My NCLEX is tomorrow at 10am. I know I'm supposed to relax today but I totally can't! I keep thinking about possible test topics and then I have to read up on that topic!! I know it's impossible to know everything and I don't think anyone ever really feels ready, but I am convinced I'm gonna get a bunch of questions about obscure diseases and drugs I've never heard of!

Just venting really!

Wish me luck ?

Good luck!

I wish I could give you some advice but I'm in the same situation too! LOL! My test is on Monday and I haven't been able to get a decent sleep due to anxiety ?

Maybe try to distract yourself by doing something that you like? ?

Good luck!

Here ya go. You probably already know a lot of this (if you do, scroll down to #4) but maybe someone else doesn't.

Whatever resource you use to study, make sure it gives you the rationales for why the wrong choices are wrong as well as the right ones, right. This is where most people fall down-- they pick an answer that is factually true but is not the best answer for the situation as it would be assessed by a good RN.

NCLEX items are developed in part from knowing what errors new grads make and how. They tend to be of two kinds: inadequate information, and lack of knowledge (these are not the same thing). The goal of NCLEX is to pass candidates who will be acceptably SAFE in practice as NURSES. So-- they want to know what the prudent NURSE will do.

1) When confronted c 4 answers, you can usually discard 2 out of hand. Of the remaining two,

-- always choose the answer that (in priority order) makes the patient safer or gets you more information. "Can you tell me more about that?" "What do you know about your medication?" "What was the patient's lab result?"

-- NEVER choose the answer that has you turf the situation to another discipline-- chaplain, dietary, MD, social work, etc. It's often tempting, but they want to know about what the NURSE would do. See "always..." above.

2) "Safer" might mean airway, breathing, circulation; it might mean pull the bed out of the room and away from the fire; it might mean pressure ulcer prevention; or improving nutrition; or teaching about loose scatter rugs ... Keep your mind open. It might also mean "Headed down a better pathway to health." For example, while telling a battered woman who has chosen not to leave her partner that "studies show that he will do it again" is factually true (and that's why this wrong answer is often chosen), the better answer is to acknowledge that you hear her choice to stay and say "now let's think of a plan to keep you safe." This doesn't turn her off from listening to you, so she will trust you, acknowledges her right to choose, and helps her along a path to better safety.

3) Read carefully. If they ask you for a nursing intervention answer, they aren't asking for an associated task or action which requires a physician prescription (what some people call "orders," though we are trying to get away from that ? ). So in a scenario involving a medication, the answer would NOT be to hang the IV, regulate it, or chart it; it would not be to observe for complications. You would do all those things anyway as part of delivering the medical plan of care. The answer WOULD be to assess pt knowledge of the med/tx plan and derive an appropriate patient teaching plan. Only that last one is nursing-independent and a nursing intervention.

Again, they want NURSING here.

4) The day before the test, do not study. Research shows that your brain does not retain crap you stuff into it at the last minute-- musicians learning a new piece play the first part on Monday, the second part on Tuesday, and the third part on Weds. Then they do something else entirely on Thursday; meanwhile, behind the scenes, the brain is organizing the new info into familiar cubbyholes already stuffed with music, putting it ready for easy access. On Friday, the whole piece works much better.

What this translates for in test-taking land is this: The day before the test, you go to a museum or a concert, go take a hike, read a trashy novel, make a nice ragout, do something else entirely. Take a small glass of wine, soak in a nice hot bath in a darkened tub with a few candles on the sink, get a nice night's sleep.

5) On your way out the door, open your refrigerator. Read the mayonnaise jar and do what it says: Keep cool, do not freeze. You'll ace it, you good student, you!

Good luck!

I took the day before the test off as a rest and relax day.

The day before I went out to breakfast with a good friend and had a great time just visiting with her. It had been a long time since the last time we were just able to sit and chat all we wanted. The only rule was no talk of anything remotely close to NCLEX, tests, nursing school, looking for a job, student loans etc hahaha.

I did some errands, got a mani/pedi with my best friend. Me and my husband and daughters went out to and early dinner, caught a movie and went home. Again no talk of the above mentioned subjects

We got home and I gathered together all my needed paperwork for the NCLEX, put it with my ID and the directions to the testing facility and put that on the passanger seat of my car so I would not forget it at home. Took a nice long shower, got in comfy jammies and plopped on the couch with my husband watching mindless tv and had a 2 glasses of wine . The wine made me sleepy and off to bed I went

Slept for about 1 hr 45 minutes and then the sleepiness wore off and I tossed and turned most of the night, wide awake with all kinds of crazy things going through my head. But I was up on time (because I never slept), tested and passed!

Best of luck to you all. Try to do something that will lesson the stress your feeling.

GrnTea just posted exactly what I did as i was typing it up haha

Thanks guys! Especially GrnTea :)

I'm sure I know enough to pass, I just want it over with already! I came from the UK, I've already been a nurse for 4 years, my husband stayed in the AF an extra year so I could sort all of this out. All of this is adding to my anxiety.

I think I'll go and get some ice cream :)

I had a nice, long, hard workout at the gym the evening before!

Everyone says relax the day before. I think that's BS, because there's no possible way. I find that time not used is time wasted. I literally studied up until the time I walked in and passed with 75 Qs. However, I will say a good practice I found to rid myself of nervous energy I would hit the gym after studying each day and either lift weights or run it out of me. Hitting the heavy bag works great too. This will help you get a great night's sleep and give you endurance if you happen to be sitting there for a bit longer than anticipated.

I got a wonderful light massage the day before my NCLEX.

I washed my hair and painted my nails in the evening. During the day I didn't do any questions, only reviewed content.

BriManRN said:

I got a wonderful light massage the day before my NCLEX.

Oooooh, I love that idea!