Passed NCLEX 265 Qs.. Here's my story

[IcallTheShots, ASN, RN]

Hi Everyone,

I've been on this board for a while now and not really posting much. But after going through the agony with the NCLEX i wanted to post something that may encourage everyone here....

It at started like this... I was supposed to graduate December 2013, unfortunately with my school, we had to take an exit HESI exam and pass with an 850 or higher and a exit math exam and pass that with a 90% or higher. Unfortunately i did not pass my math exam, to be honest I received a 85% and my professors would not let me "slide" though. Boy was I mad... but that actually was a start to something good... so unfortunately i was not allowed to go to the pinning ceremony or graduation. I was told that i had to wait and attend the March semester and retake the math exam and i would be able to graduate in June of 2014. With Gods will and my prayers, my DON called me in February to meet with her and this meeting was no longer than 5 minutes and it consisted of " i will let you test out, and if you receive a 90% or higher on the test, i will let you graduate early" with that being said i ran to my car, with all might I studied my buns off for a math test like it was the end of the world. I took my math test got 100% I had my own graduation and pinning ceremony with ALL of my instructors and the DON and all the faculty at my school. Everyone was crying and so proud of me. I actually felt special.

I received my ATT March 14. Scheduled my NCLEX for April 3 at 2pm. I studied my buns off... I did over 3000 questions from march 14, to April 3. I used Kaplan. I was scoring between 63% to 67% at all times. I reviewed things people posted on here, I made a binder of "pictures" from pinterest that were very helpful and mnomonics that helped me remember things such as "hyperkalemia vs hypokalemia." I had a review sent to me by someone on this board that cost her 50 bucks, It was 97 pages long. I read and read that review. As it got closer to the exam I started having panic attacks. I stopped eating and started taking wellbutrin because i would not focus anymore. I felt as though my brain was going to explode. I became paranoid. The NCLEX destroyed me.

Two days before the exam, Tuesday: i woke up at 7am and I studied till about 1am the next night. I of course took breaks but not longer than 15 minutes each time. on this day all i did was questions, and looked up information after the exam was over if i didnt understand the explanation that Kaplan gave me. I went to bed about 130 that morning and woke up on Wednesday morning at around 9 am. People have told me and i have read that the day before the exam do something for yourself and go enjoy yourself and take time to relax. In my case, i cannot do that when i know i have the most important exam coming up, no matter what i try to do, relaxing and enjoying myself was not part of it. I did some content overview, a quick lab review and i sat on the computer searching for things that would just pop up in my head and read through the research. Later on that night I simply took a shower, and watched a movie with my mother till about 11pm and went to bed.

I did not sleep i kept waking up every 2 hours thinking i was going to be late to the exam and let me remind you, my test wasn't until 2pm. Regardless, I got myself out of bed at around 9am, I reviewed some lab normals and some medications as i was drinking my coffee and having breakfast. I got myself ready and left the house around noon. I got to the building for where my life was either going to start or end around 1230 :). I used the bathroom and headed in to sign in. I was so surprised as how strict they were at the desk. Ill tell you what i wore; comfortable pair of jeans, tennis shoes, a light sweater, and a light jacket with no hoodie or pockets. Anyways, I was to read the "rights" of the nclex, the dos and donts, sign that i agree, there after, i had my palm prints done and picture taken. I was to check all my pockets and lock away if i had any jewelry on, which i didnt except for a bracelet that I ALWAYS wear, they made me take it off and look it up with my keys to my car. From the front desk i went back towards the testing classroom and there was another person that took my palm prints and thats where i asked her for ear plugs. She checked my pockets again and lead me to my seat. Once i got there i sat down just started clicking. I felt like i was outside of my body. I felt like i was watching myself take this test. I dont know if i mentioned this but, I cried on the way there which took about a half hour, I missed the exit and had to turn around and get back on the right road :). I cried as i went to the bathroom, cried as i was getting my palm prints done, cried as I was getting my picture taken, and cried as I was walking towards the computer in which i was going to take the test at.

