What I wished someone would have told me the first go around!

Nursing Students NCLEX

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Hello all! I recently passed the NCLEX-RN this past week. I failed it the first time earlier this year, and I am kicking myself for it. Although I am very blessed for the 3 months I've spent as a CNA, I wish I could have been working as an RN.

One thing I wish someone would have told me before taking the exam was about the priority questions. I read something the week before the test that changed the way I took the test. Marlene Hurst (author of Hurst NCLEX review book) says in the first couple chapters, that the writer of the question wants to know that the nurse answering the question is a competent, safe PRO-ACTIVE nurse. By this she meant that when a question asked what would you do FIRST, or what is the PRIORITY, or INITIALLY, it doesn't always mean "assess". I always was tought that "We are nurses, and blah blah we assess and blah blah." Well, that caused me to fail the first go around. Mrs. Hurst says that these questions mean that if there was ONE thing that you could do to keep the patient safe, or, in many cases on NCLEX, alive, what would you DO? If the answer says to assess breath sounds, or assess vitals, make SURE there isn't an option that is giving a life-saving action. I STRONGLY recommend that you read this book (at least the first 9 chapters or about 175 pages.) It took me a few hours to read, and I guarantee that it is the reason I passed. It doesn't have the greatest wealth of nusing knowledge, but as far as test taking skills, this one beats them all.

Just a little word I wished someone would have told me.

Also, His almighty plan doesn't always agree or coincide with our's! I found this out the hard way. Me and my wife have grown leaps and bounds over the last couple months after failing the first one, but He will always be there with His hand on my shoulder loving me with all His might until we meet again in Heaven. Thank you Lord for showing me humility, humbleness, compassion, and unconditional love over the last couple of months; I sure am lucky to have you in my heart.

Good luck all!!!

Cajun

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Congratulations!!!:balloons::balloons::balloons:

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CONGRATS!!!!!!:yeah::yeah::yeah:

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Specializes in Med Surg, Telemetry, Long Term Care.

congrats cajun

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Specializes in medical/surgical.

Congratulations Cajun :smiley_aa

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congrats cajun! I have to agree;prayer really works!:yeah::yeah::yeah:

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Specializes in Tele.

that is great advice!

I passed using everything kaplan, I really liked that progam, I did everything and passed first time. I also listened to the Helen Feuer audio.

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Great post! Good for you, and most of all, congratulations.:yeah:

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Specializes in NICU.
Hello all! I recently passed the NCLEX-RN this past week. I failed it the first time earlier this year, and I am kicking myself for it. Although I am very blessed for the 3 months I've spent as a CNA, I wish I could have been working as an RN.

One thing I wish someone would have told me before taking the exam was about the priority questions. I read something the week before the test that changed the way I took the test. Marlene Hurst (author of Hurst NCLEX review book) says in the first couple chapters, that the writer of the question wants to know that the nurse answering the question is a competent, safe PRO-ACTIVE nurse. By this she meant that when a question asked what would you do FIRST, or what is the PRIORITY, or INITIALLY, it doesn't always mean "assess". I always was tought that "We are nurses, and blah blah we assess and blah blah." Well, that caused me to fail the first go around. Mrs. Hurst says that these questions mean that if there was ONE thing that you could do to keep the patient safe, or, in many cases on NCLEX, alive, what would you DO? If the answer says to assess breath sounds, or assess vitals, make SURE there isn't an option that is giving a life-saving action. I STRONGLY recommend that you read this book (at least the first 9 chapters or about 175 pages.) It took me a few hours to read, and I guarantee that it is the reason I passed. It doesn't have the greatest wealth of nusing knowledge, but as far as test taking skills, this one beats them all.

Just a little word I wished someone would have told me.

Also, His almighty plan doesn't always agree or coincide with our's! I found this out the hard way. Me and my wife have grown leaps and bounds over the last couple months after failing the first one, but He will always be there with His hand on my shoulder loving me with all His might until we meet again in Heaven. Thank you Lord for showing me humility, humbleness, compassion, and unconditional love over the last couple of months; I sure am lucky to have you in my heart.

Good luck all!!!

Cajun

Hi Cajun:

Is the Hurst review book available in stores or online?

Thanks & Congratulations to you :yeah:

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Specializes in Med/Surg, ICU, ER, Peds ER-CPEN.

Congratulation!! My entire class is signed up for a 3 day review with Hurst, we've heard excellent things about them and were very impressed with the mini sessions we attended during convention

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NICURN2B08,

There is a Hurst book here in San Antonio in a bookstore that I read through. I know that my nursing class back home in LA went through the 3 day course and the only good thing about it was the explanation on "how" to answer the questions. As far as content, I liked the Saunders and Kaplan reviews better.

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yes, questions on NCLEX can be frustrating...just today I had a question from nclex online preparation about seizures.

What should you do when patient is in bed and gets seizures?

Ok-the corect answer was "loose his clothes". I marked "put him on the side" and then I would loose his clothes. Kaplan book says "loose his clothes" almost in last position, for them it is not that important. They say "put him on the side"

Drexel thinks differently. Books and instructions can be sometimes frustrating.:banghead:

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