I took the NCLEX on Friday after preparing for months. I felt pretty good about taking the exam since I did both the Kaplan and HESSI review classes. I also used the Mosby Illustrated Study Guide (which is a great resource for content). I arrived at the testing site at 1:30pm, got signed in, and was taking my exam before 2pm. After about 30 minutes into the exam, I began to feel my anxiety and blood pressure rise with each question. I had studied so hard and yet was feeling bombared with questions and answer choices that looked unfamiliar. I found myself trying to make educated guesses, but with each click of the mouse feeling less and less confident. While preparing for the boards, I took all of the Kaplan tests online and received passing scores; however, during the NCLEX I felt like the questions were incredibly hard and narrowing down the answer choices became increasingly difficult. I felt like I was guessing on most of them. I felt worse whenI got my first math problem and my brain immediately went blank. I couldn't figure out how to set it up to save my life. I had successfully did these types of math problems in school but for some reason I drew a blank. I couldn't believe it when I kept getting more and more of the same type of math problem...my anxiety went through the roof...I could feel the blood rushing to my head with each one. I also got a lot of the SATA (select all that apply) questions. I was told that it was a good sign to get those types of questions but wasn't sure if I answered them correctly. When question #75 came and went...my hope of passing this exam got dimmer and dimmer. Once again I got another math problem (same as all the others), made my best try at it, clicked submit, and the computer shut off. My heart fell to the ground. I left the testing center feeling like I failed the exam. It wasn't the feeling like in school where you take a test and didn't feel like you did good...but deep down you felt ok about it. I felt like I totally failed the exam. The entire rest of the weekend was sheer torture. I thought about all that would take place if I had to retake it and what it meant to my job offer. I seriously felt so sick to my stomach all weekend and couldn't sleep. I read someones posting on here about wanting to get into a fetal position and retreat (I felt the same way). I got comfort from talking to my other classmates who took the NCLEX over the past 2 weeks and all of them felt the same way..yet they passed. One of my classmates told me about the Pearsons Vue Trick but honestly I didn't have the strength to do it until yesterday morning. I woke up around 4am yesterday and began checking the board of nursing website to see if my name appeared. I knew that it would only be by God's grace that I passed. Yesterday morning around 9am, I finally tried the Pearsons Vue Trick and it wouldn't let me reregister to take the exam. It stopped me before the payment screen appeared (which I was told was a good sign). Well, this morning at 3:30am, I woke up out of a deep sleep, felt another wave of anxiety, opened up my laptop, checked the board of nursing website and...there it was...my name appeared! I am a registered nurse!!!
I am so thankful for the support of my friends, answered prayers, and the postings on this website. I have read through many of the postings and found comfort in knowing that many others shared my experience in taking the boards. I am humbled and so thankful for passing. I am praying for my classmates that are still prepping for it and will be there for them as they wait for their results. I am so honored to join the profession of nursing and can't wait to serve along side fellow nurses.
