I didn't study for the NCLEX and I passed, first try, with 75qs

Nursing Students NCLEX

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  1. Did this poll help quell your fears about the NCLEX?

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      Yes
    • 3
      No

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Hey all!

I graduated from a BSN program in December. I was just an average nursing student, getting mostly Bs, a few A's, and oops, C's in two courses (OB and MedSurg 1). I didn't study too hard in school, honestly. We used ATI prep, and I did pretty well on those, scoring a level 2 or 3 on the exams.

According to the the Predictor (which crazily I barely studied for and was in the 95th percentile nationally from what I scored), I had a 98% chance of passing the NCLEX on the first try. I snagged a position at a magnet hospital back in October, and they wanted me to start working early January. I meant to study for the NCLEX right after graduation but I just felt unmotivated. I didn't feel like studying until I had my ATT.

Time goes by and I got my code...it was late December - I was on a holiday vacation and I didn't have any study materials with me. I registered for the NCLEX, with much anxiety, as my start date at my job was a week and a couple of days away. I registered to take it in 2 days. I panicked as I had barely studied during my break, and my classmates were all putting off taking the test until they had finished a prep course. I was the first to take the exam from my graduating class.

At most, the day before the test, I took a couple of practice tests from ATI. I realized it was too late to study content. I either knew it at this point or I didn't. I planned to take the test at the same time with one of my friends, who was spewing out information (she had studied intensely since graduation) making me feel less confident about my chances of passing. I went into the test room, hungover from a weekend of celebrating the New Year, pep-talking myself and visualizing me passing it. It was awfully difficult and I was overwhelmed with all of the SATA that I was getting. I was getting discouraged and regretted not taking studying more seriously, investing in a prep course of some sort.

I was surprised when the test cut off at 75. I thought surely, I was failing so miserably the test just shut off because I had no chance of passing at that point. My friend had gotten way more questions than I did, so we were both frantic. I got the good pop-up almost right away, and the next day, I found out I was issued a license by my state.

If I could pass the NCLEX without focused preparation, I'm sure you all can, too. To calm myself down, I told myself I've been exposed to this information for the past few years, I've got the capacity to at least use my brain to make an educated guess.

I am now working and loving my job. My friend also passed, at 180 questions. To all of you freaking out about the NCLEX - don't. You will be fine. Have confidence in your ability and you are gonna rock it!

Xoxo

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Lol! Thanks for making me feel so inadequate! Lol, just kidding.

Well, sounds like you are an anomaly, breezing through nursing school, scoring high on predictors, not studying for nclex, drinking before the exam, etc. I'm glad that worked our for you. I have been advised from one nurse that I work with to just do it, don't stress about it, don't study (because according to her, you can't), and just take the dang test. Oh, to have that sort of confidence.

I have yet to receive my ATT but in the meantime I am studying because I have to. There is too much on the line for me not to. I am claiming one and done on this one so I must position myself as best I can.

I hope to be able to post a success story sometime in mid-February. Until then, I will live vicariously through those of you have gone before me and had a successful outcome.

Congrats to you and best of luck in your new career!!!!

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I too just had a similar experience. I graduated this past December, started my new job in January and didn't really give much thought to the NCLEX during that time. I, of course, knew I had to take it to keep my job...but being a new nurse on the job takes a lot of your time and thought and it kind of got thrown to the background. I finally bucked up and registered to take the NCLEX on March 14th...the next available time was the 17th, so I took it. Mind you, up until I actually registered, I didn't even look at an NCLEX question, took a prep course or anything related to studying for this...I did, however, cram some in over the next few days and refreshed my lab value knowledge. Took the NCLEX yesterday and as of 2:41pm, March 17th, I am an official RN! Totally stoked!

I will say, the test was nerve wracking. Not only the actual test but signing in for it! Palm scans, ID's, checking your body, glasses and clothes for hiding places for cheating...it's a bit crazy. It took me 1.5 hours and shut off at 75 questions. At that point it seemed like every other question was SATA and they were just hoping for me to fail. I left there feeling not so good and feeling like I had failed. Much to my surprise, it was the opposite! The test was definitely something I feel that no amount of prep will prepare you for. What you retained in nursing school, prioritization, delegation, how well your school prepped you and common sense is what it takes to pass this thing. I came from a school with a yearly pass rate between 96-100% so I feel they had prepped me well. Good luck!

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I agree! I got NOT breeze through school, and had to retake a med surg class, but rarely studied like I should, since I've always worked during school. I graduated in December, took it a few days ago. Like you, I did 98 on the ATI predictor. I would do practice qs every now and then, but felt like I knew it or I didn't. Our school has a pass rate of 96 and is one of the hardest in the area. They prepared me from day one!

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Oh, and I found out I passed yesterday! I did have around 250 questions, though.

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This is an incredibly dangerous post. I guarantee, that if you don't properly prepare for the NCLEX you will have at best a 5% chance of passing. Thats 5 out of 100 students passing. Just because one of the LUCKY ones wrote a post about it doesn't change anything. Please study, lol.

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This is an incredibly dangerous post. I guarantee, that if you don't properly prepare for the NCLEX you will have at best a 5% chance of passing. Thats 5 out of 100 students passing. Just because one of the LUCKY ones wrote a post about it doesn't change anything. Please study, lol.

That's nutty. I think most people do pass without a lot of special effort ...it's just the "I failed NCLEX seven times." crowd tend to post more about their experiences, and oddly, are more likely to give others advice.

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