I Passsssssed!

colleennurse, ASN, RN · Nov 23, 2005

CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Nov 23, 2005

eliza_mae017 · Nov 23, 2005

hello am very new to this site, when i first see ur message. I am happy to know that u pass. I am preparing to take NCLEX earlier this year. I didn't make it the first try... Can u pls give me advice, I am now trying to read books.. though i know for myself I learn more by answering questions, lots of questions... I heard its best to practice answering questions.......

IcantThinkofaName · Nov 23, 2005

I too failed the first time. I studied Saunders and Kaplan. Kaplan i feel is EXCELLENT! those questions were sooo similar to the ones i got on my test. Keep a habit of studying and you have to stick with it! i did alot of flashcards..when i say alot..i mean...ALOT of flashcards. I started my day off with nursing and ended it with nursing. i lived and breathed it. hang in there and really KNOW your application and the blueprint they give u on areas u need to work at...study it!! understand the basics and keep it simple!

Nellie2B · Nov 23, 2005

congratulation:balloons: :balloons: :balloons: I can't wait to say the same :nurse:

Editorial Team / Admin · Nov 23, 2005

omgggggggggggg i passsssssssed !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
please guys do not give up hope and beat yourself up because i really did. i realy thought i didn't pass and i let it get to me. just have faith!!!!!
i think its time to change my name!!

congratulations!!!!

Sean 91 · Nov 23, 2005

The Kaplan rep (if you took the review course) suggested taking an extra minute for each of the first (I think it was) 10 questions. They told us that just because it clicked off at 75 didn't mean you passed, and that a lot of people this year were getting all 265 questions. (Well, personally, I've only heard of one person getting 265.) So I figured, why not take more than 2 minutes per question until it clicked off. I mean the worse that could happen is I'd fail outright--or keep getting questions and not finish in time. And have to take it over again. I mean, you get three chances.

So I took 3-4 minutes for many of the questions. In other words, I took my sweet time. And it clicked off at 75 questions. Music to my ears--just to have it over. And a prof friend at another nursing school said via e-mail, "Oh, that means you passed. Congratulations!" She said you'd have to get quite a few questions wrong to have it click off at 75 and fail, otherwise, you'd just keep getting questions. Of course, I didn't believe it until my name came up on the records of the state nursing board and my license was in my mailbox two days after the test.

So take your time when you take the exam! Do one better than Kaplan and really put the odds in your favor. With the proper preparation and frame of mind there really is no gamble. Yes, Kaplan was closest to the NCLEX questions, but I found the suggestion, by the Kaplan rep--of taking more time on the first several questions--more helpful than the course itself--because I took the suggestion and extrapolated it. I was happy not to have to get the $300 back.

And, of course, study like a dog. Put the t.v. set in your darkest closet. tell you friends you'll call them back in two months. Carry Saunders (or another with just questions) around like a Bible. (Doesn't hurt to read the latter a bit everyday,too. Wear holes in your knees praying.) When you bring the kids to the park you should have Saunders 3000 questions book (or another if you prefer) on your lap at the picnic bench or in your arms as you push the kids in the swing. (Well, maybe take a break once in a while.) Also, of course, practice the quesitons on CD offered by Saunders (and others). (No, I don't work for Saunders.)

When you take the test, don't let yourself get rattled. Think of passing, not failure. Do not allow that you will fail. Do not say "if" but only "when" you pass. And DO NOT say "can't" because as they say in the South, "Can't never did anything."

And what is funny to me, esp. having been brought up as a Roman Catholic (but kudos to you of other God-based faiths and churches), is that although the NCLEX people go to extreme lengths to video tape you, to have you empty your pockets, fingerprint you, and other lengths to prevent cheating, I believe the Holy Spirit was looking over my shoulder the whole time, as requested. I find that amusing. After all is said and done, I can say, in my faith, that that was the biggest reason for passing.

And it was really sweet passing the stack of 5-6 NCLEX books I had on to a nursing student-nurse tech at work.

Study hard and "good luck."

TriceRN · Nov 23, 2005

Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Simba&NalasMom, LPN · Nov 23, 2005

What state actually has your license in the mail a day or two after you pass the boards? Dang!!!! Congrats all on passing. To the OP: I'm an LPN so I know the questions themselves are different for RN vs. LPN, but to pass mine I used Lippincott's book and CD to practice and found it quite helpful; the questions were very similar.

grentea · Nov 23, 2005

SeanRN-Your words are pretty comforting to me. I took the NCLEX today, and I kind of didn't feel good about it. I just keep thinking about what I could have gotten wrong, but you do have a point there. I knew my stuff and I couldn't have seen myself totally getting a whole truckload of questions wrong. I took my sweet time with my questions too because only one person I knew out of thirty got 265 questions. Anyways....hoping to hear soon about my results. In PA they're pretty fast, but then again tomorrow is Thanksgiving.

And congratulations Ican'tthinkofaname! I'll take your advice and not beat up on myself. I'm happy for you!!!

suzanne4, RN · Nov 24, 2005

great news.:balloons: :balloons: :balloons: :balloons: