The second time!!!

I was very ill prepared the first time, but I took the NCLEX anyway hoping for the best. I failed the first time. I just took it again last week and passed at 120. For those who have failed, DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED. Learn from your mistakes. It is most important to construct an effective study plan and stick to it. I took a review course after failing, but for me the only effective thing about the review course was it got me off my lazy @ss to studying. I used the NCLEX 3500 and a Kaplan book I got from Barnes and Nobles. The Kaplan book has 2 practice tests. I did the first practice test before taking the NCLEX the first time and totally bombed it (should've been a hint not to try to take the test). I did the second practice test after completing the NCLEX 3500 questions and studying my butt off and did quite well, so that helped my confidence going at it the second time.

I'd have to say the NCLEX 3500 was the basis of my studying. You can use Saunders, Hesi, ATI, for content. I would study, do questions from the 3500, and study again the key points I was weak on. I was averaging 65% on the NCLEX 3500 questions. The only topic I scored higher than 70% was psych, and I did even worse on OB (60%). It's important to note - you're not doing questions in the hopes that the same questions would be on the NCLEX. That is quite unlikey and even if it did happen, surely it wouldn't be enough to determine if you're going to pass or not. Your doing questions to help identify your weaknesses, give you confidence in taking NCLEX style questions, and develope strategies to answer them correctly.

Again, if you've failed the NCLEX before - DO NOT LOSE HOPE. I know the emotional stress you're going through. Take a day or two off to enjoy yourself. Then sit down and really figure out what went wrong and how you're going to fix it. Make a plan and stick to it.