lisahb13

ardz_c - you can do this so don't get yourself too worked up!!! I am halfway through the program and I also work fulltime and have two children. I have found that I am more organized and overall have it together moreso than when I work less and don't have so much going on! I find that the nursing courses are easy, interesting and require you to do a little bit of research, but for the most part make you THINK about nursing in general. The general ed courses, on the other hand, can be time-consuming and tedious. I have enjoyed a couple of them, but I tend to find them more of a pain in the butt than anything! I just finished up Math 114 and I found it to be the most time-consuming of the gen ed classes so far. I have taken two courses at each 8-week session, and kind of wish I would have snuck a third one in there somewhere. Don't worry, you will be just fine and you will find that the majority of your classmates have very busy lives also. Hats off to you, congrats for going for your BSN, and enjoy the ride!!! You will do just great!! Let me know if you have any questions....

Don't Give UP!!! It took me five attempts to pass and I tried everything for studying. There is a thread on here called Kim's Self-Review. I followed her guidelines before I tested the 5th time and passed!!! I think I tried to use too many sources when I studied and it was too much, so look at her self-review. give yourself a couple of days to be upset and sad, and then pick yourself and go for it. It is possible and it is doable, you just have to keep going after it!!! My first 4 attempts were between 75 - 85 questions, attempt numer 5 was 185.... it was a long haul and I was there for the entire 6 hours. I let the computer time me out, as I did my best on every single question, but didn't hurry. Keep your LaCharity and Hurst books to review, throw in the NCLEX 3500 or 4000 and focus on questions and their rationales. Know your basic info so you don't get tripped up if there is something out of wack with a lab value, and always, always, always, believe in yourself for you never would have made it through nursing school if you didn't have what it takes!!! And for gosh sakes, give yourself a break..... this is one of the most difficult tests EVER!!! If you have any questions or just need support shoot me a message and come to AN for support!! We are here for you!! HANG IN THERE!! :hug:

Congratulations!!! :yelclap::w00t: Doesn't it feel great, and aren't you glad you didn't give up? I was in the same position as you, graduated just prior to you, and it seemd like time just kept going by and I was never going to be able to pass. I finally passed on my 5th attempt in September!! Way to have the perseverance and diligence to continue trying when it seems like it might not ever happen. I am proud of you and you should be proud of yourself!!! Write that RN with pride, because you definitely EARNED it!! YEAH!!! You are an RN!!!

I would like to know what their criteria is also. Funny since I did clinical rotations at one of their facilities for 2 semesters and precepted too. Thought that since I was familiar with one of their hospitals it might help, but apparently doesn't carry any weight.

I got a denial email today..... such a crock!

Congratulations to idobelieve and alwaysbelieve!!! Way to persevere and believe that you could do it!!! You are RN"S!!!! :anpom::dancgrp::ancong!:

Hey parks71, Can you PM me those hospitals you mentioned? I'm from Colorado, have my ADN and want to move back really badly!! I am actually going to be in Colorado for a week starting on Wednesday and would love to hit up those hospitals you mentioned while I am there. I appreciate any help you can give. THANKS in advance!!!

Go For It!!! I didn't go back to nursing school until I was 47, and I had a number of people in my class who were around my age. Do what your heart says and don't listen to what others have to say.... follow your dream and your passion! Good Luck!

i found this link.... for 4000 http://www.megaupload.com/?d=ao75i99q

here is a link to nclex 3500 for free.... http://nursing.slcc.edu/nclexrn3500/...4276381870c726

and also found this link for 3500.... http://nursing.slcc.edu/nclexrn3500/...4276381870c726

i found this link.... for 4000 http://www.megaupload.com/?d=ao75i99q

DO NOT GIVE UP!!!! I passed on my 5th try and had done reviews like crazy. Don't feel like you can't pass if you don't use a review, you can!! You have your Hurst book, so review your content from there. I think you also said you have LaCharity and Saunders, so use them. Most of all, you need to believe in yourself. Take a couple of days, go through the grieving process, and then get back on that horse and ride. It doesn't matter what anybody else thinks, it matters what YOU think about you!!! You were able to pass nursing school, so you can pass this test! This is a bump in the road, and is a test of your perseverance and determination now. NCLEX doesn't define you and noone will think badly about you unless you give up. Your patients certainly won't care how many times you took your boards, they only care that you are there to take care of them and you know your stuff. Put every other time you have tested behind you and approach this like it is the first time you are taking NCLEX. You know your stuff, now you have to apply it and answer the way NCLEX wants you to answer, not necessarily how you want to or what you would do if you were in the hospital. Keep coming back here for support, cuz you will get it!!! You can do it!!! Hang in there and don't ever give up!!! :tinkbll::flwrhrts:

Luvnsg3 and Ann113, Do not despair and don't beat yourselves up for not passing because you are not alone!!! I can relate and know the anguish you are going through, because it took me 5 attempts to pass..... do not let this test break you, you can do it!! I too had used every review (Kaplan, Hurst, NCSBN) and book imaginable to study... Keep it simple and don't stress yourself out. There are links on here also for free for NCLEX 3500 and NCLEX 4000 as well as Kaplan question trainers. Most importantly you need to believe in yourself again - you were able to pass nursing school, so you can pass this test. Take some time off, clear your mind and then go back after it again like you have NEVER taken the NCLEX before. Start fresh, and know that you have support and people that have been in your shoes and will support you through this. Don't quit! you can do it!!! You will have that RN after your name too!! :tinkbll:

:ancong!::hpygrp::w00t:That is AWESOME news!!! Congrats RN!!!

