[flwannaB]

I wanted everyones input on whether the nclex was difficult or easy. I passed with 85 questions but let me tell you, no amount of studying prepared me for that test. I walked away swearing I failed. 4 of my friends with the same score said the exact same thing. However, another friend of ours said it was very easy. Here is the kicker, she went over quite a few questions and they were nowhere near as difficult as ours. Hers were more like our Saunders review and ours were like nothing I ever imagined. Why are the questions easier for some and more difficult for others?

[TheCommuter]

Actually, I thought my NCLEX was slightly easier than the nursing school exams to which I had been previously subjected. I received 85 questions and walked away from the testing center somewhat knowing that I had passed this exam.

[EricEnfermero]

Currently, the NCLEX is set up so that both passers and failers tend to get around 50% correct, so it isn't supposed to feel easy. Check out the Candidate Bulletin available at www.ncsbn.org for more information on NCLEX scoring.

[Suesquatch]

I didn't find it that difficult. Passed at 85. Saunders prepared me well. As TheCommuter said, my nusing school tests were much harder, focusing more on specifics and less on taking in the big picture.

[suzanne4]

The exam will focus on your weak points,a computerized exam is able to do that. And what you find difficult, someone else may find easy. Each exam will be different, even if ten from your class took it the same day. Each will have a diffferent exam.

[jamangel]

I found it easier than my school tests as well.

[pagandeva2000]

I also found that there was no comparision between the school exams, Saunders, Incredibly Easy and Delmar's CDs. I also passed at 85 completed the entire exam in 40 minutes, and thought that I bombed out. In fact, I left out of there angry because I truly see the exam as a crap shoot. I also left knowing in my heart that I did all that I can do, and that there was no preparation for this, and would not have been surprized that I failed. I didn't check on the answers to the questions that I remembered until I found out that I passed, and I did better than I thought, but it was through wild, educated guesses. In fact, some answers, I chose because I thought that it was too stupid to really do in real life. I'm glad that I will never face that demon again.

[jimthorp]

Originally Posted by jamangel

I found it easier than my school tests as well.

Ditto. Anxiety can play a rold in the "feel" of an exam. My school tried to mimic NCLEX questions and not being very good at it was difficult to figure out what they were asking. During grading some questions were thrown out as they were too obscure.

[flwannaB]

The tests in school were far easier. The priority questions were the ones that left me dumb founded. Most all of the questions I guessed at. I will give you a for instance.
Pt A is complaining of pain 2 hours post status appendectomy
Pt B is complaining pain 4 hours fx hip
Pt C is complaining of pain 6 hours hysterectomy
Which pt has high priority of pain management?
Well um...... my guess would be I dont know. There is no other information. Pain is subjective. We cannot determine who's pain is worse. Those were the kind of questions I got. I am a very analytical person. I read each option fully to see if there was any indications of priority. I had maybe, and I mean maybe, 9 questions that I considered definetive. I was an A student in one of the top nclex passing rate schools in our area. This was NOT what we studied. I passed however and am moving on to RN. Just thought it odd.

[Jules A]

I also didn't think it was that tough and that Saunders review was a good preparation. I did 85 questions in about 50 minutes and left feeling pretty sure that I didn't bomb so bad that the computer wouldn't have at least given me more questions so I figured I passed. And I did.