I want to start by saying that I am so happy since I'm already an RN. After a 4 year hiatus, I FINALLY PASSED the NCLEX RN exam! With that said, I want to share to my fellow students how I passed the NCLEX RN exam.
Here's my story (I'll make it short and sweet):
-Graduated in May '08.
-Took it in July '08.
-Did not pass.
-Parents divorced and wife left me in Dec '08.
-Took it again in Feb '09.
-Did not pass.
-From Mar '09-Dec'11, I decided to take time off and just work to earn money.
-From Jan-May 28, 2012 I decided to study and take the exam again.
-Took the exam on May 30, 2012.
-Got my results in the BRN website today (6/2) that I passed!
As you guys can see, I really had gone through a lot in my life. The feeling I had after failing the NCLEX exam for the first time was really devastating. I cried and felt like not taking the exam again. The second time failing really had an impact on me since my parents divorced and my wife of almost 5 years left me for her co-worker. After almost 4 years of not taking the NCLEX RN exam, I regained my composure and decided to take the exam again this year. Took 5 months off and I started studying from January to May this year. Before I get to that, I want to say that I started praying a lot and dedicated to make God a part of my life. I prayed every day for the past 5 months asking for strength and the will to keep on studying. I also compiled a list on why I want to pass this time round. My list consisted of things like helping my brother go to school to become a Phyiscal Therapist, helping my dad with the mortgage, getting my gf her dream of FINALLY going to Disneyland (She has never been there and it was really her dream to go there). Also having a good support system helps. I have a wonderful family that encourages me that I can do it this time. My girlfriend is really supportive and was not pushy. I mean she did not force me to keep on studying. I'm just blessed to have found someone so caring and supportive in everything that I did. She also helped me financially on some of the study materials I needed (I'll mention them here).
Here's how I studied. It might not work for some, but it worked for me:
-Studied for 4 days sometimes 5 days a week. From 10PM-2:30AM. I really like a quiet environment so I made a point to study on those times.
Here were my review materials:
1. Saunders Comprehensive review edition 4 (The blue book): I read this book from cover to cover for the 5-month review. I used this book as my study guide. There's a new edition now, the yellow book. I advice you guys to get that one since it's the updated version. Cost: Around $40-$50 in Amazon.
2. Saunders Q&A review for the NCLEX RN examnination edition 4 (The orange book): I answered questions here since the Saunders Comprehensive review (blue book) only had around 15-20 questions per chapter. If I needed more questions to answer, I went to this book. Two days before the exam, I answered the comprehensive test and decided that if I got more than 75%, I was ready for the NCLEX exam. I averaged 77%. Cost: Around $40-$50 in Amazon.
3.Saunders Q&A review cards for the NCLEX RN exam: Good review material as well! 1000 questions total and there were a lot of Select all that apply (SATA) questions here. Took this with me whenever my gf and I go out. Read the cards when were waiting in line at Jamba juice, etc.
Cost: Around $50-$60 in Amazon.
4. La Charity: This book was EXTREMELY helpful! This helped me answer priority and delegation questions. After going through this book, I can say that answering priority and delegation questions were a lot easier this time round during the NLCEX exam. This book really honed my critical thinking skills as well.
Cost: $35 in Amazon.
5. Exam Cram: Looked at this book if I needed a "quick" review. By quick, I mean if I don't know something (let's say the 12 cranial nerves), this book has a quick review section of that. For the last week of my review, I took the two of those exams that were available in this book. The questions were quite tough as well.
Cost: $35-$45 in Amazon.
6. NCSBN online 3 week review: The questions here were similar to the way the NCLEX exam question were set up. VERY DIFFICULT questions, but worth it! These guys actually sets/makes the question for the NCLEX exam. Highly recommened.
Cost: $50
Day Before the Exam (5/29): Did not study at all on this day! I just relaxed and hang out with my family and girlfriend. Watched the NBA playoffs.
During the Exam (5/30): Prayed before taking the exam. Took a break after 2 hours of answering questions. Drank too much water after the first break so I decided to take a break again just after 30 minutes of answering questions. Process of elimination helped me a lot. I always narrowed every question to two choices. For the questions that I have no idea at all (trust me, you will see questions like that during the NCLEX exam), I asked helped from above to help me make the right choice.
After the exam: Went to the library (Which was very close to the testing center) after 45 minutes of taking the exam to try the pearson vue trick. Got the good pop up. Got my license today (6/2) when I checked the BRN website. Took me 3 days to see my results on the BRN website.
I hope this helped. Keep to your study schedule and don't give up even though you get low scores on the review. Don't forget to pray and take care of your health while reviewing. I mean exercise if you can and always tell yourself, I can do it. I can do it!
Good luck to those reviewing! Always think positive and believe in yourself.
If I can do it, so can you guys!
a_male_nurse
40 Posts
thank guys! i really want to share my story to inspire others not to give up.
thank you guys!
thank you and yes, your right! we definitely need faith to help us remain focused in whatever we are doing. being positive helped me a lot as well!
thank you and someone told me, everything happens for a greater reason. god is good, all the time. :)
here's a good verse from the bible:
[color=#333333]mathew 7:7
[color=#333333]ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
you can do it and i hope you'll pass your nclex exam as well! whenever you feel like giving up on studying, there's the list that will help you keep going.
i wish you all the best!