totally_lost

Thank you =) I honestly think you should focus on Saunders, that's what got me through the test for my 3rd attempt. I did Kaplan the first 2 times and it didn't help me. But then I read the Saunders book from cover to cover, did all the questions at the end of each chapter and did alot of their test bank questions from the cd (not all 4,000 though) and I have to say that's what FINALLY helped me to get through it! Don't waste your money on Kaplan again because they don't change their questions, it's going to be the same material you already covered. Good luck to you...you CAN and WILL get through this test, just keep studying and have faith in yourself, and PRAY for God to carry you through and He will!!!

Thanks everyone Yes, it definitely feels GREAT!!!!!!! I can really smile & laugh now for the first time since graduation!!! :nmbrn: :hpygrp:

Here is my story!! I graduated the RN program in Decmeber 08, took my boards February 12th only to find out later that I failed with 110 questions. . I took Kaplan but didn't really prepare that well cause I figured I knew enough to pass but that obviously wasn't the case! I was completely devistated (hence the totally_lost username I created). I cried EVERY SINGLE DAY and had to be put on anti-anxiety medication because I couldn't even function. Well I picked myself up and decided to go for it again. After the 45 days I scheduled it, and on April 2nd found out I failed AGAIN this time with 252 questions :crying2:. I couldn't believe it!!! I studied soooo much that time and just knew I was going to make it, but didn't! I used Kaplan again and was scoring between 60-80% on the practice questions so I didn't understand how I failed! So, I took an entire month off and didn't look at one single question or read any books! I really wanted to give up but there was no way my family and friends would let that happen. This time I bought the Saunders review, along with the Lippincott review book and the flash cards, also my friend who took Kaplan had time left on her subscription so I used that again even though it didn't help the past 2 times, but I figured it wouldn't hurt. After a month off I decided to get back at it, and studied for 2 months straight. I didn't tell a single person that I scheduled it again...not my fiance, friends, family, coworkers...NOBODY! I highly recommend that to everyone else, it takes away so much anxiety when noone has a clew but you! Well anyway, I scheduled my test for July 23rd (yesterday) and found out this morning I PASSED!!!!! I was shaking uncontrollably and still am wondering if the website somehow screwed up and put my name there by mistake, lol!!! I ran out of time on this exam, at 205 questions! I got the last question wrong and knew that I probably failed again. BUT I DIDN'T!!!! I am still in total shock and just don't know how to feel at this point, I'm just so elated and that's not even a good enough word to describe how I feel! Another thing that helped me pass this time was the fact that my family and friends NEW I was going to pass, they wouldn't give up on me for anything!!! Although they didn't know when I was taking it again but they all had faith that whenever that was, I would pass and I couldn't let them down yet again! But more than anything else, more than friends, or family, or faith in myself, I owe it all to God! I prayed so hard everyday and put my total faith in Him and I knew He was going to carry me through this, and He did!! I'm so blessed and I just felt that I had to share this with everyone because lately I didn't have too many positive things to say and now I just feel on top of the world, it's amazing! I wish everyone who has yet to take it the best of luck...DO NOT EVER GIVE UP! No matter how depressed, scared, or angry you might be, just have faith and know that you can do it and with God's help you'll succeed! :wink2:

I PASSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :w00t::clpty:*wine:hpygrp: CAN YOU TELL I'M EXCITED??? LOL

How do you know for sure you didn't pass??? Don't get ahead of yourself! Wait until you get the official "pass or fail" notice. I'm not in VA so I don't know how they do things but in Florida you can pay pearson as soon as you find out you failed (I've already taken it 2 times myself, today was try #3 so I pray I passed). Also, we only get 3 tries before they make us take a review class which cost $600 and then we can take it again. But don't do anything until you know for sure! I hope you passed though!!! Good luck!

I took the RN boards this morning for my THIRD time and I got to question 205 and the time ran out. I know I got the last question wrong cause I looked it up when I got in my car =( Has anyone passed when they ran out of time and also got the last question wrong??? I'm so stressed! I did the Pearson thing and it didn't let me register but I don't know if I waited long enough cause I just took it today.

