Hello! I took my boards here in western PA this past Thursday, January 24th, 2013. I graduated Dec 7, 2012 and within days of completing the NCLEX Prep workshop, I had my ATT in hand. I studied, reviewed and did anywhere from 100-200 questions per day,taking weekends off.
Wednesday night came, I got a good night sleep, felt really prepared for the NCLEX the next morning in Pittsburgh. I was confident. I didn't struggle in nursing school, scored a 98% on my NCLEX predictor in school - I HAD THIS!
Sat down, 4 EKG strips, many ordered processes and I swear at least 20 select all that apply. Waiting and waiting for the questions to get harder. Thinking, this cannot be good, why aren't they getting harder - aren't they SUPPOSED to get harder?! The computer shut off at 160. I was devastated at this point. But I also knew in my gut (trust your gut, by the way) that I had gotten the very last question correct. That was a good sign, right?!
Until I got home, that is. I did the Pearson Vue "Trick". Well the screen came up for me to put in my credit card information. That isn't a good sign, they said. It means you failed, they said. I felt like the world was ending. And let's face it, to a new graduate nurse - IT WAS! The PVT is almost 100% accurate, afterall. I checked that site I know 20 times and had a friend of mine check it from their computer miles away - still showing a cc page to purchase a new exam. How could I come this far and FAIL. The dreaded F word.
I kept telling myself, well I can retake it in 45 days. But what do I tell my three children who had helped me along the way through school. What kind of example is being set? By midnight Thursday night I had resigned myself to the fact that I was retaking the NCLEX. I had a game plan in mind and the next morning I was going to the bookstore and buying a Kaplan book.
The next morning as I readied myself to go to the bookstore and put my plan in action. I sat at the computer, figured I'd check the PA Board of Nursing site and confirm what PVT had told me the day before. Well guess what folks, PVT was wrong. As of yesterday,January 25, 2013, I am indeed a Registered Nurse in the state of Pennsylvania! I'm happy, my husband is happy and my three kids are just so tickled to see Mom accomplish this goal. So please, be wary of the PV Trick, it's not 100%.
