My sister & I wrote the NCLEX-RN exam at the same time, she did 75 Q's & I did 265 Q's...

Published

Hey everybody, I wanted to write this to give courage to people who feel defeated. Don't give up! :)

Studying Process: My sister and I are both in the same nursing program, she's 3 years older and we both took Kaplan as it was recommended to us by our University. It took us 2 months straight of pure studying, constant practicing and answering questions, we answered all of the q banks, q trainers and reviewed content on all of the questions/topics we got wrong on. I was getting in the low 50's and I was becoming so frustrated because I couldn't break into the 60's. I worked hard, I realized that when answering questions I would freak out too much and second guess my answer, therefore, leading me to choose the incorrect answer. Luckily, I eventually made it into the low 60's. On the readiness test I got a 64%. On the other hand, my sister's scores would always keep gradually increase and she would be consistently in the mid/high 60's and sometimes 70's. On her readiness test she got a 67%. Through out this entire process of studying, I was a nervous wreck because I REALLY WANTED to pass on the first try and I wanted to be an RN so bad!!

Exam day: We both took the NCLEX-RN exam on 06/13, during the same day and same time. I mentally told myself to prepare to write 265 questions and if it does not turn off a 75Q's then to keep going because that means I am still in the game. About an hour, my sister raises her hand and she was finished. At this point, I was close to 75Q mark. After I submitted my answer for the 75th question, it went to the 76th question and I was devastated. Again, I told myself not to give up, I know more than I think and if I keep getting questions, then I am still in the game. I ended up writing the dreaded 265 questions. When I finished writing my exam; I felt devastated, defeated, sad, hopeless and I felt like I was in a nightmare. My sister picked me up after my exam was done and I cried my eyes out on the way home and when I got home, I could not stop crying because I thought I definitely failed. My sister wrote 75 questions, she felt confident but there's always that doubt in your head and I wrote 265 questions feeling like I failed. Two different ends of the spectrum.

Results: Since we live in Canada and getting licensed in both Canada and the US, the quick results were unavailable to us, so we had to wait for letters to come through the mail to tell us whether we failed or not. We were both to scarred to try the pop up trick due to different mixed reviews. The longest three days later, we received our letters, we opened our mail at the same time and we BOTH PASSED!!!

So, I just wanted to let people know that there is hope for everyone, do not give up if you wrote the dreaded 265 questions. My sister and I are living proof that it does not matter the amount of questions you receive.

Thanks for reading :) Good luck!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Congrats to both of you, a great lesson for everyone who feels horrible just due to the amount of questions they got!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Congratulations to you all! I'm sure it's a relief to know that you've passed. :yes:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospice, Palliative Care.

First off, congratulations. Secondly, did either of you really "wrote the NCLEX-RN exam?"

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Congratulations

Up Vote Up Vote ×
First off, congratulations. Secondly, did either of you really "wrote the NCLEX-RN exam?"

Thank you! We didn't pre-say "write" the test, I guess more like we "took" the NCLEX? If that is the correct wording of it, lol.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.

In Canada they call it "writing" a test. So you can get licensed in both the US and Canada?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
In Canada they call it "writing" a test. So you can get licensed in both the US and Canada?

Sorry to confuse anyone, but we "took" the computer adaptive testing NCLEX-RN exam and yes, we are now able to work both in Canada and the US but we just need to be licensed under the states'/provinces' board of nursing. :)

They made the NCLEX-RN exam nation wide two years ago.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Congrats!!! So happy for you guys!

my sister and I are on the exact same boat! Were twins and we're taking ours next week at the same day and time. ive been getting consistently low scores in the Kaplan qbank and can't break 60 while she's getting high 60s.

the discouragement I've been feeling has been more than I can bear but reading your post have me some hope!!

thank you for your post!

do you have any advice to break 60 on qbank and did you feel the qbank was harder than the NCLEX?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

do you have any advice to break 60 on qbank and did you feel the qbank was harder than the NCLEX?

Thank you so much! Makes my heart smile that this post gave you some hope.

My sister and I did a q bank together with all the incorrect answers I have gotten. I answered the questions and I verbally went through the decision tree process and she would observe to see what my process was like. Well, I was constantly between two answers and I would initially choose the right answer but then I would go back and forth between the 2 answers, freak out, lol and make myself believe that the 2nd choice was the right answer. I was a very anxious/nervous test taker because all I could think about was how important the NCLEX exam was to me. I think how I really broke into the 60's was I took a deep breath before my q bank, told myself to calm down, took my time to answer a question, try not to get hung up on a question that I was unsure about and to go with my gut.

I would say yes/no that the qbank was harder than the NCLEX, the process of answering questions really did help me pass I think.

I hope this helps you, and good luck, you're going to do awesome!!!! :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion