Hello Forum!! I'm new to this site and just created my account today. After reading some of the messages here, I thought I'd share my story with you and find my story is not much different than others. :) I took the NCLEX-RN the day before yesterday and went in there feeling confidant but prior to taking the exam, I took the Kaplan course and completed all of the Q-Trainers and my scores went like this: Diagnostic Test: 58 QT 1: 62 QT 2: 61 QT 3: 58 QT 4: 44 then I took it again and got a 41 Readiness Test: 53 (I jumped the gun and took it after QT 3 w/o realizing I couldn't retake it). QT 5: 54 QT 6: 56 QT 7: 62 As for the Q-Bank, I probably completed about 14% of it. I spent more time taking the trainers and then reviewing my rights and wrongs then going over my weak areas. The only reason I felt confidant was because Kaplan says QT 7 is the hardest trainer (unless I misunderstood) and it was my highest score the night before my exam. I went thru my Kaplan book and reviewed everything up until 9am test day since my exam was scheduled for 10:15. ..So, I go in feeling fine and begin the test. By question #30, I realized I had been testing for an hour and a half which freaked me out!! I was spending too much time per question. I did not come across anything I had prepared for but I used the decision tree as much as I could (which was not much). All I know is once I got to #70, in my heart and soul, I knew I was failing and that it'd shut off at 75 so when I answered #75 and hit next, the blue screen came up which means you're done!!!!! So I held myself together and once I signed out of the testing center, I called my husband and told him to pick me up. Held back from crying and told him it shut off at 75 and said "babe, I know I failed!!!". So he starts asking questions like "why would it shut off at 75" and I just found his line of questioning to be too annoying so I said "I'll see you when you get here." I just couldn't talk anymore. So once I hung up, I sat on the floor there in the lobby and cried as if I was informed someone close to me died. I texted my mom and BFF and filled them in and my BFF insisted I get on the phone with her so I did but was so overwhelmed with emotion she couldn't understand me. I told her I know I failed and she says no you didn't...you're supposed to feel that way, I'm sure you passed but it didn't help me at all!!! So after we hang up, I remembered the PVT and googled it. I try it and get the "good" pop up. I tell you I tried it over 100 times. From 2:45pm until midnight and kept getting the "good" pop up. All that did was reduce my anxiety from a 10 to a 9.5, lol!! In my googleing, I read to check AllNurses for more info but if anyone remembers, the site was down Wednesday (12/28) for non-members... I guess... because it kept asking me to sign in so I could not access any of the message boards for reassurance as I had not signed up for an account on this site yet. So by 9pm or so, I tell my BFF to check the PA BON site the next morning (which was yesterday) and if my permit is gone, it means I failed and if I'm issued a license # then that means I passed. I asked her NOT to to call/text with bad news. So yesterday, I woke up at 5am, 6am, 6:45am then 7:15am and checked my phone for her call/message and nothing and then I checked myself and nothing so I actually fell asleep at 7:15am and when I woke up at 9:45, I woke to 8 missed calls with voicemails for each call, 2 text messages, and 2 FB wall notifications from her telling me "you passed!! Pick up the phone...I'm so proud of you" and I scream, waking my husband and we both check the PA BON site and see my license number!!! I passed!! PVT never took me to the CC screen!!!! But let me tell you, no one in the world could make me believe in myself in believing I passed. I've always heard if you get shut off at 75 that means you did so bad or you did so good and c'mon, I was not believing I did "so good"!!! So, today, I look into this site and see so many posts that would have reassured me if i were able to get on Wednesday night. Apparently, according to the message boards on AllNurses.com, if you get shut off at 75, it's more likely that you passed then failed. I am now an RN as of yesterday!!! I've accomplished the goalI set for 2011!! I sacrificed so much but have been blessed with an amazing support system!! I just wanted to share my story so that for those who haven't taken it yet but will be soon or those who just took it and come across this, do trust the PVT. Do trust these message boards because even though I didn't get to read any of the boards until after I leaned I passed, I'm sure if I had the access to log into the site, I would've relaxed (a lot). Good luck to all who will be taking their exam. Good luck to those who are in a nursing program and good luck to those of us who are now RN's and are ready to practice our art and science with the general public!! Now, can someone tell me if I'll be getting an actual score/report from the PA State Board of Nursing or just my license?? Just curious. :)ClariRN ♉
ClariRN: Yes, Im very familiar with Kaplan, but I guess we are just not suppose to feel comfortable about it . It will be ok, just have to dedicate so much hours of studying.
Congratulations!! :) I am impatiently waiting for my school to inform the state to get my authorization to test. Was the Kaplan program you speak of online?
Thank you!! It feels so good to be done for now. I want to go back for my BSN and may do it this summer. Not sure yet. But, annabananaz, yes-like Me2006 said, Kaplan is online and even in a classroom if you get a group together. I did mine online (live). Totally worth it!! And Me2006, you're right! We're not supposed to feel good about it and especially when we're done the exam. They say "you're supposed to feel like you failed"...that means you passed but that thosewhohaventtsken walkout eyeliner like they passed most like likely failed. I'm gonna say I agree because even though I went in to test with some confidence, I came out BALLING!! If u have any questions, run time by me! :)
CONGRADULATIONS!!!!! Your story was so inspiring! I recently graduated and will be taking Kaplan this week. I look forward to posting my "good pop up" report in mid Feb;)
I can't imagine doing anything BUT bawling after taking the NCLEX. I test on Thursday (3 days!!!), and I go from being excited, to terrified, to absolutely stressed out. LOL -
I PASSED!!!!! 100 questions (12 SATA, 2 math, 2 hot spots, tons of priority)
I took the NCLEX on Thur 1/12 and did the PVT trick and received the old "good pop up" and today Sat 1/14 I received my Quick Results from pearson vue that I indeed passed!
