My NCLEX Journey!! :)

Published Oct 3, 2012

16 Posts

Hey everyone! I have been on this website for a while, looking at people's NCLEX journeys and decided to share mine! And I just decided today to make an account after taking my NCLEX (got the good pop that everyone talks about).

I studied on/off for a month and did at least 1 qbank set everyday. I took two hours for 77 questions. I had about (give or take) 8 SATA, 1 Exhibit, 3 Put in order, and 4 math.

Here's what I used to prepare/practice test scores:

LaCharity's PDA book, Hurst Review, Kaplan

For Lacharity my scores ranged from as low as 25% (yes, that low!) to as high as a 91%. This was great for reinforcing who does what, who do you see first, etc. and I feel like NCLEX was more like this.

For Hurst, I never took the exams but I just watched the videos for content (used those to prepare for HESI and NCLEX). It was great because I felt like they explained it casually with humor too but also helped me understand the topics better. I don't know if I would have done well without it because it helped to reinforce content as well (it was the only thing I used for content. I didn't use Saunders like most did.)

For Kaplan, I did 100% of the Qbank and scores ranged from as low as 40% to as high as 71% and it came out to an average of 59%. Sample 1: 62, Sample 2: 52, Sample 3: 72

Here were my scores:

Diagnostic: 55, QT1: 56, QT2: 55, QT3: 53, QT4: 55, QT5: 54, QT6: 62, QT7: 64, Readiness: 64

As you can see, my scores are all over the place. I would see people here with consistent 60s and ask "Am I ready?" and I would be here with my 50s and be doubtful but even with scores like mine, you can pass. I have heard that if you get 50+ on the tests, you are ready to sit but Kaplan just has high standards and suggests a 65 - but that's just what I've heard.

My NCLEX Experience:

My test was at 8am and I even adjusted my sleep schedule to wake up at 6am since I've been waking up at noon and sleeping at 3am everyday. The night before, I went to bed at 10:30 and was tossing and turning and decided to take a peak at the clock and it was 11:30! Then I guess I dozed off a little and woke up and it was 12:30! I was so annoyed at myself but eventually I fell asleep and woke up at 5:30am wide awake (I guess the adrenaline helped to relieve my sleepiness).

I got to the testing center, did the finger printing, got my picture taken, etc. and sat down to take the test. I won't be saying what the questions were like exactly since that's not allowed but the first few seemed like they were easy to figure out but I kept doubting myself. I got to my first SATA at around question 20 and I was like "Okay, I'm in the higher levels!" but I was never good at them and the next question seemed easier and I was scared that I was getting below the passing level. It went back and forth with a SATA question, then a regular question, then a drag and drop, then a regular question, etc. I got to question 75 and realized it was already past 10:00am (I had taken two hours for the first 75 and was scared I would run out of time if I reached 265). Once it allowed me to go to question 76, I was freaking out and hid the question number. Then it went to the next one and it was super easy and I was like "I guess I'm here for a while" then the computer turned blue and I was done!

What made me scared was that my previous question was easy (I thought it was) and thought I failed because it ended like that. I went with my friend to Starbucks and did the PVT trick and it said "Our records indicate...." It felt like a weight off my shoulders! I had been on this site reading every single thread about the trick and everyone who had it passed so I took their word for it :)

NCLEX Tips:

- If you are doing Kaplan, do the readiness test a few days before your NCLEX around the same time you take it. I took my readiness the day before my NCLEX at the same time and got a 64%. I treated it like the real NCLEX and took my time. The day of the test, I felt like it was another Qbank I was doing.

- Read your rationales for ALL practice questions. During the test if I was doubtful, I would think "What would Kaplan/Lacharity say if I picked this?"

- Take your time! During my qbanks I rushed through some because I wanted to get it over with/see the rationales already. During the NCLEX I decided to take my time for each one which I guess helped me out.

- Don't be nervous! Remember 86% (according to the NCSBN brochure they gave us in the test center) pass on their first try. You made it through nursing school for a reason. And think of all the people before you who passed. You are no different from them!

- Go into the test expecting 150 questions minimum. Once I got to question 60, I kept thinking "Yay! Only 15 more and I'm done" and then at 61 I was like "14 more!" but don't do that! It will only distract you and may rush you from really understanding the question. And that way when you get past question 75 you won't freak out like I did.

I realize this post is long so thank you to everyone who took the time to read it!! All the NCLEX passers here have helped me so much with their experiences that I wanted to do the same for all the future RNs out there. Hopefully this helps and if you have any questions or concerns let me know and I'll be glad to reply back! :)