I just passed my NCLEX

Students NCLEX

Published

During the last few months of my LPN program, I was panicking looking online for ways to study while I waited for my ATT (Approval To Test). During my journey through articles, "How To..s", and endless blogs I found myself 10x more nervous to test then ever. My school was suggesting all these costly study plans (that i bought in to), blogs were talking about how they have failed three times, and my class mates were constantly ragging about my schools so called "ridiculously low pass rate". So to calm the nerves of some fellow future nurses, I'm going to clear a few things up. I know it won't help completely, but maybe 1 positive blog may {help}.

1. DO NOT BUY ANY STUDY PLAN.

This includes the ncsbn site. My school sold this like a champ. Nearly everyone in my class bought it, me included. I paid $75 for 5 weeks, used it for about 1 week and then i realized, I didn't need it. Its terribly time consuming. You have to out loads of hours into for it to benefit your test score. If anything it should be used for people who require an intense review of all topics (people who are retesting or waited a long time to test).

2. THERE ARE PLENTY OF FREE AWESOME RESOURCES.

My study plan, aside from that $75 flop, costed me about $30.

I went to the dollar tree and bought a 3-ring binder, highlighters, flash cards, dividers, lined paper and pens. I have found that an organized study session is so much more beneficial than an unorganized one. I took the binder and organized it into sections: PEDS/MATERNITY, PSYCH, PHARM, BLOOD/CARDIAC, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY: LAB VALUES.

My website of choice was nclex.dover.edu/nclexpn3000. Its free and has tons of questions, topics and awesome rationales. Every time I came a crossed a topic that I was unfamiliar with, I'd write it down. Then at the end of my study time I would look up that topic and write about it under its designated section in my binder.

As far as flash cards go, I wrote down all my labs and memorized 2 at a time till I finally knew all my labs by heart. I found this extremely important because if you come a crossed a disease process on the NCLEX you don't remember much about, a lab number that looks off may give you the answer youre looking for.

If youre wondering where my other $20 went, the only book i bought was the Kaplan NCLEX-PN book. They come out with a new one every year. In this book they talk about the decision tree (do not take the NCLEX without knowing the decision tree), and how to find the answer even if you don't know anything about the topic. The book also offers practice questions.

3. EVERY LPN SCHOOL IS A CRAPPY SCHOOL.

LPN programs are poorly organized. Dont think because your school was crap that you will do poor. Its about the students, not the school. My class constantly ragged on my school and guess what, all 10 of us remaining at graduation time, passed. So how bad was it really?

4. THE TEST ITSELF.

The NCLEX is not as bad as it seems. It's not a SAT setting, it's more like a weirdly quite and strict DMV. While taking it you will think, "***, I don't know any of these topics". Dont worry, if youre getting stuff you have never heard of, youre doing good. My test turned off at 118 questions and I thought for sure that I failed, but sure enough, I PASSED.

5. BREATHE.

You will pass if you study. And most importantly go in with confidence, even if you leave with out it, it will benefit you immensely.

IN A NUT SHELL:

Study every day, have organized study sessions, don't pay for any study plans online, you HAVE to know the decision tree, get together with your class mates and see what they have learned since school has been out, know where youre test center is the day before to avoid getting lost on test day. Walk into that joint with confidence, take a seat in that chair and BREATHE.

nlitened

739 Posts

Congrats on passing!

ILUVFLRN

57 Posts

Specializes in Operating Room.

Congrats RN!

OnlyDreaming

79 Posts

CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congrats!

Mscoleman78

138 Posts

Thank you for all the helpful tips and Congrats on passing!!!!!

Congratulations!!! And thanks for all the helpful tips!!!

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