NCLEX: You name it, it happened...

[Aeg1075]

I'll give a little back story as far as school and go from there. My post is long, but well worth the read for a little information and comfort to others.

I graduated from a private, hard, accelerated nursing school here in Pensacola, FL. We learned in 10 weeks what others typically learned in a longer semester! Very crazy!

I graduated 4/2/17 from my program and took the NCLEX for the first time on Friday, 4/28/17. Computer shut off at 75 questions and felt great about the test. Did the PVT about an hour later and no "good pop up". Devastated, trying to mentally discredit the PVT (despite it working for my friends), crying, the whole mix of emotions. Sunday, 4/30/17 rolls by and 8:00 am on the dot my express results are available. A big fat FAIL on the screen. I spent the next three days crying, being mad, depressed, nervous, financially strapped, and just plain ol' sad.

I got my CPR (candidate performance report) from Pearson fairly quickly and I was below the passing line in EVERY category! Shocked and in disbelief, I couldn't understand how I had made it through nursing school with great grades, never failed a class (which was typical of others), and maintained a great GPA (not the best) while being a wife, mother and full time student.

I decided a full content review would help best. I took the HURST book I had "glanced" at in the fall before graduation and took 8160 size Avery labels and, because I can type very quickly, created a question and answer format on the label and then transferred the labels onto 3x5 cards for flash card review. I felt a question/answer quiz type format with a family member (namely my wonderful momma) was how I retained information the best.

I used my new HURST "flashcards" and my Kaplan Question Trainers and QBanks to study for this next attempt at NCLEX.

After taking the Kaplan question trainers in preparation for NCLEX Attempt #1, my scores were mid-high 50's, low 60's. My Readiness test was a 57%. I totally underestimated the NCLEX first attempt off of some posts on All Nurses.com, friends comments, the most struggling classmate I had passed at 75 and so I thought "Piece of cake!". Boy was I wrong!

After making my HURST flashcards (all total about 500), I studied these for about 2 weeks straight. We documented how many times I could recite the information like I know my name and DOB! We didn't keep those in the pile for long because I could recall it that quick. Others I struggled with were kept out. I also took the med sheets HURST provides on their website (only available to those who have paid for a HURST product) and printed them off and turned all those classes of drugs, drugs, info about drugs, labs to monitor, etc also into flashcards. Another 200 cards to add to the already 500 HURST content review cards.

Began taking Kaplan question trainers again and they were 8-15% improvements from the first time. Very good news! They were high 50's to high 60's. My instructor from school, opened a RN Readiness, Repeat (different questions) for me. I got a 68.9 on that one! I looked at the analysis and worked on the sections (Management of Care, Infection Control, Physiological Adaptation, etc.) I was scoring less than 60% in and made QBank quizzes only working on sections I really struggled with. I then transferred the rationales for the ones I missed onto flashcards. Adding another 300 flashcards!!!! Total flashcard count well over 1000!!!! Well worth it!

We did this study regiment for about 4-6 weeks total. Every day for 4-6 hrs. Questions at night, more cards, more rational studying.

Forward onto Friday, 6/30/2017 and I'm checking in for NCLEX Attempt #2. Nervous but praying to our wonderful Father in heaven to be with me and calm my nerves.

I had issues checking in with the palm vein scanner and had to redo my palm vein scan a couple of times.

I sit down for the test, question 75...submit...and it goes onto 76! Yes, I'm doing better than the first time. At question 140, the computer offered a break and I gladly took it. Took a potty break, sip of water, stretch my back. I check back in with no issues (no issues checking out for break either). Prayed more for the Lord to guide my mind and help me recall what we had spent 6 weeks studying.

What I can remember (4 math, a lot of infection control, triage, delegation, priority, patient position, one click and drag question, but not a great deal of SATA).

I did all 265 questions!!! Patience was what our great God was teaching me this second NCLEX attempt. I sat for over 4 hrs for this test walking out feeling beaten down and discouraged.

About 30 min. after leaving the test site, I check the PVT and got the "good pop up"! Praise the Lord! I got it again later that night (about 4 hrs post test). Next day (Saturday), I get the "results on hold". Shift to panic mode in 3-2-1!!!

After googling what "hold" could mean, I had decided it was the palm-vein scan. Sunday, 7/1/17 rolls on and no Quick Results at the 48 hr. mark. I had read it could take 48-72 hrs for a hold to be removed.

Today, on 7/3/17 we checked at 12:59 pm and results were ready! My wonderful mother got the honors of clicking the "Submit" button and when that huge grin appeared on her face she pulled the phone around and I saw PASS in big letters! Praise Him!

I feel like I have been on an emotional roller coaster, but it's done and over with and no one can take it away.

Hopefully someone will read my thorough post and think "Gee, that sounds like me!" and maybe it will give you a bit of hope. Some on here think they passed it and it makes them an expert.

I had seen posts about math being lower level questions...I had a friend pass with 75 questions and she had 4 math on hers! Others say priority and delegation can be lower level questions...I disagree. Check out Bloom's Taxonomy and how it relates to NCLEX and you'll see priority and delegation require "analytical" skills which is above the pass line, also I thought SATA are harder level questions...not so, I had at least 22 on my first attempt (where I failed at 75) and I was below the pass line the entire time taking that one.

Be committed more than you were in nursing school, know how you study, and go into the test without trying to guess if your getting upper level questions. When you click "Next" forget the last questions, just move on! Good luck everyone!

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

Your post has been moved to the NCLEX forum to ensure maximum responses.

[K9lover, ASN, RN]

I better quit telling people stopping at 75 usually means passed as I'd always heard (and was my experience.)

[TrashPanda]

Forgive my ignorance, but what is a palm vein reader? Congratulations on the pass! You put in a great deal of hard work and it paid off!

[Aeg1075]

Best I can describe it is where they scan the veins in your palm. I'm assuming no two people have the same sequence or pattern in their veins and so it is PearsonVUEs method of "security" to ensure you are who you are.

You have to scan your palm veins when you check in, check in or out for breaks and when you leave there testing facility.

[TrashPanda]

Interesting! I learn something new everyday. LOL!