[MikeyBSN]

I took the NCLEX on 2/7/06 and passed! Here is basically what I did:

First I studied for about 2 weeks at the start of December for the HESI. I took the HESI in the middle of December and did well on it. I took a little break for a few weeks then started studying for the NCLEX at the end of the 2nd week in January. First I went over all the basics, I knew all my lab values, what caused different diseases and the S/S of the diseases (including considtions like metabolic acidosis). After I had the basics down I did questions, over 2000 in all. I used Saunders Comperhensive review for both a review and practace questions. I also used Saunders Q&A book, along with doing questions on the CD. If I got a question wrong, I read the rationale and understood why I got it wrong. If I missed it because I didn't know somethings, I made a note of what I didn't know on paper and reviewed all my notes every few days. I think this really helped me for the NCLEX, although I was worried as hell after I took it, overall I didn't think it was that hard (which was partly why I was worried). Good luck!

[Diana Lynn]

Hi
I just wrote January 12th and passed at 75 questions..It was nerve wracking and I am so glad it is over..
I used Lippincott text and CD"S they were both awesome..
I graduated in 1988 so I was very nervous...Don't rush, think out the questions and Best of luck to all those who have still to write..

Canadian RN....

[heaverboo2006]

What do I need to do to recieve or sign up for Kaplan?

[Nurse Eva]

Originally Posted by heaverboo2006

What do I need to do to recieve or sign up for Kaplan?

Hi there! What you can do first of all is, look up Kaplan in your local yellow pages as they have these institutions all across North America. It costs anywhere between $800-$1000.00 for a 10 week ( 2 evngs a week session). They give you a pre-diagnostic exam to compare how you rate, and then after the 10 weeks is over they give you a post-diagnostic exam, and you will see what areas you need improvement upon, and what areas you are stronger in. I highly recommend this prep program as it is quite good, they give you logical strategies to approach the exam, but still review your saunders book from cover to cover, I'd say study intensely for 3 months, and do lots of practice questions on your cd roms and you shall do verry well! :-)

[truern]

Originally Posted by Nurse Eva

Hi there! What you can do first of all is, look up Kaplan in your local yellow pages as they have these institutions all across North America. It costs anywhere between $800-$1000.00 for a 10 week ( 2 evngs a week session). They give you a pre-diagnostic exam to compare how you rate, and then after the 10 weeks is over they give you a post-diagnostic exam, and you will see what areas you need improvement upon, and what areas you are stronger in. I highly recommend this prep program as it is quite good, they give you logical strategies to approach the exam, but still review your saunders book from cover to cover, I'd say study intensely for 3 months, and do lots of practice questions on your cd roms and you shall do verry well! :-)

I'm taking the Kaplan review next week Monday thru Thursday from 9-5 and it's $299. That includes the pretest, the posttest, 2000 practice questions online, and the study materials.

[Nurse Eva]

I actually had a recruiting company pay for the course, I just got the quote from the company. I will be doing my nursing in the states soon. I'm so excited!!!

[jemmie27]

I took the Nclex last may..i was really nervous and was sure I would fail...I studied for 1 month pretty much 5 days a week for 5 hours a day...i used saunders review with the cd and I think that was the best one. i also put lab values on index cards and memorized them. The last week before the test I focused a lot on my notes from my classes and that seemed to help a lot. and dont study the night before the exam...believe it or not it confuses you and makes you even more nervous....good luck!!

[NYHCARNMPA]

In my work helping to prepare new graduates, repeat test-takers, and international nurses for NCLEX, I share with them this plan:
1. Identify your learning style. There are many tools to help you do this, and it is very important because it will suggest to you the format of the tools that work best with your style of learning (eg: dvd or books, etc).
2. Review nursing content including meds, labs, etc.
3. Learn about the exam so that you are familiar with the test.
4. Learn how to analyze the questions and answer choices.
5. Practice 100 questions/ day for 30 days
6. Take frequent breaks during studying- this aids retention.
7.Try not to study the night before the exam, and get a good night's sleep.
8. NCLEX is not the real world; it is textbook nursing.
9. Take the exam as soon after graduation ( and preparation) as you can.
10.Prepare for exam day with the proper identification and ATT; plan your travel route in advance and allow sufficient time for travel. This will reduce your day-of-exam anxiety concerning the non-nursing features of the testing day.
Hope these tips help. Good luck, and best wishes for a successful outcome.

[NYHCARNMPA]

2 Additional tips that should have been included:
1. Do an assessment before beginning your NCLEX prep. In some prep programs this is called a "diagnostic exam". Essentially these tests identify your strengths and needs. Some people continue to study areas in which they have demonstrated strength, but study time is spent more effciently focusing on areas that need improvement.
2. Do a readiness assessment after you have done all your studying and practice questions. This will alert you to the status of your readiness for the exam. If it reveals additional areas that need strengthening, return to your nursing review and re-take the readiness assessment afterward. Continue the process until you demonstrate readiness to test.
Hope you find these tips helpful!

[nurselife23]

hello everyone..i passed the nclex rn exam 2 wks ago..my review materials is kaplan and i went online with www.ncsbn.org for their type of questioning..