To study or not to study????

The huge difference between HESI and NCLEX is the former tests content, whereas the latter tests application of that content. You can have the world's most precise photographic memory, ace HESI.....and fail boards. All the studying in the world won't make a lick of difference if you don't have basic knowledge of the biology behind the questions. I recommend doing NCLEX style practice questions because that's the hardest part of boards - figuring out exactly *what* the question is asking.

You still have a semester and a half to go. I'd concentrate on graduating before you start worrying about this Still plenty of curveballs to be thrown your way!

I agree with Shan, one step at a time, focus on graduating, but maybe during Winter break you can start reviewing Saunders and do Kaplan Qbanks. NCLEX is NOT a test that is based on your ability to regurgitate information. You will be given several right answers and you have to pick the best.

I agree with Shan one step at a time, focus on graduating, but maybe during Winter break you can start reviewing Saunders and do Kaplan Qbanks. NCLEX is NOT a test that is based on your ability to regurgitate information. You will be given several right answers and you have to pick the best.[/quote']

Agreed. :) btw love the Storm Trooper avie.

Remember, that you cannot believe everything you hear or believe. Many people "claim" to pass the NCLEX in 75 questions without studying, but how can you know this for sure? Did you watch them take the test? Did you receive their results? In other words, take no one's answer as definitive. The NCLEX is not meant for "leaving up for chance". The difference between a "good" and "great" nurse is how you educate yourself. The NCLEX will stress you, but has no comparison once you are out there on the floor on your own. Now, throw in a specialty area where you expected to know your stuff and know the patho almost on the same level as the M.D. I was hired in the ICU right out of college, but have not stopped studying hemodynamic (SVR levels, treatments, what they mean, worries about a accelerated junctional rhythm, etc.) monitoring and patho books. In final, if you do not even study for the NCLEX, do you think I would look at you with confidence if you were by my side as a RN with a patient in DIC with 3 vasopressors running, PRBC, cryo and platelets infusing, also vented and PA cath implanted? The answer is no. Study and further solidify your education and expertise. Do not ever be satisfied that you know what you need to know and that is good enough (that will get you in trouble in the future)

Remember that you cannot believe everything you hear or believe. Many people "claim" to pass the NCLEX in 75 questions without studying, but how can you know this for sure? Did you watch them take the test? Did you receive their results? In other words, take no one's answer as definitive. The NCLEX is not meant for "leaving up for chance". The difference between a "good" and "great" nurse is how you educate yourself. The NCLEX will stress you, but has no comparison once you are out there on the floor on your own. Now, throw in a specialty area where you expected to know your stuff and know the patho almost on the same level as the M.D. I was hired in the ICU right out of college, but have not stopped studying hemodynamic (SVR levels, treatments, what they mean, worries about a accelerated junctional rhythm, etc.) monitoring and patho books. In final, if you do not even study for the NCLEX, do you think I would look at you with confidence if you were by my side as a RN with a patient in DIC with 3 vasopressors running, PRBC, cryo and platelets infusing, also vented and PA cath implanted? The answer is no. Study and further solidify your education and expertise. Do not ever be satisfied that you know what you need to know and that is good enough (that will get you in trouble in the future)[/quote']

The best chance is to REVIEW NCLEX questions.

Like many other posters pointed out, NCLEX is an application test; I did very well on my HESI exam; a 99.5% chance of passing, yet I still reviewed test question as and rationales; I studied questions from different resources and formatted questions in my practice exams to mimic the NCLEX-for example, did 75, then 105, 165, etc. so I can be PREPARED.

The best way to prepare for the NCLEX is understanding the four factors in being PREPARED as a entry level licensed nurse:

1. Health Promotion

2. Safe and Effective Care

3. Psychological integrity

4. Physiological Integrity

Understand which questions you need work on; know how to identify those questions, especially on NCLEX.

It doesn't hurt to be prepared; a prepared nurse is a better nurse.

Why do you want to do it without studying? Just to see if you can? Or are you trying to "prove" something to someone?

No one except yourself is going to know what preparation you did and how many questions you took to pass or fail the NCLEX. While I agree that a $500 course shouldn't be necessary right after graduation, you should at least be doing some NCLEX style questions as many others have said. Passing the NCLEX sooner gets you working sooner gets you paying off student loans sooner, IMHO! Why waste time taking a test you didn't study for, and then studying afterwards, when you could have studied a little and passed and been done with it.

I took my NCLEX directly out of nursing school, did not study at all for it at all post-graduation, and passed at 135 questions. My nursing program really crammed into us what we needed to know for the exam and had a giant emphasis on clinical experience and understanding the rationale of why we did what we did. If you're not sure whether or not you'll be successful, I would take a little time to do review questions or take a review course if you can afford it. I just knew that after two years of nursing school, I felt very well prepared. And yes, you would just have to take it over, but $200 each go-around is kinda steep if you're unsure of your chances to pass.

I got my authorization to test on a Monday and tested a day and a half later on a Wednesday and in a different state so I could get a seat faster. Seriously, don't let these people get you down. If you're smarter than the average bear then you can do it.

Also, to the poster who said that they wouldn't want the RN working on them in an emergency when that person didn't study, I could say nearly the same---why would I want a nurse who had so much trouble with the information that they had to study it multiple hours each day???? Some people just don't need to do that. It doesn't make them a better or worse nurse!!!!!!

I wouldn't spend money on a review course. I would buy a book with practice questions and go through it.

As a NCLEX tutor I would not recommend it. When it comes to this exam you hear all sorts of stories. The NCLEX exam is formatted differently from your nursing exams in school. Yes, they are all different kinds of people out there. Mozart was composing at the age of 4 years, but how many of us can even play the piano well after years of study? So I would not risk taking the exam without proper preparation.

Dr. Harriette

I believe it's only 200$ to retake an exam. 200$ to register with Pearson Vue when you send your paperwork & then 200$ to take the test. As long as your still in the time frame of your ATT it's only 200$ to retake your exam. if your ATT expires then you have to re-register, & pay the registration fee as well as the exam fee.

Once you test and fail you need to start the whole thing all over including applying to both your State BON and PearsonVue as well as paying for both the licensing fee to the BON and the cost of the NCLEX. You're ATT is only used once per try. So your BON will have to reissue authorization to pearsonvue again to have the ATT sent. (I had a couple of friends fail their first attempt and they told me they had to do everything all over again as if they were starting fresh).