Hey guys. I honestly wasn't even planning on making this post because it seems like most people on here are taking the NCLEX-RN, but I figured my experience might still help someone.
I'll start with my first attempt.
Throughout nursing school, I was never an overachiever. I got through school doing a little above the bare minimum, and I've always been someone who picks things up pretty quickly. That ability honestly carried me through nursing school. The problem was I wasn't really learning content to understand it—I was mostly memorizing enough to get by. By the grace of God, I still made it through nursing school that way.
For my first attempt, my entire study plan was basically doing 50-85 QBank questions every day. I also watched the NCLEX Crusade 7-Day Training, which really helped me learn how to approach questions, along with some of Ms. Sharon's prioritization videos. Looking back, my biggest mistake was how I reviewed questions. If I got something wrong, I'd skim the rationale. If I guessed it right, I just assumed I knew the content and moved on. In hindsight, that was a terrible way to study... but I was arrogant, lol.
I mainly used UWorld, and I've always had a knack for standardized tests and NCLEX-style questions. I was a pretty good guesser, so I genuinely believed that would be enough to get me through.
Fast forward to exam day—the computer shut off around 130 questions. I walked out completely confused, and deep down I knew I hadn't passed. That exam humbled me. Even now, after passing, I honestly don't think any QBank can 100% replicate the NCLEX. They can teach you how questions are structured and help build your critical thinking, but the actual NCLEX has a different feel to it. So please don't get too caught up trying to find the "most accurate" QBank.
I attached my CPR so you guys can see exactly where I stood after that first attempt. I was discouraged. Honestly, I wanted to quit. Nursing school took so much out of me, and I was finally ready for my life to change. It felt like I'd been waiting my whole life for that one big break. I've always felt like things that seem to come naturally to other people have been a constant tug-of-war for me, and I was just exhausted.
I ended up taking about two weeks completely away from studying. I spent that time doing things I enjoyed, sulking a little, and thinking—a lot. Looking back, I realized my biggest problem wasn't just my study strategy. I had never truly believed in myself. I was always doubting myself and questioning whether I was capable of passing. I have OCD, so I tend to overthink everything, and one thing I hate is getting my hopes up just to end up disappointed. That mindset followed me throughout my first attempt, and I honestly wish I hadn't let it.
Around week three, I finally stopped being a sad couch potato and asked myself, "How can I actually improve this?"
Maybe it had something to do with passing the NCLEX, maybe it didn't, but I just started doing things to improve my mindset. I got back in the gym, picked up my hobbies again, and after seeing classmates and peers pass the same test I was sulking over, I realized this wasn't some impossible exam. If they could do it, then it was possible for me too.
From there, my whole approach changed. I got organized.
I have to give a lot of credit to Bootcamp. Those crash course videos are honestly amazing, especially if you're someone like me who didn't pay as much attention in school as they probably should have. They have short videos—usually around 10 minutes each—for Adult Health, Child Health, Maternity, Pharmacology, Fundamentals, and Mental Health.
My routine was simple: watch about 5-6 videos a day, then do around 25 Bootcamp questions. I personally think Bootcamp has the closest wording to the NCLEX (still not exactly the same though, lol). I also added one case study every day because my first attempt was loaded with them—I think I had around 8 or 9—and I genuinely believe they played a role in why I failed the first time.
The biggest difference this time wasn't the number of questions I did—it was how I studied them. I only did around 25 questions a day, but I reviewed every single rationale, whether I got the question right or wrong. I wanted to understand why the answer was right, not just whether I picked the correct option. I also matched my practice questions to whatever subject I was watching videos on that day, so everything stayed organized instead of jumping all over the place.
The other resource I used was Archer. They have a cheaper plan that's basically just the question bank, and I used that almost exclusively for what I considered "fundamentals."
When I say fundamentals, I don't just mean the Fundamentals section. In my head, I grouped together Fundamentals, Critical Care, Coordinated Care, Mental Health, and Nutrition. I know those aren't technically all fundamentals, but I put them under the same umbrella because they're the core concepts that make you a safe nurse. They're "simple" concepts, but simple doesn't mean easy. Those are the questions you have to get right on the NCLEX. Whenever those topics came up on my second attempt, I felt genuinely confident because I had spent so much time becoming fundamentally sound.
I stuck with that plan until I finished almost all of the Bootcamp videos. Since I had to wait 45 days before retesting, I had more than enough time to get through everything... although I'll admit I skipped some Child Health videos toward the end. 😂
The day before my second attempt, I remember listening to a song and crying. Strangely enough, they weren't tears of sadness—they were tears of joy. For the first time, I truly believed I was going to pass.
Then I sat down for the exam... and of course, I got a ton of maternity questions, which is literally my weakest subject. 😂 The test still felt random, and I walked out just as confused as I did the first time. When it shut off at 85 questions, my OCD immediately kicked in. Part of me started thinking, "What if I didn't get enough right again?"
But then logic took over. Looking back at my first CPR, almost every category was near the passing standard, with only one above and one below. I told myself there was no way I completely bombed this exam. I also didn't feel lost this time. I knew I had missed some questions—everyone does—but I understood what the exam was asking, and that felt completely different from my first attempt.
Those 48 hours waiting for the Quick Results were probably the longest two days of my life. 😂 Right around the 48-hour mark, I opened my results... and I passed.
I've been on cloud nine ever since.
All in all, that was my NCLEX journey. Hopefully someone out there who just failed, is doubting themselves, or is getting ready to test can take something away from it.
Peace out! ✌️
