Took my NCLEX today

traumahawk99 · May 23, 2006

obviously, you passed :). i'd feel pretty good if i were in your shoes, which i hope to be in the next 10 days.

whatnext · May 24, 2006

I took my NCLEX this morning too, and it cut off at 75. I was hoping it would because it usually seems like a good sign, but the whole time taking the test I had no idea if I was answering correctly or not. I had tons of infection control, priority (of course), at least 5 select all that apply (uggh :confused: ), no calculations or any other alternate type questions. I'm relieved to have it done, but I'll be so upset if I didn't pass. :bluecry1: .

How often does someone fail with 75 questions? I know several of my classmates passed after 75 questions.

I guess we just have to try to relax for the next few days until we get the results. Of course, now I don't have an excuse for catching up with all my housework. Yuck!

manna, BSN, RN · May 24, 2006

Let me join the party! Ha!

I took NCLEX yesterday as well - in the afternoon. Got 75 questions, tons of infection control and prioritization.

I'm a nervous wreck! My state doesn't participate in quick results, either.

I'm probably one of the minority that failed miserably - there were drugs and syndromes on there I had never even heard of !

oneLoneNurse · May 24, 2006

Just finished the exam. It shut off at 75, NOT sure if

that is a good or bad sign. Seemed easier than I

thought it would be, BUT I could be wrong. Have been

wrong in the past.

Psych and delegation seemed to rule. One thing: I

wrote down on the paper they gave us lab values and

anything else I thought I would need like the resp

acidosis and alkolosis stuff. I didn't want to have to

figure that out later, because I thought that would

confuse me. So, you could remember a bunch of stuff in

short term memory and write it down. Calculations were

not there and anything I didn't know I guessed at and

let go of it. I noticed that you could always knock

off one choice easily. My buddy at work tells me that

alot of test takers hang on to their errors and that

clouds their focus on the next question.

NOW, waiting on pins and cushions to see the results.

I would bet that I did pass, BUT again not sure. Luckily the state of MD participates in the early results.

bahamabread · May 24, 2006

I took mine yesterday. I know I failed. 202 questions!!!!!!! I am soooo sick of hearing about the computer that shuts off at 75. There must be some people who are like me who did poorly and had soo many questions. I was GOOD until 120 questions then I began to get upset that it wasnt cutting off. After 180..............I knew I failed and I mentally gave up and just was soo tired of reading those questions. After 4 hours I was sick and tired and fustrated. I did get alot of infectious control at the end..........and alot of who to give what pt to. But I had meds I NEVER heard of! Some questions I HAD NOOO CLUE!! I was prepared for the questions and how to rationalize them.......... but not for how many I had and I think it was mentally hard to keep going knowing that you must not have been doing well. My confidence went to the floor and I just gave up even though I was reading and trying to rationalize...........I felt " whats the use,,,,,,,,,,,Im failing anyway. I wasnt prepared for that feeling or how to just stick it out no matter what. I guess I thought it would cut off before 125 or at least 150. I feel dumb, stupid and I do not think that this test is a good liscensing exam! The questions were form out of space! Too tricky at times and just..............anyway............Im rambling. I can not believe I have to go through this ridiculous exam again! I have been a nurse for 10 years and a damned good one. I worked with stupid nurses who are horrible and they passed with 75 questions. I guess I am just too dumb.

InnaL · May 24, 2006

I am taking Nclex in 2 weeks. At first, I schedule the exam on the 23d of May, but got scared and reschedule for the June 9th. Reading these post, I am getting very nervous about the test. I am a foreign educated nurse, and I had to take a CGFNS exam first in order to be admitted to take the NCLEX. I am using a Sounders book, and so far I am getting 70's and 80's. However, I never feel comfortable about the practice test until I finish and look at the results. I have a question about the infection control part. I am not asking to give me the question from the test, just what should I concentrate on?

bahamabread · May 24, 2006

I remember lots of droplet words being used. Study about when to use maks vs gowns vs gloves etc. Study those droplet diseases. I just remember alot of droplet words. But hey I failed so what do I know?

whatnext · May 24, 2006

bahamabread--don't count yourself out yet. my friend took the test sat and had 265 questions--she said she totally started freaking out after 100 questions and lost it after 200 and felt sure she failed. but she found out yesterday that she passed. are you an lpn? nurse from a different country? just curious.

innal--bahamabread said it pretty well. we don't all get the same questions, but i know it would of helped if i had studied what to wear for precautions for airborne, droplet, contact diseases--mask (what kind), gloves, gown, etc. i thought i knew it, but it didn't seem like it on the test. i didn't have the saunders book, but i hear it's pretty good. did you see the sticky at the top of the page of posts from suzanne4? i didn't see it until the day before my test, so i didn't study that way, but it seems it's helped a lot of people to study that way if you take a look around this forum. i think she even has tips for foreign nurses/students somewhere. take a look around.

here is a tip from the thread "first tip of my new study guide" by suzanne4 (if you read further into this thread she has a whole study guide that she will email you if you pm her with your email address if you wish to have it. i think it's suppose to be a 6 week study guide. i wish i had known about it sooner. sounds like she has good tips.)

"first tip of my new study guide

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

this is to get you started in the preparation for taking the nclex exam, whether it is for the rn or the pn version.

the actual program that i designed is six weeks long and is based on the questions from the cd of the saunder's comprehensive review for the nclex-rn or pn.

if you have been out of school for more than 16 months, or have not passed the exam with more than two attempts, please start here to prepare yourself for the next part. and this is especially for foreign-trained nurses who wish to work in the us.

start with using the book, do the questions at the end of the chapter, if you get at least 75% correct without using the book for review, then you are set to go onto the next chapter, and repeat the same process. if at anytime you get a lower score, then take the time to read that chapter in its entirety.

for any areas that you do not feel comfortable with, or did not see in your program, or feel that you need a good review of that subject, the book is excellent as a resource for you. you need to feel comfortable with the material, that is the goal of my program.

hope that this helps many of you get started........................

the first tip uses the book only, do not use the cd for this, it will not work."

just try to stay calm during the test because it really kicks your butt and can freak you out. i've heard some people say they thought it was easy, but i sure didn't. i got a's in all but 2 classes in nursing school but still felt like i hardly knew anything for sure on the test. not trying to make you more anxious, but i don't really know how you can be totally prepared for the nclex. you learn to prioritize in school, about all these meds and diseases, etc., but they can't teach you everything, even if you could remember every bit of it. i think practicing questions is one of the best ways to prepare--you learn how to eliminate certain answers, think through the question, look for clues.

sorry this is so long. good luck!

bahamabread · May 24, 2006

thanks.......................................I still feel dumb though. I just want to see my results so I can stop guessing and plan my next steps. This sort of puts my life on hold

whatnext · May 24, 2006

I was just trying to edit my last post. Still waiting....

manna, BSN, RN · May 24, 2006

So frustrating! the waiting is killing me! :)

I keep checking the state BON licensure site, hoping my name will pop up. Nope - my name isn't there at all, not even as "pending" (like some of my classmates were even before school was out)! Waah!