I just wanted to tell my story and to give hope to others! I graduated in December '14 and I was a B/C student throughout nursing school. So if I can pass these boards, you can too!
First attempt (2/7/15), I focused a lot on Hurst and knowing content. I did a few Kaplan Qbank questions but not a lot. I did the 6 practice exams Hurst offered and scored within their 84 range. The range they state most people pass NCLEX on the first try. Well except for the 6th exam, where I received a 64 due to burn out. I had a job lined up in an ICU, very ecstatic for the opportunity but had to release the job back out because I failed. Entering the exam, my anxiety was sky high. I hit 75, and it just kept going up...my anxiety and the questions! I went all the way to 265, shaking my head in disbelief throughout the entire 5 1/2 hours I was there. I took maybe two breaks, not recommended! I had a lot on me to pass, getting out of my tech job, starting a new career, friends/family. I went home, drained emotionally and physically. I did the PVT like all my other classmates and out went $200. In the end, I failed. All my friends were moving on and I was stuck as a tech with an RN degree.
I took a week off to vent, sleep and work. Paid for another ATT, and scheduled the next exam for 3/25/15. Asking all my friends what they did to prepare, they stuck with Hurst and Kaplan too. I was baffled! That's exactly what I did the first time! So I read several posts on here saying that Kaplan and LaCharity are well respected materials to use. Only if I would have done that the first go around. It wasn't the material that was getting me, it was the way I approached the question. I felt like knowing how to answer the questions was my problem. After doing all the chapters from LaCharity (scores ranging from 45-86%) and ALL trainers and Qbanks from kaplan (qbank avg 60%)...it seemed to lower some of the anxiety a bit, well that and a prescription for propranolol haha. Going into this exam, I seemed more cool and calm. Reading each question carefully and determining why each answer choice was right or wrong. Two hours passed by quickly, and without keeping track with the number of questions I have done, the computer screen turned blue asking if I wanted a break. I clicked yes and ate a blueberry muffin I made the previous day and did the whole pep talk in the bathroom. When I sat back down to continue, I saw I was on question 75. Pretty easy multiple choice question...answered it and the screen went blue again but this time with the NCLEX survey. Went straight to the bar and spent yesterday recovering haha. Woke up this morning and checked the licensure website and there was that glorious license number beside my name!
So my words of wisdom...do questions until you can't go anymore and read the rationales! Kaplan is difficult but so is NCLEX. Kaplan trains you on how to answer questions and I feel it was the most helpful in my studies. LaCharity played a big part as well because I had quite a few priority questions.
Good luck to the first timers and even the many-timers. Don't lose hope. I've been there, and it was a tough pill to swallow. If you get bucked off the horse, take time to heal and hop back on. Getting through nursing school isn't an easy stroll in the park...you've gotten through it and now you have one more task! You got this!!!
TroyM
31 Posts
Thank you everyone. I'm overly excited to begin my nursing career!