NCLEX-RN Experience 2016

[Joviz]

Hello Everyone ,

After reading many posts from other students regarding the NCLEX-RN exam:writing:, I've decided to post my experience to show the steps necessary I took and to give hope to those who think they need it.

Regarding my background education, I graduated from my University and received my BSN on August 19, 2016. I graduated with an overall of a 3.5/4.0 and was a A/B student. During my nursing courses we had to take the ATI and to be honest with you all my scores were not great scores at all. Out of all the ATIs I took I believe I just passed 3 with level 2 and the rest with level 1. I even had to take the ATI predictor 3 times (Passed it barely on my last and third try ) as it was mandatory for us to pass it with a 70% which is then converted to a 90% probability of passing the NCLEX.

Now, the good stuff that you all have been waiting for ..............NCLEX-RN exam

As a recent graduate the last thing I was thinking of was studying for the NCLEX-RN so I took almost a month off and it was not until the second week of September where I actually told myself that it was time to study. During this, I did the 3 day Hurst Review Live Course, which was a great amount of content that was taught to us in just 3 days and believed I learned more in those 3 days than what I learned in my whole nursing course . It wasnt that the instructors were bad, the instructors I had were actually really great, but the fact that Hurst gathers important content and makes it easier for the students to understand is the reason why it helped me learn much more. I also practiced questions on the NCLEX Mastery app which was free and 25 questions on the Uworld website.

Due to personal issues, I had to reschedule my testing date (BAD IDEA) . Many of my friends took it before me and told me how difficult it was. Most passed with 75 questions, others with 110-130 questions, and very few with 265. So I thought to myself, "I got this."

Testing Date: Got there half hour early of my testing time and took my exam at 8am on October 6, 2016. I will admit I was nervous but proceeded anyways. Turned out I took all 265 questions had about 15-20 select all that apply, 2 drug calculations, 2 picture questions, and 3 put in order questions. I took 4 hours and couple of minutes to finish and felt like I failed. Two days later I saw my results and indeed I had failed ...(you were not expecting that right lol).

You could imagine how I was, I had already a job waiting for me and I failed my NCLEX which meant no job. I was very disappointed, it took the support from my family and peers to help me back up to my feet. I had taken a week break before studying again for the NCLEX, this time using Kaplan online and a 35 pg study guide. Forty- five days later (Nov 21, 2016; TODAY) I took the exam. I stayed positive, felt confident, and believe in myself that I passed. The exam shut off on me at 75 questions, to my surprise I received 33 Select all that apply questions, and 2 picture questions, no put in order questions, or no dosage calculation questions all in 2 hours.................my results will be available in 2 days....

ALL IN ALL: Just believe in yourself if I could do it you can too. Stay positive you got this. Will keep yall posted on my results, and most importantly do not study one day before the test, keep calm and do stuff you enjoy, prepare mentally and all will be good. Thank you for reading!!!

PS: Please feel free to ask any questions or if you need study tips. I was going to go into detail but didn't realize how long this post was going to be. I am new to this website and this is my first post so please bear with me. Thanks again.:)

[Nurse Lalaine, BSN, RN]

What review materials did you used?

[Joviz]

For the first time that I took Nclex I used the 3 day Hurst review Course it included videos, Exams, and a book that outlined all the core content. The second time I took it I just did kaplan I used the book and did the question trainers and I reviewed briefly the 35pg study guide.

[rockstarninja]

congrats joviz!! how did you like hurst review? what were your scores on hurst exams?

[Joviz]

Hello Rockstarninja,

The Hurst Review was great. They outlined the different systems in an easy and understandable way. We watched videos about the content and they gave us a book with fill in the blanks to fill while watching the video. It helped me in all the senses while I was watching the video, hearing the video, filling in the blanks, and reading my notes afterwards, it was all about repetition. Although it was best for content, for me Kaplan worked as well as to helping me answer questions using the Decision Tree. This Decision Tree helped me in answering the various select all that apply questions that I received in the NCLEX my second time. As to my Hurst Review Scores they were not that great in my opinion.

Q Review 1- 63/125-->50%

Q Review 2- 66/125-->53%

Q Review 3- 47/125-->38%

Q Review 4- 69/125-->55%

Q Review 5- 36/125-->29%

Q Review 6- 66/125-->53%

For Q review 3 and 5 I just did them however I was tired of answering questions so I just did those to review the rationales afterwards (which is why now that I think about maybe the reason I did not pass the first time).