TO ALL RNs WHO'VE TAKEN NCLEX MORE THAN ONCE

WAstateRN · Nov 26, 2007

i think rather than any remediation plan, you might want to consider suzannes plan. the sticky is at the top of the forum and you only need saunders comprehensive latest edition. i have read a lot of people passed using her plan.

RNroseshea · Nov 26, 2007

Ok, I took the Nclex-RN twice, with the second time being the charm at 75 ?'s. The difference of the first time at 80?'s when compared to the second, were the type of questions. Although some were hard, most seemed to be easy, enough to make me feel that it was impossible that I had failed but indeed I did. However, the second time around, I was more confident, more relaxed and had used study materials that were comfrotable for me. As I was approaching question 75, I was begging for more questions as I felt that the computer would shut down and it did and I felt like crap! I was 99% sure that I had failed the second time, so much so that I was looking for a new career...but I passed! I was in shock 48 hours later. To me, the worst one feels after testing, the better chance one has of passing.

Good luck for all of you future retakers, as I have been in your shoes and I know what it feels like..but you can do it if you pray and believe that you can!

dvdd · Nov 27, 2007

i think rather than any remediation plan, you might want to consider suzannes plan. the sticky is at the top of the forum and you only need saunders comprehensive latest edition. i have read a lot of people passed using her plan.

how do i get in touch with her, pls help, thank u.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Nov 27, 2007

how do i get in touch with her, pls help, thank u.

You will find a sticky called 'New revised first tip' once you complete the first tip you contact Suzanne via pm with all information as requested in the sticky and she will contact you. Please give her time to answer your pm as she works and very busy but she will answer

LynseyEB · Nov 28, 2007

I failed the Nclex in July, I will be giving it again in october for 2nd time.
So, my question to those RNs, RNs to be who have taken the test more than once........How different was the NCLEX-RN test from the first time you gave it compared to 2nd, 3rd, 4th etc........times.
Please, kindly shed some light???
Thank you.[/quote
Hey! Wizard,
I have taken the NCLEX 5 X and will take it again in January. I am going to a Rinhart review this week. I hope it will help. Let me hear from you.
LynEB

wizard100 · Nov 28, 2007

Hey! Wizard,

I have taken the NCLEX 5 X and will take it again in January. I am going to a Rinhart review this week. I hope it will help. Let me hear from you.

LynEB

hi there,

i havent taken my test yet.....i thought of taking in october but i never picked up the book and studied because I felt so isolated, depressed, and a failure. I tried multiple times and pushed myself to study but just couldnt concentrate. Meanwhile, my advisor/instructor told me I should never schedule RN test date without being feel prepared and confident. She reassured me that the most important thing is to be a good nurse and i should not rush to take the exam instead focus on understanding my weak areas. After listening to her, my mom and most wonderful nurses here who keep on encouraging their fellow nurses......I have overcomed my bout of depression. Now, sometimes I relapse but I log in to this site and just read and read and I feel better.

I have scheduled my test in december and hopefully I will make this time. I am practicing questions from saunders but not regularly. I am however more believing in myself these days. I will let you know what happens then. I am using two books saunders and p/d/a.

I know its hard but we have to overcome and believe. My biggest suggestion to you is dont rush to schedule your test.....i think the most impotant is your feeling that you are ready to retake and feeling of being prepared.

I wish you all the luck and fifth time would be a charm for you. Believe in yourself, take control of your anxiety and spend at least 2-3 hrs studying. You will be fine. Wish us the best of luck.

wizard100 · Nov 29, 2007

Hey! Wizard,
I have taken the NCLEX 5 X and will take it again in January. I am going to a Rinhart review this week. i hope it will help. Let me hear from you.
LynEB

contact suzzane4 and follow her plan. it is very systematic and gives you a nice review with Q&A drilling from saunders comprehensive. the first tip is found in the sticky of this forum.

dvdd · Nov 29, 2007

contact suzzane4 and follow her plan. it is very systematic and gives you a nice review with Q&A drilling from saunders comprehensive. the first tip is found in the sticky of this forum.

how do i get intouch with suzzane4.

wizard100 · Nov 29, 2007

https://allnurses.com/forums/f197/new-revised-first-tip-suzanne-s-plan-195774.html

click on the link and you will find suzannes first tip. after you complete her 1st tip, pm her for her 2nd tip. good luck.

wizard100 · Jan 20, 2008

Now that I have passed my test. I want to share my experience with rest of you.

I graduated in June 2007 with flying colors, excitement, joy. My school made us take us a review mandatory. I ended up signing with Drexel Excel Live Prep course and paying $399. We started the live review course one week after graduation. I got my ATT around July 2nd and scheduled it for July 18th having done about 1000 drexel questions after the 4 day review class. On July 20th I checked pearson vue website and failed. The world fell down in front of me. My boyfriend was the first person I called and he was having vacation in canada with his parents. He came immediately cutting his trip short thinking I would do suicide because I have history of depression for long time.

