Passed nclex-rn 2nd time

Nursing Students NCLEX

Published

I promised I would post my story in hopes to give someone who I know is going through all nurses.com trying to find something to give them hope because they have failed their nclec the 1st time and are now on to trying for the 2nd time. I HOPE THIS MAKES YOU REALIZE YOU CAN DO IT JUST BELIEVE! Trust believing in yourself is the biggest, hardest part and will take you a long way.

So I graduated from my BSN program Jan. 2014 and scheduled myself May. I studied here and there and did a program called "GREEN LIGHT" provided by my school also known as ATI ( VIRTUAL ATI). When I received my "GREEN LIGHT" I waited 3 weeks to take my test ( FIRST MAJOR MISTAKE ) they suggest to schedule 3-5 days ( a week max ) after receiving green light. For two weeks straight before my exam I did 100 questions a day of ATI questions ( SECOND BIG MISTAKE ) I already had done so many questions on ATI I had memorized majority of them. I wasn't learning anything new just picking the answer because I already knew what it was. Even though i was doing a lot of questions it wasn't challenging me at all.

ACTUAL TEST DAY:

I wore comfortable clothing ( one thing i did right ) i arrived to PASADENA TEST CENTER an hour early my test was at 1pm. Since i arrived early i was able to take my test early. I did the whole check in process. Little Tip SMILE when you take your picture, it takes a load of stress and makes you feel confident before going in. I DID NOT do this my first time it made me feel awkward and nervous because I usually smile for pictures.

When i went in i did not ask for headphones or earplugs to muffle the noise ( THIRD BIG MISTAKE ). It was hell when i heard everyones mouse clicking little tapping coughing or talking when the proctor would bring someone in or take someone out. I also wore stud earings that day I tried to put the headphones they provide for audio clip question but the backing of my earings was poking me and it bothered me so much ( EPIC FAIL ).

TEST :

I ended up having 265 questions. I remember hitting 75 wishing it was over and being extremely discouraged when it kept going and kept getting discouraged each question when it didn't shut off. I also did not take one break at all because i wanted to get the test over with ( BAD CHOICE ). I ended up going Pearson Vue Trick and it went to Credit Card page did not get pop up and got my results in mail DID NOT PASS. In all categories i was " NEAR PASSING " in all subject areas.

POST TEST:

Cried for days didn't get over it for 2 weeks. Submitted re-application that took forever to get my new ATT. Till then i slowly got back into it doing SAUNDERS NCLEX-RN questions from their book. I did about 500 something or more when i enrolled in KAPLAN COURSE CLASSES. It was alot of money but i told myself passing the nclex means more to me and ill end up spending more money re-applying then to just take KAPLAN they have a high success rate and alot of my friends who took it passed so i was set on using it this time around and i needed a program to stick to.

I ended up taking the KAPLAN classes with an instructor I liked this because I did the class with friends and it was like school all over again taking notes, listening, and doing questions. It was nice i really enjoyed going to the classes and they give AWESOME TIPS PERTAINING TO THE NCLEX. The NCLEX is tricky KAPLAN helped to break it down and make those questions not so intimidating.

I then did their q-trainers, and their sample tests. TWICE ( i wanted to make sure i learned from my mistakes. I also finished 100% of the qbank and redid the questions i got incorrect.

I won't get into my scores because it isn't the scores that count is if you feel confident about answering the questions and that you learn from them " READ YOUR RATIONALES" also understand why that is the answer and why the others are not. But if your dying for a number please be aiming at least for 50% and higher.

2nd TIME NCLEX:

I ended up taking my test in the morning 8am i felt like when i took it in the afternoon i was so nervous i ended up waking up early anyway and then freaking out having so much time to kill ended up doing questions DAY OF ( DO NOT DO THIS AT ALL ). So morning i felt i could wake up, get ready, eat breakfast ( COFFEEE!!!) , and GO. I got there 20 minutes before my test. SMILED ! When i took my picture :D and wore comfy clothing NO EARINGS this time and asked for those earplugs. Surprisingly they tuned out alot of noise it was AMAZING the difference it made. I TOOK THREEE DEEEP BREATHS before taking my test this helps set your mind.

