r/NCLEX

I graduated my ADN program on the 8th, got my authorization to test email from my state’s BON on Monday, and there was an opening for a test 2 hours away the next morning. I figured, what the heck, and scheduled it. I didn’t do any extra studying. I looked at some meds the night before and the antidotes, and looked back over therapeutic levels and critical values really quick, but I didn’t buy any extra resources and I really just listened to some free YouTube videos in the car the night before. I passed in 85 questions. All this to say, if you feel confident, go for it! don’t listen to the haters who try to knock down your confidence! Now I have 2 weeks to relax before I start my new job instead of thinking I need to study for the NCLEX every free moment of every day. :)

Disclaimer: I did pretty well in school and I’m usually a good test taker. I scored over an 1100 on my last two exit HESI exams, the one at the beginning of my last semester and the end. But if you’re doing well and you feel confident, don’t let anyone ruin that for you!

New update: I took my NCLEX-RN on May 9 and completed 145 questions out of the 150. During the exam, there was a technical issue where my computer shut down and I was moved to another station to continue testing and picked up exactly where I left off. No issues.
I waited a week with no quick results, I tried the PVT got the bad pop up but then I got a refund day later thinking I was okay. Turns out, I receive an email the next day saying my exam had a “technical issue” and they issued me a FAIR registration (free immediate retest). Another email mentioned “multiple restarts,” but from my understanding there was only one interruption.
I’m currently trying to appeal/escalate because I completed the exam and really do not want to retake it without at least understanding whether my exam was scorable or if my responses were recorded.
Has anyone experienced something similar?
Were you ever able to get results released?
Did the appeal go anywhere?
Or did they ultimately require a retake no matter what?
Just trying to understand possible outcomes right now. Please help!

Hi! I tested yesterday at 8am and still haven’t received my results yet. I’ve heard that Michigan BON typically is pretty quick with pushing licenses out though (same day results).

My exam turned off at 85q. I don’t want to try the Pearson trick because I’ve heard it’s not 100% accurate and will only make me more anxious lol.

Any other MI candidates going through the same thing right now?

My program requires us to complete the virtual ATI modules up to medical surgical just to pass our very last class, which is the 72hrs of practicum. My entire class did EVERY module so our lovely director could send out our NEV so we could get our ATT within 48 hours. From the time I finished VATI on May 1st through two days before I tested, I used Bootcamp. I took the NCLEX on Friday May 15th and passed in 85 questions.

When I used ATI and Bootcamp I didn’t just test to get an answer correct. I read EVERY rationale whether I got the question right or wrong. Sometimes I got an answer correct but the rationale was different from mine. Within Bootcamp I took advantage of the mini videos within the case studies to understand the rationales. Time to time I also reviewed the cheat sheets.

While in school, I used Simple Nursing, lecture recordings and ChatGpt to make sure I REALLY understood the content. As suggested, I used Simple Nursing BEFORE studying to cut down study time. I printed EVERY study guide that pertained to what content I was learning/studying and added notes to it while I wanted the fun videos. After each video, I did the practice exams.

During class I’d record the lectures and take notes on the pre-printed PowerPoints. After class I’d copy the transcript and upload it with the PowerPoint so ChatGpt could clean everything up and also catch things that I may have missed. Once everything is together, I’d listen to the lecture and go through the notes again. After so many lessons, ChatGpt already had a great idea of what I would be tested on and I’d go through practice questions with it. I DO NOT trust ChatGpt to get outside information for me because it isn’t always accurate. This helped me with school exams.

Taking my nclex today. More excited than I am nervous. Any last minute tips or words of advice ?

I took my NCLEX on Tuesday, April 28. I have accommodations (ADHD & dyslexia) for extra time (8 hrs), and I mentally prepared myself to take the full 150q I even bought snacks I can eat during my break. Once it stopped me at 85 questions, I just felt unsure, like I wouldn’t be surprised if I passed, but I also wouldn’t be surprised if I failed. It was a 50/50 for me. The questions were so VAGUE, like I knew they were going to be vague, but not that vague.

