third time's a charm!

I wasn't sure if i should post anything but I decide to hoping that I could encourage others. Today I took the NCLEX RN for the 3rd time and got the good pop up! here is my story and I hope to help someone else keep going when they want to give up. The first time I took my test I hardly studied I felt like I just got out of school and I should know this stuff I did review some things and do questions but nothing like I should have! I think I was over confident! I had 75 questions and it shut off! I was so excited and felt so good about it! Then I did the PVT and was crushed! I cried for a few days and was depressed for awhile! I worked so hard to get here and so ruined it! I took a break for a few weeks and didn't know where to begin. I heard such great things about Kaplan and decide I would spend the money on Kaplan - it is way to much information. I have a two year old and work a full time job so trying to fit in all of Kaplans information was impossible for me! I just didn't have enough time in the day to get it all in I did as much of it as possible and tried to go for the nclex again. This time I had the full test all 265 questions. I knew when I walked out I failed but I was hopeful. I knew I did better than the first time but just not good enough. I did try the PVT trick and of course it went to the credit card page : ( I wasn't as hurt this time but I knew I had to get right back onto study!

so on my third and final attempt, I'm in Florida and we only get 3 tries and then we have to take a remedial course! This time I jumped right back into study mode I didn't take any time off the information was so fresh and I needed to keep building. I tried the NCSBN course and I loved it - I also used exam cram and Saunders. I made sure to do at least 100 questions a day plus study content.

unlike my last two tries in which I wore leggings and just went comfy no make up or anything. I read someone else's story and they said they got up got dress and did their hair and makeup. So I said why not maybe I will feel better about all of this. My test was at 8am, I woke up at 4:30am not by choice I just couldn't sleep. I went over a few labs and looked at a video about SATA questions and read something I didn't see much of before and it was to treat the SATA questions as true or false questions which was great and you should try it, it really helped me. After going over things for a little while - I did my hair, put on makeup and put on a nice outfit but comfy at the same time. My boyfriend got up with me to support me which helped me stay calm. We stopped to get coffee and got to Pearson way to early! I considered going over some more stuff but it was pointless I couldn't focus on anything I read. Finally at 7:30am they unlocked the door and I went inside very confident and felt good about it all - I wasn't even stressed which was a shock to me because this was my last chance! I walked in and took my time on every question but I didn't over think anything I went with my gut. I had 75 questions and walked out feeling great. I waited 5 to 10 minutes and logged onto Pearson Vue and the "status" said "delivery successful" so I tried to register and I got the good pop up! we were two hours from home and I checked about 20 times on the way home to make sure I wasn't seeing things.

my best advice is - Do NOT give up! you made it through nursing school and you can get through the NCLEX. Good luck to everyone who has yet to take it!