I passed the NCLEX!

[d_martinez09]

FINALLY!!!! After all the stress, crying, and worrying I finally took the NCLEX and found out today that I passed. Thank you to everyone on here who posted soooo many encouraging words. Computer shut off at 75 questions and I was so unsure of how I did that all I wanted to do was cry. But instead, I kept myself distracted and today I found out that it was finally all over.

So this is how I prepared and some tips to anyone that is freaking out about taking their test:

I studied my ATI NCLEX review book and Saunders book for review and refreshing on things that were my weakness.

NCSBN course was a lifesaver!!!!!!! In my opinion, this course is worth every penny and it is only $50. Not to mention that it is created by the same people who make up the nclex.

What I did:

- I took one Saunders exam and found out my areas of weakness. My weakness was Maternity and cardiovascular.

- Next, I reviewed these area in my saunders book for a deeper explanation, and my ATI book when I just needed something that was straight to the point.

- Third, I did all the questions I could on these two areas. This meant all the saunders questions, ati questions and Nclex 4000. I READ ALL THE RATIONALES, INCLUDING THE QUESTIONS THAT I GOT RIGHT.

- I did read a Kaplan strategy book and wrote down the strategies so I could look at them while I answered questions.

- When I finally felt comfortable on my weak areas I moved on. I signed up for the 3 wk NCSBN course and began to review system by system. Each time I was done with one area (i.e. Gastrointestinal) I did all the questions I could on that area.

- Finally I got to the question bank and di all the questions I could. Reading each rationale as I went. I also wrote down rationales to the questions I got wrong in order to review later on. I did this all the way up until my last study day.

- The day before my test I reviewed labs, and meds and I stopped at 6pm. I grabbed my boyfriend, went out to movie and a dinner, got home took a hot shower and relaxed until I fell asleep.

- MOST IMPORTANT, I PRAYED EVERY SINGLE DAY!

I honestly wished I hadn't stressed as much as I had. The test was difficult but I got through it, and that was the goal. I gave my study days my all and didn't beat myself up for missing a day or 2.

To anyone getting ready to take the test, YOU CAN DO IT. Please don't get discouraged, give it your all and focus while studying. Put in 3-4 hours each day, give yourself the weekends and be patient with yourselves. You are never going to learn and remember everything, your goal should be to understand what you do know and be confident.

I hope this helps!

p.s. I did the pop-up trick about 2 hours after the test and I got the good pop-up!!

[pfalls]

Anna2012,

You log on to Pearson Vue and act like you are trying to resgister. You answer some questions and then if when you hit submit, you come back with a message saying their records indicate you are already registered...then you know you passed, if it lets you register, then you know you didn't pass. It has worked for everyone I know that has tried it and even out Kaplan teacher told us to try it :) Good luck!

[caliotter3]

:ancong!:

[d_martinez09]

How many times did you do LaCharity?

I did Lacharity as I went along. If one day I studied G.I. then I would look at the GI chapter in Lacharity. But to be honest, I only did maybe 5 chapters.

[d_martinez09]

what scores where you getting in ncsbn? how does the review work? (so i know ahead of time?. i plan to do the 8 week course or should i do shorter week. it will be my second time doing nclex. i am reading saundars book each chapter at moment and doing questions with rational too in book. i have two saundars books.

i apologize for getting back to you so late! the course was a "review course" composed of several "modules" along with a question bank at the end. you begin with a 180 pretest to determine what you know and show you how you did as of that point. if you need it, in the review course, you can access a folder that goes over each specific topic and disorders that go with it. (i.e cardiovascular: pericarditis, cardiac tamponade, etc...) at the end of each module you are given a brief (18-30 questions) post-test on that subject.

if you feel comfortable with a subject, feel free to skip that module. (you can always go back and review if you need to.)

you can access the question banks at any time. there are about 10 question banks that consists of 18-20 folders each bank with each folder containing 20 questions!! that is alot of questions!!!!!

read the rationales no matter what! but most importantly, get used to how the questions are being worded!

don't worry too much about your scores. i began getting 50's% at my lowest and 83% at my highest. (i may have gotten one 90 and it never happened again!lol)

hope this helps!

[Assess&Safety1st, BSN, RN]

Thank you.

[kramos007]

I take my test in 21 days! I've been doing 150-200 questions per day for about 2 weeks already. I read the Kaplan RN Course Book and have completed the QBank and QTrainers 1-6. I'm doing questions from my Kaplan Strategies book and NCLEX 4000. I'm reading the rationales for ALL of the questions even the ones I get right.

I'm not freaking out yet, but I feel as the days go by, my anxiety rises...

[d_martinez09]

I take my test in 21 days! I've been doing 150-200 questions per day for about 2 weeks already. I read the Kaplan RN Course Book and have completed the QBank and QTrainers 1-6. I'm doing questions from my Kaplan Strategies book and NCLEX 4000. I'm reading the rationales for ALL of the questions even the ones I get right.

I'm not freaking out yet, but I feel as the days go by, my anxiety rises...

Don't freak out! I know it is easier said than done but trust me, you are on the right track. Just stay consistent with your studying!!! Good luck! You got this!