TEST:

Finished with 75 questions, took my time if i felt i rushed reading the questions i re-read the questions i emphasized in my mind the words that really stuck out to help me understand what the question was asking. If this is your second time no need to hurry this is YOUR CHANCE YOUR MOMENT don't regret rushing it. When you click your answer DO NOT DOUBT YOURSELF you clicked it and picked it for a reason! MOVE TO THE NEXT and take your time on each and every question. BE CONFIDENT say YES THIS IS THE ANSWER and if you dont know the answer say " I THINK THIS IS THE BEST ANSWER" just positive self talk it really helps to calm your nerves trust me my heart was still beating but after a while it went down because I knew this time I HAD IT. At 75 i told myself if it kept going to not worry take

deep breaths and take a break. I took my sweet sweet time on questions 75. AND BOOM BLUE BLANK SCREEN. I was done . I went out of there smiling because i knew I had done it.

OVERALL:

USE KAPLAN it will be worth it even if it doesn't work for you at least you know you did all you could to pass this time.

I heard sticking to ONE program or source is beneficial instead of bouncing from different ones.

BE COMFORTABLE, BE CONFIDENT, DON'T RUSH, DON'T NEGATIVE SELF-TALK

" IF YOU PREPARE FOR SUCCESS, EXPECT SUCCESS "

YOU GOT THIS !!!! :D YOU WORKED HARD FOR THIS, IT IS NOT OVER , YOU HAVE A CHANCE GRAB IT , IT IS YOURS FOR THE TAKING!:yes:

- JOANNE BSN, RN :nurse:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Maternal Newborn.

I'm so happy for you! Your post and efforts paid off big this time and it was meant for you!! Did you also watch Kaplan videos (content and q's review) or do all the qtrainers and qbank? Again, your post is very encouraging, inspiring (and courageous). Congrats and high fives, RN!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

What an awesome post!! You are funny! Congratulations, Joanne, RN!!!! Thanks for the tips!! :yes:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you so much for sharing !! Congratulations to you RN :)) I am working on prep to retest my second time. I have been very confused as to what I should do this time to prepare. My first attempt I used NCSBN 6 days a week with no LESS than 8-10 hours a day. I received all 265 and was "near passing" or "above passing" on all areas except 2. A good friend whom successfully passed with 75 questions has advices me to use Kaplan this time simply because I have problems with breaking the questions down. I was hesitating on purchasing Kaplan but after reading your post , I feel that maybe I should give it a try. My original plans were : Saunders , Lacharity Prioritizing book , and do the NCSBN again.

What are you thoughts with mixing different study materials and opinion about Saunders or the other sources I've mentioned ?? THANK YOU :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
yedwards42: I did watch 2 of the content videos of my weakest areas but honestly they were really long i would just have it on as background noise while painting my nails or something. It was a lot of information and i feel i wasn't very weak on content so i just would customize my qbank test to test me only on questions i was weak on :]
Up Vote Up Vote ×

Tanyasands: I heard Lacharity was good Prioritizing book, Saunders i feel the questions are not as complex as nclex but since it was a hard copy book its good to bring if you want to do some studying while your out and about. I would say if one program did work for you maybe try KAPLAN this time around maybe its just the view point or approach you need. But if you feel you did not use NCSBN to its full extent and kind of didn't do that program correctly give it another try if you liked it. I was lost and had no direction and needed something to stick to. I heard Kaplan really helped with how to answer NCLEX style questions and its complexity and what NCLEX wants you to answer. :]

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Maternal Newborn.

Tysm for your input/advice. Congrats again!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical/Oncology.

JBSN,

Congratulations to your passing the NCLEX! I admire that you tried really hard on your second exam! Thank you for the encouraging words. I am taking mine for the first time in a couple of days. I'm nervous but I feel very confident. Best of luck on your future!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Cardiac, ER, Pediatrics, Corrections.

Alright! Way to go!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I took mine for the 2nd time last Jul 19 too but I got the on hold pop-up til now, I know I can never know until I'll be able to call the BON or pearson vue tomorrow regarding my result's status & I've been reading thru almost all recent pvt posts here & there just to find comfort. Failing can be a really traumatic event esp in my case coz it was the 1st time I failed in a major exam (I got my RN license in my home country before but maybe it was easier coz I was a fresh grad). CONGRATULATIONS you deserve it, I'm really happy I got to see your post since I was confused after my exam if I really got them right. But I took my sweet time too & prayed hard for guidance.

Good luck on your endeavors!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Tanz: It was really hard on my when I failed my first time i was a pretty smart student in nursing school and after passing my Green Light program with ease i thought nclex would be a breeze. But the test has changed so its good to hear about the test how it is now and how to handle it. Best of luck! I don't think the BRN gives you ur results through the phone but should see why its on hold :) hope the best!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

whatsmyusername_RN: Goodluck! Keep that confidence :) and positive self talk the whole way ! Hope the best!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment