Week 1

I am a 2021 Graduate. I have taken the NCLEX three times. During school, I worked on the days I didn’t have school and in the mornings or afternoons to support my two children. I started school in June of 2018 (pre-Covid), and finished in April 2021 (post-Covid). Halfway through school, Covid hit. All classes and clinicals went to online only. This took a huge toll on me because I am a hands-on learner and visual learner. Once Covid was calmer, we went back to finish our clinicals, leaving me at just doing my role transitioning.

I believe I had trouble passing the NCLEX because of a few reasons. 

1. Anxiety (all I hear is my heartbeat and the clicking of the mouse everyone uses during the tests)

2. I struggle with diagnosis of Medsurg.

3. I struggle with Pharmacology.

4. I forget everything I know as soon as I sit down to start. 

Week 3

I believe my motivation comes from wanting to do better for my children. I’ve been a single mom for 14 years and it’s not always been easy. I just want to own my own home again and provide for my children without living paycheck to paycheck. I also have a deep passion for caring for others. I currently work with the elderly, and I absolutely cannot wait to get my RN license to do so. The way that you constantly remind us of important facts or ask us repeatedly questions we went over the night before helps so much!

This time, I am studying more by making flashcards, writing down things I don’t understand or have forgotten what they are and google them. I am also reading the references to my questions whether I have missed them or not. I will also prioritize my time better to make sure I am staying focused. I am not picking up extra hours during the week and do not plan to have a lot of activities going on. I have made a calendar for two special people in my life who are helping me out with my children in the afternoons I have online classes so I do not have to rush getting them from school or to and from practices. 

Week 4

I feel like passing the NCLEX is very achievable! I have been a single mom since 2009 and it’s always been a struggle. Graduating College was a huge success, and I am very proud of myself for it and I know my children are! So, when I have the credentials RN behind my name, I know my children will be even more proud! I will honestly probably cry and not know how to feel! I believe my studying and preparing for the NCLEX is improving! I have been highlighting important information that I read and you go over, as well as I started to make more flash cards. 

Since the start of the 6 weeks, I have progressed in building in more study time. I have been rewriting some of the things I am not getting to stick to re-enforce that information.

Week 5

The biggest obstacle I have been battling with is leaning on my family and friends to help so I have more time to study. It would be much easier if I knew my children were fed and actually watched. I am always thinking about my kids when I am studying. It is highly affecting my ability to do 50 questions a day. I am trying to get back on track. I have asked for more time off at work and they are working on decreasing my hours. I am thankful that my children are very patient with me when it comes to studying! I definitely need to get my butt in gear on doing the questions daily. I will admit that. 

Week 6

From day one, my anxiety has decreased tremendously over taking the NCLEX, again. The on-demand PasswithPass videos are the exact information you cover in class. It’s almost like Dejavu. I now know more information that I obtained from nursing school. It is nice to have these videos to look back on. I have learned many rationales to why things are the way they are with nursing. I have learned how to read the question and separate the things I need to know to answer correctly!

Taking this class has taught me several things. It is ok that I failed the test. The materials covered here are detailed and easy to understand. You provided us with great responses to any questions we had and were always willing to explain things we didn’t understand. 

Taking more time off from work, finding people to correctly take care of my children without worry, and dedicating the time to study has helped as well. I know I have not been fully dedicated to completing all the questions that we are recommended to do, but I have tried. Honestly, most of the time, I would fall asleep on my computer. I spent many, many hours studying and probably should have been doing more questions. 

Right now, I actually feel good about the NCLEX. I have the next 4 days off and am doing nothing but studying!! I am taking a small break on Saturday just to shoot guns and blow some steam off! Then I will be getting back to it! My anxiety that I have had the last three times I have tested was awful. Leading up to the test, I would break down. I kept putting it off and rescheduling but would not put in the work to do better when I finally did the test. I know now, that even with my busy life of working and raising my two children, that the work I have put into studying and doing questions and participating in class, I will do better! And if I don’t pass, I will try again! 

After passing the NCLEX

I am in absolute shock still from passing! I had three attempts prior. Getting my anxiety under control was the biggest challenge. Once I was able to do so, taking this class made things so much easier for me to grasp the information that I needed! 

At first, I was overwhelmed. I was working a full time job, raising 2 kids, going to football/cheer games 2-3 times a week plus practices and trying to find time to study, sleep and eat. It wasn’t easy but staying on top of yourself and doing the questions, reading the material (over and over), and making flash cards, really helped me through these 6 weeks. Nick and his generosity of believing in each and every one of us has also played a huge part in this. Whenever we felt down or not successful, Nick knew and would either facetime, call or message to check on us. To have an instructor who is not only good at the job but genuine as well, has really helped staying encouraged and motivated to complete the 6 weeks to pass the NCLEX and move forward with RN after our names! 

When it came down to the last week of class, I really struggled with confidence. I knew the material, but my anxiety was getting the best of me. I kept playing the scenario in my head that it was just going to be another “failed attempt.” Nick pounded it into our heads, “You can do this!” The biggest thing is you must want it enough and put the effort into it! My advice to anyone who is on the edge of signing up, is to just do it! You won’t regret it! Honestly, if I can do it, I think anyone could. I’ve not had the easiest road during these last 5 years. I started Nursing school in 2018, graduated in 2021, suffered through online classes and clinicals due to COVID-19, and graduated by drive through graduation. It was not only emotional, but it was tough altogether. Don’t wait to take your NCLEX. DO a review class, whatever fits your schedule! Don’t let the costs bother you, nurses make money every day! I got a credit card to pay for mine! I don’t regret it one bit! So just do it!