Third Time's a Charm

[jsy16]

Hi everyone!

I wanted to share my story about my NCLEX struggles and I just want to encourage everyone, especially those who didn't pass the first time.

I graduated in January and the first time I took the NCLEX was mid March. I totally wasn't ready and I thought MAYBE I could pass. I used Kaplan and my Qbank scores were ranging from 40-50s. I used the Kaplan book too which I thought was extremely unhelpful. But if I didn't take my NCLEX by mid March, I would have lost my job offer. This situation sucked and my gut told me that I shouldn't take it. But I did.

And I failed. I failed in 75 questions.

After I cried for a couple of days, I decided to study harder. I thought I didn't know content. So I read through all of Saunders (I loved Saunders and thought it was extremely helpful) used NCSBN and their Qbank and I used Kaplan's Qbank again and I rented the famous LaCharity book. My Qbank scores were higher (50-60) and I thought I was going to pass for sure.

Failed. I answered 265 questions and I got near passing” on all the categories.

I didn't get it. I had memorized so many diseases and processes and so many medications. My flashcard stack was literally 11 inches high. I was spiraling in despair. I began to daydream about owning chains of Taco Bells or being a manager at a local Chipotle and abandoning my nursing career.

Thankfully, I picked myself up again and read a lot of posts about nurses who didn't pass the first, second or even their third time and found motivation to study again. I signed up for Hurst and listened to almost all of their lectures. I thought Hurst was great to review content but I already knew content so it wasn't really helpful.

3 weeks before my third NCLEX exam, I was talking to my friend who recently passed and she suggested going to a NCLEX class but the only one near me was Kaplan's and I hated Kaplan. So I just googled Nclex tutor and I found a tutoring website called Wyzant. The best resource I had was my NCLEX tutor on Wyzant's website.

I thought it was going to be a waste of time and money since my tutor and I were doing an online session but it was amazingly helpful. My tutor knew by the first lesson what my weaknesses were (maternity and liver diseases) and she helped me change my test taking/thinking process. I swear the ONLY thing I changed was how I approached a question. She recommended using UWorld and I LOVED it. The rationales were so clear and actually helpful.

My tutor and I met 2x a week and we would go over questions together and why I picked this answer vs the right answer or she would ask me why I chose the correct answer and try to understand my thinking process.

I chanted to myself "I studied so hard and I AM going to pass because I deserve it." 50 times a day and really pumped myself up with positive self talk. Even while I was taking the test I chanted it in my heard when I started to feel panicky with my EKG Sata question. (I got 3 EKG questions guys! It's a real thing! I didn't know you could *actually* get EKG questions)

I ended up pushing my original test date (mid-July) back twice per my tutor's suggestion and I just took it on Aug 10 and I found out I passed the next day on my state's BON website!!

Guys, I did it and you can do it too. Of course you might feel upset, sad or even panicky after seeing everyone else pass and their facebook statuses. Then other people start asking when you're taking it or if you've passed. I let it bother me for 2 weeks then I deactivated my facebook so I wouldn't feel nervous or feel that pressure. I kind of lived under a rock for 4 months but once you pass you can celebrate!

THIS TEST DOES NOT DEFINE YOU.

DO NOT LET THIS TEST DEFINE YOU.

Good luck and comment below if you want more information about Wyzant and how their tutoring works.

You can do it! Believe!

[omotee, BSN]

wow,am s00 happy for u,wil be doing it the third time on Friday so pray for me so my third time can be a charm like yours.

[jsy16]

omotee,

I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers! Don't forget to chant to yourself how AMAZING you are and how you WILL pass after studying for so long!!!

YOU GOT THIS!!

[Yogsdaleo,RN]

Awesome!! How many questions did you get this time?

[jsy16]

Awesome!! How many questions did you get this time?

I got 75 questions and finished in 1 hr 20 min

[jsy16]

Also since I am new to this site, I still cannot send private messages. So just comment please

[awood924]

Hi, I was wondering what tutor you used? Your situation sounds similar to mine except I have only taken it once so far. I feel so lost but I'm determined to pass. I am currently looking at tutors on Wyzant. If you could let me know who you found to be helpful, I would really appreciate it :).