest and went to the links that other visual learners placed here last week. Really good!

✔️ Did study conference calls with @30days2nclex which were awesome! She found a free conference call set up which I highly recommend others doing since we learned a lot and supported each other. She's a gem and also started the current red hot Lets play the drug of choice game.

✔️ I came on AN a lot and got so much support from people who truly understand and that is worth it's weight in gold!

If you haven't taken the exam or will re-take it, I truly wish you the best of luck!:yes:

Also, A HUGE "thank you" to all of you here who have helped and supported me during this time! wave.gif.f76ccbc7287c56e63c3d7e6d800ab6c

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Congrats Graduatenurse14 !!!!

I am taking my board this coming Saturday! I am nervous should I relax a day before exam?

I memorized precautions, I did all kaplan Q Banks, Q trainer, all quizes samples, I did today 100 SATA saunders.

I reviewed my contents by listening to Hurst videos from my friend account.

wish me luck and plz any tips!

I also did PDA book answered all the chapters did some case studies.. I took sample quiz of priority got 85% I was shocked...

Sounds like you are ready but this test is wacky which is why we lose our minds! I studied the day before and the day of but many people say not to do that. I was too nervous not to but I'm not sure it really helped.

Good luck to you!!!!

P.S. Great score from PDA!!

I also read through the 35 page study guide and 25 page study guide from here that helped a lot!!!

Specializes in ICU/CCU.

Did u have a tons of SATA ? How was it ! Btw, CONGRATS nurse ! ?

Specializes in Med Surg, PCU, Travel.

Congrats, I'm glad you mentioned the fundamentals book. I am doing ncsbn review and a lot of the questions rationales are from the fundamentals book .

Congrats RN. You no longer a GN. You are now an RN. Praise the Lord. I am so happy for you Nurse. I know you will "SHINE" out there. Enjoy your success.

Thanks @buspar !

I did have what seemed to be a lot of SATA. It felt like I was in fugue state, I swear! I don't know how people remember how many of each question they had.

It was bad, that is the only way to describe it. I felt like I only really knew a few answers for sure. I am not kidding when I say that I am shocked that I passed. I was very prepared as you can see in my post but it didn't feel that way at all.

One thing that I forgot to say, take the earplugs when they offer! They were the same kind (cheap, firm foam ones that you have soften up and twist to fit in your ear) that I had from testing in school so I was used wearing to them! Buy some and wear them for practice to get used to them!

Good luck to you!!!

Graduatenurse14 said:
I also read through the 35 page study guide and 25 page study guide from here that helped a lot!

I have the 35 page study guide, can you post where you got the 25 page one ? Thanks!

thank you very much for your help because I scheduled to take my board September 4 .

Ok, now it is showing up as a link that you just click on so you don't have to copy and past it!

Sorry about all of this!