Passed nclex on 3rd attempt!!!! Here's my story and tips!

[grn0623]

I promised myself that once I passed the nclex I would post on this forum to share my story and how I managed to finally pass on the 3rd attempt! This site has helped me in so many ways, so now it's time to pay it forward. :)

I graduated back in May of 2016 from my nursing program (got my associates). A month later I was offered a job in the ICU at a well known hospital in my area. They had me schedule my nclex for July 20th, less than a week before I started working. For this first attempt I used only Uworld and nothing else. I did pretty much their entire question bank and was doing decent. I felt okay about the test, but the day of I was a nervous wreck! I had no idea what I was going into. I remember getting to question 75 and it didn't shut off. I told myself right then and there I failed because I assumed you fail if you go past question 75. I kept thinking in my head "just shut it off if I failed because I can't go through this torture." I felt like I was rushing and was just guessing the entire time. I ended up taking no breaks and finished with about 5 minutes left of the 6 hours allowed. I got all 265 questions. I was a MESS coming out of there. I tried so hard to hold back the tears until I got to the bathroom. I went to my car and called my mom and told her I failed because I had already known I failed. I balled my eyes out the entire drive home. Two days later it was a big fail... I ended up finding out on vacation... I felt like the biggest failure and didn't know what I was going to tell the hospital. I ended up going to the first day of orientation, but got pulled into an office during lunch break. They had to take back the ICU offer.. I BALLED in front of them because I had worked so hard to get my dream job, but they were so supportive and nice and said not to worry because once I pass they wanted to get me back in.

My second attempt... September 12th... I used uworld AGAIN. I tried using NCSBN, but I couldn't stay motivated with their style of content review. While using Uworld I bought a big notebook and took notes on every question I did. I also read each rationale carefully. I was doing pretty well on the questions and felt like I could tackle the exam this time. Day of the test I was a nervous wreck once again and just did not have a positive attitude. My heart started pounding before I got to question 75 and as soon as I realized I was in for another long haul of 265 questions, I started to freak out. I did not want to have to go through the whole thing again just to fail. This time when I finished though I ended up finishing in about 3 1/2 to 4 hours. I did not even cry when I left there. I did end up going all the way to 265 questions again and two days later I found out I had failed. I cried and cried and felt like the biggest loser ever once again! However, I only gave myself that one day to dwell on it. The very next day I got right back into the game.

Third attempt... I really got down to business. I researched the best nclex review out there and read so many reviews comparing them all. I settled for Hurst and NCSBN(used it more towards the end). I watched all of the Hurst videos and read the book about three times before feeling like I had it all down. This review was amazing, they made everything make sense and easy. It was an easy refresher of everything I learned in nursing school, but it was the core content that I know I needed to review before feeling okay to take the test again. I only did two of their q-banks, but ended up scoring in the 50s on both (that didn't make me feel confident at all). I was also using Nclex Mastery while reading the Hurst book, and it was alright, but I ended up freaking out because I felt like I needed a solid qbank that better prepared me for the types of questions the nclex asks. Two weeks before my exam (had it scheduled for December 22 but rescheduled it to January 12th) I gave in and purchased NCSBN because the last time I purchased it I didn't do their question banks. As soon as I started their question banks I felt more at ease. The types of questions they give you REALLY prepare you well. They are supposedly harder than the nclex, but they really made you think. I ended up scoring 70s 80s 90s and some 100s on their qbanks. Day before the test I got a nice massage and only reviewed my labs, some meds, and precautions. Day of the test I felt calm, until I got to the testing site. I knew I couldn't let the anxiety get to me this time so I did some breathing exercises to get my mind right. I went in and got started. I turned off the timer and questions as soon as it started and right when I got to question 75 I raised my hand for a bathroom break. I gave myself a pep talk that if it shuts off now or keeps going I am not giving up! I kept telling myself "never say you can't" over and over again. That really helped me keep a positive attitude. As soon as I got to question 265 I smiled because I knew the answer with confidence and knew that I had finally passed. It was a feeling I could never explain or forget. Two days later I found out I had passed and cried tears of happiness!!

TIPS:

STAY CALM! Don't start freaking out like I did... it will only cloud your mind and will make you rush through the test because you just want it to be over. I know it's easier said than done, but learning breathing techniques to get that anxiety under control works wonders.

Stick to a review program and know it WELL! very well! One review may work for others and not for you, but you just have to find what you like and what works for your style of studying.

Practice questions DAILY! MANY questions. I loved the NCSBN question banks because they really challenged the way I thought about the question. Yes, they were challenging, but if you can learn how to answer the hard ones then the nclex won't be as scary. Also practice SATA questions!!

Have faith and always keep a positive attitude. The first two times I failed I had a poor mind set going in and out of the test. But the third time around I kept telling myself I will pass and never say you can't, because you CAN and you WILL! Write quotes and post them near your study station to remind you that you can! You never fail until you stop trying.

Get a good nights rest the night before!! and do NOT do any studying the day of the test! Get there early and eat a really good breakfast! I went to the testing center by myself the first two times, but ended up asking my dad and boyfriend to bring me the third time so I wouldn't be as nervous.

TAKE BREAKS! I can't stress this enough. You need and should take breaks during your exam. Have a snack or grab a drink of water to help you keep up the momentum.

As for the pearson vue trick... you can or can't do it if you want, but I didn't do it the first two times and the third time I finally gave in and did it. I used a gift card with a little bit of money on it so I wouldn't risk losing 200 dollars if I had failed again, but I ended up getting the good pop up and found out I passed two days later... it does work!

Research ahead of time how the exam works! I wish I had done that the first time because I thought I failed if my computer didn't shut off at question 75. Know the ins and outs of it! It will ease your mind too.

The day before your test try not to study or cram, go get a massage, do something that will make you happy and ease your nerves!

TELL EVERYONE you possibly can when your test is! I made the mistake of hiding it the first two times and that just made me feel silly when I had to tell people I failed. People WILL SUPPORT you soooo much TRUST ME! It's such a good feeling when you have all these people wishing you luck and believing in you.

At the end of the day just know that you ARE capable of passing this test. It is just a test and it can't hurt you! I know it's an important test but don't let that scare you. I thought I was going to have to take this exam 10 million times before I passed, but if that's what it would have taken then so be it. Don't give up and keep pushing no matter how hard it may be at times. I know ALL of the feelings and emotions of how it is to fail, not only once, but twice... Stay positive, have faith, and BELIEVE in yourself because YOU CAN DO IT!!

It doesn't matter how or when you get there... as long as you get there!

[ilovemypup]

Congrats!!! I can't imagine doing all 265 questions. I admire you for your courage and perseverance. :)

[Miniangel2]

hi! Congrats and Thanks for sharing your Journey, I am so Inspired with your experienced THANKS a million again, Really helpful to all NCLEX Test Takers, I just Failed ,but like you've said,We can able to Pass!!! and I am not giving up, until I Pass..

Goodluck and God bless!

[grn0623]

@miniangel2 Thank you! I am so happy to even be the slightest bit helpful. It's not easy in any way, but it is 100% doable. Don't give up! Keep going, you've got it!! Keep telling yourself you can and you will see how much it actually helps! If you ever have any questions please don't hesitate to ask! :) best of luck!