NCLEX Passed Cut off at 88 questions

[Barr, BSN, RN]

I wrote my NCLEX yesterday morning, got the good pop up a few hours later, as well as 24 hours later official "pass" from the board of nursing.  I wanted to take time to give back to allnurses stories, because this is where I came for encouragement and support along the way.

My university uses ATI and required us to get a "green light" in VATI before graduating.  I flew through my first comprehensive VATI not realizing it counted as a grade.  We had already completed a ATI Comprehensive that I passed, so the "two" ATI comprehensive requirements were confusing.  Needless to say, I missed the VATI comprehensive score by 2 points and was sent to VATI purgatory for weeks.  I hated working with the ATI coach, not because they were unprofessional, but because I did not get anything out of someone who is working with hundreds of students to assign me a boatload of assignments and assessments that were not helping me to learn the material I wanted to master, where I knew I was weak.  Not many want someone to tell them what to do to learn.  I was not pleased at all, but had to hang in there and follow the mandated requirements of the university to graduate.  The delay in graduating and getting my Authorization to Test caused me to miss job opportunities I had dreamed of for over a year.  I let it go, knowing that things often happen for a reason...

In between waiting for VATI assignments from the coach, which took a minimum of 24 hours each day, I used UWorld assessments and Simple Nursing videos.  Simple Nursing.com provided a guide to study for NCLEX that was very helpful, to wit: an AM/PM plan 4-5 x week for 5-7 weeks, getting to average scores of 70%.  In the AM you dedicate 2 hours to assessment tests.  For example, your weakest area being pharmacology, complete 60+ questions on the pharmacology and study the rationales.  In the PM, review where you missed.  I used SimpleNursing videos on each topic, I.e. Pharamocology, and I took notes.  I downloaded the SimpleNursing app on my phone and listened to videos as I walked, drove the car on long trips, or flew on airplanes.  I found Simplenursing videos and cheat sheets to help me through nursing school, as well as in preparing for the NCLEX.  Find your own sources, but select one test bank and one resource text to follow.  Do not have more than these two.  Follow this plan and you will have success. 

In the days leading up to my NCLEX, I skimmed through my ATI Comprehensive NCLEX study guide, paying particular note of lab values and pharm.  I wrote lab values out 5 x day for a few days until it sunk in my memory (in nursing school).  Love that I can look at labs and know the ranges quickly from using this process.

My NCLEX exam was mostly pharmacology (my worse subject), some maternity and some diabetes.  I had no dosage questions (my best subject).  If I can suggest anything at all, it is to go in calm and confident.  NCLEX is mostly about testing your critical thinking skills.  You can have all the knowledge, but lack critical thinking skills and fail the NCLEX.  Put in the time to become a qualified new graduate nurse, practice questions to develop critical thinking, and affirm your confidence as a new nurse, I.e. I am smart, I am a competent nurse, I am an RN!  Prayers always help.  You are exactly where you are supposed to be, right now!  

I hope this helps future NCLEX test takers.  

 

[butterfly2015]

Congrats!! Thanks for posting your experience!

[nr92, CNA]

what were your quiz scores and mock exam scores on simplenursing.com? I am using the NCLEX feature on there.  I keep scoring the 50s on the foucsed quizzes and my NCLEX is at the end of NEXT month