My NCLEX Experience

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Hi, all! I just graduated from an ADN program in December. I work part-time (3 days a week) as a CNA at a hospital. I love this floor (Med-surg and Hospice) and last fall my boss offered me a position as an RN. So needless to say, there were many, many people who knew I was taking the exam. I felt the pressure was on. During school I received mainly A's. However, my long-term memory isn't that great anymore!!

I decided to take the Kaplan on-line review. It's really good and comprehensive. However, I decided to pay the additional $81 to take the in-class review. I did their Q-bank twice as well as all their question trainers. I watched every single video (over 30 hours).

I woke up at 3am on days I had to be at work at 7am in order to study (I'm a morning person). My mother was worried I was going to have a nervous break down I was studying so much. I did questions and studied every single day. The day before the exam (last Monday) I woke up at 4am and studied. I took a break and went to lunch with a friend and came home and studied. The day of the exam I woke up at 3:30am and studied a little, mainly meds. This was how I prepared for tests during school so I kept with what worked.

I was really surprised by the "tight security" at the testing center. No watches, checking your pockets, pictures, tons of fingerprints. I put my earplugs in, said a short prayer, and got to work! The questions weren't as bad as I expected. Some I knew immediately. I had about 5 SATA, 5 meds, 1 peds, no math, infection control, delegration and prioritization. After question 75 I closed by eyes and hoped the screen would go blue. It did! (I took that as a good sign.) I finished the test in an hour. I had a pretty good feeling I passed. I actually went out shopping! The next day I started to second guess some of my answers, but because I was away in Florida with no computer access, I couldn't look up any of my answers. I was calling my husband every couple of hours to see if my results were up. In Illinois it's a 48 hour wait plus a $7.95 fee!! Yes, I passed!!!

We all know more than we give ourselves credit. Don't delay in taking the exam. Study, do questions and be confident. I usually go by my gut feeling. One "easy" question I was so sure I got wrong that made me begin to panic, in fact, I just found out I got it right!! Once I saw the question I immediately went with my "gut answer" which turned out to be correct.

Good luck to everyone waiting to take the NCLEX. This message board has been a source of inspiration. Although I don't post very often, I read all the stories. I wish you all the best of luck.

Kathy, RN

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Congrats and thanks for posting your experience

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:ancong!:

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Congratulations!thanks for sharing your nclex journey!

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:yeah:Congratulations!:yeah:Hi Kathy. I want to know what are your study materials and how did you manage studying since you're working? Thanks

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yownyown and a555 - fyi this post is from 2009!
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Hi Kathy.

Please tell me your strategies.

I took nclex rn 2/5 & wasnt sucessful. Retaking again 4/20.... Im doing Kaplan on demand & PDA LaCharity.

Im so down & going through so much. I pray I really make it this time by God's grace.

Thanks

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yownyown and a555 - fyi this post is from 2009!
______________________________________________yeahright and i know it was posted last 2009... i just want to congratulate and say thank you to her for sharing her nclex journey! and i think its just appropriate and there's nothing wrong eventhough the thread is posted couple of years ago.

and again, congrats and thank you kathyz for sharing this.

godbless!

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