I Felt Like I Failed- But I Actually Passed!

I want to share my NCLEX journey because I know how hard and stressful it can be. Like many of you, I walked out of my exam feeling like I had failed. But to my surprise, I passed!

As a foreign-educated nurse, I knew I had to work hard to prepare. I used Saunders to build my basic knowledge, Mark Klimek’s lectures for tips on priorities and delegation, Naxlex (my favorite) for Nclex-specific review, and Simple Nursing for quick, focused study sessions. I listened to Mark Klimek’s lectures on repeat and used charts and visuals to help me understand topics I struggled with.

On exam day, I was super nervous. The exam felt tough, and I kept doubting myself. When it stopped at the minimum number of questions, I panicked. I thought, Did I do so badly that it ended early? That thought stayed in my mind until I got my results.

The next 48 hours were a torture. I kept replaying the exam in my head, convinced I had failed. But then I got the email saying I passed! I couldn’t believe it,it felt unreal.

If I’ve learned one thing, it’s to trust the process. The exam is meant to be hard, so even if you feel like you’re failing, don’t give up. Focus on your weak areas,in my case, that was pediatrics and med-surg... study those carefully. Take breaks so you don’t burn out and find ways to relax your mind. Most importantly, believe in yourself.

To anyone getting ready for Nclex feeling unsure is normal. Trust your preparation and don’t give up.