Passing NCLEX RN after 8 YEARS!

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Specializes in NYC tech now turned RN.

Firstly, I would like to start by saying THANK YOU for this website. It has truly helped me. 

Secondly, this is NOT for the ones who want to know studying material. This is for the bruised egos that find it hard to get back up after failing MULTIPLE times.

I'm from NYC and I graduated nursing school 8 years ago. On 10/31/2020 for my 3rd attempt I FINALLY PASSED. 

In my experience, it took me years to realize that the HARDEST part was not having to study again for the NCLEX, but the years it took to recover and then build up my self esteem after failing. After I failed twice (both times within the same year of graduating) my confidence was SHOT. The first time I took the exam I went all the way to 160 questions and then by the second time, I failed at 75 questions. I fully gave up. I told myself that nursing wasn't for me and I went on with life. The first 4-5 years I avoided the pain as much as I could. I watched all of my classmates pass, move on with their careers and so many of them now work as NP's. I avoided the subject at all costs any time anyone ever asked me about it because...to simplify it... I could not deal. I was emotionally/mentally in a space that couldn't see my own worth/value, that I took jobs (in health care) that was a learning experience, but honestly didn't challenge me. All because I thought (at that time) that was all I needed to feed my ego. Woooo was I wrong! What you try hard to suppress will always come back up, and it honestly takes much more work to push down the pain than to actually deal with it. 

Over the years I have literally paid for the NCLEX (I think like 4x) studied for a week max, felt the sting, then the rise of doom and failure only to end up either cancelling or no-showing every exam. Further bringing down my confidence and crushing my vision of worthiness.

Fast forward to 2 years ago, I began working as a PCT/PCA in an ER. It got to a point (internally) that no matter how many times I heard "you're amazing at your job", it just wouldn't fill my (ego) cup anymore.

The REAL work began in March 2020. It began with shifting my MINDSET. I wasn't even thinking about retaking the NCLEX again until May 2020 when a coworker convinced me to sign up (because the exam is/was supposedly "easier" due to COVID) I had to FIRST deal with my repressed emotions of failure and build a better and higher self esteem. I started to take small steps. I mediate, I read books geared for success, I worked out. It was the little consistent and disciplined every day efforts that REALLY made tackling the NCLEX doable. I started studying for the NCLEX at the end of August. Content was my main priority (NURSING.com purchased app, SimpleNursing,  RegisteredNurseRN, and REMAR all on Youtube ONLY). I did about 40 questions every couple of days. 

This story may be irrelevant to some but also maybe someone needs to hear this. You finished the program. You completed your clinical hours. You passed your school exams, You passed your exit exam. You saw other students drop like flies from first semester to your last semester. You got accepted into the program when hundreds weren't. YOU CAN PASS THE NCLEX just like you passed everything else. Please do not give up on yourself. You have the knowledge and the skills. You really have to BELIEVE YOU CAN. It really begins with the mindset.   

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Specializes in LTC.

Congrats! That’s a major accomplishment and you should be proud of yourself. I wish you luck in your career ? 

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Same issue I've been dealing with since graduating December 2019. Funny, because I too started looking for jobs in the healthcare industry that I qualify for not with a RN license. I am going through what you just mentioned! I failed 3x already since December 2019 when I finished RN school. I am supposed to be studying to retake it and just keep rescheduling my date to push it further because honestly I feel like I'm so scared that I will just get the same results of FAIL. Thank you for your kind post it is inspiring. 

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Specializes in NYC tech now turned RN.

You definitely got this please don't give up! You busted your *** in school and you passed! If there is anything you want to know let me know. I'm here to help 

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Wow!! That made me tear up. I am so proud of you!! Wow, what an inspiring story!! Yes, don't ever give up guys! We have worked so hard since prereqs till the end. It was a lot of hard work! I wish you all the best for your future. You have inspired many to continue working hard and to never give up on ourselves. Thank you so much. 

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Specializes in NYC tech now turned RN.

Thank you so much! It was this website that helped me realize I wasnt the only one. Everyone on allnurses is so uplifting and supportive!

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Congrats!! ?

I have a question for you. I am currently in the similar situation - graduated few years ago but I have not passed the exam yet. I was wondering if New York Board of Nursing let you take NCLEX after graduating 8 years ago? May I ask what step you took for retaking NCLEX in 2020? 

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Specializes in Sm Bus Mgmt, Operations, Planning, HR, Coaching.

allnurses now offers a resource (FREE for a limited time) to help you pass the NCLEX, download, try it out and give it a review.

