by FutureNurse2B

Hey all,
I am graduating this may from nursing school but I took a wrong turn and now I am delayed from recieving my degree. I took the wrong course over the winter break so now I am missing a credit I need to graduate. Despite this, my school has agreed to let me participate in their nursing pinning ceremony but I simply cannot walk across the stage with the rest of the school in my cap and gown and recieve my diploma hand in hand. So I must take that class I am missing over the summer and wait to recieve my diploma in the mail, which will be probably the beginning of august.
Now, my problem is, because of this I'm not sure if I should still take the KAPLAN course that is being offered at my school because it begins directly after the pinning ceremony (may 25th) and I won't be eligle to take the NCLEX until august. KAPLAN begins like may 24th and ends june 7th. I have heard that the longer you wait to take the exam after going thru KAPLAN, the less chance u have of passing. What should I do? Are there any other options for me? Maybe an online KAPLAN later on in the summer? I reely want to take the KAPLAN course but I'm scared that waiting almost 2 months will hinder my success rate. HELP!!! Thanks for listening. Any advice will do.

Re: Dilemma!!!! Please help......

well first
I want to say Congratulations for almost being finish. Is this course being offered to you guys free? I would say take it. I am currently taking my nclex review course that is offered by my school, and I will not be taking the NCLEX-RN until probably the middle of June. The review course has helped me alot with strategies and other helpful ways to answer questions and remember information.
NurseV2006

Re: Dilemma!!!! Please help......

I would go ahead and take it... and continue to study the practice tests up until you take the NCLEX. The review can be extraordinarily beneficial, and certainly couldn't hurt. Before I took my NCLEX I wanted all the help I could get. You'll know by your practice tests whether or not you need to go to another review closer to the test time. In the meantime, the materials you receive during the course will be a wonderful help to you as you study.

Re: Dilemma!!!! Please help......

Thank you all.
I think I've made my decision. Thanks to you guys. Hopefully waiting a month and a half won't affect my performance that bad but I'll continue to study up until the test date. Thanx again.

Re: Dilemma!!!! Please help......

Don't worry! Take the Kaplan course, and take the class you are missing. DO NOT worry about not being about to take the NCLEX as soon as you would like. MY STORY WAS, I graduated early May 2005. I was so burined out from school and my kids "wanted their mommy back". So with my husbands blessing, I took the summer off with the kids, come September, I got the kids going back into their school activities, worked part time, and studying when I felt like it. The last two weeks before the test, I studied pretty hard, but I took the test in November and passed first time on 75 questions. I bought a Kaplan review book, but did not do any organized review. Have confidence in your self. Don't panic. When the time is right, it will all come together and you will be ready to take that blasted test and move on with your life. Don't worry about what hasn't happened yet and concentrate on doing what you need to do to get to your goals.

Re: Dilemma!!!! Please help......

Many of us take Boards without any Kaplan course. I say take it, and don't worry about the delay.