Passed NCLEX-RN on second try

[Jwald720]

I thought I would share my experience failing the NCLEX the first time and then passing on my second try, after all I did come to this site a lot after I found out that I had not made the minimum requirements to pass looking for comfort, insight, tips etc...

I graduated Nursing school in may 2016, with a newborn in my arms, no really I gave birth to my third a week before graduation and walked across that stage with him in my arms. While I love him dearly I wouldn't recommend having a baby during nursing school...but life happens, right?! so after graduation I was exhausted/ relieved I decided to give my brain a break, between breastfeeding and the lack of sleep the thought of cracking down and studying for the NCLEX was unappealing to say the least. In hindsight I wouldn't recommend waiting too long to take the exam after graduation, take it while the information is still pretty fresh!

So after a trip to California and a visit from my mother I decided to pay my dues and sign up to take the exam (about 3 months after I graduated) I chose a date in Aug. and talked to a few classmates who had already taken the exam and passed. I got a lot of recommendations to purchase a Uworld subscription so I did. I used Uworld as my primary study tool, I did about 75-100 questions most days in between caring for my 3 month old and other kiddos, I read all the rationales for the questions I got right or wrong. I didn't really have a set schedule for studying just whenever I could.

So test day came, my appointment was at noon, about an hour and a half from where we live so my husband drove me and we brought all of our kids (not recommended if you can avoid it). I sat down to take the exam, the questions started getting harder and harder. After 75 questions I was waiting for my computer to shut off, but nothing.. I just kept getting more and more questions. I decided to take a bathroom break at about 100 questions....then at 175...then again at 250, by this time I was in full panic mode, I was not prepared to take the full 265 but it was looking like that was what I was going to have to do, I felt sick to my stomach I started clicking answers when I felt I didn't know the answer instead of reading carefully and using the process of elimination, I just wanted it to be over already! After 265 questions and 3 hours and 45 min later I got up, tears welting up before i could even get out of the testing center, I knew in the pit of my stomach that I had failed. I got to the car and broke down, I was a blubbering mess. I decided to try the PVT, I put in all the correct card information except for the cvv, I got a message saying that there was an error processing my card (or something along those lines ) I knew right away this was not a good sign since I received the "good pop-up" when I passed my LPN.

I felt horrible, I spent the next couple of days hoping that the trick didn't work and that some how I would receive news that I passed, instead I received an email from my state board of nursing saying that I didn't pass with the minimum requirements. I was crushed, I felt like a complete failure. It was hard to call my work and let them know and it was hard to face my friends and coworkers. Everyone was really supportive about the whole ordeal. I let myself grieve and process everything for awhile before I decided to start studying again (about a month). When I felt ready I scoured the internet (allnurses) for stories and helpful hints of those who were in the same boat as me, it helped a lot to hear success stories of those that weren't able to pass the first time but found their way to achieving their goals the second or even third time taking the NCLEX.

I talked to a friend who suggested Remar quick facts for NCLEX, I purchased this book on amazon for around 25$. I did about ten pages a day and created note cards on all the information that I either didn't know or info I needed to brush up on. I really recommend this book, it is short and sweet and straight to the point and it has a pharm. section that was very helpful because I saw a lot of the drugs or at least the same drug category on the NCLEX the second time around. I also called Kaplan and told them that wasn't able to pass and they were nice enough to renew my subscription until the end of Dec. I redid all of the question trainers and when I was finished with those I did anywhere from 30-75 questions a day on Kaplan using their question bank, I scored anywhere from 56%-83% on the exams.

I signed up to retake my exam in December and I'm not going to lie I felt very unsure if I was ready to test again, but I took the plunge anyways and went for it! I studied rationales the night before and went through my notecards, I woke up early and my husband and I got some breakfast, dropped the kids off with a sitter, and I prayed the whole way to the exam center. I prayed as I sat down to take the exam and I prayed when I didn't know an answer. I paced myself and carefully read the questions and answer choices before choosing. I planned on taking a break after 75 questions but as soon as i submitted my answer on 75 the screen turned blue and I was prompted to take an exiting survey. I calmly walked out of the exam center and called my husband (who was surprised to be receiving a call so early) to come and get me. I took a deep breath and signed onto Pearson Vue and when I tried to register for the exam I got the "good pop-up". I felt so much better, i still had reservations about celebrating until i was for sure that i passed but sure enough 4 hours later i received an email from my BON saying that I passed and that I should be issued a license within the next day or two.

So to those of you, who haven't passed or haven't taken the exam yet, for me timing was everything! that along with good tools/ study materials and consistency in your study habits with lots and lots of prayers along the way helped me to finally pass the NCLEX and become an RN!!! You've Got This!!!