Worried about NCLEX... Been out of school 3 months

Nursing Students NCLEX

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Long story short, I walked in graduation in May, but I won't be able to take the NCLEX until late August/early September.

I finished all my nursing courses in May but had a few hanging credits I had to get, so I decided to take those over the summer. I took an EMT course... And immediately after the course ended, I passed both the National Registry practical and cognitive exams. But now It's time to study for the NCLEX...

Here's my problem: while I'm studying for the NCLEX, I noticed that I seem to be forgetting a lot of fairly easy things, like "where does the fluid come from with ascites?" Once the answer was said (the vascular space), it made me remember, "Oh yeah! Hypoalbuminemia contributes to fluid leakage, and where else would it come from?". but the fact that I couldn't immediately answer it really bothers me. To be fair, i was listening to an audio file so I didn't really have time to sit down and think about it before the answer was said, but still...

I feel like I'm forgetting easy things and that maybe the EMT course got me out of a "nursey" way of thinking; for example, on a question about PPE, I thought immediately, "gloves on every single patient." but forgot all about the 'human touch' stuff, and that it isn't necessary to wear gloves when doing vitals.

Are these concerns legitimate, and would it serve me well to take an NCLEX review course? Which course should I take that will focus most heavily on reteaching the basic foundations and "ways of thinking", rather than just pure content?

Thanks in advance for any answers.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Moved to the NCLEX forum

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I was out of school for 2 years and just passed last week my first go around ,trust me your good lol

i suggest Uworld ,lachatrity , and Saunders ! You won't go wrong .

I read Saunders front to back made notes then I started Uworld after and would write down rationales on things I guessed on and ones I got wrong and review them nightly before bed and once I woke up .

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Specializes in Intensive Care Unit (Trauma & Cardiac).
I was out of school for 2 years and just passed last week my first go around ,trust me your good lol

i suggest Uworld ,lachatrity , and Saunders ! You won't go wrong .

I read Saunders front to back made notes then I started Uworld after and would write down rationales on things I guessed on and ones I got wrong and review them nightly before bed and once I woke up .

How long it took you to finish the SAundrs book?

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How long it took you to finish the SAundrs book?

1 month .. 3 -4 chapters a day

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Specializes in Intensive Care Unit (Trauma & Cardiac).
1 month .. 3 -4 chapters a day

and how did you write your notes? aside from saunders, did you use any other reviewer for content? and did you answer the online exams provided? what was your average score you're getting?

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Just brush up on Prioritizing patients, Prioritizing symptoms to monitor, delegation of tasks, different traction and balance splints, isolation req's for various illnesses, med math and pharm. You'll be good. It hasn't been that long and you kept your brain going with the EMT course....

...NCLEX is not as bad as you think.

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I also graduated in May and failed my NCLEX on my first attempt in June. I've been dealing with similar issues to you with not immediately knowing the answer but recognizing it in rationales. I find that what's been helping me the most is the Hurst Review. I have also been using UWorld and have the Saunders and Lacharity books. For me, this review is best because I struggle to learn and absorb things reading from books, I personally learn better when I'm listening to someone explain things to me. I just wanted to give this suggestion in case you feel that you are the same way.

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Specializes in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.

I had the same struggle as I waited for the ATT that seemed like it would never come. I was kicking myself in the butt about a lot of things I was missing either because I was burning out on studying or because they seemed "easy." I think you might be burning out a little bit (which is why I'll have to disagree with the people who say you need to throw multiple resources into your studying regimen). You just did your EMT course and NREMT so you're likely pretty much over with tests at the moment, whether you really feel it right now or not.

Because I waited so long for my ATT (and had no inkling when it would come but I knew I needed to take my test as soon as I received authorization), I had to make sure I stayed ready so I didn't have to get ready (I had a job offer that needed me to have my license ASAP). But, it just keep on feeling like the ATT would never come and I was getting so tired of studying. The distance between my present state and graduation just kept growing and I felt like I would miss the basics more and more with each passing day. So, I took a brief break (about 1.5-2 weeks) and let myself just be a normal person for a moment. I was doing Kaplan (and had taken the review course; if you really feel like you have no clue where to start studying, then take a review course but it's not absolutely necessary) which I felt was harder than what I ended up with on the NCLEX. As soon as I got my ATT, I had to schedule myself to sit for the test 3 days later and everything seemed to come back with much more clarity (also, terror).

The realization that the test does not pass you on "content-only" questions but rather on "analysis and synthesis" is so important. You may not quite remember what the cause of ascites is, but you have a general understanding of the situation (with that test, you may get a question containing information about a patient presenting with ascites but you are actually answering something pertaining to hepatic encephalopathy or even something weirder and further away like dietary teaching) and can intervene from there. So, as others have said, focus on your prioritization, delegation and application knowledge. That's where the passing level lies.

Also, take a break. You deserve/need it.

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