State of Shock (passed NCLEX with 75 Questions...1st Time)

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I struggled all throughout my BSN program. My grades fluctuated between "A"s and "F"s, without rhyme or reason. If I studied for 40 hours, I'll get an "F." If I study for 8 hours I'd get an "A." The faculty punished an instructor for tutoring 60 students (how dare she tutor students on her free time and help us bring our grades up 10 to 30 points!), and I was prepared to give up. I persevere, even when I ended up homeless and living in my car, so I could pay my $8000 tuition. So you can imagine that I'm still in a state of shock when I found out a few days ago, I passed NCLEX on my first try with 75 questions in less than an hour!

I was so gratefully, considering I would have lost my GN permit and would have been fired from my job with my IMC unit.

What was most remarkable was that I hadn't taken Hurst or Kaplan (I couldn't afford it). All I had was the ATI book from the 3 day course we had at school (I got 1/2 through the book and failed to do the review questions from the ATI website) before I had to start orientation for work. I studied for a few weeks from my ATI book and then for a month I was focus on my critical care class*** and clinicals for work. Which makes me wonder if these review courses are all bunk. I'm not the best student but I did well on the standardize test. I got about 15 SATA, 5 reorder questions, 10 priority questions, and number of other alternative questions. Obviously, I knew what I was doing. And I left the testing center feeling that NCLEX had not challenge me at all (maybe my nursing program is harder than the test?)

I was wondering if anyone else had similar experience education and testing-wise? Are nursing review courses necessary if you can understand the material and the underlying rationales? What are your thoughts?

***I did take part in lectures for work and did test questions and prep work for ICU nursing from AACN, so maybe that was a factor.

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That's AWESOME!!!:)

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Congrats. That's a wonderful testimony. Without a test, there is no testimony. I wish you the best in all you do Nurse.

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Specializes in Acute care-Rehab.

That's awesome! Congratulations! You seriously give me more hope because I struggled through my program also. Thank you for sharing. :)

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Congrats RN

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Specializes in Peds/outpatient FP,derm,allergy/private duty.

Wow, congratulations! You are certainly an example of "eyes on the prize" with all the hardship you went through!

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LOVE IT!!!! Congrats!!!!! What story to hold on to when I'm feel like giving up! Thanks!

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