r/NCLEX

All glory be to God!! I couldn’t have done it without Him, seriously!

About 2 months ago, I failed my first NCLEX attempt in 90 questions. I was devastated, blindsided, felt unworthy, and the list goes on. I came out of the test thinking I passed and thought it was “easy”…that should’ve been my first sign. I never thought it would be possible to fail in 90 because it was so unheard of.

I asked God, “Why me?!” I had studied for a whole month, was unemployed, finished a hard 5 semesters of nursing school.

The next day, a loved one had said to me, “Maybe God is testing your faith?”…that really hit me. In that moment, it was inexplainable, but I knew that that was a HUGE reason as to why I failed.

Of course I blamed myself and felt down on myself. I felt stupid. I was going down a rabbit hole of what I should’ve done. I felt embarrassed and guilty failing, especially in front of the people I care about most. I just recently moved, and I was stressed about having enough savings to keep me going until I started my job. I didn’t even tell my cohort friends because I did not want to hear their pity. I felt so useless and wasteful.

So, I took a 2-3 week break. I got off social media (highly recommend), spent time with the people I love, moved into my new apartment, decorated, and prepared myself to start the study grind again.

The first time, I used Archer. I took readiness assessments everyday, a couple cat exams, and listened to Mark K. I scored “Very high” on all my exams, thinking I was in the clear. DO NOT rely on a score, no matter what platform you are using. It does NOT define you. With that, I felt kinda betrayed by Archer. I didn’t read the rationales, which is something I regret and highly, highly recommend doing. That part was definitely on me. But overall, I feel like Archer was nowhere near the NCLEX. The NCLEX was vague and Archer in my opinion was not.

The second time, I used UWorld and Bootcamp. HIGHLY recommend. After I got my CPR report, I looked at the areas I scored “Below passing”. Reduction of risk potential, Psychosocial integrity, and Physiological adaptation were the 3 lowest scoring. The rest were either above or near the passing standard. I used Claude to help me develop a test plan for about 4 weeks up until I took my exam. It had me practice and review each system, and focus on the areas I scored below passing. It gave me filters to use to adapt to each Q-bank on UWorld.

I borrowed someone’s UWorld account and used it for the Q-bank, bless them🙏🏽. I bought Bootcamp and used it mainly for their case studies. Those case studies are almost exactly how they are on the NCLEX.

I took one assessment exam on UWorld because that was all that was available for me since I was using someone’s account, and I did one CAT exam. I also took one readiness exam on Bootcamp and did a couple practice questions from their q-bank as well. On the UWorld assessment, I scored a very high chance of passing. On the CAT exam, I scored a 78 with a 1.3 difficulty in the 99% percentile. On UWorld, I scored between 60s-mid 70s on all the q-bank tests using the tutor mode. I varied about 60-75 questions a day. They’re hard! But they really help you understand the content. They have the BEST rationales. Read. Every. Rationale. Even the ones you get right.

I also listened to a bunch of Dr. Sharon, re-listened to some of Mark K’s lectures, and watched the 7-Day NCLEX Crusade program on YouTube my last week before the exam. They are all AMAZING sources and I highly suggest using everyone.

I believe I would have been just fine using Bootcamp, but I realized I needed to brush up on content more and UWorld was very helpful for that. Bootcamp is vague just like the NCLEX and I loved it for that. If you don’t want to use two platforms, you don’t have to! Bootcamp also has great crash course videos. Use whichever matches your area of weakness.

I really want to emphasize the importance of prayer during this journey. I would not have made it through without our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! I could go on and on about how I know that this was meant to be my outcome. It’s so evident in the way my life circumstances panned out. Even though it sucked failing!!

If you’re going to take your exam for the first, second, third, fourth, heck even eighth time, just know YOU ARE GOING TO BE A NURSE! Tell yourself that every single day no matter how hard it is. Positive affirmation will get you so far. Don’t doubt yourself, go with your gut, take deep breaths, and focus on YOU and that dang exam! You got this!! I pray this enlightens your outlook on the NCLEX, or even your walk with God.

