Took Nclex-rn on September 2013 and passed... My Study plan

Nursing Students NCLEX

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Hello Everyone,

I just wanted to share my nclex experience and study plan with you guys... I mainly used Saunder's and Kaplan Qbank to study. I devoted at least 4-5 hours per day for 3 weeks. I would break up the 4-5 hours each day into 2 each. In the morning I would do at least 100 questions and then during the evening I would not only look over the rationales of every question (right or wrong) butttt... I would WRITE down the rationales so that its in my memory. Any topic that I wasn't familiar with (or only knew a little bit about)... I used the Saunder's comprehensive book to fill in the topic so I get a better understanding (and again would write down facts in my rationales notebook). This way I was looking at a variety of questions and focusing on my weaknesses without wasting time. Lastly, before bedtime I would look over my notebook that I wrote the rationales down in and read it before going to bed.

I filled at least two of the 6in x 9in notebooks and read them over. That way I'm reviewing effectively. Remember guys this is a computer adaptive test, it tries to find a weakness. The trick is to fake no weaknesses.

Saunder's comprehensive book is helpful in filling in those gaps and the Qbank is helpful in getting you in the mode of doing questions. Did I feel the Kaplan question were like the nclex?? Yes, I did feel the questions were phased in the same way. I did the whole qbank.

My Nclex experience:

I had my test scheduled for 12:30 pm (which is around the time I would normally do questions for those 3 weeks). My mind was already in that questions doing zone and I was able to concentrate better because my brain and body were familiar with this routine. I got to the test center 30 minutes early and got myself situated. I said a quick prayer and started. I would only concentrate on the question in front of me. I did not try to look for a pattern in the questioning because I would be wasting brain energy.

As soon the computer shut off, I said another pray and then raised my hand.

Minutes after leaving, I went home and did the pearsonvue trick (pvt trick... made sure it said delivery successful) and it gave me that good pop up. Remember the number of questions has NOTHING TO DO WITH IF YOU PASSED OR NOT... DO NOT WASTE TIME LOOKING INTO THAT. Exactly 48 hours after I finished the test, the quick results were up and I passed!!!! (I took the test on a Friday and the results were up on Sunday)

I hope this helps someone out there...

Congratulations!!!! :)

I just ordered the Qbank so that does not come with the Q trainers (did not realize that was the case)... But I think doing the Q trainers gives you a good idea of where you stand. Complete the Q trainers if you can...

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!! Thank you for sharing and plan to follow your study plan. Taking a whole month away from work hopefully that's enough time.

It should be sufficient... Just make sure you stick to a schedule and schedule breaks in between. Do not exhaust yourself. Let me know how it goes. Good Luck!

Hi there. I recently took my NCLEX-RN as well. Very recently... I left the testing site 4 hours ago. In my case, I did the entire 265 questions; it was an exhausting, mind-numbing 5.5 hours. I left completely bummed; then again, I don't know many people who leave the test bubbly and happy. I spent almost 2 months reviewing Saunders (the last 3 weeks were entirely quizzes, exams, and looking over rationales on the CD). I did Kaplan for about 2 weeks, but had to cancel due to family emergency (I couldn't make their classes).

We don't have quickresults here in California, unfortunately. I tried the Pearson Vue Trick (confirmed that status was "Delivery Successful") and received the good pop-up "Our records indicate you have recently scheduled this exam. Please... ."

As much as I would love to believe this, I continue to be in a mode of nervous anticipation. You can't blame me lol. Well, I'll follow up with my official result when possible. *Fingers crossed*

I'll be praying you passed. :)

wow what a great feeling! Congrats!...im also using Kaplan QT so far, did you feel the test was terribly hard?

I felt like the computer does a good job to find you weakness and then drills those questions at you. That's where the discomfort during the test comes in. Don't second guess yourself. Read the questions carefully... If you used the Kaplan book .. you know how to read the question and then phase it differently to find out if your next action should be an assessment or an intervention.

I found the SATA questions simple enough and the drag drop were not bad either. (Kaplan's SATA and drag & drop were harder... I think)

I took the NCLEX for the second time today and got the 265 questions. I don't know if I should stress or not. I had a old high school classmate who took the test at the same time as me and also got the 265 questions. We were chatting after the test and found out that we got ALOT of the same questions. As of now neither of us knows if we passed or not. It took him 2 1/2 hours for to do all 265 and it took me 6 hours. But the test proctor also said that they haven't had anyone have the full 265 questions until the last 2 days and 3 of us have gotten it. HELP!!!

I don't know what the heck was the importance in the proctor saying that... ignore that comment... But try the pearsonvue trick (pvt) and see if you get the good popup. At least it will relieve some anxiety. Everyone works at a different pace... so don't worry about the time it took you. You never know if your friend just gave up at a certain point and started clicking on basically anything...

Specializes in LAD.

Congratulations! I recently took my board for the 3rd time and did not pass. I am planning to take it again I just don't know how to go by it since in Florida you're only allowed 3 times and you have to take remedial class so I need advice/help from anyone. Thank you! PS. If I can pm you indxtc112 I just want to ask you something about the board, please and thank you again.

@Indxtc112, Thanks. All I can do now is wait. I definitely shouldn't be in front of the computer though; I keep checking to see if the good popup is still there (yes, it's still there a day later... I need to stop checking)

I felt like the computer does a good job to find you weakness and then drills those questions at you.

That's exactly how I feel! I received pharm questions... more than I anticipated. I was told that pharm wouldn't be a big thing on the NCLEX (Pharm & Parenteral Nutr 12-18%) so I studied more on it's counterpart, parenteral nutrition (thinking I'd get may be up to 5 drug questions and get more parenteral nutrition... NOPE! I got maybe a couple parenteral nutrition and the majority were drugs (some of which I didn't even know existed...wth?). I went in there having pharm be my weak point... and the computer knew that! NCLEX purposely messes with your mind. Ofcourse, I studied the major drug classes (bronchodilators, antihypertensives, antidepression, antiarrhythmics, anticholinergics, pain meds, etc); never go to the test site empty handed when it comes to knowledge of drugs. Pharm was and still is my weak point (it's impossible to know them all by heart; on the clinical floor, nurses rely on resources, not their memory when it comes to medications).

But yeah... 265 questions.5.5 hours. Good PVT popup. Now I just have to wait (which is pretty hard).

Congratulations! I recently took my board for the 3rd time and did not pass. I am planning to take it again I just don't know how to go by it since in Florida you're only allowed 3 times and you have to take remedial class so I need advice/help from anyone. Thank you! PS. If I can pm you indxtc112 I just want to ask you something about the board please and thank you again.[/quote']

Sure... Email me at [email protected]

Hi. I also took my NCLEX RN today.... 265 6H. I got gazillion of priority questions till the end.. and my last question was a SATA.. Bombarded prioritization.. Did the PVT trick and got the good pop...... I hope this is a good sign..

GOODLUCK to us!!!

Congratulations!!!! and thank you for sharing. :up:

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