nwatson83

I've been a nurse for 1.5 years and I started out as a new grad in L and D for 7 months, I then went to M/S floor specializing in Cardiothoracic surgeries for 10 months, and now I am currently working in the NICU. The only thing that makes my job in the NICU a little easier is that I know the computer systems, other than that my MS experience wouldn't be my saving grace to work with these little ones. It's a totally different ball game. I have worked a total of 2 shifts so far and I absolutely love it.

I decided to write this post, based off of the many comments, and posts I have read in this particular forum. Let's get to it.... The NCLEX exam is very important; some of us have spent many years to get to this point. The countless hours put in to study, to pass exams, and to of course graduate, and be able to be approved to sit for the NCLEX. Some of you begin to look for the best resources to use to begin to study, even spending hundreds of dollars on the best review program. You schedule your exam between 2 weeks, and even some as far out as 3 months just to make sure you have covered it all, memorized as much as you can, made the highest scores on your question trainers...only to get to your exam date, stressed out, terrified, afraid, and already defeated before you've even taken your exam. You're in front of your computer screen, with your heart pounding out of control, you screaming in your head that you believe you've already failed, this exam is way too hard, and maybe I should have studied more.... Does any of this sound like you? As soon as you get to your car, you cry your eyes out afraid of what happens next. Some of you do the Pearson vue trick, and some of you are too afraid to check your status. Many of you go home and cry for a while; some of you go on to find out you actually did pass the exam, and some of you find out you failed... What happens next? Some of you logon to allnurses and begin to search for a secret way to pass, plead with others to figure how you can pass next time, what you can do differently this time around. Here's one thing I do know that will help you pass your exam, and that is to change your mindset. You cannot go into one of the most important exams you need to become licensed, feeling frazzled, overly anxious, upset, and not knowing if you studied enough, wanting to run away from the exam, and already thinking and believing you have already failed. I mean really how can you possibly pass the NCLEX exam with this mentality? You cannot! Here is the advice I will give first time NCLEX takers and those having to retake the NCLEX Change the way you think, your thoughts are powerful, and they can have a monumental effect on your life. Every day you must tell yourself that you can pass your exam, not only think it, but speak it into existence. Print out your name with RN or LPN/LVN next to it with your test date and time on it and post it throughout your home. Instead of dreading the day you have to take the exam, how about be excited about it, be excited to know the day you go and take your exam, is the day you will become a licensed nurse! While you sit down to take your exam continue to tell yourself you are going to pass your exam. Think about what the question is asking you, because you know the answer, don't spend a great deal of time on the question, answer it and move on to the next question. Also realize you are going to have to critically think through each answer. YOU CAN PASS YOUR EXAM!!!! I hope this will help some of you.

I finished my ADN program on March 6, 2014, and had my graduation ceremony in April 2014. I began studying on March 10, 2014 and as soon as I got my ATT on march 25th I scheduled my exam for may 3, 2014. After interviewing for a residency position, the nursing managers advised me to move up my test date, I was a bit nervous to do so, but glad I did. I changed my test date to April 17, 2014 at 2pm. I purchased the 15 week NCSBN learning ext review program January 22, 2014. I didn't start using it until march 10, 2014 and I found it to be very interesting. It was very Long and I didn't need the 15 weeks i think i would have been better off purchasing the 3 week program. I primarily used this review for the practice bank questions which were about 1300 questions, I completed all of them except for the last 200 questions. I also purchased the Prioritization, Delegation, and Assignment, by LaCharity. This book is a very wise investment. I would have loved to get through all of the chapters, but I did not. I did the electronic questions that came along with book and I kept a log of my scores. These questions were very challenging in my opinion and really made you think about how to answer them. I also was given Hurst review about a week and a half before I was set to take my exam. I watched all the videos and completed the workbook in 5 days. HURST review helped me put the small pieces to the puzzle together. I enjoyed the videos they kept me engaged, and honestly if i had more time, I would have watched them a few times. This review helped me pass my exam! The above items, along with Prayer and me verbally stating on a daily basis that I would pass my exam is what helped me. I remember walking into the testing site happy! I saw my study partner come out of the exam and I remember asking her how she did and she said "I don't Know" she told me that since I was here early they should let me take it early, so I went up at 11am and I checked myself in, and I remember smiling the whole time, I remember thinking the whole time Nicole you are going to pass this exam today, today you will officially become an RN! When I sat down to take my exam I was calm, and I was happy, I couldn't wait to take my exam and pass it. I remember getting my first few questions and thinking I believe this is the correct answer, and whatever answer I chose I just went with it and didn't over think it and i didn't spend much time on it. I remember getting to question 75 with 45 mins down and when it didn't shut off I said its ok keep going. By question 85 I got up to use the restroom, and I remember coming back and when I looked up I was on question 94, a few minutes later around question 100 my computer shut off and all I thought was wow, this wasn't that bad. I had a lot of SATA, a few chart exhibit questions, quite a few ordered response, 1 picture. I did not have any audio, no dosage calc, no ekg, and maybe 2 medication questions, and the rest were multiple choice and prioritization questions. Like I said HURST review and PDA helped tremendously!!!!!! As soon as I left I called my study partner and she did the pvt and got the good pop up, I went to my school campus and found a few friends and did the pvt and I got the good pop up too, but I was a little skeptical I needed real hard proof LOL. The next 48 hours were torture waiting to be able to pay for quick results, well early Saturday morning on the 19th I got a text message of a screenshot from my study partner of both of our names on our BON website! Yesssssssssssssss!!!!!!! Happy isn't the word! I feel extremely blessed that this was my first and last time having to take this exam. For those of you getting ready to take your exam, don't doubt yourself, say out loud every day that you will pass your exam, be happy when you go in to take your exam and know that you can conquer it, because you can.

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for blessing me and helping me get through nursing school, and being with me every step of the way. Father I ask you to please help me while I study for my NCLEX RN exam, that your holy spirit will help be my guide, and help me use discernment, and critical thinking while I study, and that I will retain any and all information that is needed to pass my NCLEX RN exam, Father I thank you, that you have given me the wisdom and ability to pass my exam. Father, I ask that you would take away from me any self-doubt, fear and negative thinking. I ask that you be with me while I study each day, and when I take my exam. Because you are with me I know I will succeed and pass my exam. Thank you heavenly father for being my guide, my fortress, thank you for being my overseer, and for your unfailing love. I ask all of these things in Jesus' name AMEN. Confession: I WILL PASS MY NCLEX RN EXAM (ENTER TEST DATE) I HAVE THE ABILITY AND KNOWLEDGE TO OVERCOME EACH OBSTACLE AND NOTHING WILL STOP ME FROM COMPLETING MY EXAM, AND PASSING IT Scriptures to read: Psalms 108:4 Psalms 136:23 Lamentations 3:23 Matthew 9:29 Mark 11:22 1 Corinthians 16:13 1 Corinthians 4:2 James 1:3