sm0205

My scores for ATI at the very beginning were terrible. Like 40-50s. This was before I actuallt started studying. After I started studying they improved and I ranged 60s to low 70s. The requirement to move on to the next subject is 60 so I always tried to get at least that.

PVT works!

Another thing I forgot to mention was for my first attempt I finished the test quickly. I was so anxious and just wanted it to be over that I rushed through the whole thing. The second time I took my time. TAKE YOUR TIME!!

I apologize in advance for the long post, but I promised myself I would come back here to share my thoughts/experience/journey after it was all over. And here I am, officially an RN!!! So here it is, as concise as possible. My first post here was a sad one. I had graduated from a decent nursing school with good grades and took my NCLEX-RN in early July. Only to find out I failed two days later (Yes the PVT trick DOES work, it took me to the credit card page). I was devastated to say the least. I couldn't help but to feel like the biggest failure in the world. I also didn't know what the heck to do! I had studied the saunders book from cover to cover, practiced questions and felt pretty confident. When I left the test, I did not feel great about it, but never would have thought I failed. After mourning for a few days, I put my big girls pants on and decided I needed to figure out how to pass this test. I didn't go to school for five years for nothing! MOST IMPORTANTLY, like many of us in times of stress/pain, I turned to God. I had always had a relationship with Him, but I knew having a stronger bond with God would help me help myself. So I prayed, everyday, for strength mostly, to get through this. I used: ATI - My school made me purchase ATI, and througout my last semester, I practiced a few questions a week, never really taking it serious. That was my first big mistake!! Start studying BEFORE you graduate. That last semester start practicing questions/content. For my first attempt, I thought virtual ATI was too tedious so did not do it like I should have. In studying for my second attempt, my main study tool was ATI. I still think a lot of it is tedious, especially if your online tutor sends you short answer questions, but it will help since those questions are formulated from the areas you are weak in. I think ATI was most helpful to practice questions. I completed assesments even if they were not assigned to me. Practice, practice, practice! I started getting more comfortable with NCLEX style questions with all the practicing. Saunders - This was my main study tool for my first attempt. I do like this book, JUST for content though. I do not recommend using this book for NCLEX style questions. The questions are too easy and straight to the point. The actual NCLEX is not that simple and obvious. It makes you apply content and concepts and THINK. The book is great to review content however, it has great visuals. A lot of it can be repetitive. **The CD has a few good resources too. PDA - I looked at the majority of this book for my first attempt. It's a good book for delegation and knowing what an LPN, RN, AP can/cannot do. It's good to review for sure. I did not look at it for my second attempt but got the gist of from reading it once. Kaplan - strategies/practice/review 2013-14 - I read a chapter or two of this book so can't really comment on how good it is to study. I did however use the CD for one of the practice tests and some to do other sample questions. As far as the questions, I think it was good for NCLEX style. They were hard and def made you think like NCLEX does. Mosby's Pharm memory cards - Great little book to review meds! Awesome visuals and concise information. Honestly I did not finish reviewing the entire book, but it helped with remember a lot of meds. Especially cardiac meds. Tutor - I managed to get paired up with an awesome nurse at my job that met with me a few times to practice questions. I am not sure where she got the questions from but this helped. She was also very encouraging. Having people to encourage and empower you is a huge boost for your confidence. I also saw someone to help me relax during the test, she taught me some relaxation techniques. Random study guide - I found a random guide on here and have seen it floating around online. This is good to review a few times. Not sure who made it, but they did a good job of including things frequently asked on the NCLEX. Check it out. On exam day I was nervous. Prayer helped me calm down a little. During the test I took a break to go to the bathroom. I also took breaks at my station by putting my head down, relaxing and praying when I felt like I was overwhelmed. About 1 hour and 45 minutes later my test shut off at 75. I felt relieved, yet anxious and scared. I cried for a good 10 minutes in my car while it all sank in. It was terrible, and I never ever wanted to take the test again. I was pretty sure I had failed, since I felt worse than I did the first time. My faith and family was the only thing that kept me somewhat sane. The next day, I decided to do with PVT trick with my close family around in case I needed a shoulder to cry on. GOOD POP-UP!!! I cried and sobbed anyway. GOD IS GOOD! HE ANSWERS PRAYERS. The next day I confirmed I passed! What a relief! For my second attempt I was so confused and anxious that I thought the best thing to do was to study from a bunch of different resources/books. I later realized this was impossible. I took to practicing questions and ATI mostly. I do not recommend studying from a bunch of different sources. Mainly because it can get overwhelming and confusing. Stick to one or two things and PRACTICE QUESTIONS!! Most importantly PRAY. PRAY and you shall receive. God will give you strength and you will prevail. Thanks to Him I am officially an RN and will be starting my new job in a pediatric ICU in two weeks. PRAISE THE LORD! To all those who have failed, stay strong, have faith. I know it's easier said than done, but one day this will be a thing of the past. FOCUS! Best of luck to all!

