My Experience Passing the NCLEX

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I decided that I needed to share my experience passing the NCLEX because every time I felt hopeless I came to this website and felt re-energized. First of all, I was born in South America, so my first language is not English. I started taking ESL classes 7 years ago, and right after that started doing my pre-requisites. It has taking me really long time to fulfill my dream. I am a single mother of three children, I also worked 3/4 times while going to school. My children's father was never in the picture and as I said before I am not from here so, I don't have family or support system, so I needed to work, take care of my babies, and go to school all on my own. I wish I could say I had bunch of friends, but I didn't. To make friends you need time, and that is the only thing I don't have. Well, I prepared myself really hard to get into nursing school and honestly I don't know what make the miracle. Maybe, that I am a minority, that I got 88% in my entrance exam, or that I bugged that people at my nursing school twice per week asking questions about every single thing. The day came and I started nursing school; it was interesting, and my favorite part were clinicals. I think, I did pretty good there. I forgot to mention that to get a foot in the door of the local hospital I also graduated as a CNA and a phlebotomist, so I worked both.

Nursing school was fun most of the time, but the reading was ridiculous and sometimes I didn't do it( I suggest you read, your life will be much easier) anyways, I always passed my test and because at my nursing school you can't not pass with a "C" I always passed with "A's" and "B's". I didn't make friends at nursing school because I didn't have time and also because I always thought I wasn't accepted by my peers( maybe my accent, my skin color, I don't know, but it was what I felt).

When I graduated on December of 2015, I waited everyday for my authorization to test because I needed to preparer. Honestly, I didn't think that nursing school really prepared me for this big task especially the last semester due to change in administration and teachers. So, the day came and scheduled my exam for February 6th. From the time I knew I could test and my test day I had three weeks. So, I developed an study plan:

I did at least 300 questions per day since the max for the NCLEX is 265 just in case I had to go all the way there. I didn't want to feel discouraged and I assumed from start that I would do all those questions, so I prepared myself emotionally. I used every single website on the internet, and also signed up for NCSBN NCLEX preparation that actually has the three weeks and HURST Review.

Both amazing resources, one would give me an idea of how the NCLEX states their questions and the other the content that I was missing. The NCSBN has a lot of reading and if you read it all then it makes it easier to answer their questions bank( it is very big). Honestly, my favorite was HURST not just because I could get my money back if I didn't pass, but because they were so good at explaining things and everything made finally sense. I played their videos five times each, and recorded them so when I was driving I could listen to their session. The day to take the NCLEX came and I was horrified. I downloaded some breathing relaxation exercises and listen to them my 2 and 1/2 hours drive( this was my way to the testing center).

When I sat on the exam, I was really nervous and followed all the directions they give you to don't mess up, then when my exam started I couldn't believed it was so familiar, and the questions were so easy. I was really afraid because you read all these things that when you find an easy question you are doing bad. So, I answer my first question and was easy, and I thought maybe it is easy because is the first question, so came the second question and was easier and then I worried because I thought I answered the first question wrong, so came the third question and was easy, and I thought that I also did the second question wrong, and so and forth. I was really worried because all my questions were easy and I thought in question 30 that I should stop thinking about how easy my questions were and start worrying about my questions because I was planning to be there for 6 hours until I hit question 265.

When I got to question 74, the computer stopped and asked me if I wanted to take a break, and I said hell yes, I am going to be here all day, so I left, I stretch, drank water, walked for a couple of minutes, and went back to my computer.

When I sat, I started my question number 75 and I thought, oh gosh another easy question, I pressed the save button, and my exam stopped. I finished the NCLEX with 75 questions!

I started freaking out what did I do, did I press the wrong button, the computer got disconnected, did I make too much noise. No, I passed the NCLEX. 5 days later I got my number on the State Board website, and went back to the place I was applying before to tell them when can I start working.

If I could, YOU CAN! don't give up, never give up.

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I found your post encouraging and inspirational. You have obviously overcome a lot of obstacles and have worked very hard. It's really nice to know that all your hard work has paid off.

Best wishes to you, and I hope you have a satisfying career as a nurse.

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I love this

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Congratulations on passing your nclex! I really enjoyed reading your story, you have really come a long way. I just got accepted, and I am super nervous! I am trying to stay on top of my game and study during the summer before it all begins. I was wondering if you wouldn't mind posting links of where you did all your nclex practices. I want to be prepared, and I am willing to do what it takes. I know you mentioned hurst as well, I'm not sure what that is but if you could direct me in the right direction! Thank you so much, I appreciate your time, and once again Congrats!!!

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