Hi all,
I used this site so much in my preparation for studying for the NCLEX so I decided to share how I passed to help others!
Some background - I graduated on May 18th, 2014, and started to study on the 20th of May. I accepted a job in Labor & Delivery (.9 nights!) that was contingent on me passing. AKA FREAKING OUT ABOUT THIS TEST. I took the NCLEX yesterday, June 10th, and found out today that I passed by seeing my name on my state's Board of Nursing! It was about three weeks that I studied for the NCLEX and I was not working so I studied about 6-8+ hours a day with the days toward the end only about 2 hours a day.
Here is how I passed the NCLEX in 75 questions:
1. I used Kaplan. I took the four day review course through my school and then I utilized all question trainers and 100% of the q-bank. I didn't use the decision tree much during my exam - maybe like once or twice. I have used Kaplan for the last two years of my BSN program in classes as well. I thought that Kaplan was a lot harder than the NCLEX. I felt that the NCLEX was much more straightforward with SOME questions that required critical thinking, but many were you know them or you don't. Honestly I think that a lot of my knowledge was from being in school and not so much from studying. But studying helped to refresh my memory of important information and how to take a test and answer NCLEX style questions. My scores are listed below:
Q1 = 56 (first got 51%, didn't remediate test before retake)
Q2 = 64 (first got 59%, didn't remediate test before retake)
Q3 = 52
Q4 = 52
Q5 = 60
Q6 = 56
Q7 = 55
Q-Bank - did 100%, average 55%
Diagnostic = 53%
Readiness = 62%
NCLEX PRACTICE EXAM 1 = 62 (when I first took this I got 56, retook when felt more confident in my content review, didn't remediate)
NCLEX PRACTICE EXAM 2 = 66 (when I first took this I got 56, retook when felt more confident in my content review, didn't remediate)
NCLEX PRACTICE EXAM 3 (PRIORITIES) = 73 (when I first took this I got 63, retook when felt more confident in my content review, didn't remediate)
NCLEX PRACTICE EXAM 4 (ALTERNATE) = 30 (didn't even want to retake this!)
2. LaCharity's Prioritization, Delegation, and Assignment Book
I loved this book. I didn't do all of the chapters, I think I did 1-7 and then about 10 questions from the remaining chapters. I think the most important chapters to do are infection control and emergency. Also do the chapters that you struggle on the most. I think this book really helps because you will likely get a good number of questions on the NCLEX.
3. Lippincott's Alternate Questions
I am not going to lie this book was super hard for me that it was even hard to get myself to do a lot of it but I tried to do many questions to become familiar with the alternate questions on the exam. I heard that if you are doing well you will get a lot of alternate questions so I definitely recommend this book after having taken my NCLEX!
4. Lippincott's NCLEX Q&A
I didn't do any whole chapters in this book but it is a great resource for extra questions if you want the practice. I enjoyed the cumulative tests in the back they were helpful for practice especially when I finished the trainers and the q-bank.
5. I used the 2 study guides on here - I loved the mnemonics for infection control (MRS WEE, SPIDERMAN, etc.). The one study guide is the 35 or so page one and the other one is written by the 3 nurses who passed in 75 questions. I memorized all of the information from that one - PM me if you can't find these.
6. I STUDIED AT BARNES AND NOBLE
This is my greatest advice! I got there early, took everything I needed, and used a huge variety of books at Barnes. It was great because they were free and I sat in the cafe with my Starbucks and a bunch of books for hours, sometimes 8+ hours a day. I used Davis, the Kaplan book, Saunders books with questions (which I thought were kind of easy), the Hurst book (the questions from this I remember being easy too), and my favorite study book was the NCLEX-RN Exam Cram! These questions really boosted my self-esteem and were challenging but helped me so much with knowing random bits and pieces of information. I really enjoyed this book.
7. Make a list of things you want to look back on
I did this so much when I was looking through all these books. Everything I didn't know I made a list and later in the day I looked them up to clarify for example - what to do first if there are fetal decels or what is normal for chest tubes. This helped me clarify things I didn't know and didn't feel comfortable on.
8. FOR ME THE PVT POP-UP WORKED
I tried the pop-up about 15 minutes after my exam and I got the GOOD-POP UP! It said, "Our records indicate that you have recently scheduled this exam. Another registration cannot be made at this time." Exactly. I didn't trust it 100% but everyone I spoke to personally said that they did it and it worked but I was still skeptical!
Lastly, just remember - YOU KNOW MORE THAN YOU THINK! My anxiety on test day was through the roof. I was nervous with my Kaplan scores and I really didn't know if I KNEW the information. I showed up to the testing site at 6:50AM for my test at 8am. I did some last minute flashcards and went into the testing site around 7:10am. I was fourth in line, got my palm prints done, and was escorted to my computer. I LOVE THE HEADPHONES. They were great and totally soundproof! I took the exam and on the 75th question POOF it shut off. I got to my car at 9:01AM and felt like I failed. I was shaking so bad! To be honest I did not feel like I knew ANYTHING. I thought for sure I had failed - failed so miserably that I didn't have a chance after 75 questions. I kept trying to tell myself that EVERYONE probably feels this way (or most people). It was super hard keeping my head up but I had a good lunch (with wine of course), got a pedicure, and spent time with friends and family who I am thankful enough listened to me complain the entire day ha ha. Also, don't get down on yourself for the Kaplan scores! I had mainly 50s and passed NCLEX! Just remember to read the question and figure out - WHAT ARE THEY ACTUALLY LOOKING FOR? Super important to always remember this!
I woke up this morning to an email at 7:30AM saying Congratulations! From my state's BON. It was so exciting to read and now I am officially posted as ACTIVE on the BON and I do not have to pay (OR WAIT) for my quick results.
My best advice is utilize your resources and if you feel yourself starting to get stressed because you are over studying - stop and do something else. The moment I stopped the next day I did some more of the q-bank and scored extremely high. I tried not to study the day before but I went to Barnes for about an hour and did 50-100 questions from NCLEX Exam Cram-RN. It helped me to get rid of my anxiety a little bit before the exam.
OK so I think I touched on mostly everything about my exam experience and I hope that this helps those of you who are planning to take the NCLEX soon! YOU GOT THIS just believe in yourself and pray! PLEASE PM me or post here if you have ANY questions and I hope this helps!!!!!
~ Rachael, BSN, RN!!!!!!!!!!