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!:w00t::hpygrp::tinkbll:*wine:ancong!: Way to hang in there and persevere!!! I had a similar experience in retakes, but the diligence pays off!!! YOU ARE AN RN!!!

copa..... I hear you on the money end..... I'm counting on this paying off after the exhorbitant amount of money I've shelled out to get this license!!! Let me know if I can be of any help!!! My direct email is [email protected] :rckn::tinkbll:

text.com is a great place to go for books if you are looking to buy.... looking forward to taking classes with all of you!! ORmom, you can do it, jump on this bandwagon!! We're all here together and can support each other!:yelclap:

@copademantequilla..... It took me 5 attempts to pass, and found that Kim's Self-Review thread was extremely helpful and motivating in getting me there on my 5th retake. It is hard to not get down on yourself, lose motivation, and try to figure out which way to study, but believe me.... YOU CAN DO IT!!! NCLEX is passable, you have to believe and trust in yourself. You were able to pass nursing school, so you have the basics down. Approach this next attempt as if it is the first time you have ever taken it. You don't know what you are going to get question-wise, but you know the basic structure of the exam. It doesn't matter what you scored in the past, put it all behind you. KNOW your core content and continue to review it, but practice answering questions. You can find a link to NCLEX 3500 or 4000, and make sure you are doing 50-100 questions a day. READ THE RATIONALES on the ones you get right AND the wrong answers. Don't worry about percentages or scores on the practice tests you take.... it's all about understanding the why's of the way to answer. Get your hands on the LaCharity Prioritization, Delegation & Assignment workbook, and do the questions in all of the chapters (I didn't bother with the Case Study's). Don't overstudy, and approach every study session as if you were in the testing center. READ the question 2x..... if it throws you for a loop, take a deep breath and ask yourself what you know about the question. It will most likely lead back to something that has to do with core content and will help you in choosing the BEST answer..... Think positive and believe in yourself. YOU CAN PASS this exam, and you only have to do it one time, so take your time when answering questions. It's not about doing all 265, it's about doing your best on each question that is thrown at you. Keep telling yourself that if it is giving you another question, you are still riding the line and it can't decide, so you are PASSING!!! Plan on being there the whole 6 hours, take a break every hour, and take work on each question one at a time. I know that you can do this, and I believe in you!! I will send this to your inbox also, so feel free to message me, cuz I have been in your shoes. YOU CAN DO IT!!! :yelclap::yelclap::yelclap::flwrhrts::tinkbll:

kennate.... My recommendation is to get back in the saddle and test. I waited extended periods of time between retesting and looking back, think that it hurt me more than helped me. Don't get down on yourself for failing, it is common and noone really cares how many times you take to pass NCLEX (it took my 5 attempts), all they care about is that you have your license!!! And your patients certainly don't care either, they just want to know that you are a good, caring nurse that takes care of them and advocates for them!!! GO AFTER IT, because you can do it!! Know your core content (I used Hurst review), practice lots of questions - you can find links to NCLEX 3500 or 4000 on this website (minimum 50-100 a day), and use LaCharity prioritization, delegation & assignment to help you with those prioritization questions. Don't OVERstudy..... you know your information from nursing school, just review it to keep it fresh. Most of all, BELIEVE IN YOURSELF!!! You have come this far.... NCLEX is passable, you need to get your brain to think in that NCLEX mode. Come here for encouragement and support..... we are here for you and believe in you too!!! Keep persevering, and you will have that RN after your name too!! :yelclap:

Lauren and meligart235..... DO NOT DESPAIR!!! I passed on my 5th attempt and was also a great student throughout all of nursing school. Do not beat up on yourself, give yourself some space. The NCLEX is not like any other test you have ever encountered, and remember you only have to pass it ONE time. You need to think like the they want you to think, even though it might not seem logical to you or make sense or apply to real world situations. DO NOT spend more money on reviews or questions; you can get everything you need from off of the internet. Approach this like it is the first time you have ever taken NCLEX and change the way you are studying, because it didn't work previously. Don't worry about what other's may think or that they think badly about you because you haven't passed. It simply isn't true..... worry about believing in yourself, and knowing that you CAN pass this test. It is not a reflection of the great nurse you will be when you have RN after your name, this is just a bump in the road getting to that title. DO NOT GIVE UP and continue to go after this with a fierce vengeance. When it gets to this point, it is now about believing in yourself, letting go of the anxiety and frustration and knowing that you WILL pass this test no matter what or when. Know your core content, practice questions (you can find a link to NCLEX 3500 or 4000), and get a copy of LaCharity's Prioritization, Delegation & Assignment workbook to help with those priority questions. Don't overstudy or understudy.... you know your stuff, so review and focus on practicing questions. YOU CAN DO THIS!!! You will get lots of support and encouragement from this site, so come back and ask for it. If you have any questions or are just need to talk feel free to message me..... I've been in your shoes, so you can always bounce things off of me. HANG IN THERE AND DON"T GIVE UP!!!! :yelclap::rckn::flwrhrts:

