Took NCLEX-RN and failed. Story+Questions (long!)

[MistaMurse]

Hey all. So I started looking at this site roughly 3 weeks ago and found it very helpful. Now that I've finished taking my exam on 8/24 I figured I'd make my own thread. I want to preface this by saying this is a LONG post. So if you're not in the mood to read my story I'd appreciate it if those familiar with Kaplan answer my question at the bottom. Thanks :)

So I graduated on May 2012 and was super relieved. Truth be told I was one of the worst students around. I studied one of the least of everyone and still managed to get by. Granted I literally was JUST getting by, lol. Anyways I signed up for my ATT after everyone else (figures, I am THEE WORST procastinator ever smh). My school gave our class the Hurst Review AND Kaplan review free of charge. I did the reviews half-assed and proceeded to slack off and enjoy my summer.. After hearing all the voices from my parents + GF I finally realized around the end of July that I should probably schedule my test and start seriously studying. Since I was unable to sign in through their website, I called up Pearson and got some pretty crappy news.. My ATT is due to expire (had no idea, again my fault for being so uninformed and a slacker ugh!) and the latest I'd be able to take the test was on August 24th. That left me a little less than a month to buckle down and study.

What I did was use the NCLEX notes provided here (35 pager) on this wonderful site as well as answer Kaplan questions. After what felt like decades I finally finished the entire QBank with scores ranging from 50-60. Felt as though they could have been higher but I kinda rushed some and I wasn't able to answer any of the hotspots or drag and drops on the iPad. I still had the whole QTrainers left with about 4 days until the exam. Well to my dismay the QTrainers kept getting longer and longer. My foolish self didn't each one would be longer than 100 questions. It got to the point where I couldn't even answer the questions, I just quit them and went straight into reading rationales.

A day before the test I knew I was not prepared. I had a strong feeling in my gut that I was going to fail the next day. I tried to reschedule but there was only a 3am scheduled exam this week through the website.. Called them up and indeed that was an error on the site. 24th it was.

Test day comes and I am anxious as heck.. Not to mention tired, but hey I'm running on adrenaline. People here and everywhere recommend I relaxed the day before.. But not me I've always been the type to cram till I can. Just my nature I guess. I'm outside the room trying to inhale as much more information as I can prior to the test. Finally start taking the test and feel as if I'm doing well. Had about 15 out of 30 questions being SATA/dragdrop. Figured this was a good sign. I look at the time and see I've already used an hour on just those 30 questions. Anxiety meter builds up even more. But hey I've always been the guy to finish last on tests. During the next hour the test just got even harder and harder. It slowly was just tearing my confidence down. More and more difficult SATAs just kept coming. The priority questions were just holy crap hard. Where were the easy answers like patient is choking, RR is 7, UO only 25? Nowhere to be found lol. I look up and see that the 2 hours have passed, and I've only finished about 70 questions! I already knew what I was in for, I had a feeling I was not going to have the luxury of finishing in 75. To make an already long story short.. 35+ SATAs, 265 questions, and after using my entire time bank I finally finished that torturous test. When I had about 200 questions left I felt as though I had to do an answer a minute. Not a good feeling. Did the PVT later and got what I expected - dreaded CC screen.

So my outlook on the test and preparing for it: torture. Literally the hardest exam I've taken in my life. So mentally draining. Man they killed me on SOOO many meds I've never heard of. The test really makes you feel like you have to know the ins and outs. Now like I said I know I'm a bad student and overall just a slow thinker. I really put a lot of hours on this (by my standards anyways) but my pacing and way of studying were simply put: terrible. I prayed to God and many people prayed for me but God can only do so much for us. It is up to us to really earn what we want and God will guide us in that direction. I felt as if I was undeserving to pass going into the test and cannot be mad at anybody but myself.

So my questions are do you know if Kaplan will extend my account? Problem is it was given to our school for free so does that factor into their decision? Also I pretty much know all of the answers would it help me to do them again? Same questions go for Hurst. If I don't have access to those two again what should I study next? I really wanted to get my hands on PDA but it was nowhere to be found at any of my local B&Ns. I think I will also do Saunders as I've read good things about that book here. Also as sad as this siunds is there a way to get an extension on the test itself? I really do have a tendency to read/understand things slowly so I'm just curious..

Now to conclude my long post I was just want to say thanks to all who have read it, and thanks in advance to those who may answer my questions. It really helped me to vent this out. It really is stressful to take that test, and to let everybody including myself down. I am hoping to be fully prepared next time. God bless you all.

[MistaMurse]

By the way sorry for the lack of paragraphs. I'm trying to put them but for some reason it won't work via iPad. I will try to edit via computer when I can.

edit - fixed it!

[begosh]

I'm thinking Hurst and Kaplan "guarantee" still apply even though it was offered through your school. The only way to find out for sure is to call or access each site online (Hurst allows you to sign up online for another Live review). For Kaplan, if I'm not mistaken you have to show proof that you failed. I'm sorry I'm not able to provide concrete answers to your questions.

Don't give up though. Now that you have had the experience of sitting for the NCLEX, take some time to conduct an in depth self-evaluation to determine your strengths and weaknesses. Most of the NCLEX books have great info on test-taking strategies which really helped me better understand NCLEX or as Marlene Hurst puts it..."think NCLEXy" or "make the NCLEX lady happy."

Remember, you are not alone. Good luck to you!

[rainyn]

Sorry I can't answer your question but when I read your post a book I came across a few days ago came to mind. I read the first several pages on the "look inside" option Amazon offers and I liked what I read and now plan on purchasing the book as another supplement when I get closer to taking the NCLEX.

Amazon.com: NCLEX High-Risk: The Disaster Prevention Manual for Nurses Determined to Pass the RN Licensing Examination (9780763773397): Marian C. Condon, Karen S. March: Books