Dont give up just yet! You completed nursing school so you are capable of passing the exam! Maybe take some time off, reflect and save up money for a different review course. Make it a point to pass your third time because its your last chance. Stay strong! If you are religious, pray and seek God, He brought you to it, so He will get you through it! Best of Luck!

Congrats! I used this book to study the first time around, but I will def be looking over it again!

Great job! I had to delete my facebook because it was distracting and honestly hurtful to keep seeing all my classmates pass. I kept asking myself how and why me. I decided deleting it and keeping distraction at a minimum was best. Are you using saunders and hurst again this time?

I have been pretty active on this site since I failed my first attemp at the NCLEX-RN about two weeks ago. Mostly because I was so embarassed, and did not know where to turn where I could relate to other people. Briefly, I graduated in May, cum-laude, from a very good nursing school. After graduation, I went on vaca for two weeks and then studied for four weeks for the NCLEX-RN. I had done some ATI questions during the last semester, and decided to not use virtual ATI because it seemed tedious. Instead, I used mostly the saunders book, and the PDA book to study. Like many of you that have failed, I was shocked, crushed, angry, devastated etc when I did the PVT trick and got the dreaded CC page. Two days later, the quick results confirmed I had failed. It took me a few days to recover, but thanks to the encouraging words from family, friends, co-workers and members on this site I realized life is not over, and I WILL PASS the NCLEX-RN on the second try, which is scheduled for early Sept. Praying and coming closer to GOD has helped me see this as only a hurdle on my journey to success. I am using virtual ATI, kaplan strategies book, mosby's pharm notecards, and pda, study-guide on this site to study for my second attempt. I remember how hopeless I felt when I found out I failed, so I thought it would be helpful to have a place where people who did not pass the first time could share new study habits, methods, ways they are coping, prayers. Anybody who failed and then passed on their second, third etc try please help us stay motivated too! Best of Luck to all! WE CAN DO THIS!

MY personal opinion after failing the NCLEX-RN on my first attempt was that the saunders book was WAY too easy, and I was shocked when I got to the real NCLEX and it's questions. Besides rushing through the exam, I strongly believe I failed because I used the saunders book as my only method of studying. I did ATI here and there, some pda as well, but did saunders front to back. Now that I am studying again, I am taking ATI more seriously by actually doing virtual ATI, and also invested in the kaplan strategies book. Questions from these two sources are harder, but after taking the NCLEX, I see they are more on the level of difficulty of the actual NCLEX. Saunders is a great content resource however. This is my personal experience.

This post is so good to see. It comes at such a good time for me as I just failed my first nclex attempt. Seeing the results was heartbreaking indeed. I will keep refering to this post for hope and inspiration. Congrats on your success! You did it!

Sure, are you able to send me a private message?

How long have you been waiting for your ATT? I failed my test as well at the beginning of this month and got my ATT to test again pretty quick. Maybe it differs by state. Did you do virtual ATI with the online tutor? I had to pay for ATI since it was a requirement for my school, but did not use the virtual tutor after graduation because the assignments seemed tedious. I decided to study with the saunders and pda book instead. Since I have failed I decided to complete the virtual ATI this time since it's already payed for and it seems like everyone in my class who followed it passed. I am doing the virtual ATI, along with the kaplan strategies book, pda, saunders CD-rom and mosby's little pharm notecards. I am also looking at the review sheet floating around this site. I hope all this works so I can pass next time. It seems like most people use a combination of different sources when they need to retake the exam and this helps. I pray for better luck for both of us next time. Best Wishes!

Yes you will need to pay another 200 to pearson vue to take the test again. I also had to pay another 80 to professional something and not the 230 like the first time since my application is still within a year. Better luck next time! When you receive for report in the mail it will tell you how to re-register and retake the test.

Sorry guys but if you get the cc page then you most likely failed. There are very few cases of the trick not being reliable. I got the cc page and 2 days later confirmed I failed :-(

So sorry. I had the same reaction as you. I searched online for hope that this trick was indeed not reliable, but I could not find such a thing. Turns out I had failed. Stay strong.