NCLEX Question? READ THIS!

[RNsRWe]

Hi, Newbies, and Welcome to AN!

Since the forum is clogging up with a bazillion threads all asking the same questions, maybe we can streamline this. If your question is here....Yay! If not....post away

Don't freak out.

The PVT is reasonably reliable, but NOT 100% accurate. Feel free to celebrate or despair, but nothing is concrete until you get your official results.

Please don't ask "IS THIS THE GOOD POPUP??"...

Then post the same phrases that are already posted at least a hundred times in recent pages. The only "bad" popup--and the one that seems to freak people out (and did I mention STOP freaking out?)-- is being directed to a page where you can put in your credit card information. Typically, this does mean you have failed, but it is NOT 100% ACCURATE.

Conversely, if you got something that says "your results are on hold" or "you cannot schedule an exam at this time" or ANYTHING OTHER THAN the credit card page, it means, quite simply, that you have *probably* passed....but is NOT 100% accurate.

If you see your "results are on hold", you might have issues other than the NCLEX itself; passing the NCLEX is not a guarantee of getting a license. It's a big hurdle, to be sure, but not the only determining factor. That's why you had the whole application process prior to being allowed to sit for the exam. Usually, people know when they might have a 'snag' when trying to get a professional license, so you might want to keep that in mind. In a nutshell, the PVT really IS a "trick", it's not to be considered as reality. Seeing your license number next to your name on the BON website, or receiving official notice in the mail, now THAT'S reality! ​

Finally, regarding the PVT: if you are the type who IS going to freak out, please don't use the thing. You'll STILL be freaking out regardless of what the results say, as evidenced by the aforementioned bazillion posts. If you're not going to believe the results....don't bother.

The breakdown of the questions (SATA, etc etc etc etc.....) isn't important.

I have YET to see it matter when people post a menu of every type of question they got, and how many of each....either they passed or they failed, and the format of their questions is irrelevant.

The answer to "has anyone ever passed with XX number of questions?!?" is a resounding YES.

People have passed or failed with every number between 75 and 265. And what can you read into it if you answered 104 questions or 195? Not much.

The only thing that IS worth noting about the number of questions answered is...

For the NCLEX-RN, the minimum number of questions that can be offered is 75. If the computer shuts off after you've answered #75, you might have demonstrated a competency at or above the passing standard throughout the exam, and the computer doesn't need any more computations to arrive at the conclusion you passed in those 75 questions. Yay you! HOWEVER, you also might have demonstrated that you were far enough below passing standard by the 75th question that the computer "knows" that it wouldn't matter how many more questions it could offer you, you still wouldn't pass. In which case, you've failed in 75 questions. Sorry.

Wear something comfortable.

It's not a fashion show, nor are you going off to war.

Eat enough so you're not hungry during the test and remember to be hydrated. There's no magic formula of "what do I eat for the NCLEX??"; whatever doesn't give you headaches but does give you energy and ability to focus is good. Changing your diet to suit what someone else said was what you should or should not eat is bad.

BREATHE!!!!

By far the biggest problem anyone has with this horrible test is themselves. Psyching themselves out, freaking out, and on and on. By all means, when you leave the testing center, have a really good cry to get it out of your system (man, do I remember that!) but please don't let this get you so freaked you CAN'T focus on the test.

You worked for this, you studied for it, you've sweated and cried and laughed and totally have wrapped your entire lives around this one moment: NCLEX!!! So.....own it!

[aathompson19]

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

This article should be the 1st sticky on this forum, the title should be in bold and flicker.

Thank you. I always did like glitter :)

[baseball mom]

OOh now do one addressing "My teacher/boss is mean to me. Should I report them?"

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

OOh now do one addressing "My teacher/boss is mean to me. Should I report them?"

Will have to work on that :)

Meantime, there are still new threads posted constantly, screaming "IS THIS THE GOOD POPUP????"

Sigh.

