Passed nclex 3rd time. Read my story and how i did it

[lavenderbrown1]

This is a post dedicated to all the bad test takers. To all the ones who were told they OR told themselves they would never pass the NCLEX. I am here to share my story and give you all hope!!! This test is a huge monster mind game, but if I can get through it.. YOU CAN TOO!Here's a little background information. I knew at a very young age that I was to be a nurse. It was my passion.. my purpose. I was going to do whatever it took to become a nurse. If you feel this way you will make it. I was never a good test taker, I didn't by any means breeze through nursing school. I was a loner; I struggled. And by loner, I mean I didn't have a study group. I didn't have girls to lean on. I would NOT recommend anyone to do that, but my nursing school was extremely cliquey and I honestly didn't connect with anyone. I had tons of friends outside of nursing school, but within it felt like everyone was competing against eachother.

ANYWAY so by the time I graduated and it was time for the NCLEX I was worried. I had ZERO test taking confidence. I graduated in Dec 2015. I took time off because hello we have to celebrate that amazing accomplishment!! I did the hurst review beginning of January. This was a great content reminder and the book they provide was awesome, I used it throughout my studying journey. The hurst tests were no use to me. Yes, I completed them but they were nothing like the NCLEX (at least my take on it). So I studied SO much. For 3 weeks straight hours upon hours. My first test: I had the full 265. It was miserable. I left knowing I had failed. My last question was so simple

I was defeated. I cried and cried. I felt it wasn't fair. I knew all the concepts, but I couldn't master the test. I up and moved 6 hours away with my sister. I had to get away. I know this isn't a likely option for many, but I couldn't study at home again. I was depressed. This go around I used NCSBN questions. They were OKAY. They were basically content questions and many high level content. The rationales were simple and not helpful. I also used a friend's Kaplan login. She had already passed her NCLEX and was nice enough to let me just use the rest of her subscription. So, I did all of Kaplan. I found there decision tree to NOT work for me. For me, it didn't help answering questions. It made me second guess myself.

Needless to say, second NCLEX attempt- The full 265 questions (AGAIN). I felt more confident this time. Thinking I got this fair yet again. This time I passed. I went at a faster pace and it only took me 4 hours this go around. When I read the results fail yet again I went in another depression. I couldn't face my family, my sister, my friends. I felt like a failure.

Yet, I wasn't giving up. I took 2 months off. Didn't think about nursing. It was sad because all my fellow nursing students were out living it up. Making money, saving lives. And here I was just got a job at a restaurant waitressing because I had bills to pay. I started serving tables and making friends in the new town. I went out, had fun and nursing was the last of my worries. But I knew I had to return to reality soon. I told you it was my passion and I meant that.

Finally, I researched and found UWORLD. I hadn't heard any of my friends using it, but so many testimonies saying it was legit. It wasn't even that expensive. Just $109 and I easily splurged on that with my waitressing money. I gave myself 3 weeks again.

UWORLD was a blessing. They had almost 2,000 questions! It's all divided and you can do whatever you do. I started with just med surg and fundamentals. They had the most questions so I divided it up. I studied a little over 2 hours a day 5 days a week. I worked doubles at the restaurant Saturday and Sunday. That gave me a break from thinking about questions. So basically I didn't study a whole lot. I think that helped me. The first two times I stressed myself out so much.. Anyway UWORLD is amazing because it has amazing pharm questions and select all that apply. I HATED select all that apply. They were my night mare. I always second guessed my decisions and changed them. UWORLD helped me master them completely. Before I was a wreck answering them, UWORLD made me so comfortable. I was scheduled to test July 5. On a Tuesday. The weekend before, starting Friday, I ate slept and breathed nursing. It was crunch time. I felt I hadn't prepared enough so I went to the library for 3 days straight and finished ALL the questions. Honestly I probably did 200+ a day. I wrote out all my wrong answers/rationales. UWORLD explains everything!!! The Monday before (July 4) I did nothing. It was miserable. I also started reading the book, YOU ARE A BADASS” I also would have to say this book contributed to my success because it taught me to BELIEVE IN MYSELF!!!! I struggled so much with depression and convincing myself wouldn't succeed. So, please get that book if you are someone who has low self confidence when it comes to test taking.

i was scheduled to take it at 8am. I woke up at 6. Took a short walk, ate breakfast and drove without thinking about anything. I went in confident. Telling myself this is the LAST time I will be in this test taking facility. My exam started off well. I had tons of pharm questions, maternity, and select all that apply. QUESTION 60: a math problem. An easy. Simple. Math. Problem. My heart sunk. I felt so defeated. I thought I was doing horrible. Question 75- a priority question. I answered it and computer shut off. I was in disbelief. I wanted to shake the computer and beg it to turn back on. I left and immediately cried my eyes out. For 3 whole days. I face timed my ex boyfriend (thank God for him) for 3 days. He listened to me cry and tell myself I had done so horribly that I failed in 75 questions. The day my quick results came out I couldn't make myself look at it. I waited until 11pm that night to finally look.

When I saw pass I was in disbelief. I had already told my whole family and friends that I had failed. I was so embarrassed!!

So moral of this post (I'm sorry it was so long. I literally just poured my heart out to you guys) DON'T GIVE UP. You can do this. I did it, so can you. Use UWORLD. And if you get a math problem around question 60 don't lose hope!!!!!!!!!!! It doesn't mean you are failing. I went from taking the exam twice 265 questions to passing in 75!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now I'm a nurse and I am so. So so. HAPPY!! And you will be too. If anyone has any questions about my studying or need to vent or ANYTHING please feel free to message me. We are in this together

If you want something GO AND GET IT. Don't let ANYONE tell you you can't do something!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[MLTtonursing, BSN, PhD]

Congrats to you. I am so happy that you obtained your dreams. I really enjoyed reading your story. I am sure that this will give many students on here hope. Thank you for posting your story.