Here are my stats to share with using Kaplan (which the questions on the actual NCLEX seemed not as difficult)
Diagnostic: 56
Q Trainer#1: 64
Q Trainer #2: 67
Q Trainer #3: 50
Q Trainer #4: 57
Q Trainer 5: 68
Q Trainer 6: 62
Q Trainer 7: 70
I didn't take the readiness exam...BUT I did study the Prioritization, Delegation book from La Charity which helped the most with priority questions. I completed the first 18 chapters. (no need to do the case studys)
Yes, at least I thought they were. BUT the way their questions were worded and the visual was very similar to Kaplan. I also did some NCLEX 4000 questions because I thought they gave good rationales. The Saunders CD and book is good for content, but NCLEX is all about strategy and what BEST to do.
Readiness Test: 53 (I jumped the gun and took it after QT 3 w/o realizing I couldn't retake it). QT 5: 54 QT 6: 56 QT 7: 62 As for the Q-Bank, I probably completed about 14% of it. I spent more time taking the trainers and then reviewing my rights and wrongs then going over my weak areas. The only reason I felt confidant was because Kaplan says QT 7 is the hardest trainer (unless I misunderstood) and it was my highest score the night before my exam. I went thru my Kaplan book and reviewed everything up until 9am test day since my exam was scheduled for 10:15. ..So, I go in feeling fine and begin the test. By question #30, I realized I had been testing for an hour and a half which freaked me out!! I was spending too much time per question. I did not come across anything I had prepared for but I used the decision tree as much as I could (which was not much). All I know is once I got to #70, in my heart and soul, I knew I was failing and that it'd shut off at 75 so when I answered #75 and hit next, the blue screen came up which means you're done!!!!! So I held myself together and once I signed out of the testing center, I called my husband and told him to pick me up. Held back from crying and told him it shut off at 75 and said "babe, I know I failed!!!". So he starts asking questions like "why would it shut off at 75" and I just found his line of questioning to be too annoying so I said "I'll see you when you get here." I just couldn't talk anymore. So once I hung up, I sat on the floor there in the lobby and cried as if I was informed someone close to me died. I texted my mom and BFF and filled them in and my BFF insisted I get on the phone with her so I did but was so overwhelmed with emotion she couldn't understand me. I told her I know I failed and she says no you didn't...you're supposed to feel that way, I'm sure you passed but it didn't help me at all!!! So after we hang up, I remembered the PVT and googled it. I try it and get the "good" pop up. I tell you I tried it over 100 times. From 2:45pm until midnight and kept getting the "good" pop up. All that did was reduce my anxiety from a 10 to a 9.5, lol!! In my googleing, I read to check AllNurses for more info but if anyone remembers, the site was down Wednesday (12/28) for non-members... I guess... because it kept asking me to sign in so I could not access any of the message boards for reassurance as I had not signed up for an account on this site yet. So by 9pm or so, I tell my BFF to check the PA BON site the next morning (which was yesterday) and if my permit is gone, it means I failed and if I'm issued a license # then that means I passed. I asked her NOT to to call/text with bad news. So yesterday, I woke up at 5am, 6am, 6:45am then 7:15am and checked my phone for her call/message and nothing and then I checked myself and nothing so I actually fell asleep at 7:15am and when I woke up at 9:45, I woke to 8 missed calls with voicemails for each call, 2 text messages, and 2 FB wall notifications from her telling me "you passed!! Pick up the phone...I'm so proud of you" and I scream, waking my husband and we both check the PA BON site and see my license number!!! I passed!! PVT never took me to the CC screen!!!! But let me tell you, no one in the world could make me believe in myself in believing I passed. I've always heard if you get shut off at 75 that means you did so bad or you did so good and c'mon, I was not believing I did "so good"!!! So, today, I look into this site and see so many posts that would have reassured me if i were able to get on Wednesday night. Apparently, according to the message boards on AllNurses.com, if you get shut off at 75, it's more likely that you passed then failed. I am now an RN as of yesterday!!! I've accomplished the goalI set for 2011!! I sacrificed so much but have been blessed with an amazing support system!! I just wanted to share my story so that for those who haven't taken it yet but will be soon or those who just took it and come across this, do trust the PVT. Do trust these message boards because even though I didn't get to read any of the boards until after I leaned I passed, I'm sure if I had the access to log into the site, I would've relaxed (a lot). Good luck to all who will be taking their exam. Good luck to those who are in a nursing program and good luck to those of us who are now RN's and are ready to practice our art and science with the general public!! Now, can someone tell me if I'll be getting an actual score/report from the PA State Board of Nursing or just my license?? Just curious. :)ClariRN 
Me2006
584 Posts
Congrats!!! I cant wait to say the same :)