I've been in this cite so many times and I promised myself once I passed I will share my story. theres so many things i want to say so if you want to skip to how I did it/ study routine please find********
Background: graduated may 2013 and to be honest I was an ok student, the school i went to as well I felt like didnt prepare me or guide me enough for the nclex, but my biggest mistake really is not taking my nclex earlier. When youve just finished school everything is still fresh in your mind so youll have more content information. Another big mistake is really not understanding nclex style questions. If i were to go back, i would have enrolled already or bought books for nclex review in my last semester of nursing.
Anyways, I know what your thinking... I took the nclex 10times. YES IT IS ALOT! Im lucky that i live in a state where they allow you to take it as many time but in a span of 8 years i believe. First let me start off by saying i know its a lot of money, time wasted, and energy draining... BUT IF ITS YOUR DREAM ISNT IT WORTH IT IN THE END? there were countless times where i really questioned if this is really right for me...and it is. this is my dream and if i had failed again, I would have studied harder and wouldnt stop until i became an RN.
This cite was very helpful throughout my journey, there were many helpful tips, and success stories, however this cite also brought me to tears many times. There are so many people that are so negative, saying things like "maybe nursing isnt for you" or "even if you passed already i still wouldnt want myself or any of my family members to be cared for by you since you failed so many times." I know people are going to say they are just being real or why give someone false hope. I understand where you are coming from, but truth is if nursing is really what you want you have every right to fight for it. Noone can stop you from achieving your dreams!
There is so much negativity going on around us that is it really necessary to put someone down when they are already down? false hope is when there is absolutely no way for them, but if they still have the opportunity why not take it? can you imagine telling your child, your parent, your bestfriend, that even if they worked so hard and failed but still want to try again to just find something else to do? find a new dream? so many times Ive failed i've always looked at it as negative, but its a chance for me to rise up and become stronger. I think that was the hardest part in this journey, picking up the piece and trying again, because for those who dont know the feeling of giving it your all and in the end its still not enough, taking a chance to do it again takes so much out of you. its is not only mentally and physically draining, but very EMOTIONALLY draining as well.
Everytime I saw that fail word in the quickresults, its was mindshattering heartbreak. It took me several weeks even to pick up any book and at times reading made me so sick or just even answering a question made me throw up. But I refuse to give up! AND YOU SHOULDNT AS WELL! i think the reason more people fail after the first time is because our confidence in ourselves really go down. IF WE DONT BELIVE IT HOW CAN WE BECOME IT? And for those who still have a negative outlook on multiple times nclex takers, think of it like a drivers license. your permit is graduating from your school but to be a safe nurse or in this case "safe driver" you need to pass the road test. Once you pass the road test the first time are you automatically the safest driver? there have been many people who got into accidents the next day after passing their road test. Same with nursing, passing the nclex the first time wont make you the safest nurse, it just makes you safer than the one who didnt pass yet. But being a nurse is not a race its a journey. what if when you were taking your road test, its was pouring so much rain or there were accidents on the road test site.
Im not making excuses for failing but in life there are many parts in our lives that affect us and its not just going from one end of your destination to the next in a straight line, sometimes we have to stop for pedestrians walking, sometimes there are ambulances that we need to pull over to let them through, sometimes we run out of gas, but if you give it your all, even if you get a flat tire, or you engine dies out on you, and you get to your destination, applaud yourself because you deserve it.
Also, for those who have said "I've tried it all", unless you have done EVERYTHING, READ EVERY BOOK, ANSWERED ALL THE QUESTIONS, TRIED ALL THE RESOURCES... YOU HAVENT DONE IT ALL. PUSH YOURSELF, THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING ELSE TO BE DONE! IF NURSING IS WHAT YOU WANT DO IT! DO IT! DO IIIITTTTT! DONT LET ANYONE TELL YOU MAYBE ITS NOT FOR YOU. Surround yourself with positivity, Law of attraction! I was blessed enough that i have my family, friends and a partner with their continued support. Dont be afraid to ask for help when you need it, dont let pride and embarassment get the best of you. i had 2 jobs and quit one because i want focused enough. to cover my other finances my parents and partner helped me so much, so if you have people who are willing to help take it!
Another big change when I took it this time is Praying, I prayed that I would have a clear mind and open heart that no matter what I will still fight for this dream. God will not be taking the test for you so dont pray just to say let me pass. Do your work put in the effort and if you fail again dont give up. take it as soon as you can. you will have more knowledge than the previous test, you will be an inch, if not, a mile closer to your destination. Finally I really want to say is dont be afraid of failing, failing is not a sign of weakness, or the end. Not getting back up and quiting is when youve really failed.
this time around i was not afraid of failing because I know as long as there is air in my lungs, a mind to critically think, and an opportunity to take it again, possibilities are endless.
