So I decided I really didn't want to study for the NCLEX. When I heard you can just take it again, I thought: brilliant. I'll just give it a shot and see if I can do it. If not, I'll disillusion myself of what the test is not and I'll study a bit each day for the next month or so.
Luckily, I don't need to be working right this second, and I'm not in an embarrassing situation where employers are waiting on me to pass.
Wondering if anyone else decided to give it a whirl without studying.
My experience today:
I started out thinking, "Hey, these aren't so bad. Not so bad at all." But by question 50 I was quite ready to be done.
I have a hard time staying interested in tests. Mostly, I think, because they don't scare me, and they certainly don't interest me. I simply find them boring.
Having heard the test could end at question 75, I had high hopes. Real high hopes. These soon turned out to be hopes made of wishful thinking. Question 76 arrived. Then 77...99...110....150...180...I soon realized the test was on to me and I wouldn't be let go until I'd received every delicious question it had to offer.
Around question 240 I seriously just wanted to walk away, it was becoming so tedious. 265. Finally. Test ended. Whew. That's a lot of questions if you're not used to that kind of question load. Took me five hours. I didn't take any breaks because I didn't want to run out of time.
I've since learned you can run out of time and it will just look at your last 60 questions. I also learned that there is no way for the test taker to know whether he/she passed based on how many questions they received.
While I doubt I passed, I honestly have no idea. The fact is, the test kept giving me questions...so I was hovering somewhere around certainty--either just below, or just above. It was basically five hours of guessing.
Oh well. I'll either be very pleased I don't have to study for that test, or I'll frown for a second, laugh, and start going over some questions (and memorizing some lab values, etc.). I think I'd start with that "random fact" thread, only because it seems way more fun to read than actual practice questions.
But if I DID pass, I think it would be really funny. I think the ability to retake the test in 45 days is so generous. I wish I'd just taken the test right away, after graduating, instead of vacationing for a few weeks doing nothing. Then I could be even closer to my second test date. I'm telling my fellow students (who can afford the testing fee x 2) to just take it now and see if they manage--again, if they can afford the time off/fees.
Different strokes for different folks.
Oh yeah--I also had a classmate do this today. We just decided to do it the other day and signed up for the first available test. She scored a 75 (argh, so lucky to be done so quickly, either way) and was out of there.
I LOVE your attitude. It is a refreshing change from the many posts that are seen here. I let my license lapse awhile ago and now want to return to nursing. I have a rather unique situation. I don't need to work. I am on SS disability for two hip replacements but that money but doesn't pay all the bills. So sometime in the future the money will run out (won't cover all the bills).
So I am retaking the boards. I took these silly things 30 yrs ago when they were held over 2 days with pencil and paper.
I haven't practiced since 1992 but some things you just never forgot after you have done them over and over.
So I have been doing Suzanne's plan, well I have deviated, I have been studying for the last 2 months. So wish me luck.
are you taking the RN or the VN because for the Rn you can check it like in 2 or 3 days but for the VN you have to wait for least a month. i hope you pass
velardelynch - i'd get a kick out of knowing as well. i checked the CA BON. no signs yet.
jnjbnr - it was the NCLEX RN exam. not sure if you're talking about CA or not. CA doesn't do the 3-day quick results, but i hear u can see ur results on the BON site (basically whenever they get around to processing/posting it)
hi algernon yeah im from california anyways of my experienced from my husband he checked it online and his name was there. 2 days hehehehehehe for the regular mail you have to wait at least 2 weeks yeah we waited for his RN licensed to arrived. hehehehhe
Algernon, wow I wish I could have been so relaxed!!!:chuckle Love the attitude though. As for me I was debating between needing to wear depends or bringing in a puke bucket ( I was a little nervous ):chuckle . I can't wait to hear your results. Good luck!:loveya:
Melinurse - That makes me laugh. I remember when my ex took her LSAT (exam to get into law school). She actually took depends to the exam (and if I remember correctly, she used them). This is COMMON among LSAT test takers, I've heard. I've talked to others who buy some device (I think it's called the "stadium pal") that's like a condom cathether thing.
I like it when people can laugh at their fear, or the test--it's when you lose your sense of humor that you're probably in trouble.
Thanks for the support! I never imagined there'd be so many cool, supportive people I've never even met on allnurses. It's actually much more cool to be part of this big nursing gang than I ever thought it would be.
Well, Algernon, we nurses ARE a pretty cool group...I take my NCLEX on Thursday...I think I'm more relaxed than I should be at this point because I'm either going to pass or fail and I'm not sure studying at this point will even help. I am only worried about losing a job if I fail...what is meant to happen will happen though....
Well, Algernon, we nurses ARE a pretty cool group...I take my NCLEX on Thursday...I think I'm more relaxed than I should be at this point because I'm either going to pass or fail and I'm not sure studying at this point will even help. I am only worried about losing a job if I fail...what is meant to happen will happen though....
i'd get a kick out of knowing as well. i checked the CA BON. no signs yet. 
this smoking icon is funny
iloveclay
98 Posts
I LOVE your attitude. It is a refreshing change from the many posts that are seen here. I let my license lapse awhile ago and now want to return to nursing. I have a rather unique situation. I don't need to work. I am on SS disability for two hip replacements but that money but doesn't pay all the bills. So sometime in the future the money will run out (won't cover all the bills).
So I am retaking the boards. I took these silly things 30 yrs ago when they were held over 2 days with pencil and paper.
I haven't practiced since 1992 but some things you just never forgot after you have done them over and over.
So I have been doing Suzanne's plan, well I have deviated, I have been studying for the last 2 months. So wish me luck.