2nd Try: passed with 265 questions!

[FinallyAn_RN]

Hello Nursing World!

I told myself that when I pass the NCLEX, I would post my story on this website in hopes that it will help others (sorry in advance for the length).

With 3 weeks until my pinning ceremony, I landed a position on an IICU at the hospital that I have been wanting to work at. I could not believe that the unit hired a new grad that has yet to graduate AND take the NCLEX. With all the excitement, I focused my attention on the orientation process at work and getting my BSN, INSTEAD of studying for the NCLEX.

It was about two weeks after graduation that I received my ATT number (on my birthday) and I set the test date to the day before Thanksgiving because I wanted to get it out of the way before the holidays... even though I knew that this exam could make or break it for me. It was to my surprise that seven of my nursing friends scheduled it for the same day! My initial thought was to change the date or at least the time because they would freak me out, but I was somehow convinced to keep it. We all took HURST and thought we learned more there than we ever did in our 13 months of nursing school. I looked through this book on a daily basis, but barely did any questions. I wasn't too worried about the exam, because I was too happy to be employed.

Morning of the exam, my friends and I received our testing numbers and cubby holes and it was time to prove to the computers that we were nurses. Two hours passed, I saw one of my friends get up and leave.. I was still on 52 when she left and I felt my heart racing and my hands were shaking. I reached 75 and clicked submit and the screen went onto 76. I was getting anxious. Another hour passed and 2 more of my friends have left. Another hour later and one more left. I remember looking at the screen and I still on 178. I could not believe that I was still sitting there. I finally took one of the breaks and tried to give myself a pep talk in the bathroom... it didn't work. When I returned to my seat, I could feel my heart pounding out of my chest once again. By 200, my mind checked out:dead: and I just wanted to get out of there, which was a big mistake on my part. I didn't take any consideration to the fact that the computer was giving me more chances to pass and I just gave up at the end. It took me 3.5 hours to get to 265 and by that time, I KNEW I failed. I was too afraid to try the PVT, so I waited 48 hours to get the quick results that said FAIL. With the help of family and friends, I survived.

As soon as I got the motivation to study again, I tried to do at least 100 questions a day (something I didn't do the first time) and gave myself frequent study breaks.

MAJOR TEST ANXIETY (which I never had during undergrad and nursing program) played a huge role in my failure, so I talked to someone about it. He was GREAT. He made me realize that failing the first exam happened for a reason and that I should see it as more of a blessing than a burden, that I should be more excited to take the exam than dreading it. He helped me with relaxation techniques for the next time.. something as simple as using a relaxing scent and or watching something funny.

Morning of exam (take 2), I WAS PUMPED to get to the (different from the first) testing site. I had a good breakfast and gave myself plenty of time to commute to the new location. When I was waiting in the parking lot, I decided to watch Jimmy Fallon and Chris Hemsworth's water fight instead of cramming. No regrets there I entered the Pearson testing site and felt different. I felt more confident. When the screen did not shut off at 75, I took a deep breath of the Eucalyptus Stress Relief scent that I put on my wrist and hoodie and carried on to the next question. I took the designated break and had a granola bar and just kept on trucking. I ended up taking all 265 questions (AGAIN) with 45 minutes to spare on the timer. I left the testing center in a daze, it did not even seem like I took the exam. It was definitely different from the first time, in which I did not immediately cry afterwards.

48 hours passed and I could not eat nor sleep, so I prayed and prayed and prayed. I listened to multiple worship songs that just spoke to me and helped put me at ease. When I was ready to check the results yesterday (after a Worship service), PEARSON SITE WAS DOWN. I took this as a sign that something bad was about to happen, so I just tried to sleep or get my mind off of it.

Of course I could not sleep, so I was just a nervous wreck all night and morning. At 9AM today, I had the courage to click 'submit order' on the quick results screen and.. drum roll please.. UNOFFICIAL RESULTS: PASS. I could NOT believe my eyes. I cried tears of joy. My mom looked at the results with me and first thing she said, "Where's your name?! I need to make sure this is you!":roflmao: Even until now, I still can't believe it. I had to take multiple screen shots to make sure the B.O.N. didn't change their minds and change the results on me.

• Long story short (sorry):
  
• 
  
  • ​THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE THAT SHARED THEIR STORIES ON THIS SITE, WHO HELPED ME STAY MOTIVATED
    
  • DON'T LOSE HOPE.
    
  • HAVE FAITH IN YOURSELF & DO YOUR BEST.
    
  • EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON
    
  • TAKING THE EXAM IS A BLESSING, NOT A BURDEN (even if it feels like it)
    
  • PREPARE YOURSELF TO TAKE THE FULL 265 QUESTIONS
    
    • ​​I didn't the first time and was 100x more anxious
      

    [*]​DON'T BE AFRAID TO PRAY FOR SOMETHING THAT YOU REALLY WANT and KNOW YOU DESERVE.

    • ​He'll answer your prayers on His time.
      

I'm so happy to finally be a part of the RN world and wishing you all the best of luck studying for the NCLEX! Hope this helps a few of you!

Tools I used to study for the NCLEX the 2nd time:

• Latest Saunders Book- online materials (100 questions)
  
• Mosby's Review Cards for the NCLEX-RN (THANK YOU, CO-WORKER!) (100 questions/day)
  
• NCLEX-RN Exam Cram/Practice Questions (100 questions)
  
• KAPtest
  
• Hurst Student Guide (only morning before exam as a review)
  
• NCLEX Mastery app
  

GOOD LUCK AND STUDY ON!

[Soontobern517]

Did you think mastery app was beneficial second time around?? I am retaking and using this app I jusy finished all the practice questions with a 69%

[FinallyAn_RN]

To be honest, I barely used it the second time around in comparison to the first (only when I was on the go and didn't have a book on me). I, personally, didn't feel like their questions were close to what was on the NCLEX (both times that I took it), but their questions did help with practicing for the Knowledge and Comprehension portion of the exam, which are considered lower level questions for the NCLEX. Hope this helps!

[Jesuslover]

Congrats! I also passed the 2nd try with 265 questions. I used Saunders and the 5 week ncsbn learning extension. The ncsbn questions are extremely similar to the actual nclex questions. Good luck everything! You can do it😄😃😊

[Ms_10ya]

Congrats:)

[leonard_huh, BSN, MSN, RN, APN]

I am in the same boat as you, had the same feelings. Took the first one with 265 and failed. just took my 2nd one today and went all the way to 265 feeling dazed like what just happened. not sure what the results would be I felt good going into the test, but time will tell. My last questions was a math one so it kind of makes me wonder.