Hello all my fellow nurses! (Just because you may have not passed the nclex does not mean you're not a nurse)
I want to say first off- after you're done reading this please do not read any more testimonies. You must find your own nitch. I too as many of you, would spend countless hours while researching - what did she/he do? How many questions- how did they prepare ect ect. while
obtaining advice from others is AWESOME it can also leave you IN A PANIC. Never compare yourself, and especially DO NOT COMPARE YOUR SCORES WITH OTHERS! Trust me, everyone is different and every test is different. Of course all of this is just my opinion. I just told myself I would share what I did if I passed.
1st time around- I did Kaplan. Kaplan was great. Lots of questions and content. However, I didn't Pass my first time. I am not posting my scores because again it doesn't matter! We are all different and every test is different. I also had a terrible attitude towards myself and my ability to pass.
-when I found out I didn't pass I was devastated and heart broken. I was so mean spirited and down. I gained a lot some weight and inatnstly found myself in a depression. Please if you are here in this spot.... Brush your shoulders off, cry it out and give yourself a hug and get back to it. You passed nursing school YOU CAN DO THIS. I promise confidence is key. People say questions content content blah blah. No! If you don't believe in yourself how in the world do you expect anything positive to happen? We may not know each other but I HAVE FAITH IN YOU!
Anyways.
Second time- I changed my attitude. I picked myself up, dusted my shoulders off and moved on. I honestly have to say along with my positive attitude i owe this to the book called--- PRIORTIZATION AND DELEGATION BY-LaCharity. Guys this book is amazing!!!!!!!!!! It's tricky and gets your mind working but that's what we want. Another thing . I
took my time with things. There is no rush to get so much done. Take the time to understand things. I also
did NCSBN. It was an overload of information but wow so so helpful. These too combined got me to the finish line, but not without faith and confidence.
along side of these things. I started working out. I got acupuncture (groupon) I had terrible anxiety that would put me into some crazy tachycardia! I also took some herbal supplements recommended by the accupumcturist called - Tian wang bu xin Dan- it helps with relaxation and healthy blood flow. Three days beforey test I got a massage.
I know i wrote a ton im sorry. Just be confident guys. Love yourself. Have faith you can do this and as crazy as it sounds talk to yourself and remind yourself of your self worth! You are
smart and special and you deserve to fulfill your dream, and If you're spiritual pray... God can only help you if he hears your prayer. remember all good things come to those who wait.
Please contact me if you need any motivation or just someone to
tslk to!! I don't mind at all, we are one. I know you all can do this!!!!!!
I've been sooooo discouraged its not not even funny anymore. I graduated about almost 6 years ago and I'm ....well I'm not sure where, when, how, what etc... I read your article and just wanted to say thank you for posting everything you did.
Unless you fail the NCLEX. In my state you can only call yourself a nurse if you are an RN who has just graduated or passed the NCLEX---you lose the privilege of calling yourself a graduate nurse if you fail. Although I though it was the policy of AN to not allow posters to call themselves a nurse unless they had license in hand. No matter what the OP would like to believe.
Passing NCLEX makes you a LICENSED nurse. Graduating nursing school makes you a GRADUATE nurse, in any event YOU ARE A NURSE!!
when i read this tears run down my eyes your posting is very inspirational im a single mom with three kids still fighting the nclex rn battle.Good luck on your career.
Passing NCLEX makes you a LICENSED nurse. Graduating nursing school makes you a GRADUATE nurse, in any event YOU ARE A NURSE!!
I realize that this seems like semantics to you, but it really isn't. See, in most States, the use of the word "nurse" is a protected legal title reserved for RNs or LPN/LVNs. Hey, there's even one State (Wisconsin? Washington? Brandon, do you know? Can't remember, sorry) that denies the use of "nurse" to anyone who is not an RN. Those who hold LVN/LPN licenses in those States must actually use the full title, not just "nurse", as according to the Nurse Practice Act' that abbreviated designation indicates RN only. I learned about that right here on AN :)
So, where does that leave a new grad? The informal use of "graduate nurse" is permissible until one TAKES the NCLEX. After that time, one is either a licensed nurse (RN or LVN/LPN) or they are actually prevented from using the word "nurse" at all. Not even "graduate nurse".
There was a time when new grads worked as Graduate Nurses for months, until they could take the licensing exam that was only TWICE a year (can you imagine??) and had to wait 2-3 months for the results to arrive via Pony Express (j/k, plain old USPS).
It all sounds kinda picky, except when you're on the end of having EARNED that all-important designation that allows one to call oneself a nurse. Someone who has graduated with a degree in nursing from a college, but has failed to pass the NCLEX, cannot call himself or herself a nurse at all. Same as graduates of a diploma program: No successful passing of NCLEX.....not a nurse.
Your supportive, encouraging post applies to SO MANY various components of nursing & life :) As a BSN Student, I find being confident makes all the difference! Definitely easier said than done for me at least, but it's always inspiring and helpful to hear positive feedback / ideas from others. Like you said, not comparing myself to others is so important and going into a panic downward spiral has yet to move me forward in meeting my nursing goals. Thank you so much for your post: it's such a great mix of how to relax & be comfortable while still challenging yourself.
got a few days left before i go in wish me luck!!
kinieleighlon
3 Posts
I've been sooooo discouraged its not not even funny anymore. I graduated about almost 6 years ago and I'm ....well I'm not sure where, when, how, what etc... I read your article and just wanted to say thank you for posting everything you did.