I passed NCLEX, my story and tips

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Hello nurses,

I promised myself if I passed I would share my story on here to hopefully help some people, because so many people were there to support me from this site! You can definitely this is a "nursing" website. Everyone on here is so helpful and kind! SO here it goes:

I graduated from a ADN program in December 2013, and immediately sent in my paper work to the BON. (got my ATT 3 weeks later) I was really confused as to what review to use (Hurst vs. Kaplan) and reading everyone's conflicting opinions obviously didn't make the decision any easier.

I had an extreme amount of pressure on me to pass, because I excepted a Job contingent upon successfully passing the boards. If I had to do it all over again I would have waited to even begin my search! Anyway, I saved up money and bought both Hurst and Kaplan. I completed Hurst first for "content" and It was a good refresher, but if that was the only review I used I would not have passed! It doesn't teach you what you really need to pass, which is how to answer NCLEX questions. I was angry because I paid 350 for them to "teach" me everything I already learned in school. UGH. Thankfully I had a backup, Kaplan. It was the best decision I ever made.

Just to give you picture of me, I barely passed nursing school every semester. I was one of those students that always scored okay on the final to put me a little above 75% (passing) EVERY SEMESTER! The big problem was knowledge deficit regarding how to think through the questions. Believe me, some people would disagree but I believe you can study ALL the content you want, but content DOES NOT teach you how to answer the questions. It takes a different kind of thinking. You just graduated nursing school, you have the content knowledge you need!

So anyway I did Kaplan on demand and always got within the 50's-60's (nothing spectacular) but I watched every video at least twice. They teach you the way to think through each question and give so many practice tests to help build your confidence. I studied for about a month and a half and then took my exam.

I did not think I would pass, but I went there and thought through every question like Kaplan said to and my computer went blue at 75! I thought I was going to pass out! I stood up and the TA asked me if I was ok because she said my face was so pale. I told her I was fine just nervous. (embarrassing) lol.

I started testing at two pm and time felt like it stood still. I used earplugs, and all I could hear was my breathing and my heart pounding! When I finally was finished I stood up and realized I was the first one done! I had absolutely no perception of time in there, like a black hole. lol But honestly looking back on it. I walked out sat in my car and cried and I knew I failed! I just couldn't see how I passed. I had 12-18 SATA! I was freaking out!!!!

It wasn't as bad as the "prison" my friends described it as.

In the end, after my cry session, I pulled up pearson vue on my iPhone and got the good pop up!!! I was in shock!!! The next day my name was on the BON as an RN!! YAY!

(sorry if there is spelling errors, this iPad is awful to type on)

Also my school used ATI, and it was a joke. The questions were way harder on ATI then NCLEX, so if you do your "RN predictor" and don't do well, no biggie. I got a 70% chance of passing nclex.. so just don't let it get you down.

My advice would be USE KAPLAN, its worth the money! Also, no matter how you feel go in there thinking you will pass! Say it to your self 100x, "I will pass NCLEX I know this stuff!!"

Thanks all nurses!!!! Hopefully this helps somebody!!!

Hailey :)

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Thank you so much for your input I took kaplan and hurst I have been unsuccessful on NCLEX 3 times now. My anxiety has been so bad that I am out of there in an hour I hired a tutor this time I plan to retest in a month.

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I have student loans and so much pressure to pass this exam I want to pass this test more than anything in the world

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Specializes in Home health, Med Surg, LTC.

Congrats to u.. I agree with wat u said about the ati being harder than the actual nclex. It was like that for.me when I passed for the nclex pn. hope its the same for nclex rn

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Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i am so happy for you.

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Dori1987 I have been having the same problem as you, is it possible you could recommend your tutor please, I am really desperate and been through a lot.,

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Specializes in LTC, Rehab.
Hello nurses,

I promised myself if I passed I would share my story on here to hopefully help some people, because so many people were there to support me from this site! You can definitely this is a "nursing" website. Everyone on here is so helpful and kind! SO here it goes:

I graduated from a ADN program in December 2013, and immediately sent in my paper work to the BON. (got my ATT 3 weeks later) I was really confused as to what review to use (Hurst vs. Kaplan) and reading everyone's conflicting opinions obviously didn't make the decision any easier.

I had an extreme amount of pressure on me to pass, because I excepted a Job contingent upon successfully passing the boards. If I had to do it all over again I would have waited to even begin my search! Anyway, I saved up money and bought both Hurst and Kaplan. I completed Hurst first for "content" and It was a good refresher, but if that was the only review I used I would not have passed! It doesn't teach you what you really need to pass, which is how to answer NCLEX questions. I was angry because I paid 350 for them to "teach" me everything I already learned in school. UGH. Thankfully I had a backup, Kaplan. It was the best decision I ever made.