************** ncelx 1st-3rd time i was taking it:
studied ncsbn learning extention, kaplan qbank did not finish, previous notes from school
didnt really focus, was not motivated after failing the 1st time
Nlcex 4th-7th time took hurst live review but didnt finish online questions, purchase ncsbn again and still didnt complete
had 2 jobs 6 days a week, nclex was not priority just taking it to see maybe i can pass
Nclex 8th time- quit other job, read suanders, studied 6-8hs a day answered 50-100 questions a day. would read for endless hours but found out the hard way i wasnt retaining information. did not really apply critical thinking.
nclex 9th time- thought this was it! purchased uworld finished i think 900 questions 53% average. Amazing resource detailed rationales but its just a qbank and feels like your taking the nclex with the style of the site.
Jan 28 2017 10th time taking the nclex. I waited 3 months after test 9.
enrolled in self passed kaplan. watched the videos multiple times, finished qtrainers except QT7.
diagnostic- 62%
QT1-56%
QT2- 63%
QT3- 50%
QT4- 58%
QT5-52%
QT6-61%
WHO DO YOU SEE FRIST 77%
SAMPLE NCLEX 58%
LESSON 7 75%
i would do qbank questions 75 questions average 57-67%
finished the rest of qbank for uworld
did not read any specific books, rather i watched alot of youtube explanations and videos here are some of the channels:
nrsng- also go to websites for free study guides
nclex tudy guide
registerednursern
picmonicvideo
tootrn, LLC
anneliese garrison
podcast library
BEST OF ALL THEY ARE FREE!!!!!!
also with the labvalues kaplan decision tree, maslows, infection control, nursing diagnosis and scope of practice, i printed them up and hung is next to my bed, atleast once a day i would ready every single one it took about 5 mins of my time every day but it really helped me remember the information.
The biggest thing about this time around is I made this as my number one priority, and for the days i did not feel the strength to do questions, i watched alot of those youtube videos.
Also my BIGGEST mistake in the past was not really using critical thinking, and what is the nclex ? CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS! Kaplan played a huge part because it really dissects the questions and how you should train your mind to think. I know most of you are thinking, why didnt i do kaplan first, well, when i was researching on which resources to use the had so many negative comments, and many people told me not to aswell because it didnt work for them. Everyone is different, you just have to see what works and what doesnt, and yes it is expensive but this is an investment for you.
And now finally, after my long journey i can call myself an RN! and my journey is still not over, i will do my best to be the best nurse i can be! And for those who are still not accepting of multiple times nclex takers, and see them unfit, and still think they are unsafe, please ask your doctor how many times they have taken their mcat, or usmile or ask that restaurant how many time they passed their food test or your accountant how many time they took theirs or that taxi driver whos driving you around how many times they passed their road tests? the point is, it is just a test, it doesnt define who you are or who'll you become, its takes trail and error and expierences to mold the person you can be. GOODLUCK TO ALL FIRST TIME TEST TAKERS AND MOST OF ALL FOR THE PERSON WHO JUST FAILED, I BELIEVE IN YOU! TAKE A DAY TO BE SAD, BUT IF ITS YOUR DREAM DONT GIVE UP!
also here are some people who've failed:
Oprah Winfrey was publicly fired from her first television job as an anchor in Baltimore for getting "too emotionally invested in her stories."
Steven Spielberg was rejected by the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts multiple times.
Colonel Harland David Sanders was fired from dozens of jobs before founding a fried chicken empire. (KFC)
Lady Gaga got dropped by her record label, Island Def Jam, after 3 months. Upon receiving the news, she "cried so hard she couldn't talk"
ALSO if your curious here is a link of some nurses who have passed the nclex:
1 Serial-Killing Nurses - Listverse
+++ this link is just to show, its just not just about getting the license, its what you do after you get the license is what counts.
. But I'm still so happy and grateful to my friend who alerted me to this. If not, I would be on my butt now studying :).
Hope1205
4 Posts
I just want to say CONGRATULATIONS!!! You are truly an inspiration to me. Although I need to take my LPN NCLEX for a fourth time, I still consider myself a NURSE! It's so true when you say it's not the test that make you a nurse. Although I did EXTREMELY well in school, I struggle with the actual NCLEX! I know part of my problem is that I am truly an auditory learner and hands on learner. Sitting there looking at a computer screen for up to 5 hrs and I can read it aloud really gets my anxiety going! But this is what I've dreamed of since I was a little girl. Ive always wanted to take care of people. And I'm just "crazy" enough to believe that God can and will do it for me. I would love to go for my RN one day, but not passing this LPN is so discouraging to me. But I will continue to keep striving for my ultimate goal, remain in prayer ðŸ™ðŸ½, and keep trusting and believing in God. Again, my dear congratulations to you! I'm so very very proud of you! 💪ðŸ½ðŸ™ŒðŸ½