265 questions and Passed 1st time

[DsquishRN]

Decided I'd make a post about my experience with NCLEX.

I took the NCLEX the 29th. I studied for NCLEX using the Hurst Review. The videos and qreview were extremely helpful. My average on qreview was 78. All my classmates that had taken the NCLEX had the computer shut off in the 70s.

As I was taking the exam and watching the number of questions going higher than 70s I started panicking. I understood that there are higher level of questions and I felt I had received a lot of SATA before getting to 75 but my questions started going back to the lower level. I started freaking out even more. All that was going through my head was that I failed, why won't this shut off on me, and all these negative thoughts. At 100 questions I felt defeated. I kept trying to think of safety and all those test taking strategies we learned in nursing school and from Hurst, but I kept thinking negatively. At 140 the computer wanted me to take a break. My advice is take that break. At the moment I just wanted to get out of there and cry so I did not take my break. I was hoping maybe it'll stop soon. I probably should have to regroup myself. The questions were a rollercoaster ride. I was able to refocus and told myself I was still in the game. There was a chance. I went all the way to 265! After 3 1/2 hours the exam was over. My head was pounding and I felt numb. I was so sure I failed. The next two days I cried. Of course my loving family told me I was fine and if I did not pass I can take it again. I also had the pressure of keeping my school's 100% pas rate alive. I did not want to be the first to break the streak. In my state you can pay for early results but I did not feel like "ruining" my new years eve/New years day. On New years day my dad checked the board of nursing website and there was my license number. I passed nclex with 265 questions!

Long story short:

Be prepared to stay the whole time. Be prepared to take 265. Do not get it stuck in your head that shutting off at the minimum is the only way. Remain positive. Take the break that is offered! You can do it!

[phiir, MSN]

I got to 75 and expected it to shut off... then 80... then 85... every five questions I kept expecting it to shut off and it never did. By the time I got to 225 I gave up hope and figured I was going the distance, but then it shut off at 250... 15 short of the max. It's nerve wracking for sure, but at least it's over!