Passed today on the 2nd try - here's what helped me the 2nd time around!

I failed the NCLEX on my first attempt in August, and it took me the rest of the time from then until now to figure out what I did wrong. I went way, way too fast the first time and failed in 75 questions. I was too cocky, and I was also a little bit panicked; I tried to take it as fast as possible and get out of there. My I.D. picture taken that morning really showed the pessimistic look on my face.

It was humiliating to fail when all my friends passed, and that also meant that they all moved on and I had to study all over again all by myself.

I started at the beginning, I used the Mary Ann Hogan comprehensive review book, and the study sheet found here on allnurses. That's it. I went through three chapters a day, doing the tests only, and really understanding the rationales.

This morning I passed in 75 questions. Got the good pop-up an hour later and my state board of nursing web site showed me as active about an hour after that. I am delirious and so relieved that it's not hanging over my head anymore!

Oh....and I smiled for this morning's picture like I was smiling at my kid. Huge and bright. You've got to project positivity and optimism!

The most helpful things I can think to pass on to those of you repeating this test are....

• Study content, system by system, and really visualize *why* a disease process causes the symptoms that it does. I have no doubt that when I really thought some of the test situations through, that's what helped me nail the right answer. If the "respiratory situation" answer is actually a normal or expected situation, but there's another answer demonstrating an emergency hemorrhage, guess what - NCLEX wants you to know that something besides airway is taking priority. The first time around, when I saw anything to do with airway, I just picked it quickly without thinking! Understand *why* a disease process does what it does to the body.
  
• sloooooooooow down when you're taking the test. Read the question again and again. Read the answers again and again. Realize that some of the answers just don't belong, eliminate them and then don't worry about those anymore.
  
• Pray! On the drive to the testing center I kept saying, "God, You led me to this door....please let me walk through it."
  
• Realize that if the questions seem really tough, you're probably doing great.
  
• SMILE FOR THAT PICTURE - as if you're smiling at yourself on the other side. Give yourself a boost.
  

Hope this helps....I am so happy I'm walking on air. :)