j_lynn34

Congrats RN!!

Thank you EVERYONE and also thank you to all of the people who share their stories and advice on allnurses.com!

Thank you!

I used Hurst for Content! I thought it was easy to understand and taught very well and clear! You will love it!

Congrats RN!!

I felt like app was pretty accurate! When there where things I didn't know, I would research more into the topic. It provided a rational and an exam strategy (some are good, some aren't)

THANK YOU!!

Hello Everyone! I received my results and I passed the NCLEX-RN!! I am now a RN!! :) Now, I just wanted to give my own personal story on what I did to pass the NCLEX on the second try. Yes you read that right I failed the first time; however, after I failed I made up a plan and religiously stuck to it! Now, before I share what I did to help me study I want you all to know that my study methods may or may not work for you! You have to personally find what works best for you! My Sources: 1.) Prayer: I was not a very happy person to be around after I failed my test the first time. I said to the Lord that I could not pass this test without his help! I drew closer to the Lord and strengthened my faith. Once a week I would fast, everyday I would pray, and the closer I got to my test I prayed the "St. Jude Prayer." I knew with love and guidance from up above I would be ok! 2.) Hurst Review: I LOVED this program! I used this program for their content and did 4/6 (Q-Reviews). I felt that the way Hurst taught their sections made it very easy for me to understand the content. My college used Hurst at the end of our last semester so all I had to do was follow the book that I had already wrote in, and renew the online portion. 3.) NCSBN: I only used the 3-Week NCSBN for their questions. I did not use their content sections at all! I would go into each section and answer the questions followed by the bank of questions they provide at the end of their review. Their questions helped me get a better understanding of how NCLEX likes to ask their questions. 4.) La Charity Prioritization, Delegation, and Assigment: Practice Exercises for the NCLEX Examination/Edition 3:This book was a a great buy!! I bought it cheap off E-Bay, and did only the questions (not the case studies). This book provided great rationals!! Defiantly improved my knowledge in regards to prioritization, delegation, and assignment! 5.) Kaplan (Q-BANK ONLY): These questions were top notch helpful. 6.) Android App: NCLEX-RN Exam Ultimate Review: I used this APP for questions only! The rationals were very HELPFUL and the BEST THING YET IS THAT IT IS FREE!! My Plan: First off I am going to say that I was NOT a person who could sit and study 8+ hours a day! I work and have a family I needed to aid to as well! I did however find balance in my life during the time I took to prep the second time around. I set times everyday around my own personal life to fit in studying for the NCLEX. This is what I majorly lacked the first time around. The phone APP was perfect in times where I would be waiting for something such as; picking up my daughter from school, checking out in line at a store, or between classes. I started studying about 2.5-3ish months before my exam. I started off with Hurst Review. I did one section a day and after I was done listening to the online lecture I would review the packet provided to you until I felt I had a good understanding of the content. I did this for all the videos!! As soon as I was done with all of the videos, I started over again. The second time around is when I started to add in the questions. I would review one Hurst section a day AND do 50-150 questions a day, which included reading ALL of the rationals whether I answered the questions right or wrong! I did this everyday until two days before my exam where I took a Kaplan Q-Bank test and scored a 64%. I felt I was where I needed to be at to feel ready to take the NCLEX. The day before the test I did not study at all! Now, I know some people choose to study and some people don't, that is personally up to you!! I enjoyed time with my family, the WHOLE day! :) TEST DAY: I woke up and said my prayers! I thanked God for another day and said whatever the outcome, I know you will always be there for me! I read the St. Jude Prayer and PSALM 34! (GOOD READ), ate a good breakfast, and left for the testing center! Once I got there I could feel my anxiety start up; however, this time around I was way more confident. I quickly told myself, "You did not just study for MONTHS, after failing one time before, to come this far and let anxiety kill your confidence in 5 minutes. You graduated from Nursing School, wasn't that hell enough?!!" That was ALL it took for me to get into serious game mode and go kick butt! I did not allow myself to freak out and it worked out for me!! I finished my test, thanked the Good Lord again, and went home to relax!! My BON put my results up and like I said at the beginning I PASSED!! Sorry this post is soooo long; however, I hope it helps someone out there out! NEVER GIVE UP!! God Bless you ALL and have a Happy New Year!

What did you do that was different versus the first time...

It might be your 4th time taking it but that's ok. Don't let people tell you, you are not capable of being a nurse. Now if you weren't putting in work and just taking the test to get it out of the way that's another thing; however, if you're putting in time, effort, and doing your part, YOU WILL SUCCEED. The worse thing you can do when you've fallen is refuse to stand. YOU got this, I'll keep you in my prayers!

My advice would be if you have to second guess yourself based on if you feel ready or not move it back. I wish I would have the first time. Now if you want to move it back based off anxiety just take it and relax. You'd be surprised at how well you actually do. Also how did you get the questions from Kaplan? I heard those were really good.

Thank you!! I'll try Hurst and do questions off Saunders

I have not gotten it yet. How do you go about signing up for NCBSN? When I took my LPN boards all I had studied was 2000 questions. For RN I focused on content and failed (yes I understand they are different tests) but I feel the more close to NCLEX questions I do the better I feel.

Ok so this is close to what I posted the other day; however, for some reason when I go to reply to my last thread my screen just stays loading and loading and so on. So sorry for reposting this! I failed my NCLEX 1ST Time last week. I'm really struggling with advising a plan. I have asked many nurses for advice on how they studied and not one person has given me the same method (understandble), but I am having a hard time choosing between what I have which is Hurst and Saunders 5th edition with CD or buying the Kaplan package! All feedback would be great and I apologize again for threading this again. Thank you again!!!

Did you do the Saunders 6th edition book? I have the Saunders Book and CD. I also have Hurst Review that my college had us do. I was going to use Hurst as a way to get more Content based information and do Saunders questions. I failed my first time last week and don't plan on taking another one until October. You give me confidence that I still got it in me! Thank you and enjoy the next chapter of your life!