Re: Preparing to take NCLEX for the 3rd time Originally Posted by nursynursenursenurse 
My opinion/suggestion.....
I don't believe that the NCLEX measures what it is supposed to measure. That is, I don't believe that it separates the competent from the incompetent. I think the people who fail do so because they aren't thinking along the same lines as the people who write the test, when in all likelihood, they do know enough material to pass. Because you have made it through nursing school, I'll bet you already know most of the material you need to pass (remember, you don't need to know everything, so if you are busy memorizing every lab value and obscure disease 2 people have, you are on the wrong wavelength....you only need a basic working knowledge). That being said, I'd focus less on material/content and more on test-taking strategy. There are lots of books that focus on how to think the way the test-writers do....I had one like this that was great, and I'm thinking it was by Kaplan...sorry I don't have the name, it's been a couple of years. A book like this will tell you how to narrow down from multiple choice, how to be in the right mindset, etc. Just my thoughts. Good luck!
I SO AGREE with your statement. NCLEX does NOT assure the public of a safe, caring and competent nurse. I have said this over and over again. I did pass the first time, but to tell you the truth, I walked out of there angry!!!! It was such a stupid test to me...hard questions, yes, but totally insane. I don't think it really reflected much of what I learned, those sorry 'select all questions' (you can tell I am on a tanget, can't you...
), etc... All it demostrates, really is that we can tell them what they want to hear (that is what ****** me off and made me really upset when it was all over). I would get Kaplan's Strategies for Success for NCLEX-RN/PN (whichever test you are taking) and they can break it down to you in terms of how to answer the questions. It is relatively inexpensive...about $25. Follow the steps they suggest, and use those suggestions while answering questions. You should see that it does work.
They tell you that the world of NCLEX is perfect...there is enough staff, enough supplies, enough time to do whatever they ask you. So, don't think of the times you saw they were short of staff in clinicals, that the pyxis did not always work, that there was a computer malfunction or that you could not find the doctor. It is a perfect world...you have everything.
They will tell you how to determine if this is an assessment question...that before you do anything, you MUST assess. You can tell if they are asking for a nursing action, usually by saying somehow in the question that some sort of an assessment was already made. And, they teach you how to rule out when you REALLY do not know. I had a few medication questions on my exam that I had no clear clue; they were free standing meds with no medical diagnosis. I think there were two questions like that out of the 10 meds they asked about (I knew most of them). These were strange drugs from Mars that I never heard of, had no clue based on the prefix or suffix to tell what classification they were. I remembered the names (at that time) and looked them up when I came home, and I saw that I was right on one of them...and that was a thanks from above from Kaplan
...because I CLEARLY did not know.
Check it out. Also, if you need a decent comprehensive review that is informative about the medications, go to a book store and look at Delmar's Comperhensive Review for NCLEX (they have for both, RN and LPN). Their pharmacology section is completely wonderful. Have a few decent diagrams to review, only about 650 some odd pages, but easy to understand in case you have to go over something.
If you think that you have to listen to something, there is the Helen Feuer Nursing Review...they sell WONDERFUL CDs to listen to that are catchy, entertaining and easy to remember... it is like having a professor available. They are expensive, about close to $300. But, it may be worth it. I do not have them anymore, because my friend loaned them to me with the promise to give them back immediately after taking my boards. It is about 27 CDs, I used to listen to one in the morning, another during lunch or definitely on my way home, and then, I would practice questions based on what was discussed by using the Kaplan method. I am actually thinking about purchasing a set for myself just to have, because there are many things that I can review just by listening to their catchy phrases in case I ever needed to. Just type the name in your browser.
And, finally...good luck...
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