[BSNbeauty, BSN, RN]

Even though you spent time and energy writing this thread, people are still going to ask the same questions over and over and over again. Your thread will eventually die down and no one may see it unless they search for a nclex question in the search box. People rarely utilize the search the box to answer questions that have been answered so therefore you will see the same questions pop up again and again. It is what it is.

Your thread was nice, but I've seen hundreds of other people post the same thing. This is an online forum so we expect the same questions. If it does bother you don't read the threads.

[RNsRWe, ASN, RN]

Even though you spent time and energy writing this thread, people are still going to ask the same questions over and over and over again. Your thread will eventually die down and no one may see it unless they search for a nclex question in the search box. People rarely utilize the search the box to answer questions that have been answered so therefore you will see the same questions pop up again and again. It is what it is.

Your thread was nice, but I've seen hundreds of other people post the same thing. This is an online forum so we expect the same questions. If it does bother you don't read the threads.

Perhaps, indeed. But I'm one of those people that tends to try to address a situation, rather than pretend it isn't there. So, I tried. For many people, it WILL be helpful, I have absolutely no doubt. The public and private responses to this article have already demonstrated that very well.

It won't last, I realize that. The thread will get buried, and next year the newest batch of newly-hatched grads will ask the same questions. Perhaps I will resurrect this...perhaps not. If it helps anyone now (and, as I've said, it obviously has), then I'm glad.

As for whether the posts bother me, and therefore I should not read the threads....the whole POINT was to allow those who ARE interested in avoiding the landfill of repetitive threads to get some reassurance now, and get some answers now...without having to read through all those pages of threads. I like helping those who want the help, but NO, I don't like reading the EXACT.SAME.QUESTION repeatedly any more than so many others who also would rather they didn't do it.

Can't stop those who will do it anyway. But CAN help A LOT who are happy with what they read :)

[Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN]

Great article.

My own addition to that list would be this: Do NOT access your cell phone at any time during the test, even if you are on a break. Even better, do NOT bring your cell phone into testing center with you: leave it at home, leave it in your car or turn it into the receptionist to be locked up until after the test (they have lockers for such a purpose). There is absolutely NOTHING going on in your life that can't wait until after you complete the exam.

I say this because at least once a year, we get a member posting about how they got in trouble and are facing disciplinary action because during the NCLEX, they used their cell phone to check in with work/school/sick family member/babysitter/SO in labor, or used it for whatever important reason. Yes, those are all important reasons, but NOT during the 6 hours you are in the testing center. You need to plan ahead for any work/school/family issues, and then set them out of your mind during the test.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

If some techie at AllNurses could develop a way to automatically consolidate all posts with the word "pop-up" into a single monster thread, it would go a long way towards developing better internet hygiene. And I would kiss his/her feet, and send a batch of my famous homemade sour cream cinnamon rolls on his/her birthday in perpetuity. Pecans and/or raisins optional.

MORE cinnamon rolls for a similar process to consolidate all posts with "freaking out," "terrified," and "super-nervous."

[christina731]

If some techie at AllNurses could develop a way to automatically consolidate all posts with the word "pop-up" into a single monster thread, it would go a long way towards developing better internet hygiene. And I would kiss his/her feet, and send a batch of my famous homemade sour cream cinnamon rolls on his/her birthday in perpetuity. Pecans and/or raisins optional.

MORE cinnamon rolls for a similar process to consolidate all posts with "freaking out," "terrified," and "super-nervous."

I'm no techie but I would attempt to figure out how to do this just to get some cinnamon rolls! Yum!!

[Josie, RN/LCSW]

The point isn't to figure out ways to quickly find out your score - that's lame. You will know within 48 hours by going to your State's BON site. Rather than freaking out about knowing if you passed or not, just concentrate on the test.

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

I'm no techie but I would attempt to figure out how to do this just to get some cinnamon rolls! Yum!!

I second THIS...I want some!

[regfel808]

A couple people have said that they have gotten to the credit card screen page with the pvt but yet when they paid for the early results they passed. Is that at all possible?