Passed NCLEX on 2nd try! My Story

Nursing Students NCLEX

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I took and passed the NCELX on my second try this week and just wanted to share what I did/didn't do both times and what i feel helped me the most!

1st time-

  • Took Kaplan class at my school. 4 days for about 8 hours a day.
  • Did probably 75% of the Qbank questions and all of the question trainers.
  • Watched a few content videos

-- Overall, i did not feel like Kaplan really prepared me that well for the test. Just doing questions and looking back at your answers i did not feel was sufficent enough becasue there was still lots of material that was not covered in just the questions they were asking. Got all 265 questions and did not pass

2nd time-

  • Read Saunders Comprehensive review book. Everything but the Mental Health section and took notes on what I thought was important from every section. Also did the review questions at the end of the chapters
  • Did the Kaplan specific review of 30 questions each broken down in specific sections like endocrine, maternity, peds, cardiac. (not sure if it is in the nclex section on the website or not, but it is in the tab called "Focused Review")
  • Did the PDA book by Lacharity. Everything but the case studies.

--I felt better prepared going into the test the second time becasue i knew i had gone over and atleast read material of pretty much anything that could be asked on the test. I stayed calm going into the test, felt confident and prepared and passed with 75 questions. I waited the 45 days you have to wait and took it the next possible day.

Do not feel discouraged if you do not pass the first time. Just approach the test and your studying different the first time and you can do it!!

Feel free to message me with any questions regarding studying or advice! :)

xaldin4life:

The medications for me were the worst too!! I have such a hard time remembering the ones that arent used alot or do not have common endings to them to where you can associate them with what they go with! For the test, I just read over the medication sections at the end of the chapters and did the Kaplan pharm quizes. I didnt really focus to much on the medications honestly, i just knew the ones that had major side effects and interactions. Like ED med, dont give with nitrates, Bronchodilator first before corticosteriod, clear before cloudy insulin. I would just focus on the major ones and s/e. Hope that helped!!

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Specializes in OR Nurse.
Kathrene, RN:

I used the Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX_RN Exam 6th edition. It is a big book, so you really have to pace yourself going through it. Here is the ISBN if you want to look it up: 978-1455727551

Are you using Kaplan online? If so, I would suggest doing the focused review quizzes. What quizes are you doing?

If you stay focused and determined then you will be able to beat this test!!

Hi thank you :) im doing the app right now for the practice test its updated from NCLEX Stanford review. But my scores varies and I feel soo depressed eeverytime I got 53-59%. Not doing kaplan. I do have saunders but never open it 5ed. I will try if i can switch it to 6e.

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