I've posted here a few times telling people about my experience. I failed the RN boards twice already, both times using Kaplan. I am scheduled to take my exam for my third time next week but I am sooo frustrated! I have been reading the Saunders book, only got about half way through, but I have also been doing LOTS of test questions scoring between 50-80% I'm all over the place with my scores so I just don't know if I am ready again! I picked out the subjects that I am weakest in (mainly pharmacology) but can't seem to score higher than 55% in that subject. I can't afford to fail again but I just don't know what else to do! This time around I've studied Saunders, Kaplan AGAIN, Lippincott review book and test questions but I still feel like I don't know that much! I should be scoring atleast 80% with as much as I have been studying but I'm not!! I just feel like I can't move on with my life, I'm never happy, this is all I ever think about and it's awful!!! I don't know why my brain just can't absorb this information! It's stuff that I am interested in and stuff that I want to remember and learn but my brain just won't let anything stick!!!! I hate it!!!! I feel like I could study for years and still not know anything!!! I'm just beyond upset! Part of me feels like I'm definitely going to pass this time because I've studied so much but then there's a part of me that keeps saying..."yeah that's what you thought the past 2 times as well" I just need lots of prayer cause I just don't think I can do this on my own!

I take mine for my THIRD time in mid July ...please, I need LOTS of prayers to help get me through this test!! I have to pass it this time! Good luck to everyone else who is about to take it as well, I pray we all become nurses SOON!!!

I don't really think the scores matter. Me and my friend took the actual Kaplan course together, she passed her first time with 75 questions on the RN boards and was only scoring between 50-65% on the practice tests...I on the other hand am about to take the RN boards for my THIRD time and was scoring between 60-75% on all the practice tests with Kaplan...so what does that tell you??? Nothing really!!! Some people handle actual test taking better than others I guess, I don't really know!! I was quite confused myself (still am) but dont base it on your practice scores just keep doing the questions and hope and pray for a passing score on the actual exam itself. Good luck to everyone who is about to take it :)

I failed the NCLEX twice already, both times using Kaplan and both times scoring over 65% on every pratice exam so I don't know how accurate Kaplan really is. I take my exam for the 3rd time in June and have decided to use Saunders this time around. Many people that have already passed recommended it so I think you're on the right track! Good luck to you :)

I used Kaplan the first 2 times I took my boards and failed both times. This time I am trying the Saunders book, so far I really like it but we'll see in June if it really has helped me since that's when I take my boards again. I'm not doing more than 100 questions a day since that's what has been suggested numerous times to me from people who have passed their boards. The first time I took it I didn't study enough. The 2nd time I over did it and completely stressed myself out so I am hoping this time I'll do just the right amount and pass!!! Good luck to you!!!

I am also planning on taking my test in June but this will be my 3rd attempt but I am hopeful that I will pass this time! I did Kaplan the first 2 times and now I am doing Saunders. Everything that I have read about passing the test says to only do 100 questions a day..no more, no less and to try and reach about 4,000 before you actually take the test. I didn't do that the first 2 times so I am going to do it this time. Don't over study!! Your brain stops working basically after too much information so it's pointless to study for hours and hours a day! Good luck to you. I hope we both pass in June! :)

hi "mamaellis2many" if you would like to send me a pm you're more than welcome too!! i don't have enough posts yet to send them but i think i can still reply??

Congrats to you!!! I'm still trying to get thru my RN boards. I was gonna go on further with my degree but since I can't seem to pass this exam I don't think that's such a good idea!!! But congrats to you...that's a great accomplishment!

[color=#1750ff]determinedgal1 i don't know how to pm you???

I am using Saunders this time. I used Kaplan the first 2 times and failed both times Many people have recommended Saunders so I hope it helps me this time!!! I'm so scared and everyday I lose more and more confidence in myself that I can actually pass on my 3rd try. God I hope I do!!!!!! :angel:

I know near passing isn't passing...obviously because I failed! I just wanted to know if anyone who had failed before got their results as near passing on the topics and passed on their next try???

Congrats!!!! :yeah:I know you've got to be sooo excited!!!! I realized after I took my exam for the 2nd time that people were actually passing even though they ran out of time! My first time I took the test I was not prepared at all, I just wanted to hurry up and get it done before I started my new job (much like you did) and at 115 questions...I failed! So I did Kaplan, scored really high on the practice questions and I just knew I was going to pass my 2nd time, got to question 220 with only alittle over 20 minutes left and I knew I was going to run out of time so I panicked and just started guessing. Had I known that people passed I probably would have on my 2nd try but I let my anxiety get the best of me (and lack of knowing I couldn've passed). I've been praying, I prayed for test 1 and test 2 but I guess it just wasn't my time to pass this exam?!?! I hope my 3rd attempt is my last attempt!!!! Well congrats again and good luck with your new career!!!

