I am so grateful for all the support and advice I received from this website that I told myself that the day I pass NCLEX I would pay it forward for the many others looking for advice and encouragement to pass this exam as well. I was able to pass my NCLEX-RN on my 2nd attempt with 75 questions and the feeling of having RN behind my name feels amazing!
Here's my story: I graduated on May 10th and scheduled my exam on June 19th at 2pm. On my 1st time taking NCLEX, I failed using up all 6 hours and 210 questions. I used mainly Hurst video lectures and study guides and answered 20-100 q's/day. Failing this exam made me feel like I literally hit rock bottom. My BIGGEST mistakes for my first go-around were: not taking the NCLEX seriously and studying for 2.5 weeks in advance, limited studying resources (mainly focused on content and not testing strategies), test anxiety, not pacing myself while taking the test (spending more than 1.5 minute on each question), and focusing more on getting a job than studying. After I found out I failed, I took 2 weeks off to relax, reflect, regroup, and find the motivation and determination to study and pass my NCLEX the 2nd time around.
My 2nd time around I scheduled it for August 12th at 8am which gave me a good 6 weeks to study and physically, mentally, and emotionally prepare myself for this exam. On the day of the test, I came to the testing site 20 minutes early, dressed comfortably, prepared myself to take on 265 questions and 6 hours worth of testing, brought water and snacks for breaks, and came into the test site cool, calm and collected and ready to take on this test! I took a deep breath and prayed before I started my test and I finished with 75 questions in 1.5 hours with 25-30 SATA, 1 math question, and the rest were multiple response questions. This time around I knew what my weaknesses were and spent more time improving my test taking strategies than content.
This is what I did the 2nd time around and I highly recommend it:
1) Be POSITIVE: Time like these it's hard to not be critical on yourself and even harder to think you'll pass the 2nd time when you have more pressure and things riding on this test. Honestly, you overcame nursing school and this is just another obstacle to overcome! Positivity and encouragement will go a long way and help improve your confidence to take on this exam!
2) Lacharity PDA Book, 3rd Edition: HOLY GRAIL & BIBLE OF NCLEX - MUST HAVE! 80% of the exam will see if you can prioritize your patients or test your ability to see if you can provide safe and effective care in a life-threatening situation. This book will help with test taking strategies on how to spot important key words and situations which are similar to NCLEX questions.
3) NCSBN Learning Extension course: I bought the 3 weeks for $50 which is pretty inexpensive compared to the other nclex resources. I would have to say this help me the MOST on my test and are the closest questions to NCLEX Bc these are the same people who wrote the NCLEX exam! I highly recommend this Bc their course is structured the same way as the NCLEX test plan so you can focus on your weaknesses & strengths, but I mainly used this to practice questions 100-200q/day (making sure to read each rationale whether you get it right or wrong)
4) Read NCLEX Candidate test plan: Make sure to read this so you can get a feel for what the NCLEX people want you to know, what they expect from you as a safe nurse, and how to approach questions. Once you read and begin to truly understand this, it will feel as if the NCLEX people helping you pass the NCLEX
5) NCLEX Mastery app: it was only $30 and great for practicing questions whether you're at home or on the go! Great and easy way to improve your test taking and critical thinking skills
6) HESI NCLEX-RN book for content: My best advice is to use a book that you're familiar and comfortable with when studying for content. I used this book throughout nursing school so I knew the content backwards and forwards so I just needed to review over my weak content areas
7) Hurst study guides: Although the content is very limited, the content was spot on with which topics needed to prepare for the NCLEX and a great way to TRULY understand difficult concepts like endocrine, fluid & electrolytes, and ABGs
8) NCLEX support groups: Having a good support system that knows exactly what you're going through and can relate to helps a lot to relieve stress
9) Reduce Test Anxiety: The day before the exam, do something that relieves stress or anxiety. For me, I only review lab values & test taking strategies for an hour and then got my haircut, went shopping and then watched a movie. Also, one of my biggest mistakes the 1st time was telling everyone my test date which put alot of pressure on me and raised my anxiety, so the 2nd time around I didn't tell ANYONE, which helped me lower my anxiety a great amount! You're going to know what you're going to know by now, so just relax, pray, and do something that you enjoy and take your mind off of the exam. Know that you may get 75 questions or the maybe even the entire 265 questions, just always prepare yourself mentally and physically for 265 questions and 6 hrs so you know what to expect.
10) Other Helpful tips to know: Always trust your gut! The best advice I ever gotten was that "the answer is always within the question". Once I kept that in my mind, I knew that no matter how difficult the question was, I could figure out the correct answer. SATA: always apply true or false to each option and pick the answers that directly relate to what the question is asking you. With priority questions- always apply your ABCS, Maslows hierarchy, and nursing process (ADPIE). Always choose the answer that keeps the patient safe and alive!
I hope this helps and if you are a multiple test taker just know it is possible to pass! Just come into this exam with confidence and if I can do it, you can too! I am the truest testament to that. With that I'll end with this,
"Our greatest glory is not in our ability to fall,but in our ability to rise each time we fall."
Good luck everyone! 
