NCLEX-PN 2016!!! 10 Day Cram!

My journey to take the NCLEX-PN has been challenging. With friends and family forcing me to take the exam, and doubting me, I finally realized I needed to make this important decision on my own terms. I enjoyed life after nursing school! I felt I deserved it! I traveled and partied. After alot of relaxation I am hit with taking the exam within 10 days because of the 6 month expiration. I studied meticulously for 10 days and I took the exam. I passed! Nurses Announcements Archive Article

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NCLEX-PN 2016!!! 10 Day Cram!

I just took the NCLEX-PN mid July. Surprisingly I passed! Here is my journey up to the exam and why I say "surprisingly."

The Background Story

I graduated from LVN school December 2015. Everyone and I mean everyone was rushing to take the exam as soon as they received the ATT (authorization to test). I on the other hand didn't feel ready. I felt so much pressure from family, friends, and classmates to take my exam. Comments like, "You need to hurry and take the exam or you'll forget everything," or "You need to take it now or else you aren't going to take it at all." It caused me to feel anxious and stressed. I decided that I needed to be in control of my own future, and if I wanted to wait and take the exam at a later date, that's exactly what I was going to do. And I did just that! I traveled and partied, I was enjoying life. I knew the test wasn't going anywhere.

The Dilemma

July 2016 rolls around and I try to postpone my exam until August but for some reason I kept getting an error. I contacted NCBSN and to my demise I found out the exam has an expiration date (6 months after registering). I registered in January and the test expiration was in July. YIKES! It was already July 5th and my exam was set for July 15. This meant I had only 10 days to study. I had opened the book a few times but I honestly I wouldn't consider it good solid studying. I thought of becoming a no show then re-registering for the exam. This option would allow me to schedule an exam without possibly failing and having to wait some months. I quickly changed my mind because of my close friends and family telling me to go for it and that there was nothing to lose.

STUDYING

Cramming for the exam in 10 days was tricky. I had a full work week as well. I spent 3-4 hours with practice questions and I also used YouTube to freshen up on my anatomy and physio. I used the Kaplan book and Exam cram. I also googled test questions and topics normally found on the NCLEX. While I was in my car I listened to YouTube videos on pharmacology. I didn't spend too many hours on studying because that doesn't work for me. I know some people who can study 8+ hours, and cheers to them! The night before the exam I studied lightly. Since my appointment was at 2pm, I relaxed and ate breakfast and looked over a cram sheet.

The Exam

I was there 40min early. The earlier the better to prevent the added stress of being late. I brought snacks and water. They check you in and scan your palm and take your picture. You get a a locker which can fit a regular sized backpack. I took a deep breath and thought positive thoughts. I walked into the exam room and I thought to myself, "Omg! This is really happening!" After answering some questions I realized the exam was very very similar to the Kaplan on line tests that comes with the book. I had no calculations and barely any lab values. I took 2 bathroom/stretching breaks. Once I got to question 85 my heart dropped. This could be the end or the beginning of a long string of questions. *CLICK* the test shuts down and I'm finished. I'm both relieved and anxious. Does this mean I answered enough right to pass, or I answered so many wrong the test gave up on me. Only time would tell.

After the Storm

I'm in my car thinking about the exam. It causes us to doubt ourselves and second guess our actions. Everyone asked how the test was and the only way I could describe it was both hard and easy. Most of the time I had to pick the most right of the answers, which is hard. But I also knew how to pick out the completely out of place and wrong answer there was. I did the Pearson Vue trick (PVT). You need to register for another exam, and put in credit card info (put the wrong expiration date and security code so it doesn't go through). If you supposedly pass, you receive a message saying that you have already registered for an exam and you can not register at this time. I'm not sure what is says if you fail.

Oh Happy Day

After checking everyday using PVT I finally got the letter a week later. And today I can now call myself an LVN. Moral of the story..... It's only you sitting in that seat taking the NCLEX, and only you know when you're ready, don't let anyone else force/pressure you into doing some YOU aren't ready to do! Good luck on your exam or Congrats on passing! Cheers!

LPN; I am a newbie nurse interested in growth. I hope to ease the pain of the world with my new skill set and passion to care.

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Congratulations! Wow, 10 days, that's a new one. I do agree, that there is always a lot of pressure from people (family, friends, instructors, etc) to hurry up & test, but I personally know people who did just as you did & took a break to breath & enjoy life, tested up to a year or later, & STILL passed! Everyone is different. I never could of done it in 10 days, but 4 months was good enough, lol.

cmurr1004

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I am about to start school for my LPN this September and I have already had dreams/nightmares about taking the NCLEX. When I took my TEAS to get into this program, I realized what my true strengths with test taking are. I can read and re-read notes to prepare for a test but if I don't really put pressure on myself to take breaks and have short, driven, study sessions - I don't do as well (no 8 hour study sesh over here!). I don't think I am 10 - day - cram brave, but congratulations on reaching for and achieving your goal! I hope to have a similar post come summer 2018 :)

Congratulations!!!!