Has anyone passed the RN NCLEX when they were only near passing all subjects??? I got my results back from the state and I was only near passing every topic, not below and not above anything!!!! I'm scared because I studied so hard to only score "near passing" and to not have scored "above passing" any topic!!! Am I doomed for my 3rd attempt at this miserable test???

I posted a thread on here a few weeks ago that I failed the RN NCLEX for my second time, I was really down (still am) but after reading the advice lots of you gave me and just taking a mental break I decided to attempt the exam for my 3rd time. I haven't set a date yet, probably will re-take it at the end of May or beginning of June...anyway I just got my results in the mail today from the state and it's giving me mixed feelings about the test. The first time I took it I was above passing 1 topic, near passing most, and below passing 3 topics. So I studied my butt off and was doing great on the Kaplan review questions (above 70%) but when I saw my results today it really made me feel down because I was only near passing every topic. I know that might not sound too bad but I should have been atleast passing the same topic I passed the first time around, plus more! I was happy that I wasn't below passing any this time but I really thought I would have done alot better then that considering how much time I spent doing questions and reading material to increase my knowledge base on things. Just as I started to feel alittle better about things and feeling like maybe I can pass this test on my 3rd attempt, I get what I consider to be bad news in the mail!!! I know I need to just keep studying but I just feel like it's not going to do me any good. Have any of you passed this exam on your 2nd or 3rd time when you were only near passing the subjects??? Also, I recently bought the Saunders book, has that helped any of you pass this test?? Because Kaplan didn't help me the 1st or 2nd time so I figured I'd try something else this time. Please just let me know waht you all think because now I'm just really confused...again!!! Thanks =)

Wow...congrats!! So you ran out of time but you still passed?? Maybe I should have tried that. I took my time through the whole test, I was on question 220 but only had 30 minutes left...so I panicked cause I knew I wasn't going to finish the test, I just started answering the questions without reading them...well of course I failed!! I had no clue though that if you run out of time you still have the opportunity to pass...good to know!!

I actually did take the Kaplan course for my first test, it was highly recommended to me from alot of my friends, but it didn't help me pass either time! I was scoring between 65-70% on my weak areas and about 70-80% on the other areas. I felt totally confident, especially the 2nd time. I had no anxiety, and I just knew I was going to pass...but I didn't!!! That's why I am so negative right now because I did what everyone was telling me to do, I was scoring where I was supposed to be scoring and I still failed!!! So at this point I just feel it's a lost cause!!!! I appreciate everyone's advice though, it does make me feel better to know I'm not alone on this!!!

I don't know how??? I'm new to this site????

I recently found out that I failed the RN NCLEX exam for the 2nd time in a row! I've decided this is obviously not meant for me! I know everyone keeps saying "don't give up, you worked so hard in nursing school, you need to keep taking the test" but for what purpose??? To keep proving to myself that I can't pass it?!?! I've NEVER been a test taker, EVER...and it's not going to get any better! I studied and studied and studied for this exam...both times, and both times=failure!!!!! I just don't know what to do with my life now. Yeah I'm depressed and I know some will say, give yourself time you'll get over this, just keep studying and take it again you'll eventually pass!! I've read other people's blogs and there are people on here that have taken the NCLEX 6 or more times before passing....there is no way I can or will do that! NO WAY!!! Even if I wanted to I wouldn't be able to afford it but on the other hand, if I'm not passing after my 2nd or 3rd attempt then I just need to stop! Besides...I am over spending every single day of my life reading text books, answering questions, and stressing out! Is this life really worth it??? I feel like I've already taken 20 years off just from stressin out so much!!! I hate that I chose to do this for my career, I hate that I wasted all this time in nursing school to have it come down to this stupid exam, I hate that I feel like I have no other job options, and I hate that I am hating everything!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I know I sound super negative, but it's hard to be happy and think great things when you just keep failing....I hate this life I'm in right now!!!! I HATE IT!!!