• What I used to study: First off, I want to say that I was mainly a B-average student. I did get a few As, but that's about it.
  • Mark K Lectures: I listened to ALL Mark K lectures. I found him funny and entertaining to listen to but some friends just couldn’t fathom listening to all 12 lectures. Everyone is different
  • Uworld: I paid for UWorld, which I kind of regret because I barely used it. I mostly used Kaplan.
  • KAPLAN: I had to use Kaplan for school, and did all phases. I watched all the videos in phase 2 and wrote notes (which felt like forever). I did one video per day. I didn’t finish all the tests in phase 3, but my scores were in the 60s, and I took the CAT 3 exam and got an above passing grade.
  • Simple Nursing NCLEX plan: I would watch the NCLEX lectures on topics I felt unsure about while getting ready or cooking (it felt like listening to a podcast). I looked over some videos on topics I had difficulty understanding. I used my friend's account, so I didn't pay for this. It is pricey, so I would recommend splitting the cost with friends and just sharing the account
  • Dr Sharron: I watched some of her videos

Final thoughts:
I felt like I used a lot of resources, which did overwhelm me. I regret purchasing UWorld because I mostly used Kaplan. On the NCLEX, I got a lot of priority/safe questions. I think the test just wants to know how safe you will be as a nurse. Anyways hope this helps and good luck! You got this 👍

Hi guys!
I just passed my NCLEX in 85 and only studied for about a week give or take. I left the center crying thinking I had for sure failed. Had bow tie, SATA, and probably 6 case studies. I was freaking out asking questions all around this subreddit, so if you have any comment below and I’ll do my best to answer!
Only programs I used were
- U World
- ATI (mandatory from my university)

Like the title says I took the NCLEX today and walked out feeling devastated. There was a lot of OB/peds content and I had not anticipated that. The test cut off at 85 questions but I did get the "good pop-up". What do we think the chances are that I passed?

I ran out of time on my exam. I was on question 121 and I am freaking out and crying because I don’t think I passed. I felt like I was guessing and the test was all over the place. Has this happened to anyone???

Hi all! I just got my ATT and need advice on scheduling. I am not a morning person and the only afternoon slot to take the test is at 1pm 6/1 locally or an hour away at 12pm on 6/10. I’d probably even get a hotel to spend the night the night before. My other option is to test on 6/1 or 6/10 at 8am. Would it be better to drive an hour away to test or should I bite the bullet and just get it over with and take it locally, or schedule it for 6/1 with only 14 days to study? I graduated May 8 and have given myself a break and haven’t started studying intensely yet. TIA!!

Questions were so hard and my questions are packed with prioritization and just 4 cases. I really thought maybe I'll fail. after 85, my screen says "error" I had to let them fix the error and after that it says that I've completed the exam and proceeded to survey. After the survey, I did not raise my hand I just cried in front of the computer. Results were supposedly out on Sunday 2 days after the exam but until Monday where my batchmates are being greeted and I did not receive a single email. Today, Tuesday I received my result and I PASSED! Do not give up. Pray and pray.

I've seen a lot of "I passed on attempt 3!" posts but not many that get into the specifics of why the first two attempts didn't work. So here's mine.

Attempt 1: I studied the content. Memorized labs, med classes, disease processes. Felt prepared. Got to the exam and froze on priority questions. I kept picking the answer that sounded most medical instead of the answer that addressed the most urgent problem. I didn't fail because I didn't know the content... I failed because I didn't know how to think through the question.

Attempt 2: I did more questions. Thousands. But I was reviewing answers by checking if I got it right, not by understanding why the wrong answers were wrong. I was building a false confidence. Same patterns, same mistakes, just more practice reps of the same errors.

What actually changed: I stopped treating missed questions as content gaps and started treating them as reasoning gaps. When I got something wrong I asked... was I missing information, or was I applying the right information in the wrong order?

That shift is what made attempt 3 different.

If you're retaking, the question isn't...

what do I need to study more.

It's...

what is my brain doing wrong at the moment of decision.

Anyone else find this was the real issue?

I just found out tonight that I didn't pass, and I finally got my Candidate Performance Report (CPR) back. I originally prepared with Bootcamp but unfortunately it didn't work out for me. A few of my classmates recommended switching over to UWorld, but money is really tight right now and I just don't have the funds to buy another study program. If anyone has a UWorld account they are finished with and would be willing to share, I would be incredibly grateful for the help.

Anything will help.