So scared of NCLEX-RN

Nursing Students NCLEX

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I am a recently graduated BSN student who takes the nclex in a few weeks. I will have given myself 4 weeks of intense studying - one system a day using prep-u, kaplan 2014-2015 book, lacharity, and hurst review. I have heard very many things regarding nclex. I've seen people pass with 75 questions who took it 20 days after graduation that relied on hurst. I've also seen people fail with 265 questions, 6 hours who have done a ton of different things such as hurst, and saunders. I 100% realize that no test is like nclex and that saunders questions are really easy compared to what I'm going to see. I am having major anxiety because I just don't know if what I'm doing to prepare is effective...and I won't know until I take nclex. I do one system a day in order of hurst and try to understand the why's of that. I also do over a hundred to two hundred nclex questions a day as well, from the sources I mentioned. I've heard that nclex is really similar to the way kaplan asks questions so I'm doing those q-trainers. I have it set up to take the 6 hurst tests the week before nclex. I am praying that I pass the first time, preferably with 75 questions. I have a crying spell every few days because I am so anxious. I also have seen that I'm one of the first to take the nclex from my class so I am pretty much flipping out. I need a way to feel better about nclex and feel more confident in myself. If you have any suggestions please reply, also I'm asking for prayers from you all who have or will be going though this same thing. Thank you in advance!!! :)

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Specializes in NICU.

Prepping for NCLEX should be about analyzing questions and picking the best answer. It should not be a time for trying to cram all of the content you learned from nursing school into your head, it is more of a review. If you have done well in school, school had a high NCLEX pass rate, and you do well on the Q trainers, then NCLEX should be just the last hurdle to getting your license and not a stumbling block.

If you are well prepared, by the way you explain it you are, then it is a matter of what question number you will pass at and failure is not even an option for you.

85% of students pass NCLEX on the first try. Don't let the horror stories of taking 3,4,.., 10 tries to pass NCLEX get to you.

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Yea, I think it's just stories that I've heard really getting to me. Plus just the anxiety in general. I think with these thousands of nclex questions I'm seeing there are some things I'm not recalling really. But the testing strategies have really been helping me get to the answers regardless. I will try to think of it like you mentioned, as just the last hurdle rather than a stumbling block, and at what point I'll pass rather than thinking about failing... I need to try to stay positive!

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Specializes in ICU/CCU.

U should not be scared ! Everyone has different experience with Nclex. The test is different for everyone !!!

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If you're asking for advice/suggestions, I have one for you. I actually think you're doing too many different programs. I heard a lot of people say to focus on one or two programs. I did that. I chose Kaplan and LaCharity. I did 50 questions 3 times a day for about 2 weeks using Kaplan. When I was in the 60-65% range in my scores, I thought I was ready. I took it and passed in 75Qs.

When I sat for the test, I took a deep breath and told myself that to just think of it as another test that I was taking in the comfort of my living room. lol For some reason that calmed me down some. The time that I really started to panic was at question 74. lol I was so nervous wondering if it was going to shut off or not at the next question. It did - but it was good news. :)

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Thank you for the advise. I took my first q trainer yesterday and got a 70 and then another 70 on the 180 quaint kaplan quiz that came with the book. Hopefully my scores get a little better as I go! So lacharity and Kaplan are really good for me to do then? Thank you!

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Specializes in NICU.

I did 200-300 questions per week from May-August while in school (required for the university's NCLEX prep course), graduated in August and took two weeks off, then did 100-150 questions plus Q trainers for 3 weeks. I passed at 75 questions. I thought it was easier than I expected.

My advice to you is when you sit at the computer on testing day:

Use the provided ear plugs

Take several deep breaths and try to calm your anxiety. Don't start until your anxiety is under control.

Keep your hand off the mouse while reading a question

When ready to answer, place hand on mouse and answer (prevents you from unconsciously trying to get the test over by answering too quickly)

If you start to get anxious, stop and take a few more deep breaths

Don't worry about the number of questions.

Make sure to click the button "Only give me questions that I know the answer to" :laugh::laugh:

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If you're asking for advice/suggestions, I have one for you. I actually think you're doing too many different programs. I heard a lot of people say to focus on one or two programs. I did that. I chose Kaplan and LaCharity. I did 50 questions 3 times a day for about 2 weeks using Kaplan. When I was in the 60-65% range in my scores, I thought I was ready. I took it and passed in 75Qs.

When I sat for the test, I took a deep breath and told myself that to just think of it as another test that I was taking in the comfort of my living room. lol For some reason that calmed me down some. The time that I really started to panic was at question 74. lol I was so nervous wondering if it was going to shut off or not at the next question. It did - but it was good news. :)

I had to come back and re-read this because it makes me feel so much better. I'm doing average on my hurst tests so far. I have a week left so I'm just doing practice quizzes you know.

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Hey!! I am also about to take my nclex in 2 weeks! I am so scare! Especially from all the stories i see posted or hear from people failing... How are people failing?! Lack of content and studying?

i took Hurst and i enjoy it! Waiting till next week to do The Q reviews, i hear its similar to nclex style Qs? Im also doing only kaplan Q trainer 1-7 & Lacharity! If i have time i want to do practice Qs on application and analyzing Style on Saunders 6e. am i doing too much??! I want to pass Nclex so bad the first time.. I hear it tests for minimal comptency and most people answers 50% of Qs wrong and still pass?

I also heard the nclex mastery app is good but i dont want to pay anymore money!

Help! Any advice or comforting tips?

Good luck to everyone whos about to take it!!

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I took hurst and Kaplan.. I would read through a section in my hurst book and do about 75-100 Kaplan questions a day... That would be good for a day. Then I would spend the rest of the day doing other things. Completely consuming all your time won't make you pass. You need to spend some time relaxing and doing things you like to decompress.

I took the NCLEX and passed with 75 first try.

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@Rn0323

Is the Nclex that difficult? The answers we want are never there right? What if you come across something you toally dont know?

Im just so scare, i cant possibly do that bad.. Hope not

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It's normal to be scared, it's a big deal. How I would approach it is: read the question and use the process of elimination and nurse reasoning you were taught in school. Think ABC (airway, breathing, circulation).. Usually there are a couple right answers but there always seems to be a MORE right answer. Don't panic, think it through.. Again, don't obsesses over it. Take time for you, it's in those moments your brain has time to more or less process all the info your shoving in.. You'll do great!

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