It's OFFICIAL!!! Tips and Encouragement from a Second Timer!

Cheers! You have finally graduated nursing school, celebrated with your friends and started to enjoy the afterlife as a new grad nurse! Just as you begin to accept that the torment of nursing school is finally over, you realize you have one more monster to tackle: the NCLEX. As a two time test taker, I have come face to face with this exam more than once, and humbly offer you my two cents: tips, motivation, encouragement and advice.

It's OFFICIAL!!! Tips and Encouragement from a Second Timer!

I AM OFFICIALLY A REGISTERED NURSE!!!!!! :angrybird5: :nurse:

I received the good pop up Monday, and today my board of nursing has posted me to their website and sent me my RN licensure document. WHAT A BLESSING!!! I am seriously on top of the world!!

First of all, I wanted to thank all of you. This forum has helped encourage, motivate and inspire along the way, especially when the going was tough!! You guys are awesome. I loved reading the success stories here, so I am posting mine, in hopes it will help others!

I graduated last December with my BSN. I took NCLEX as soon as I could schedule myself in January and failed with 265 questions. I was absolutely devastated (I'm sure you can look at my 'threads,' and see where my head was at!)

I lost my position in a sweet residency program, and when that happened I ended up taking a few weeks to wallow in my sadness and self-pity.... LOL! I have a 10-month-old little angel, and after about a week, I realized I was finding a lot of happiness in hanging out with him, and started changing my perspective. I realized that I had come SO far already (especially with being pregnant and then having a newborn in nursing school), and that it was ridiculous for me to be beating myself up! I started embracing this time I hadn't planned for with my son, and started becoming strong again. After about three weeks, I began preparing again! Here's what I did:

The First time I took the NCLEX and failed...

I took the HURST online review. After my second preparation, in retrospect, I am positive I did not give it my all, or use my resources to the best of my ability. :sorry:

The Second time I took the NCLEX and passed...

I spent a total of 5 weeks preparing.

Week 1

I completed all 800+ of the Hurst remediation questions. I did exactly what they said, and answered the simple questions in my own words, then went back and corrected them in red ink. From there, I was able to see strengths VS weaknesses. I was extremely poor with GI and Respiratory.

Week 2

I went through the core content packet I filled out the first time I prepared and studied. I then went over those sections in the remediation packet and quizzed myself until I could answer every question for that section.

Week 3 and 4

I watched the videos (online lectures) for the areas I saw I was the weakest in. I took notes. I studied the core content over and over and then quizzed myself on those areas with the remediation Q&A.

Week 5 (The final week.)

I took the six 125 question Qreviews, which I had already completed once back in January. They won't reset it for you (I asked), so I just enlarged the font on my computer to where I couldn't see the correct answer, kept my score to the side, and then carefully read the rationale as I went. I also took notes as I went, which I never referred back to, but I think that helped me commit things to my long term memory. My first scores ranged from 77-88. The second time, my scores were from 85-99.

I went to the CDC website and read the 2007 document on infection control. I made certain that I understood the differences between Standard, Contact, Droplet and Airborne.

I carefully read this 35-page study guide circulating the internet. On the first few pages, there are amazing tools for remembering infection control. This REALLY helped me on NCLEX!! :up: I realized my first time around that I was very weak in that area. Also, under Hurst's 5th-day materials, there is a good infection control chart. Know this stuff!

I flipped through the Saunders NCLEX review book (6th edition), reading the boxes for most of the chapters. I took the 75-question comprehensive exam in the back of the book and carefully reviewed the rationales.

I researched testing strategies. I literally wrote down ABC and MASLOW on my dry erase paper they provided, and made SURE to remember this for priority questions. I remember using this strategy several times: if the question contains polar opposites like hypertension and hypotension for example, the answer is usually one of these.

The weekend before my exam (I took mine on Monday)

I limited myself to a couple hours a day of reviewing materials. I didn't try to teach myself anything new, strictly review of the same content I mentioned above.

I enjoyed a weekend visit from out of town family... kept my mind off of freaking out this time. I tried really hard not to focus on the pressure of the exam.

The night before, I told myself, if you fail, IT'S OKAY!! Give it your very best, and whatever happens, it will be okay. I prepared myself for failing this time and tried really hard not to get too excited about passing. This helped relieve pressure for me, and so I stayed much calmer and focused.

NCLEX DAY (number 2)

I took my exam at 2 pm instead of 8 am. I slept in, had fun with my baby, ate well, and listened to dance music.

I arrived a few minutes early, and since it was St. Patty's day, I looked up a St. Patty's day prayer! LOL. I prayed really hard for God's will for me, and I walked in feeling pretty confident.

I had 168 questions. I had so many SATA that I lost count, several hotspots, 1 math, 2 EKGs, lots of meds, several correct order and tons of priority and teaching. I knew I was in higher level questions for the majority of the exam, and I did my best.

This time I allowed myself several breaks! (last time I sat through the entire 265 questions without even thinking of a break... haha)... I brought snacks and water. If I started feeling stressed, or got a question I felt worried about, I would take a break and walk around and think about it. It really helped!

Cried my whole way home, because I was 99% sure I passed this time. Got the good pop up when I got home... and the rest is history! :cool:

Whether you are taking NCLEX for the first time, second or multiple times, I believe in you!! You can do it!!! Believe in yourself, trust in God, and study hard. Whatever review method you choose, stick with it, and give it your all. Give yourself a schedule, and remember to give yourself plenty of time to decompress, enjoy life and put this exam into perspective!

Lots of Love:)

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Lillian11

About Lillian11

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Congrats!!! Thanks for all the tips!

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Congrats!! :) I'm taking mine in April. I hear they no longer give the meds together it will either be classification or generic. So I'm praying hard. I'm using Kaplan review, & saunders just to look up stuff if im not sure of something & nclex 4000. I just hope I'm not overwhelming myself with so much material.

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Your story is motivating Lillian11 awesome!!

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Specializes in Cardiac.
Congrats!!! Thanks for all the tips!

:) welcome!!

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Specializes in Cardiac.
Congrats!! :) I'm taking mine in April. I hear they no longer give the meds together it will either be classification or generic. So I'm praying hard. I'm using Kaplan review, & saunders just to look up stuff if im not sure of something & nclex 4000. I just hope I'm not overwhelming myself with so much material.

Yes, they only give one med name. I didn't spend a long time on meds, to be honest. I made sure I knew the basics, and tried not to focus on too many... You will do great!! Just remember to give whatever review you choose your 100%.... it can be distracting and frustrating if you are focusing on too many different techniques/reviews/books at once. I decided to trust HURST, and I'm glad I did. A good friend of mine gave Kaplan all she had, and passed the first time! You got this!! :)

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Specializes in Cardiac.
Your story is motivating Lillian11 awesome!!

I'm so glad!! ;)

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Congrats! I took my exam this morning and I got the good pop-up. Hoping to have the same result :)

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Specializes in Cardiac.
Congrats! I took my exam this morning and I got the good pop-up. Hoping to have the same result :)

YAY!!! You will!! PVT works!! CONGRATS, RN!!!! :nurse:

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Thanks Lillian11 for the feedback I appreciate it :)

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I was crying right after my exam because it was really hard. Around 30 SATAs. But the good pop up made me feel better. :)) Again, congrats!

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Specializes in Psychiatri.

Congrats! I'm using Hurst as well.. finally finished watching all of the online lectures. Now covering 1-2 topics a day to make sure I know it without a doubt or hesitation!

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