The NCLEX: i started off with the first question, i said to myself oh wow that was easy, second question "Select all that apply", so was the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth. I was going crazy. Mind you i was told that "if you are doing good your questions will get harder and harder, and you will keeep getting select all that apply." I was like ok this is good im doing good. I kept going kept my spirits up. I got a picture question, a hot spot question and a few more select all that apply. I got to question 70 after an hour and I was like oh 5 more questions and i am done. As soon as the computer hit 75, i clicked next and all i saw was question 76. I started crying again, all i could think was wow i failed my life is over and this is it. I took a second to recompose myself and kept going. This time i sped up and i took the bull by the horns. I was not going to let myself fail. thats all i kept saying to myself. I said i am not coming back here and if this computer takes me till 265 i dont care i will give it all that i have. I kept going strong, i got about 10 math questions, 2 ekg interpretations, about 5 "place in order" and the rest select all that apply. I felt like i did not get a break from these type of questions I also had a few medication question. I felt like as soon as i got a math question there was a select all that apply to follow, then following that i got place in order, following that i had EKG interpretations. I kept going strong and didnt think about anything at this point i just wanted to pass. As i approached 260 261 262 and 263 were select all that apply and the last two were multiple choice.

As i finished the test, and i finished in 5 hours and 25 minutes i believe, I took the survey that is after the exam, rose my hand and got escorted out of the testing area. The lady was explaining that within 48 hours i can know my "unofficial" results. I said "yeah yeah" and proceeded to walk out and ran to the elevators. I then sprinted to my car and sat in my car crying for about a half hour and thought i just threw my life away. I called my mom and we both cried and somehow i drove home, my best friend and her boyfriend kept me on the phone and tried to calm me down. As soon as I got home which was now about 7pm I tried the trick.... I didn't believe it. The pop up window said i was already registered for this exam and cannot re-register. I thought it was too soon. I tried again at about 8pm and it said the same thing. I was still in denial. I needed a drink. I went over to my brothers. Now mind you all.. i never told a soul as to when my test day was except for my best friend and her boyfriend and my mother. I never told anyone else not even my dad and i am a daddy's little girl. My mother and i went over to my brothers and bought a case of beer and decided that this is the way to forget about today and maybe get some sleep tonight .......As the night went on, i could not sleep for the life of me. I stayed up checking on pearson vue. I then decided to give up because i was sick of seeing the pop up. Friday was the worst day of my life. I kept busy though i kept myself doing other things and decided not to check pearson vue. I didnt sleep that night as well. Saturday came and i got myself out of bed at 8 am. Now my dad became suspicious and asked me what was going on, i told him. I told him that i will find out in about 9 hours if my life is over. My dad was so optimistic when i told him the pearson vue trick, he proceeded to congratulate me, i would not accept it because i didnt trust it. 315pm came around and my test results were ready. As i paid the 7.95 and as soon as i saw the word "PASS" under the status as my result. I fainted. All my mother said to me was all she heard was a loud "thump" and didnt know what happened to me... when i came back to "life" :) i saw the word "pass" again and i started hyperventilating and couldnt believe it. I started calling all of my friends and family, everyone was happy for me but they all had one question and it was "when did you take it, how did you keep such a secret from all of us" :)))) it was the best feeling in the world.....

Now, i want to tell you guys this.. do not believe what everyone says. I had people telling me that because i got the 265 i was supposedly "riding the line" and the computer couldnt decide whether to pass me or not. Now if you get the 265 please dont be like me and thing negative right away. I believe that i got the hardest question. There are people that i talked to that passed with 75 and never once got a select all that apply or a hot spot or a math or a drag and drop, and i have talked to some people that passed with having all those type of questions. I have also talked to people that have failed with having those type of questions. PLease believe me when i tell you that it doesnt matter how many questions you have, and what type of questions you have... just go there and do your best, give it all that you got. I have talked to some instructors that work for the NCLEX and theyve told me that i had the hardest version and i was "the chosen one" to get the 265 whether i was passing or not. Believe in yourself and dont give up. I am a very pessimistic person, i always think of the negative before i even think of the positive. Life isnt always that hard.

Please if you have any questions, and if you think i can help you, let me know. I am not the brightest crayon in the box. My GPA in nursing school is 3.48 I am not a straight A student, I have to work real hard and study forever to get what i want. I feel like everyone deserves to pass the NCLEX if they have a desire and put their ego aside.

[IcallTheShots, ASN, RN]

Its a privilage to put RN after your name... and everytime i do now... i do a little happy dance :)

[zeifrancisco]

This is really inspiring! Congratulations! What are the usual topics that was asked? Any advice? What materials did you use for the review? Please send me an email @ [email protected] Thanks!

