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OCN Review advice please!



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Nov 12, 2008 04:00 PM

OCN Review advice please!


I will be taking the OCN exam for the first time in May 2009. Any advice on preparing for this exam?! Books to buy? or review courses?

Has anyone taken the ONS Online OCN Review Course?? If so, was it helpful? It's based off of Core Curriculum for Oncology Nursing (4th ed.).


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16 Comments
No. 1
from anc33
Old Nov 20, 2008, 08:29 PM

Default Re: OCN Review advice please!
I took the course and thought it was the biggest waste of money. It is basically just the book regurgitated into power point form. It does have quizzes but I recommend the core curriculum study guide instead. Good luck.
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No. 2
from LUVONCRN
Old Nov 22, 2008, 09:33 PM

Default Re: OCN Review advice please!
I used the Core curriculm study guide and I found that helpful. I also had a disk that was study questions that I found helpful. I did take a review course but it really wasnt helpful. I found that just doing the questions was helpful. Good Luck!
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No. 3
Old Nov 27, 2008, 01:13 AM

Default Re: OCN Review advice please!
I would jump right into the questions, and don't get stressed if you don't remember (or even understand) every little detail. What worked for me was to go through the OCN Core Curriculum Study Guide (the scary book with all the multiple-choice questions in it.) What I did was just start at the front of the book and start answering questions, even if I was guessing. I am impatient, and found that I worked best with immediate feedback-- so I'd do 10-20 questions, and then look up the answers-- and continue until I was done with all the questions in that chapter. If I bombed, I would open up my other book-- the Core Curriculum for Oncology Nursing (4th edition) and read that chapter quickly. Then I moved on to the next group of questions (or the next chapter). I spent a lot of time on oncologic emergencies because I did poorly on my review questions (even though I thought I knew them). Towards the end of my review, I was just so tired of questions that I just stopped. Before that point, I did a few chapters a night. I started studying 2 weeks before the test. If I had to do it again, I'd probably start a month before the exam and spread it out a little more to avoid burnout. I thought the test was hard, but fair-- no surprises-- I felt prepared by doing questions, and found that I learned more by reading why answers were wrong than by trying to read the outline format of Core Curriculum.
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No. 4
from Sammi15
Old Dec 05, 2008, 01:12 AM

Default Re: OCN Review advice please!
Originally Posted by LikesToSwim View Post
I would jump right into the questions, and don't get stressed if you don't remember (or even understand) every little detail. What worked for me was to go through the OCN Core Curriculum Study Guide (the scary book with all the multiple-choice questions in it.) What I did was just start at the front of the book and start answering questions, even if I was guessing. I am impatient, and found that I worked best with immediate feedback-- so I'd do 10-20 questions, and then look up the answers-- and continue until I was done with all the questions in that chapter. If I bombed, I would open up my other book-- the Core Curriculum for Oncology Nursing (4th edition) and read that chapter quickly. Then I moved on to the next group of questions (or the next chapter). I spent a lot of time on oncologic emergencies because I did poorly on my review questions (even though I thought I knew them). Towards the end of my review, I was just so tired of questions that I just stopped. Before that point, I did a few chapters a night. I started studying 2 weeks before the test. If I had to do it again, I'd probably start a month before the exam and spread it out a little more to avoid burnout. I thought the test was hard, but fair-- no surprises-- I felt prepared by doing questions, and found that I learned more by reading why answers were wrong than by trying to read the outline format of Core Curriculum.
OMG! I study the same way as you. I also study the NCLEX the same way too b/c I'm too impatient to go through 1000+ pages in the review book & I passed the board with 75 questions. I plan to take my OCN in Jun -> Aug 2009. I have to wait b/c I haven't met my minimum requirement to take the OCN exam. So, I'm really taking my time to study.

By the way, did you pass the OCN exam?
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No. 5
Old Dec 08, 2008, 01:44 AM

Default Re: OCN Review advice please!
Yep, I passed!
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No. 6
from globalRN
Old Dec 14, 2008, 05:13 PM

Default Re: OCN Review advice please!
use the Oncology Nursing Review CD with 1000+ questions. (by brownstone?)
Just keep reviewing until u are getting 95-100%.

I am sure u will be ready for OCN exam then.
That is how I passed AOCNP.
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No. 7
Old May 28, 2009, 03:06 PM

Default Re: OCN Review advice please!
Originally Posted by janellewhalen View Post
I will be taking the OCN exam for the first time in May 2009. Any advice on preparing for this exam?! Books to buy? or review courses?

Has anyone taken the ONS Online OCN Review Course?? If so, was it helpful? It's based off of Core Curriculum for Oncology Nursing (4th ed.).

I took the test today and failed. That was a hard test. Harder than the Nclex. I needed a 55 to pass, and scored 54. Talk about close.

In retrospect, I should have started studying sooner. I used the Core Curriculum book and study guide. Started reading the book a month ago and crammed the study guide questions during the last week. Not a good plan for passing.
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No. 8
Old May 29, 2009, 06:05 PM

Default Re: OCN Review advice please!
Originally Posted by shortlittleRN View Post
I took the test today and failed. That was a hard test. Harder than the Nclex. I needed a 55 to pass, and scored 54. Talk about close.

In retrospect, I should have started studying sooner. I used the Core Curriculum book and study guide. Started reading the book a month ago and crammed the study guide questions during the last week. Not a good plan for passing.

So sorry that you got that close!! I took the test today and didn't pass either. Got a 50. It was definitely a difficult test. I feel I would've done better if I'd just practiced more questions. That's how I passed the NCLEX. I got caught up studying the Core curriculum book and, like you, didn't practice questions til a week before.
Thank you all for the advice! I haven't been on this forum in months...probably would've helped if I'd came back and read all this advice a couple months ago!!
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No. 9
from RNFL0724
Old May 29, 2009, 11:12 PM

Default Re: OCN Review advice please!
Any advice on the AOCNP?? I plan on taking it later this year... hopefully September/October. What was everyone's thoughts on it, for those who have taken it??

Any help is greatly appreciated!
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