Just to give you picture of me, I barely passed nursing school every semester. I was one of those students that always scored okay on the final to put me a little above 75% (passing) EVERY SEMESTER! The big problem was knowledge deficit regarding how to think through the questions. Believe me, some people would disagree but I believe you can study ALL the content you want, but content DOES NOT teach you how to answer the questions. It takes a different kind of thinking. You just graduated nursing school, you have the content knowledge you need!

So anyway I did Kaplan on demand and always got within the 50's-60's (nothing spectacular) but I watched every video at least twice. They teach you the way to think through each question and give so many practice tests to help build your confidence. I studied for about a month and a half and then took my exam.

I did not think I would pass, but I went there and thought through every question like Kaplan said to and my computer went blue at 75! I thought I was going to pass out! I stood up and the TA asked me if I was ok because she said my face was so pale. I told her I was fine just nervous. (embarrassing) lol.

I started testing at two pm and time felt like it stood still. I used earplugs, and all I could hear was my breathing and my heart pounding! When I finally was finished I stood up and realized I was the first one done! I had absolutely no perception of time in there, like a black hole. lol But honestly looking back on it. I walked out sat in my car and cried and I knew I failed! I just couldn't see how I passed. I had 12-18 SATA! I was freaking out!!!!

It wasn't as bad as the "prison" my friends described it as.

In the end, after my cry session, I pulled up pearson vue on my iPhone and got the good pop up!!! I was in shock!!! The next day my name was on the BON as an RN!! YAY!

(sorry if there is spelling errors, this iPad is awful to type on)

Also my school used ATI, and it was a joke. The questions were way harder on ATI then NCLEX, so if you do your "RN predictor" and don't do well, no biggie. I got a 70% chance of passing nclex.. so just don't let it get you down.

My advice would be USE KAPLAN, its worth the money! Also, no matter how you feel go in there thinking you will pass! Say it to your self 100x, "I will pass NCLEX I know this stuff!!"

Thanks all nurses!!!! Hopefully this helps somebody!!!

Hailey :)

On my ATI predictor I believe I got like a 70% chance passing :( I've been doing the ATI practice exams and have been getting between 65 - 80% on them. In hoping these are good scores!!!!!! :/ I can not afford Kaplan. But I do have a Kaplan test taking strategies book. Any advice for me!!!???? I test soon!!!!!!! :o

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On my ATI predictor I believe I got like a 70% chance passing :( I've been doing the ATI practice exams and have been getting between 65 - 80% on them. In hoping these are good scores!!!!!! :/ I can not afford Kaplan. But I do have a Kaplan test taking strategies book. Any advice for me!!!???? I test soon!!!!!!! :o

Is there any way I can do ATI by which I can see the probability of passing the exam??

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@Vil2290, I find your post one of the most honest and sincere among many I have read so far! Indeed, nursing programs are hard because for most of those who have a different educational background( mostly owning a degree overseas) and approach, the programs are not really designed to teach you how to answer the questions as they all insist on " grasping the concepts". I agree we need to understand the concepts, but, again, the content books, for which we pay such a huge amount of money, they do NOT prepare you to be successful in taking exams! Being a straight A pre-nursing student( where the exams are usually based on the information designed to grasp), I was unsuccessful for the first semester in the nursing program, for I did not know how to answer the questions! Now I am back in the program, but I learned my lesson. I was seeking help from those who were successful, did not get any sincere and honest "key", though I was preparing in details every single exam. Even I prepared and got all the knowledge from the content book as well as the powerpoints, I was walking out with 72.5, 75, 70...I was always border line and felt so frustrating! Every one told me the same thing:" you need to understand the concepts", like I was the ultimate idiot in the world and did not "understand" the concepts. But no one was honest to say they did tones of questions, many lied just to seem " genial". Looking back, I could say I did not find useful the Orientation, where they make you buy expensive not necessary books( I guess everything is a business, is it not?!), books of thousands pages where it is clear no one has physical time to read the books! I also find the "critical thinking" such a subjective concept...I think now, because of too much "critical thinking" we end up not knowing what to do with patients in real life work! Now I know exactly how to approach the learning process so that I could pass my exams: I bought Silvestri, Lippincot, and LaCharity and work from there. So, far, I do much better than spending days in reading the content and walking out with 70.

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