Re: How hard is the NCLEX???

I passed first time and didn't think it was too hard but what made it stressful was that your life is literally on hold with this exam. A lot of it is a mental game that you play with yourself. I thought I failed but I passed and no one ever walks out of this exam confidently thinking they passed.

All you really need is a Kaplan and Saunders. Anything else more then that is simply overload and will cause you undue stress. Keep it simple and minimize study guides. There is no magic preparation but hard work and being methodical in your studying.

Re: How hard is the NCLEX???

Originally Posted by 50caliber

I passed first time and didn't think it was too hard but what made it stressful was that your life is literally on hold with this exam. A lot of it is a mental game that you play with yourself. I thought I failed but I passed and no one ever walks out of this exam confidently thinking they passed.

All you really need is a Kaplan and Saunders. Anything else more then that is simply overload and will cause you undue stress. Keep it simple and minimize study guides. There is no magic preparation but hard work and being methodical in your studying.

that is all i have as well, kaplan qbank (kaplan complete) and saunders, how many questions should i do from each per day? .. and should i do saunders study mode and choose content by content, or should i do exam mode and click on all? .. im getting confused, since i have both, i dont know what to focus on.. and how many questions to do from each..?

Re: How hard is the NCLEX???

Originally Posted by 2bNurse4life4ever

that is all i have as well, kaplan qbank (kaplan complete) and saunders, how many questions should i do from each per day? .. and should i do saunders study mode and choose content by content, or should i do exam mode and click on all? .. im getting confused, since i have both, i dont know what to focus on.. and how many questions to do from each..?

That is what i'm wondering as well. Can anyone give input on this? I take mine this Friday July 3rd. I've heard there are a lot more of priority type questions and that the priority questions are the hardest, is this true? Today would be my last day of studying. Should I take a comprehensive exam of "select all" client needs/content, or should i concentrate more on delegation/priority type questions? I'm using Saunders Q&A CD only. I have the Kaplan strategy book and read it a couple of weeks ago and did their 180 study practice questions and i got a 80%(i took the practice test first time in May 18(got 59% and second time June 24 got 81%).)

Hows this for today or is it too much? Saunders Q&A CD: 100 question "comprehensive select all" exam with reviewing rationales and strategies. Then 10 question quizzes throughout the day as much as I can of delegation/priority questions, I believe there are only 139 of these questions on the CD that specifically hits delegation/prioritization. Then all content quizzes after I finish the delegation/prioritizing questions?
PLEASE HELP.

Re: How hard is the NCLEX???

Here is what I did: I took the Kaplan course and did everything they said to do and filled in the content using Kaplan's theory book and Saunders. I did all the questions and qbank questions like they suggested. Here is the problem: if i could go back in time and do things differently, here is what I would have done to make my life and the exam easier.

1) Focus more on theory vs. test technique. Knowledge trumps all. I thought I was a little foolish in putting too much faith/confidence in Kaplan but NCLEX is a mental game and Kaplan does help with that by giving you suppose confidence so you don't trip out during the exam which a lot of people do and then you are really screwed. Their qbank questions are great cause they are very similar to NCLEX so you will not be thrown off. But I would not place "too" much emphasis on their test taking techniques but do be aware of them cause it gives you a solid approach in taking on questions and systematically breaking them down. So it comes down to eliminating questions and taking a guess and playing the odds game. This is where knowledge of theory can really help you after eliminaitng the wrong answers.

2) Go over the Saunders book chapter by chapter but you DON'T need to know everything and don't memmorize everything cause your head will explode. Just study and know the important concepts of each chapter. NCLEX will not waste your time with the small crap because this is a test designed for an entry level nurse and wants you to be safe with pt. care.

I think I am a perfectionist when it comes to test taking cause I want to learn everything but with NCLEX, this is not possible. I was a little upset cause I put too much emphasis on Kaplan vs. simple persistent studying using Saunders.

I would say 65% Saunders, and 35% Kaplan(stratedgies, qbanks)

Re: How hard is the NCLEX???

Originally Posted by hollattaplaya

That is what i'm wondering as well. Can anyone give input on this? I take mine this Friday July 3rd. I've heard there are a lot more of priority type questions and that the priority questions are the hardest, is this true? Today would be my last day of studying. Should I take a comprehensive exam of "select all" client needs/content, or should i concentrate more on delegation/priority type questions? I'm using Saunders Q&A CD only. I have the Kaplan strategy book and read it a couple of weeks ago and did their 180 study practice questions and i got a 80%(i took the practice test first time in May 18(got 59% and second time June 24 got 81%).)

Hows this for today or is it too much? Saunders Q&A CD: 100 question "comprehensive select all" exam with reviewing rationales and strategies. Then 10 question quizzes throughout the day as much as I can of delegation/priority questions, I believe there are only 139 of these questions on the CD that specifically hits delegation/prioritization. Then all content quizzes after I finish the delegation/prioritizing questions?
PLEASE HELP.

Just keep doing questions at this stage because your exam is coming in a matter of days. Just don't burn out. Just keep it under 150 questions at this point.

Re: How hard is the NCLEX???

Thanks a lot!

Re: How hard is the NCLEX???

Its not easy, but I thought it was going to be and could have been much harder. I took the HURST Review and it really prepared me.

Re: How hard is the NCLEX???

I used Saunders, Mosby's, Lacharity.....I think the questions were more Mosby's type to be honest!!

Re: How hard is the NCLEX???

Well honestly I think it should be made hard because look what the nurses have to deal with on daily bases.I know it sounds like a broken record and a borrowed cliche but we are going to take care of human life and soon we will be exptected to take care of the pt our own and NCLEX is composed of questions that are testing our knowledge,common sense and safe practice!!!

So I dont mind if it will be hard because I need to be a safe practicioner!

Re: How hard is the NCLEX???

NCLEX is suppose to be difficult........it pulls questions according to your individual ability......so it is designed for all passing test takers to get 50% right and 50% of questions wrong.........it will keep raising the bar until you start to answer wrong......they just want to make sure you are above the passing standard....

This is why everyone who takes the test and passes comes out thinking that they failed......