For almost 1 month I was in denial. I called my mom and she was in total disbelief. My boyfreind then asked me to quit job and just study and not to freak out. At the same time I got admission letter for RN-BSN program and their requirements for new grads to have RN license was by spring quarter for clinicals. I was so hesitant to go back thinking what if I didn't pass by spring quarter. My boyfriend was the one who pushed me.

Major things happened in August 2007:

I quit job

I accepted the admission

I contacted suzanne4

But even though I got her plan by beginning of september, I felt so dreaded to start study again. I quit my job and stay at home just to be depressed. I relapsed again and had to be on anti-depressant again. This was the first time I ever failed in my lifetime. I was always average student but never failed and it was hard for me because I thought I will never pass. My new school started september 27th and just about before my classes started my nursing instructor whom I had clinicals for last quarter called me and wanted to discuss if I needed help. I got boost of encouragement from her. Then in october like 2nd/ 3rd week I pushed myself to study. By then my antidepressant started working and I felt great. My boyfriend was working really hard pulling some overtimes so that I dont have to work. Seeing him every night so tired and not complaining even a word made me more guilty because I had more credit card bills than he did and he was taking care of rent/food/my pills and what not. He was paying for everything. I pushed even harder to manage my new school assingments and nclex study because I really felt bad for him and only wished I could pass.

I managed 2 hrs in the morning and 2 hrs in the evening to study. I used saunders but I did not exactly followed suzzane's plan and my instructors plan. I did how however finished saunders and pda completely. I did each system at a time. Some systems took me 6-7 days, some 2-3 days and some only a day. I also browsed a lot on the internet the things I was not clear about. In december I pulled myself together and put 4-6 hrs per day divided 2 hrs in morning 3 hrs at night depending on my availability. I studied for my school finals which were also in december during the day. I realized if there is a will there is a way attitude.

On december 28th ...after 6 months of my first test, I gave my 2nd test. My first test I had 185 questions...I had near passing on everything and below passing on two. My 2nd test I sat there whole 6 hrs for 265 Q. I had such a bad headache after testing. I thought I failed for sure and didn't even try to check through quick results. I waited for mail. To my total disbelief I passed.....I still dont believe I passed. In my mind I was fixated that I will never pass.

Let me tell you. This time I tried harder and studied more. Practiced more questions. I finished entire Saunders CD and PDA book reviewing all rationales. I spent more time understanding the rationales and reviewing certain topic rather than doing 100 Q and 150 Q per day. But some days I did about 200 questions. I began to understand which area I am weak and which system I am strong at.

NCLEX 1st time felt like I had a lot of endocrine questions....hypo/hyper....hypo/hyper type. 2nd time around I had a lot of cancer questions, chemo drugs, drug/herb/food interaction with cancer drugs. I felt like I was sitting for a pharmacy license not nursing. I didn't loose my cool even though I had no clue about the question or answer. I made educated guesses...looked for similar words, odd one wins, ruling out deadly words, eliminating and so on...I guess it did work. I was drained out and my energy was zero but I kept taking breaks...bought soda for caffeine from vending machine, said I must do it and I will and I can. I spoke to myself I can , I can in my head. If my anxiety peaked I raised my hand...took break....had a little drink...deep breathing. I think I passed this time because I learned how to control my anxiety. If I would have let my anxiety took over me...I would have failed. So, even if you have no clue about the questions and the answers.....Dont freak out!!! take breaks, talk to yourself I can and make educated guesses!!!

I just wanted to let you guys know NCLEX is crazy test...Its not you, its the test...We didn't graduated nursing school for nothing---take as many times as you have to pass but dont let that hinder you from studying. I was the only one who failed from my graduating class. I felt so embarrased when I met my classmates at the mall or store. Some even called me to see where I was working. I felt so dumb in front of them but once I told couple of them....they were really supportive.

As our nursing instructors taught us every patient is different and you have to individualize nursing care based on the individual even if they have same disease or taking same medication right??? Just like that, every NCLEX candidate is different. Everyones learning needs are different. You dont have to feel bad what worked for others didn't work for you. Just know your weak areas and which system you need to focus on more. If it takes 10 days, by all means give 10 days to review that system....Dont reschedule your test knowing you are weak in certain system and that you havent reviewed or reviewed incompletely. Also, I took every saturday off to give my brain a break. Some of you may need it...some may not. Just realize your learning needs....your weak areas and you will do fine. Control your anxiety....learn to deep breathe....it really helps. Take as many breaks as you need. Dont focus on time and # of questions on test date. Just do your best....you will pass next time around.

I have to give credit to suzanne and my instructor for opening my eyes to review all rationales no matter if I got right or wrong. Also, saunders + pda book= more than any review courses and worth every penny.

I hope I didnt bore you with this long story.

kitnaw · Jan 20, 2008

Hi Wizard 100,

Thanks for sharing your story, it gives me an additional inspiration to battle my anxiety towards this nclex monster..

God bless.

igmirnor · Jan 20, 2008

Hi Wizard100

Thankyou for your post... it really is inspiring.. and reading it solved one major dilemma i had... whether Saunder's is enough....God bless you in your life and career!