PASSED NCLEX WITH 265 QUESTION WITH THE FIRST TAKE

NCLEX: recent graduates fear it and they shouldn't! This is their final but BIGGEST step towards getting that professional license. Every nurses know it is hard. BUT. YOU. SURVIVED. NURSING SCHOOL and you will pass this. This is another exam you will just have to be very well-prepared to take by using the right review materials and using the best test taking strategies.

I just recently passed my NCLEX last October 21, 2016 and I want to share my experience with other RN's-to-be who are about to take the exam. Before and after I took the exam, I was very anxious and I kept searching the internet for forums about the NCLEX, how long did they took the exam, what were the right review materials they used and the number of questions the computer shut down.

Luckily, though I would not say all people can say this, but I found comfort in knowing that even if the computer let you take the whole exam, you still have a big chance of passing. I want the soon-to-be-nurses to know that it is just a MYTH when people tell you that you have failed if you finished the 265 questions. That is a definite NO.

I graduated last April 2016. I took my nursing school in the Philippines but I did not take the local boards. Two months after I graduated, I moved back to Houston, TX and I started my review for the NCLEX. I put myself in a lot of pressure during my first month of reviewing because I did not just want to pass the exam but I *needed* to pass it badly.

"The right materials"

Photo not mine, credits to Uworld

One of the review materials that helped me ALOT was Uworld (Hey, free advertisement! Just kidding) and alot of nurses I know who passed the NCLEX their first take also highly recommends Uworld NCLEX-RN QBank.

Photo not mine, credits to Uworld

Taking the NCLEX felt like doing questions on Uworld, I swear. Not only are the questions very helpful to build up your test-taking strategies but also the "rationale" or explanations as we call it are what helped me the most to understand the concepts of each topics in the question. So make sure not to skip those explanations. The pricing list are here and I would recommend getting the 60-day Qbank. Two months of Uworld was definitely enough for me to practice and focus only on reviewing. A 30-day Qbank, in my opinion, will not be sufficient for you to answer 1000+ questions and develop your test-taking strategies. During my first month I always get 30-40% and if you are getting that too then don't fret because the last 2 weeks of my subscription I was getting 80% above. You will see your progress! 

La Charity's Prioritization, Delegation and Assignment 

You can purchase it online and do your practice questions online or you can have your hard copy delivered to you. It is available in Amazon if you click here. This helped me with prioritizing and delegating which as you know is SO IMPORTANT in nursing. You have to get this. It will help you. Once you take your NCLEX and see a prioritization/delegation questions, it will just be easy peasy for you to answer it because this will help you not only practice but to MASTER the art of delegating and prioritizing!

The day before my exam..

Actually, even a week before my exam it was already nerve-wrecking. Everyone that knew I was about to take the exam told me to relax a day before my exam. Go watch a movie, eat and indulge myself. But that is not what happened. I had my favorite company to be with visit me just two days before my scheduled exam date and we both made sure I was relaxed but on the night before my exam, I could not help but to peek through my notes and some formulas (because I am not good at math). That's okay if you do that, too. It is okay to do whatever you want as long as it takes your anxiety away. Speaking of anxiety, you are going to have ALOT of it a day before your exam. Just be prepared! Have everything you need for your exam day ready which is an identification card and snacks, if you must.

NCLEX DAY!!!

I was scheduled to take my exam at 8 in the morning. I woke up at 4 am, fixed myself up because it helps if you look, good you will feel good! I ate a good breakfast and make sure to avoid greasy food.  To avoid traffic, make sure you leave your house an hour and a half early. Pearson vue testing centers requires you to be there 30 minutes before your exam time. I was there an hour early so I had the chance to relax myself, condition myself and PRAY. 

I finished all 265 questions. 

I was truly hoping that my computer will shut down at 75 questions but it did not. 150 questions down and it still was not shutting down. In my mind, I really think I was going to fail. I had so much SATA (Select All That Apply) questions and yes, I counted them. In total, I got 16 SATA, 1 computation. 200 questions down and this time my mind is just too exhausted. It gave me hard question then easy question and I was sure enough, I failed. I expected to finish at 265 and I did. By the time I fulfilled and submitted the survey, I was about to go home and sleep... forever. Just kidding.

After taking the NCLEX, I felt sick to my stomach. I was already thinking about retaking the exam. 

"Where will I get the $200 from?" "I'd have to study for another 2 months!!!" "I just want to work."

My mom and boyfriend picked me up and I bawled my eyes out as soon as I got into the car. We went straight to visit our local church and I prayed very hopefully. We got some lunch and the excruciating pain of waiting begins... 

THE WAITING GAME BEGINS

Pearsonvue Quick Results lets you pay $7.95 to access your "unofficial" results 48 hours after taking your exam. For those who just can't wait for weeks for their results like me, you can use this.

Your official results which is from Board of Nursing will be delivered to you by mail after 3-6 weeks.

I PASSED!!!!

I waited for two days, did the Quick Results, and saw that I passed. I couldn't believe it at first because I really thought I did bad. Never underestimate the power of positivity and prayers. :-)

"With determination, hard work and prayers, anything you want will be yours." - Micah Suarez, BSN, RN