[LegsMcgeeRN]

Congrats RN!!!!!!!!

[2013rn2BScorpio]

Congrats do you feel the study guide really helped you?

[IcallTheShots, ASN, RN]

Congrats do you feel the study guide really helped you?

Honestly, I don't know what helped me. I can honestly say I did everything possible for this NCLEX. I studied my butt off.. i fell off the face of the earth from the time i received my ATT until i received my results. I shut every off.... I needed to do this for myself... i truly believe you owe it to youself to pass and do everything you possibly can. Im not sure if answering 3000 questions help. because thats what i did. i cant say that the study guide helped because thats not the only thing i went off of. My computer was my best friend. Kaplan was my best friend. My iphone apps were my best friends when i didnt have my computer. My co-workers were always quizzing me at work. It is all about how you think critically. I cant say that the NCLEX was all delegation because it wasnt, i cant say that the nclex was all isolation questions, because it wasnt. Im not sugar coating... i was nervous as one could ever be. Like i said before, i felt like i wasnt in my body while taking the NCLEX. If i would give one advice it would be to constantly do questions questions questions, look up information that you dont understand. go back into your books. go on pinterest type in NCLEX go to blogs that have pictures of things if you are a visual learner like me. write down things keep writing information if thats how you remember things. like i said, i study hard i have to thats the only way i can pass. i do everything possible. and just remember sit back and read and reread the question dont just jump on an answer that "seems" correct... nclex is made to make you think that the answer is obvious... but its not. it never it.. and if you think the answer is obvious, re read the question analyze what it is trying to ask you. its not simple.

[lovleeme]

Congratulations!!! I am crying while reading your story. I know this will be me!! I have 4 weeks left until graduation and I am scared that I wont even have the courage to schedule myself for the NCLEX! I am scared that I will keep putting it off - saying "I'm not ready yet". I am also a visual learner and really have to study harder than the next person, (things don't come easy for me) so a lot of things you said made me think about myself. Thank you for sharing your story! When I am sitting there sweating, I will still have hope! LOL

[soontobenurse15]

Congrats !! (:

[IcallTheShots, ASN, RN]

Congratulations!!! I am crying while reading your story. I know this will be me!! I have 4 weeks left until graduation and I am scared that I wont even have the courage to schedule myself for the NCLEX! I am scared that I will keep putting it off - saying "I'm not ready yet". I am also a visual learner and really have to study harder than the next person, (things don't come easy for me) so a lot of things you said made me think about myself. Thank you for sharing your story! When I am sitting there sweating, I will still have hope! LOL

I thought about it many times to change my date, but honestly I am glad that I did not! Believe me you will scare yourself more and make yourself more nervous if you change the date. Pick a day STICK with it and study your buns off! the one thing that kept playing in my head was... do everything you can so that you cant go back and say " i should have done this, and if i did this" i never wanted myself to ever regret not studying something or not giving it my all....

All my friends and co-workers went out this one day for a whole day drinking hopping bars, and they invited me and i thought to myself... i should do this i should really go out and blow off some steam... but after thinking about it... i didnt go and spent the day studying and nothing thinking twice about my friends and their fun day out... now i have nothing to regret. i didnt go out and spend my day drinking i spent it studying and i am grateful that i did that. I know myself better then anyone (well my mom and dad know me better then myself) but besides that i knew what i needed to do. So park it. stick with it. you can do. honestly put your ego aside and remember this is the last thing you have to do to get what you want!

[laKrugRN]

Awesome story!! :) it is no shame to take 75 or 265. As long as you pass in the end! This makes me feel better. I have 2 weeks left of school and am hoping to take NCLEX next month! All these "passing" posts are great! Congrats to you!! :)

[rnacu]

congratulations !! i am so stressed with this exam . my test is on may 9th . would u please send me questions that u have been asked in Nclex if u remember, my email id is [email protected]. Thanks

[rnjacqui]

Congratulations!!! I am just now waiting on my letter of acceptance and often think about studying for the NCLEX exam. I shouldn't even be worrying about this yet! I too am one that can't "do something for myself" or "relax" when I know I have a very important task at hand. Thank you for your wonderful story and good luck to you!!!!