Long time lurker...first time poster

Published

short story:

recently passed nclex-rn on the 3rd try after 90 minutes & 75 questions. loads of priority, infection control, 18 sata, a couple delegation, 4 meds, 2 diagrams, 1 audio, 1 drag-n-drop, no math.

long story:

graduated from an accelerated bsn program in december 2008. first took the test in february 2009, failed with the full 265. already had a job lined up. fortunately, they let me stay on in a support role so i was still exposed to the hospital environment. was pressured to take it again (before i felt ready) in july 2009, failed with 135. took the next year and a half to figure out that nursing is what i really wanted because i saw some really shoddy nursing when i was in the hospital.

decided finally that this is what i want after realizing that there are people in every profession who have no business being in that profession. and don't get me wrong, there are a lot of phenomenal nurses. i just happened to see my fair share of non-phenomenal nurses.

so anyway, i didn't really change up my study plan. that is, i didn't have a structured study plan. i've read all the books/posts saying give yourself 3 hrs. a day for a couple months and stick to it, yada, yada, yada. that's merely a suggestion. you have to find what works for you. i just answered questions and reviewed ones i got wrong. i would set aside at least an hour a day and if i went extra great, if i didn't go extra, great. and it obviously worked.

that being said, my study material consisted of 2010 davis q&a, pda by linda lacharity (the best!), and the infection control pneumonic on this website. i took kaplan the first time and i hated it! the strategies are good, but the class portion is a joke! unfortunately i chose to repeat the course instead of getting my money back and still failed. most people swear by it, but i swear at it! again, find what works for you!

i want to say one final thing: please do not ignore the power of prayer. i'm conflicted about this because i do not adhere to any organized religion. i absolutely believe in a higher power, but i don't go to church nor do i even pray everyday. however, i certainly prayed this time around (something i didn't do the first two times). i prayed to god and st. joseph of cupertino to watch over me and keep me calm. i did that the night before the test and in the hallway after check-in at pearsonvue. i kid you not, i was so calm throughout the test and i was breathing so well that when the screen went blue after 75 i knew i had passed. i also got questions that i knew--something that is referenced in the prayers...coincidence??? i prayed again after i left and thanked them both for watching over me. i copied this from the february 2011 test takers thread (pg 10, i think):

this powerful prayer is very effective in examinations. it has to be said before appearing in the examination. there are two variants to this prayer. both the prayers are equally effective. you can choose any one of these:-

first prayer

o great st. joseph of cupertino who while on earth did obtain from god the grace to be asked at your examination only the questions you knew, obtain for me a like favour in the examinations for which i am now preparing. in return i promise to make you known and cause you to be invoked.

through christ our lord.

st. joseph of cupertino, pray for us.

amen.

second prayer

o st. joseph of cupertino who by your prayer obtained from god to be asked at your examination, the only preposition you knew. grant that i may like you succeed in the (here mention the name of examination) examination.

in return i promise to make you known and cause you to be invoked.

o st. joseph of cupertino pray for me

o holy ghost enlighten me

our lady of good studies pray for me

sacred head of jesus, seat of divine wisdom, enlighten me.

and here's an extra one for good measure:

prayer to st. joseph of cupertino for success in examinations

o humble st. joseph of cupertino, singularly favored by god in overcoming the difficulties of study and the worries of examinations, implore the holy spirit to enlighten my mind and strengthen my memory in the search of his truth and wisdom. help me especially in the decisive moments of this examination, protecting me from that forgetfulness and disturbing anxiety which often affect me. may i succeed in offering god my finest work and may i grow in knowledge, understanding, humility and charity. may everything that i attempt to learn in life be offered in faithful service to god, from whom flows that wisdom which leads to eternal life. amen.

st. joseph of cupertino, pray for me.

our lady of good studies, pray for me.

holy spirit, enlighten me!

in closing, i must thank the members of this wonderful website for their insight into preparing for the nclex and offering their support and non-judgmental attitudes toward everyone who will be taking it. and for those of you repeat test-takers, take comfort in the fact that everyone gets to that goal (rn) in the end...we all take different routes to get there. remember, you got through school. you have the knowledge. apply it and conquer this beast! start soaring in nursing:)

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Specializes in EMI Nursing Home.

