Just Took NCLEX

[nurse1031]

Hi everyone! I just took my NCLEX last Friday and I wanted to post on here to hopefully return the favor of peace of mind that this website provided me with during the days between taking the test and waiting for my results.

To start with, I graduated from Nursing school December 15th and I took my NCLEX February 1st. I gave myself time over the Holidays to move home from school and enjoy time with my family and began my studying January 1st, giving myself a full four weeks of preparation. I mainly used the Kaplan program, went through all of the Q-banks and also looked through the Saunders Book a bit as well when I wanted more specific information.

On Q-banks, I was scoring consistently in the 56%-64% range and had the occasional 70%. My school told me that scoring around a 60% indicates that you have a 95% chance of passing the NCLEX.

When test day came, I was fully expecting to finish the exam in 75 questions (even though everyone tells you not to go in with that mindset). When the exam didn't shut off at 75, I began to panic a bit but tried to keep my cool. Then the exam went to 100, 125, 150, and I started to really worry. I made myself take a break and get up to go to the bathroom which was nice to clear my head and refocus. When I came back, I took 15 more questions and finally my exam shut off at 165 questions.

Walking out of the exam, I truly felt as though I had failed and was so disappointed with how different the actual experience was from what I had worked so hard to prepare. I'm not going to lie, the next 48 hours were really difficult as I awaited my results. I had a trip planned with some girlfriends which I am very glad I did because it allowed me to somewhat take my mind off the test, I would highly recommend this. All in all though, I truly felt sick to my stomach and was not able to eat much that weekend.

I found myself constantly googling answers to questions I knew I had gotten wrong, especially the last few questions because I thought that my entire test would be decided based on those last few questions. My final question was not a SATA which made me feel as though it wasn't challenging enough and I had failed. I woke up at 5 am both mornings and went on this website searching through any conversation I could find that had someone who said they passed the exam in 165 questions.

Finally, on Sunday morning I worked up the courage to go on the Pearson website and the word "PASS" displayed on my screen. This was truly the best moment of my life.

I'm writing this post in hopes that someone experiencing those brutal 48 hours of waiting for their results will read this and find comfort because I know how much I truly relied on the words of others during that time.

If it helps you at all, I had many friends who finished in 75 questions and thought they failed who ended up passing, one of my best friends finished in 100 and passed, I finished in 165 and passed, and I had two other friends who took the entire 265 questions and passed.

I hope that by reading this post you gain some comfort and have peace of mind in knowing that just because you didn't finish in 75 questions does not mean that you failed. Try to distract yourself during those 48 hours and hope for the best. I know you can do it!

[Lev, MSN, RN, NP]

Congrats RN!!

[RN18NewGrad]

Thank you for this, currently in the 48 hour waiting period. I took my exam yesterday and I felt/feel horrible about it. I had all 265 questions and left feeling VERY discouraged. It is nice to know that some of your friends passed taking the same amount of questions. This wait is killing me!!!