SO glad that's done with!!

[Summer Breeze]

I just found out that I passed the NCLEX!!! I definitely want to thank everyone here. =) I've been lurking and reading posts since I graduated from nursing school in May. Just hearing everyones studying strategies and random facts was extremely helpful. I especially love SPIDERMAN and the other mnemonics I learned from this site.

I had 75 questions and the content was all over the place! I had meds, infection control, a bunch of priority and some delegation.

Some advice to all of the future test takers:

- Study as best as you can. You know what's the best studying method for yourself. I took the Kaplan course, but my biggest issue was knowing content. So I also used Saunders to study... I'm very detail oriented so I love all the detail in the Saunders book, so it really helped me understand what the Kaplan Course Book didn't make clear. I also studied the day before and the day of I revieved with my friend (we both took it together at 4pm on Saturday.) For every nursing test I've ever taken, I've always studied until the very last minute! That's just how I am. lol. But we also just relaxed the last few hours before the exam.

- If content doesn't stick in your head, try to make up mnemonics to help you remember. Definitely look up mnemonics on this site, they will help! OR if you are a visual learner... sometimes googling different disorders and looking at pictures really helps. That way when you're going of signs and symptoms and nursing considerations, you can picture the disease in your head. (Idk, this worked for me!)

- Now this is easier said then done, but when you're at your site and ready to take the NCLEX... Try to stay calm. I honestly almost had a panic attack just going through the tutorial! Don't try to guess which questions are above passing standard either. It is kind of hard to distinguish and can make you feel nervous and do worse! So just take each question as it is and try to move forward. =) ALSO... You seriously won't know all of the content. and you probably will get medications you don't know, diseases you've never heard of, and a whole bunch of SATA. (I had 13 SATA and a whole bunch of meds, probably 15 med questions) But DON'T FREAK OUT! We aren't expected to know everything. Do your best to read the question and answer choices, because some answer choices you can eliminate easily. And go from there. I did not let myself panic too much when the questions dealt with content I didn't know.. I just tried to read my question carefully and figure out what the topic was.. and from there I made an educated guess. Just don't freak out. =) Do your best.

- To those who don't pass the first time, honestly... it does not mean you are inadequate in any way, shape, or form. During my 48 hours of waiting I realized that this test does not define you or your abilities as a future RN. Do your best and if this time it doesn't work out, study some more and try to figure out where you went wrong (i.e. content, strategies, unable to prioritize, etc). And work from there. You've all passed nursing school and will surely pass the NCLEX when its your time.

Sorry, I tend to blab a lot! But I basically want to say GOOD LUCK TO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU. You can do it! Have faith in yourselves. =)

[birdie22]

thanks for the advice and CONGRATS!! I'm taking it on July 14th and I've always been a "Crammer" my entire life, so why change for this test? I've only seriously started studying bout 5 days ago too, but I've been doing about 400 questions per day. Wish me luck and do a little rain dance for me!!

[DroogieRN]

:ancong!::clpty:

[Summer Breeze]

Thank you so much Birdie! Good luck! I'll do a rain dance for you, and 48 hours after your exam we can happy dance. =)

2B_RN, thank you so much!

[caliotter3]

:ancong!:

[cmmny]

Congrats!! I also just found out that I passed too!! Sooo excited, it almost doesn't feel real!

I had 75 questions- tons of prioritization and infection control..a few delegation, about 8 med questions, 10 SATA, 1 picture and 1 calculation! Whew!!!