@ uaefan:

thank you for posting your prayers. it will greatly help us too.. congratulations for making it!:yeah::yeah::yeah:

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:ancong!:

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Specializes in Family Medicine.

Thanks for posting your story and prayers!

Congrats on passing! :)

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Thanks for posting this prayer. Congratulations! Thanks for posting your NCLEX experience, it helps me calm down. :)

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Specializes in Hospice.

congratulations!!!

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Thank you all for the kudos. Please know I meant to say "mnemonic" not "pneumonic." Although I would hope you all knew what I meant.

I also meant to post that you should go into the NCLEX with the EXPECTATION of passing, not the HOPE of passing. This test is designed so that every single person walking out of PearsonVue thinks that they failed. That's normal. But if you studied, slept well, ate a great breakfast (I had Cinnamon Toast Crunch, toast, a banana, and a glass of OJ), there is no reason that you should fail. It's been said over and over and I will continue the broken record: I'M GOING TO PASS NCLEX! Positive thinking (and prayer) are key to passing this exam. Ever since I passed I've been sending out good vibes to all future test-takers every night before bed. You CAN and you WILL pass!!

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Thank you all for the kudos. Please know I meant to say "mnemonic" not "pneumonic." Although I would hope you all knew what I meant.

I also meant to post that you should go into the NCLEX with the EXPECTATION of passing, not the HOPE of passing. This test is designed so that every single person walking out of PearsonVue thinks that they failed. That's normal. But if you studied, slept well, ate a great breakfast (I had Cinnamon Toast Crunch, toast, a banana, and a glass of OJ), there is no reason that you should fail. It's been said over and over and I will continue the broken record: I'M GOING TO PASS NCLEX! Positive thinking (and prayer) are key to passing this exam. Ever since I passed I've been sending out good vibes to all future test-takers every night before bed. You CAN and you WILL pass!!

hi uaefan... i found it and copied and prayed this everyday... thank you so much..

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Ann,

Happy to give you some more motivation:) I'll definitely keep you in my thoughts as you continue to prepare. I promise you, I never felt so in control as I did after saying those prayers then sitting down in PearsonVue and clicking through the questions. I guarantee you will feel so relaxed. All the best for your FINAL NCLEX exam:)

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Ann,

Happy to give you some more motivation:) I'll definitely keep you in my thoughts as you continue to prepare. I promise you, I never felt so in control as I did after saying those prayers then sitting down in PearsonVue and clicking through the questions. I guarantee you will feel so relaxed. All the best for your FINAL NCLEX exam:)

thank you again auefan;).. you are an angel.... god bless you

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Ann,

Happy to give you some more motivation:) I'll definitely keep you in my thoughts as you continue to prepare. I promise you, I never felt so in control as I did after saying those prayers then sitting down in PearsonVue and clicking through the questions. I guarantee you will feel so relaxed. All the best for your FINAL NCLEX exam:)

thank you again auefan;).. you are an angel.... god bless you

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I just want to say thank you soooo much for your post. I have been so upset about this exam. I graduated last year in May from a BSN program and attempted it in Oct, got all 265 and failed. I am a single mother of two with no job and it is sooooo stressful! I want this sooo bad!! My test was scheduled for today and I rescheduled it for Friday and bc I still don't feel ready I was about to reschedule again tonight but something told me to come check Allnurses, like I do quite often when I need inspiration or to just feel like someone understands what i'm going through. I'm not going to reschedule! I'm going to walk in and take this exam on faith! I truly feel like nursing is my calling, bc nothing else in life brings me more joy than being able to help someone or make their life better!!! So please if possible could u add me to your prayers and please don't stop posting bc you never know whose life, your simple words or testimonies can turn around or make so much better!!!!

Thank you again!!!!!!

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