Thank you allnurses.com!

Published Nov 7, 2012

30 Posts

I made it, I passed NCLEX-RN. First take!

Despite a 60hr/week job, and it has been 8 years since I finished nursing school. On top of that, being a mom to 3 kids and a wife to a husband that recently went through surgery,radiation and now hormonal treatment for CA. We just relocated to USA two years ago also. I kept postponing until my back to the wall as my ATT expiring next week.

I have to take the test or else my application will be thrashed and I have to go through the tedious process of re-applying again.

My passing was a miracle. And a big portion of that miracle are the kind people that posted in this site. Often I come home so tired from work and I want to give up my USRN dream. But clicking and reading the posts here; the kindred spirit pulled me through. I have read almost every thread in here for over a year. Clicked almost all the link posted and downloaded to print the notes shared. I followed through the "tips" shared by others that failed and pass, put them to practice -- and it did work!

Thank you so much to this site and to everyone. I was mostly lurking and not been posting replies but you all have been the angels that pushed me through.

My review materials:

1. Saunders 4th edition. I've read this book cover to cover. After reading each chapter I answered all the question at the end of the chapter PLUS, the CD question( I used Saunders 5th edition CD the link posted by someone in this site). Saunders can sate the need for content and it is enough. I have HOGAN and KAPLAN, but I followed someone's advice to just focus on one source for content. The practice questions are very ideal for reinforcing the content.

2. La Charity Prioritization,Delegation Assignment. This a must especially if you did not study in the US.

3.NLCEX-RN Strategy Kaplan. I've read the entire book twice and did all test.

4. Kaplan Question Trainer. I was only able to do 4 out of 7 test.

5 Exam Cram book and CD. I carry this book and did the question on the bus to work, at McDonalds, everywhere! LOL

My computer stopped at 103 questions. Lots of SATA( almost every other question is SATA, 2 pedia drug computation, Herbal medicine (I froze when I saw this but did surmise it using the process of elimination) and meds! Lots of meds. About 12 of them. Ones that I have never encountered before I use process of deduction using diseas pathophysiolgy to conquer them. And to some; pure guess. LOL.

The bottomline; know your content. Read test taking strategies and drill yourself with question. Be it only 15, 25 100 or 200 per day. Just do it!

Mostly, PRAY. I did not have a prepared prayer but I talked to my God with in my simple words. And lastly believe that no effort, no matter how small, in preparing for NCLEX is wasted. :)