I have taken the NCLEX for the 3rd time this morning and have received the so called 'Good Pop Up' message that indicates that I've passed the NCLEX. If this is accurate, I am the happiest girl in the world today and would like to share my success with any and everyone to help them with inspiration as others have done do in this website. I have no one but God to thank. I seriously am overjoyed with happiness at this moment.
In the past, I loved to come on AN to read success stories and hoped to one day have a success story of my own. I promised that when I pass, I will share what strategy and what I believe was successful to passing the exam.
THE FIRST TIME I TOOK THE EXAM WAS LAST YEAR IN AUGUST 2013: I graduated in June and was fresh out of school. To be quite honest, I was very exhausted that I was in a 2.5 year program nonstop and needed some time off to just have me time. Not to mention, I dedicated so much time working full time and didn't pick up a Nclex book or material until I received my ATT (which was in the first week of August). Also, my school supplied us with Kaplan On Demand, so I did Q bank Questions here and there, but nothing consistent. I can honestly say that Kaplan was dangerous for me because it did more harm than good. It truly left me even more confused than ever. Anyways, I scheduled & took my exam date on August 27th at 1pm. My exam shut off at 152 Questions. When I got home, I did the so PVT and it led me to the CC screen . I WAS DEVASTATED! I immediately tried it again. This had to be a mistake. Again, I was led to the CC screen. I cried, cried, cried & cried. Stayed in bed for another day and cried some more. I eventually picked myself up and a few days later and did some reanalyzing of what went wrong. I decided to wait until my official results came in the mail. A few days later, my results came in the mail. Near Passing Standard in all categories EXCEPT Management of Care.
Second Time I took NCLEX in November 2013: A week after I received my official results from my BON, I did some research on what was best for me possibly find a way to take the exam again in a more comfortable way with the use of an NCLEX Review thats easy for me to understand, yet a great way to retain the information. I literally stumbled across REMAR REVIEW from youtube. The owner & instructor seemed to have a great bubbly attitude. Not to mention:her youtube videos were just right up my alley in terms of what to look for in understanding and focusing some NCLEX content. I was sold! I was a little skeptical on ordering such a private review for so much money, but I just went ahead and did it. I ordered the Self Study DVD that came with 4 discs for $265.00. BIGGEST MISTAKE I MADE WHEN PREPARING FOR NCLEX. 
I literally watched the DVD's 4 times (each of them), did the DVD workbook, Activity Book, and NCLEX Practice Exam. Yet, I still believed that it wasn't enough. I constantly emailed her my concerns, yet, felt abandoned and left out for dust. I reiterated to her I don't feel like her review were enough and if she could please send me more material. I even went to far as to asking if this was enough to pass NCLEX and she stated, "Check my reviews on my facebook fan page. It speaks for itself". That made me feel at ease of her so called success stories. I took my exam on November 6 and made it all the way to 265. I knew that I failed because the last question was so basic. Leaving that test center had to be the worst feeling in the world. My gut was telling me that I failed, but I just knew I had to see it with my own eyes. Again, I come home and to the PVT. It led me to the CC screen. OMG, I WAS DEVASTATED! How could this have happened again? I put my life into reviewing yet I failed again. Why me? Ive got to be the dumbest person on earth! How annoying. Again, I waited for the official results before planning my next move. NEAR PASSING IN ALL CATEGORIES. I emailed the owner of Remar Review and expressed to her that I'd still possibly like to use her services even though I failed. I also explained to her that I'm quite disappointing in myself and in the reveiw because I felt like I didnt get enough and to possibly use her tutoring. She said that I was grieving and was looking for someone to lash out on. I never contacted nor used her review again.
THIRD ATTEMPT AT NCLEX IN MARCH 2014: I needed to seriously figure out what is happening with me and why am I unable to pass this horrific exam. I know for sure I'm not that horrible in content. I also knew that reading the Saunders Book is truly overwhelming. And Kaplan? NO WAY! No one can figure it out but me. But what is it? What is it that I need to pass this exam. It started off the AN site and reading success stories, especially that of repeat test takers like myself. I also went on youtube again to listen to success stories, because thats what motivated me.
I have self diagnosed myself some type attention deficit and knew for sure that I cannot sit for prolonged periods of time just reading! My mind wanders and I cannot retain information. I needed some type of structure to go through each body system and not only know and understand the content, but to be able to apply it to NCLEX style questions. I stumbled across a study guide on youtube (Can you tell by now that I love Youtube). THIS STUDY GUIDE IS THE REASON THAT I PASSED! It's heaven sent and just what I needed. I also used Saunders as a reference. I needed something to help me structure my study plan an voila! I studied up until the morning of the exam (against the advice of others). On the night before the exam, I couldnt sleep! Ate a great breakfast, stetched, and was in the parking lot 2 hous before exam time. I was anxious,yet somehow calm. After 75 questions, 2 hours later I got the good ol 'Good Pop-Up'. Thank you Lord!
Please see the references that were used below:
YouTube Study Guide: There is a wonderful organized study guide floating around on youtube for a small price (I believed she raised the price now). I AM NOT WILING TO SEND THE STUDY GUIDE TO ANYONE! PLEASE DO NOT ASK. Reason being is because I took a chance and spent my money. If you're that serious, you will too! However, I am willing to answer any questions with regard to the study guide. But please take my word:ITS WORTH EVERY PENNY!
NCLEX RN MASTERY APP: THIS APP IS AMAZING! I owe this app everything becuase it gave me over 1000 questions for every bodily system that came with amazing nnemonics along wih labs and quiz options. It also offers great rationals offered me great ALTERNATIVE style questions. Any time I had a question, I always recieved feedback in a timely manner.
NCLEX Davis Mobile Proritization App: This app is the reason I felt most comfortable with the priority and delgation questions that wer presented on NCLEX. Seriously, it offered me many, many questions on Legal and Ethical Questions, Womens Health, Outpatient, Geriatric, Med Surg just to name a few. I owe alot to this app.
NCLEX Davis Mobile Alt Format App: MY WEAKNESS WAS ALTERNATE FORMAT. ALWAYS HAS BEEN, AND ALWAYS WILL BE! Let me reiterate. IVE ALWAYS HATED ALTERNATE FORMAT QUESTIONS! However, I know I needed tackle my weakness, otherwise, this horrific exam would find my weakness and attack me. (*sidenote, my very 1st question on the exam was a SATA). I only practiced 25 Sata questions/day... but boy did they help! I had close to 25 questions on the exam. But I sincerly owe my confidence in answering SATA questions to this app!
ATI RN MENTOR APP: I used this to practice questions when I was bored laying in my bed or waiting in line somewhere.
Saunders Yellow Book: I definitly used this book for reference when I was unclear on something. YOULL NEED THIS BOOK FOR CONTENT. NO IF ANDS OR BUTS.
YOUTUBE: I wont put his name out but just type in SIMPLE NURSING. THERE YOU WILL FIND TONS AND TONS OF FREE CONTENT VIDEOS! HES SUPER AMAZING AND A GREAT INSTRUCTOR. HE ALSO DOES A GREAT JOB IN REINFORCING MATERIAL IN SUCH A COOL, HYPE WAY!
I cannot reiterate to you that when you're doing these questions, WRITE THE RATIONALS DOWN, EVEN IF YOU GET THEM RIGHT! I have over 100 pages of just rationals and revied them everyday for reinforcement. After 4 months reflecting, praying and staying true to a study schedule, I can finally put this exam behind me!
Please do not ever, EVER forget your high creator whomever you believe in! I owe all of it to God to whom I'll never betray. Thank you Lord!
Signed,
A new RN! 