 

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Specializes in NYC tech now turned RN.

@BeeBeee

Good Morning! :)

Yes of course you can, THANK GOD, in NYS we still have an unlimited amount of times to take the exam no matter how many years it has been. Only thing I had to redo is the "infection control" course. Which is super easy because its available online for like $20.00. Even the NYS board provides you with acceptable websites to use.

And by steps do you mean by studying? Or you mean just process? For the process all I had to do was pay pearson vue the $200, wait till I was approved to book my exam then boom done. 

If you mean by studying exactly...I personally chose to print out a calendar, from that starting date till my boards date and taped it on my wall. So it'll be a reminder everyday of what I've done previous days (studying wise, like I'd write down my number of mins studying and number of questions done) and look forward to see my number of days left. As for studying sources I used the Nursing.com app. They make it super easy to study because after not being in class for years my attention span is not like it used to LOL (in class we would have to sit for 3hrs at a time, now im down to 20min at a time LOL) So they literally break down like this MATERNITY, PEDS, MED SURG GI, MED SURG NEURO, MED SURG CARDIAC etc...then within each major area its like "PRECLAMSIA" which is like a 10min or less lesson of what you need to know, plus study notes, plus transcript, then a mini quiz of like 15 NCLEX style questions on that one lesson. 

Aside from only that one app I purchased I went on Youtube. I watched RegisteredNurseRN and Simple Nursing. LIFE SAVERS I SWEAR. Theyre like 15-40 min vids explaining in detail FOR FREE everything you want to know.

So I did that app daily in 30min study intervals. Like 30min study, 5min break, 30min study, 5min break. I probably studied for like 2hrs a day, focusing less on questions and more on understanding content. Within the 2 and a half months of true dedication to studying I took like 4-5 days off studying. I definitely didn't study at all the day before my exam. Took one adderal and one cbd gummy the day of my exam and I was chilling.

 

Hope that helps.

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I can't thank you enough for this post! This morning I got a notification from facebook about a memory from 1yr ago today. A family member was congratulating and saying how proud they were of me for graduating with my BSN.

I had the worst time trying to get through school! I was a "nontraditional" student, single with 2 young children, so even convincing myself it was worth it was hard. Through the program I delt with a lot of trauma inside my personal life and in school. Took a year off after my first semester due to my daughter being assaulted. With having court dates and counseling for her, I couldn't make clinicals and focus on school. But I went back. Then had an instructor in my 3rd semester tell me over and over again how my lack of confidence was going to kill someone. These are just some of the things that took place. I am still in counseling for all of it. I finished school only to prove those who said I couldn't wrong, and to set an example for my children.

I ran from everything medical after I walked that stage however. Swore I would never be a part of it again. Never wanted to think about that time in my life again. But for the first time I thought about nursing the other day without crying. Then today that popped up on my feed. I was actually on here looking to see if I could even sit for the NCLEX after waiting a year, when I found this. 

Thank you!

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Specializes in Sm Bus Mgmt, Operations, Planning, HR, Coaching.

@Sara Lindsey Wilkerson  Congratulations on earning your BSN and welcome to allnurses®.  Sounds like the break you took for yourself and your family is just what you needed.  Good luck with your journey and be sure to update allnurses® along the way.

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Specializes in NYC tech now turned RN.

@Sara Lindsey Wilkerson

WHOA! CONGRATULATIONS!

Firstly, the amount of strength, courage and resilience you have is truly ADMIRABLE. To push through and go against the grain, like you have, when you have challenges stacked against you... sounds heavy and I am so happy you have overcome those hurdles. And most importantly you continue to show up for your children AND yourself everyday. It's the little steps that are taken consistently everyday that add up to that BIG success. I am so proud of everything you have accomplished up until now, and of course will continue to accomplish. These are not small wins. These are BIG ones. 

It sounds to me like you're aligning with your purpose in life and you are noticing the opportunities are opening up for you. This has been some time coming and you're exactly ON TIME with where you're supposed to be now and for the future.

The part where you said you began to think about nursing without crying is amazing, that's because not only were you patient with yourself, you did the hard work to heal. That should show you how far you've come. Celebrate that. It is a win you created. Always celebrate every hurdle crossed...big and especially small...even if it's only internal. 

I am so so proud and extremely happy for you, Sara! Your children have a great model of what resilience and perseverance looks like. Please reach out if you need anything! I will definitely be here to listen.

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