Passed NCLEX first time using UWorld!

[Marimariela]

I promised I would write a post sharing my experiences and what helped me if I passed the NCLEX the first attempt! I am also writing this post to help anyone who cannot decide what to use to study for the NCLEX. I truly hope it helps!:)

What I used:

-Uworld

-Prioritization delegation and assignment book by Lacharity 3rd edition

I graduated at the end of March 2017, I gave myself two weeks off and finally decided I needed to buckle down and find a study tool. I immediately felt overwhelmed! There were sooo many different resources available and I just wanted to pick the one that was best for me and would help me pass. My school provided us with Kaplan, I hated Kaplan since day one. I disliked the rationales and everything that had to do with Kaplan, so I knew I was NOT going to use that! At first I had my mind set on NCSBN, a friend had used it and passed on her first attempt. I did some research and it turns out it is VERY heavy on content and requires some reading before you can take the tests (I did not buy it so am not 100% sure how heavy it really is). I didn't really want something that was going to make me read a bunch since I did go to nursing school and had already done that. I can see how it would be beneficial for weak areas, but something about it just did not sound appealing to me. I did more research and came across multiple reviews and youtube videos where people would swear that UWorld was awesome and helped them pass! I went on the site and it was appealing to me. Something about it just felt right! I went ahead and purchased UWorld. DID NOT REGRET IT AT ALL!

It took me a little over a month to complete THE ENTIRE QBANK and self assessments. During nursing school I was always pretty average, never the highest grades, but I did fairly well (B's and A's). I always scored pretty average or fairly above average on UWorld and on the self assessments. My scores improved as time went on practicing on Uworld and the questions were pretty difficult. I had a binder full of notes! If I did not know something I would write it down. I would remediate EVERY QUESTION, even if I got it wrong or right. It took me about 3-4 hours to do 75 questions and remediate them. During nursing school I had taken the HESI and scored a 776 (NOT GREAT) this made me worry for my boards since it is a pretty accurate predictor. My school made everyone that scored

I went on uworld and would take random 75 question tests here and there. I felt that I needed different questions and had to keep my brain on its A game... I went ahead and purchased Lacharity "prioritization delegation and assignment" book (read pretty good reviews on it). I did chapters 1-21 and did not touch the case studies as I ran out of time and did the final chapter the day before my NCLEX (I know everyone says to relax the day before your NCLEX, but the only thing that seemed to ease my nerves was to study! So I did). This book was difficult! My scores were mainly in the 60's. Again, reading the rationales was key on every question right or wrong. After I completed the final chapter I skimmed over the binder of notes I had taken from UWorld.

THE DAY OF THE NLCEX:

I was nervous, but felt the day had finally come. I studied a lot and now was the day where everything I had learned in the last few years was going to be put to the test! I PRAYED ALOT! I know I studied a lot, but at the end of the day I knew I needed God to enlighten me and keep my nerves at ease. Once I was taking the test I was nervous but the format was just liked UWorld from colors, to test question formats like SATA, hot spots, and drag and drop. On my NCLEX I got all the formats besides audio and it was just like UWorld. I got around 30 SATA questions! This made me nervous! I took a break at 100 questions and felt I was truly messing this up. The NCLEX was hard (No duh, right haha)! I came back from my break and my computer shut off at 140 questions. I thought I had failed because it was SO hard and I have always been so average! I found out I passed the next morning! I could not believe it! :)

My advise is to simply study and take notes and really take in those rationales! I studied Monday-Thursday. I needed my weekend to breath! I know everyone says you basically have to be a robot and only study until the day of your boards, but I was trying to maintain my sanity!! I think Uworld really saved me!! I would highly recommend it! Everything about it is simply awesome!!

If I can do it, so can you!!!

Best of luck to you all who are reading this! It is hard, but not impossible! God would not have gotten you through all of nursing school if it wasn't right for you, keep your faith!

"Dreams and dedication are a powerful combination" If you can dream it, you really can do it!!