Congrats!!! :w00t::flwrhrts::hpygrp:

I am with Nurse4lyfe..... NEVER GIVE UP!!! I can say this from experience because it took me 5 attempts to pass NCLEX. I also did very well in school, but found that NCLEX was the biggest hurdle to get over. It caused me so much anxiety that if I even started to talk about when I was going to test I would break out into a sweat and my heart would race..... and I am normally a calm person that can handle stress pretty well. Take some time off, don't beat up on yourself and know that you can overcome this bump in your road. I also have a thread on here - 5th time repeater.... that I told about my experience with taking NCLEX. Keep after this because you can do it!! Tell yourself that you CAN pass the NCLEX - change your way of thinking so that your subconscious starts working with you instead of against you. Use the resources that you already have. Review Hurst for core content, Kaplan for questions - you can use the etrainers online, and also use NCLEX 3500 and 4000 for questions, which you can also find online. Don't OVERSTUDY.... I limited myself to 2-3 hours a day, and allowed the info to settle in. Also, use LaCharity's PDA for prioritization/delegation type questions. I focused on the questions and didn't use the case study's. This will help you to be in the NCLEX mode for those types of questions. You can do this!!! Give yourself a break and don't be so hard on yourself. NCLEX is a difficult test and it's hard to apply the "normal" test-taking skills to it. You only have to pass NCLEX one time, so approach it like it is the first time you have ever taken it, the past attempts are over and you have this one in front of you to deal with. And, as you sit down to study every day, get in the mindset that this is exactly how I am going to be when I go into the testing center. Practice and study like it is the real deal. Hope this helps..... GOOD LUCK because you can conquer this!!! Keep coming back here for encouragement and support, because you will get it. Keep your eye on the prize - RN!!! :rckn:

Blynn and Rita.... I was a repeat NCLEX taker after graduating in March of 2010. I was depressed, unmotivated and felt like a COMPLETE failure because I couldn't pass NCLEX!! I was to the point that I was ready to give up because how could I possibly not pass this exam. Yes, I had test anxiety and I'm a poor test-taker, but I was a good student in nursing school, so SOMETHING wasn't translating for me!! I came across Kim's Self-Review thread, and it sparked something in me that got me back on track. I had come so close to passing in the past, but I just couldn't turn the corner to being above the standard on all of the categories..... SO, I started from scratch. I treated it as if I was taking the NCLEX for the first time and it didn't matter what results I had gotten in the past. I limited my study time to 2-3 hours a day, and really worked on not beating myself up for NOT studying so much. I also worked alot on my ego, because when it comes down to it, patient's could really care less about how many times you took NCLEX. They just want to know that they are getting the care that they need while they are feeling bad. I also worked on believing in myself again.... after all, we believed in ourselves all the way through nursing school, don't let NCLEX define you. This is a bump in the road and you need to get over the bump - you will come across difficult situations as a nurse also but I can bet that you would use your critical thinking skills to find a way up, around, or through the situation. Change your attitude to yes I can.... after taking NCLEX unsuccessfully we let ourselves feel defeated and like we are a failure. This is one of the hardest tests EVER and it is designed completely different from any other type of test you have prepared for. You only have to pass NCLEX one time, so you have to train your brain to THINK in that NCLEX type of way. This in itself is a difficult thing to do, so use LaCharity PDA and NCLEX 3500 or 4000 to practice. And know your core content frontwards and backwards.... Don't fry yourself out by trying to study for hours on end. All you will do is kill your motivation, get burned out, and not remember one thing you have studied. And know that your studying it like a rollercoaster too... there will be ups and downs but you will still get to the end of the ride. YOU CAN DO THIS!!! Believe in yourselves and never give up!!! And keep coming here for support and encouragement!! Good Luck and pass NCLEX!!! :flwrhrts::tinkbll: Sorry this is kind of goofy, I'm tired and getting ready to head to bed!

Branzilla - PLEASE DO NOT GIVE UP!!! I was in the same boat as you as far as passing and after NUMEROUS attempts I finally passed!!! There is no doubt that NCLEX is the hardest test you will ever take, but you can do it!!! I have to believe that test anxiety plays alot into your situation, as well as the stress from living in your car and paying back your student loans. Defer them, get yourself into a more stable situation and go back and take it again. The LaCharity book was a lifesaver for me... I highly recommend it!! And let your ego go... I know this is a hard one, but when you are a nurse and caring for your patients, they REALLY DON'T care how many times you took to pass NCLEX, they only care that you are taking care of them and that you are a good nurse!!! Please let us know how you are doing and be sure to keep looking to us for support!!! We/I believe in you and know that you can do it!! You too will be able to write that RN after your name SOON!! :tinkbll::flwrhrts: