Nclex second time around. My take on it.

Nursing Students NCLEX

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WoooHoooo, yippeeeeeee. :bugeyes: I passed the Nclex-RN the second time around. For me I think passing the Nclex the second time is wayyy more rewarding than if I would have passed it the first time around.

First off about me, I think I have Addison's disease or something LOL :smokin: Throughout nursing school I usually fail my first test. For some odd reason I always go into the first test testing the test, please dont try this students, you will regret this. It seems like FAILURE is the only thing that motivates me. I recall failing the first two exam of Intermediate Med-Surg, but that got my catecholamines going and I was able to pass the class by studying harder.

Yup you guessed right, I failed the Nclex the first time around, same story after graduation, instructors and former students telling me not to worry about the Nclex and it's not hard as nursing school. So I lounge around passively reviewing Nclex material while awaiting my test date. So the first time I went to take the test I was relaxed and laid back. I figure that I am going to pass this test by just playing ini mini mini mo click the right answers and lets go home. 75 questions and 45 minutes later I was out of the testing center. I felt like I did not really cared about the test because statistically 85% of first time test taker pass the test right?:idea: Anyways a month later the CA BRN handed my *** back to me. That test totally kicked my butt. I was not devastated or crying or anything. I felt bad for wasting my parent's money by slacking off. My parents were very supportive and when I told them I failed they smiled and wrote me another check and paid my fees and said dont worry, keep trying until you pass hon. Then I felt like a total douche. I know I'm gonna go get my revenge on that test. :angryfire

Now here's the part some of you guys might find helpful. This is my study plan.

I felt like I failed the first time because I did not reviewed enough content to boost my knowledge base. I dont know where my weakness lies, so a good friend of mine recommend me to just use the Saunder's 3rd edition cd and practice testing to know where my weakness is at and study the rationale carefully. Saunders was what I used for the first two weeks. My cousins also recommend me that I use Prioritization, Delegation and Assignment by Linda LaCharity, it's a short book but loaded with terrific questions and rationale that will train you to think like an RN, I think this book is what I really needed. Another friend MADE me use Kaplan online Q bank, I think these questions were veryyyyy similar to the NCLEX question. I recommend you do these question trainers a week or two before the taking the Nclex. My score for the trainer were from 52% to 64%. Not even at 65% but I think that is good enough. So I spent about 3 hours a day everyday for month gearing up for pay back. :devil:

On the day of the test I went in with anxiety, I can feel my heart beating. This is actually a good thing in my case, my brain gets more creative and works wayyyyy better than a calm brain. For me calm brain = procrastination. As soon as I saw the first question, I squinted and read the questions very carefully and consider all possible answers before choosing an answer. I cant stress enough how important it's to take your sweet time when reading the questions and answers. I wish I have done this the first time around, could have been a whole different story. So 2.5 hours later, 2 breaks, 79 questions, including 15 sata (I think it was a good sign) the computer screen went blue, and I felt way different than the first time around. I was 90% sure I passed (last five question were dirt easy though:idea:). My cousin called me in this morning before she heading to work to told me check the BRN website and behold my name is on there now!!! Glad the test is over with, BUT dont get me started about finding a job, its horrible here in the bay area, but I want a job and the $$$ to treat my parents and cousin to something nice. :lol2:

Here's my wholehearted advice to those who did not made it yet. Never call your stupid or look down on yourself. PLEASE dont do it, nothing good will come out of it. If anything surround yourself with positive people. You made it through nursing school and went through hell, this is no where bad as a clinical instructor breathing down your neck watching and waiting for you to do something wrong. I would like to thank this forum because after I fail the first time I came here often to see what was needed to pass the test the second time around and there is plenty of good info here. It seems like the Nclex is not aiming to test your knowledge base, but is more like testing your judgment as an RN. I recommend you know your prioritization and infection control. It seems like this two subject appear very often and answering it correctly will give you the higher level questions.

Sorry I got carried away, but I hope my story and plan will inspire some grads to keep trying and earn that license we all want.

If anyone here have any question I would be more than happy to answer them. :bugeyes:

Specializes in Telemetry.

I wouldn't recommend using too many resources. Saunders is not a good resource. The material and style of questions are not going to prepare you for the exam.

If you haven't already taken the in-class version of kaplan, I would highlyyyyy recommend you spend your money on this instead. A lot of companies will pay for your class free of charge. This class will teach you how to answer the questions and break down everything.

Another resource I would recommend is "Exam Cram" book. Their questions are very similar to the NCLEX exam as well and they even include a mock-trial exam on their CD.

Stick to 2-3 resources only. If you don't know something, i.e. Parkinson's signs and symptoms then look it up. But don't spend your time reading old school textbooks and paragraph after paragraph of details. Do questions...and questions and questionss.

Good luck!!

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
I wouldn't recommend using too many resources. Saunders is not a good resource. The material and style of questions are not going to prepare you for the exam.

I think that depends on the person using the book. I actually found Saunders after failing twice and actually preferred it to the other resources I used and passed.

Specializes in Telemetry.
I think that depends on the person using the book. I actually found Saunders after failing twice and actually preferred it to the other resources I used and passed.

Did you find that the questions were similar to the NCLEX question style?? I found that the questions weren't similar at all and actually felt the style and type of questions weren't hard enough to prepare me properly. You're right though--it really does depend on the person. Congrats on the exam.

Congratulations pump action nurse ! I enjoyed reading your story, thank you for sharing. I took the boards last week for the 4th time, and still failed. I know you said to be positive but it is so hard. As far as keeping positive people around me all I have is my husband. I used to have friends but now no one calls me anymore. Of course they are all RNs now, my husband seems to think that it is because they don' t want to hurt my feelings. Well don't ya think that by not calling me makes me feel even worse and more of a looser ? I wish you the best.

How do I pull myself up out of a hole. I do not know where to start !

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