I’m here to help and answer any questions needed!🤗

I am taking the NCLEX in October and am consistently getting low to mid 70 percentages on my practices. If I keep doing full lengths and study with a consistent schedule, will this be enough for me to pass in October? Thanks 🙏🏼

https://preview.redd.it/4es5pm4h4dkh1.jpg?width=1179&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=affe3763be66f0fc47f3cc3f43f51baf6345a2f0

I’m a long time lurker and I have just found out I failed my nclex for the second time and plan to take it after the mandatory 45 days. My first time I used uworld and utilized all the questions and cat exams and i got the mandatory scoring and failed first time.
Second time I did the study schedule and used up all of the bootcamp q banks and I do feel like it was very similar to the nclex. I got highs on all of my readiness exams and didn’t pass the second time. For both the times I used the lecture 12 mark k lectures and used the prioritization dr Sharon YouTube videos alongside nclex crusade and I just don’t know what I’m missing. I think I’m gonna stick with bootcamp again because I thought it was super helpful and was the closest to the vagueness of the nclex.
Just looking for some advice or tips and tricks on how to approach the third time around and if anyone could share what they done to pass if they’ve taken the nclex multiple times that would be very helpful.

I’m so happy

What I Did to Prepare for the NCLEX — I Passed! 🎉😭
I PASSED MY NCLEX!!! 🥹🎉 After failing my first attempt, I wanted to share exactly what I did differently the second time because I know how discouraging that first “fail” can feel.
First, I stopped trying to memorize everything. I used Archer 75% of the qbank! I focused on understanding why the answer was correct and, more importantly, why the other answers were wrong.
📝 The biggest thing I changed
I stopped studying from a place of fear.
After failing, I was terrified that it would happen again. But eventually I realized I couldn’t walk into that testing center thinking, “I hope I pass.”
I had to walk in thinking:
“I am prepared. I know how to think like a nurse. I am going to take this one question at a time.”
And that’s exactly what I did.
I also prayed HARD. 🙏🏽❤️ Before my exam, I reminded myself that I had already done the work, and I trusted God with the outcome.
I ended up making it through 136 questions this time.
And when I found out I PASSED… 😭😭😭
After everything—the first failed attempt, the anxiety, the long study days, and all the times I questioned myself—I PASSED.
If you’re preparing right now and you failed before, please don’t let that first result convince you that you can’t do this.
Change your strategy. Learn from the first attempt. Practice how to THINK, not just what to memorize.
Your first result does NOT have to be your final result. ❤️
RN. 🩺✨
God did it. 🙏🏽

I heard you can look it up under your states board of nursing website before 48 hours

Idk what to do at this point or what im not understanding. I focused on weak spots and strategy but every qbank feels way too detailed compared to the nclex i need vague and difficult banks. any tips for what now:/?

NCLEX Bootcamp 85-125 questions a day for 2 weeks straight . Watched the videos & did the questions that followed after on the topics that aren't my strong suit .
Case Studies - do as many as you can & understand the comparison ones with the different diagnosis & similar symptoms
Kaplan CAT exams - See where you are . I scored below average on 2/3 . I only did those 2 .
Read the rationales & understand & connect the dots .
Mark K Lectures - I listened to them all . #12 I listened to at least 10x . I took the day off before my test & listened to it at least 5x on that day . The Labs Lecture & OB Maternity & Psych & Pysch Meds .
I didn't have many delegation or priorities in my opinion , or if I did it wasn't anything too hard .

I turned off my timer & # of questions & just took my time reading the questions to myself & writing down key words . made sure to look for words that showed the patient is unstable as a priority .

SATA - I know under-selected honestly but I made sure to choose only want I knew for sure .

ABC's - Safety

Physiological > Psych unless the patient is in danger

Maternity & Psych & Endo heavy !!!

Kosher Diet
Thyroidism
Schziophrenia
BPD
Bipolar Disorder
Ruptured Membranes
NMS
Preeclampsia/Eclampsia
Anti-infectives
C. Diff
Measles & Mumps Vaccinations
New Born Injections -Emycin & Vit K
Bleeding precautions
Aspirin & Plavix
PCI Post Procedure
Pacemakers
Varicella Vaccine !!!
Graves Disease
Cushing's Disease
Pneumonia
Bulima
Hypokalemia
Skin Lesions & Rashes
PPROM
HELLP

Just got out of the testing center…I’m genuinely so scared I don’t know what to do I feel like the questions were easy but I just didn’t know them. I don’t know how to feel
I feel nauseous
I’m so scared damn