I took my NCLEX-RN exam for the first time this Tuesday (Nov 4) and I just found out today via Pearson Vue quick results that I passed. I just want to say that the last 48 hours have been the most stressful, agonizing, hours of my entire life. So if you feel this way after you walk out of your testing site know that it is completely NORMAL. I kept telling the computer screen not to turn off at 75 questions because I didn't feel like that would be a good outcome for me. Turns out I was wrong, it was an amazing outcome. I'm not going to lie the test wasn't easy. I graduated in December 2013 and decided to take a couple of months to myself to work and relax (we all know how stressful nursing school is). Well, unfortunately those couple of months turned into several months due to financial problems and other personal problems. Anyway, needless to say I was very nervous about NCLEX because I hadn't been in school for so long. I had a 3.6 when I graduated from nursing school and I did graduate with honors. My school participated in the ATI program and we had to pass each ATI with a certain level to even pass each class. We had a final comprehensive predictor ATI right before I graduated which was a cumulative exam of everything we had learned throughout nursing school. My results said I had a %97 chance of passing boards on the first time. Even with all of this said my confidence wasn't where it needed to be! SO I want to help prepare all of my fellow soon-to-be RN's. Just know that YOU can do it if you put your heart and your head in it. Even if you have a little doubt, YOU can do it. Here's how I sporadically studied the few months before NCLEX.
ATI (will help with core content but the question format on the NCLEX is different and the content lot deeper)
Prep U- I purchased this while in nursing school and I found it very helpful. I actually found the questions on this as hard as the NCLEX or at least up to par with it.
NCSBN (3 week course)- Did not like this course very much. The questions were helpful but the content I found to be very difficult to understand.
Priority and Delegation (Lacharity)- AMAZING book. Really helped with prioritization questions and delegation.
KAPLAN - I bought the 2012-2013 version of the book while in school and I feel the NCLEX questions are very similar to these. It has a really good comprehensive test in the back of the book along with several tests throughout. It also comes with a CD that has a 180 question practice test which was really helpful.
When you feel like you've exhausted all of your recourses, google free NCLEX questions and there are plenty of links that will take you to some. I printed 2 or 3 practice quizzes offline.
I'm going to be honest and say that I only studied a few times a week for 2-4 hours at a time. I have really bad ADD and my poor brain couldn't focus more than that. The day before my exam I used a really good study guide that I actually found on one of these threads. If you contact me I can email it to you. It helped me answer anywhere between 2-6 questions on NCLEX and every question counts! I got a hotel room the day before my test so I could limit distractions and study ,study, study. Like I said, If I can do it in 75 questions so can you!
Anyway, I was all over this site the week before my NCLEX and the two days after my exam reading stories and trying to find comfort and resolution so I figured I'd add my story in hopes to calm someone elses nerves. Just study and be positive and know that whether you take the NCLEX 1-8 times, you can be an amazing nurse.
HI! You probably don't go on here anymore since it's been 3 years... but this is worth a shot. Would you mind sending me that popular study guide you have to prep for the NCLEX? Thank you!!!
besaangel, ASN, BSN, MSN, CNA, RN, APRN, NP
430 Posts
Congrats to you, my dear. You deserve it!
Please add me for the study guide [email protected]... Thanks
Sent from my iPad using allnurses