My journey.... hoping to help you guys out there.....

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Hi everyone! So like anybody in here who posted their journey through NCLEX, I'll post mine also coz I promise myself and esp to GOD to share my experience... so here it is....

Foreign grad here. Graduated last 2010. Took my first NCLEX RN last November 2012 sadly I failed then 2nd on March, the 3rd one on July, then came September 11, 2013.

FIRST NCLEX : I just studied for 2 weeks and I was ready to fail.

SECOND NCLEX : Used Kaplan Online Classroom. AGAIN, I did not utilize it efficiently . I was slacking... I ran out of time on my NCLEX.

THIRD NCLEX : This one I started to get anxious and after many realizations which made me think I HAVE to make it this time. WHAT I DID -- signed up for HURST LIVE. Attended 2 classroom and watched ALL the videos once, answered the questions 1-5 with 70-75 scores. I was still anxious but wanted to get through this so I push thru my scheduled date. Took my NCLEX 3rd time and just like the 2nd time I RAN OUT OF TIME AGAIN. and my headache was killing me. I know I was failing.

FOURTH TIME : HURST - I went live but I did not like the classroom discussion at all, so I attended just ONCE coz I got disappointed and it was very confusing. And I thought of I already had enough information from my past 2 HURST LIVE CLASSROM and ONE time videos - I LOVED HURST tho. So I decided from this time till my scheduled exam I will only answer questions. And my friend who also took his 4th NCLEX recently -before I did , told me don't do content anymore just KEEP ON ANSWERING QUESTIONS.

AND I DID. For 1 MONTH I was just answering questions but before I started answering questions I decided to take time to read the KAPLAN STRATEGY book, it really helps. GREAT HELP. I did not answer their questions tho, Just the strategy on how to dissect, eliminate and answer the tricky questions. AFTER 2DAYS of reading, I started answering questions.

1st : was Saunders CD, I used the quiz 10 questions of COGNITIVE level then 10 ALTERNATE format then vice versa EVERY MORING. And I also put a note in my mind and on my wall that I HAVE TO do 100 Saunders question EVERY MORNING. ANSWER and RATIONALE.

2nd: then eat , rest and relax ( nap for 30-45 mins. ) . Then get up with a note in my mind to do more 100-200 questions (NCSBN 3 WEEK COURSE. ) for the rest of the day till I drop. PLEASE MAKE SURE NOT TO EXHAUST YOURSELF. But I want to do over the limit of my note to self. Then at night I go out to dinner with my boyfriend or family or just stay at home and de-stress myself by reading and watching movies. FOR 1 MONTH WITHOUT FAIL. WITHOUT FAIL. WITHOUT FAIL. STRICT COMPLIANCE!!!!

Before my exam I youtube NURSING SKILLS (dressing change, Blood transfusion, trachea care, stoma care, pressure ulcer care, 24H urine collection, mid urine collection, Central line catheter care, PICC care, all nursing skills you can think of. )

the morning before my exam I youtube NORMAL VALUES, INFECTION CONTROL PRECAUTION, PPE etc.

the rest of the day I did not touch my study materials, nothing. I took NCLEX out of my mind. I watched movies and dinner with my boyfriend.

MY NCLEX was scheduled 2PM Sept. 11. So the morning I ate heavy breakfast -salmon, bbq chicken over rice. Then went to my testing area 11AM went to church and had a very light lunch -salad. I bought 80% dark chocolate but was not able to eat it coz I forgot.

2PM came and my heart did not stop pounding though I felt so calm, really calm and relax while answering the questions.

COnsumed the 6H and 265 questions. This time I did not take a break, did not even stand for 1 second. Coz I realized to use my break time in answering my questions. Of course, I kept on praying my computer to shut down but it didn't. Every time my screen asks me to take a break I get anxious coz I thought this is it but no. So I kept on answering the questions. To make the long story short I had

25-30 SATA's, 2ECG, 5-10 drag and drop, tons of Infection Control, gazillion of Priority q's. As far as I can remember my last 60 q's was more PRIORITY and SATA's.

My last 60's was a minute per question coz I don't want to ran out of time again. and luckily, no headache.

Did the PVT trick when I got home and boooomed!!!!!!! I got the happiest pop up!!!

I wanna insert that I have been using La Charity since my first NCLEX so I was not having any trouble answering priority questions. I used exam-cram on my 2nd time.

so to sum it up I used

La Charity

Exam Cram

Saunders book

Saunders CD

Kaplan - I forgot my scores maybe around 50-65 %

Kaplan Strategy Book - this really helps when they asked me questions that I don't have any clue what's the answer. I SWEAR.

HURST - 70-75 SCORES

NCSBN 3 week course - 30-80% ( twice 30% coz I got distracted )

YOUTUBE

By the way, I was familiar with the type of questions I will get since it will be my 4th time already but sadly there was no same questions from my previous exams. NO COMPUTATION (the last 3 I had computations) . The questions was just totally different from my past 3 exams.

and most IMPORTANTLY PRAY PRAY PRAY PRAY PRAY never forget to feed your spiritual needs.

"I can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens me" -Philippians 4:13

TO GOD BE THE ULTIMATE GLORY.

P.S. hit me up if you want to ask something. Coz I promised I will post and share my experience to help others....

PLEASE DON'T GIVE UP.

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Congratulations :yes:

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Thank you!!!!!!! such an amazing feeling!

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Specializes in Alzheimers.

Congratulations!!! I hope to see that same pop up soon!! My question is...is there a certain book u used to help with SATA's? Im studying Lacharity and Saunders.....2nd question...did you find the youtube videos super helpful for the exam? Thanks a bunch...totally appreciate your help..again congrats!!!

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I just took nclex for the third time freaking out so scared to look to see if I passed shut off at 75q

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Specializes in Alzheimers.

try the pvt trick dori1987!!! exciting!!!

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I'm in a similar boat. I just took my exam on Sept 19 and did not get the good pop up. This is my second time to take it and I am feeling discouraged...

I thought about doing the same plan you have mentioned in your post: Doing the Saunders quiz and exam questions every morning and setting a limit and increasing it to as much as I can do while not exhausting myself. I did Kaplan first and then Hurst review. I slacked on Kaplan, but really studied with Hurst. I only finished 5 out of 6 of the Q-review exams. But even then I wasn't doing any other questions. I guess that is the trick, is to just keep doing questions and reviewing their rationales.

Congrats on passing!! :)

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Specializes in Alzheimers.

Hi lunemeister! Im sorry to hear that....I too was doing the Kaplan online but it was horribly boring I found my self sleeping during the lectures..I was so upset was myself for sleeping :( So I changed my studies to Saunders and Remar review which keeps me awake and interested. Hope this works for me, my test is coming up super quick, next week!

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As with SATA's I didnot use any book but I used NCLEX 3500 -ugh forgot to mention this- alternate format and Saunders CD alternate format, great great help!

For the 2nd question, yes! Very much for the drag and drop type question. I had 10-15 of those .

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Please don't be discouraged. I understand how it feels for aomeone like me who went tru the same ordeal 4 times. Just keep on praying. And be more confident this time. Be prepared for this battle and do as many questions as you can everyday without fail and read the rationales, strict compliance.

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GODBLESS!!!

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Thanks for sharing

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