Advice for the NCLEX-RN

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Specializes in Cardiology/Telemetry.

Hello,

I have recently applied to sit the NCLEX-RN exam and am a little nervous. Can anyone suggest some good study guides, either book or online course, that helped them to prepare. I am a Canadian RN with 10-11 years experience. Should I study hardcore or do I have nothing to worry about? Any advice would be helpful!!!

Thanks in Advance.

Laura

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I would suggest getting Saunders do exam questions and see how you scores are from there. If your scores are higher than 75 your ok..but if your scoring less than 75 on individual sections read the chapters and anything you dont understand and try again.. understand the scope of practice of RN's her in the US since they may be diff in the US....hope this helps

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Flight.

Biggest piece of the NCLEX puzzle is understanding the test itself. Your "real world" experience may actually work against you at times. The test really is not about facts its about process, and how you "do it by the book". Say away from books that have questions like "if the pt has a low BG then you would...". NCLEX questions require the reader to infer what the question is asking "the pt is shaky and diaphoretic, the nusre would anticapte the order of..." Lots of books out there that don't ask questions at the NCLEX level.

Saunders is great for content review and, as you will find on this site, is well recommended. Kaplan is good for strategy and helps you understand exactly what the NCLEX questions are asking. A combination of these two books would really help.

Kaplan also has an online course that many have had good expierences with. Its $418 bucks, but many have said its worth the money. Other online courses are out there and are cheaper, such as ATI, but come with less enthusatic reviews.

Rememebr to always ansewer the question "by the book" and don't let your expierence make you stray from the correct answer. NCLEX is designed to lure you into these traps. Read Kaplan, review with Saunders and take an online course if you really want to feel confident.

Best of Luck!

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Many people recommend using the Saunders Comprehensive Review. Do as many questions as possible and study the rationales. Make sure that you plan for enough time to prepare before you schedule your test date. You might want to take one of the live or online review courses to get you started, if you can afford one. Otherwise, study diligently on your own. Good luck.

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Specializes in Pulmonary, MICU.

I will either add credibility to the above posts (or beat a dead horse), but Saunders is an amazing tool. The key to the NCLEX-RN is remembering what it is...it is a test of PATIENT SAFETY. Keep that in mind on every question. If you choose the answer that is SAFEST for the patient, you can't go wrong. The NCLEX-RN is testing to see if you can safely practice patient care, and the content knowledge is secondary or inferred. If you have time, you might also look at the Hurst Review stuff. Marlene Hurst advertises a 98% first time pass rate and her stuff is less on review of knowledge and more on getting your mind into the NCLEX-RN thinking mode. It's somewhat expensive, but a lot of hospitals offer reimbursement for review classes (like Hurst) if you keep the receipts. Good luck!

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Saunders is the best.

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Specializes in heart failure and prison.

I did Kaplan on line and Saunders 4th edition for the pharm. They was both great, in addition, I created my own nclex study guide. i.e. if the question was about cushing syndrome or an air emboli. I wrote down all the signs, symptoms and the interventions. I also made 3/5 cards for my lab values. I passed because I knew the content, the test taking skills helped some. What I liked most about kaplan, they have on line videos for cane/crutch walking, chest tubes and they have test taking skills on their also. Good luck.

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i recently did nclex and passed at 75...the only advice i can give you is to get saunders and take that nervousness away. the exam is not that hard, what makes it hard are the worries we make upon ourselves. it clouds our judgement and test taking skills. good luck!

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I'm a student and haven't taken it yet (currently studying) but I just wanted to echo the praises for Saunders, and say that if you have an iphone or ipod touch, you might want to know that there is now a Saunders NCLEX-RN Q&A app!! It lets you quiz yourself on the go, and even customize the quizzes to the type of questions you need the most help with. Great for on-the-fly studying when you don't have hours to hunker down with books:) Good luck!

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Specializes in heart failure and prison.
i recently did nclex and passed at 75...the only advice i can give you is to get saunders and take that nervousness away. the exam is not that hard, what makes it hard are the worries we make upon ourselves. it clouds our judgement and test taking skills. good luck!

I truly do agree with you. The nclex in my opinion is was not hard. I felt the test that I got in nursing school and Kaplan questions was harder than the boards. I am not saying to relax on studying, but I think the nclex exam is way to hyped up.

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Like someone mentioned above, sometimes your experience as a nurse can work against you on the Nclex. Like my friend told me, focus on the Nclex hospital, where you have plenty of times for patient care and you never get overwhelmed. The Nclex hospital never short on staff and you must be perfect in every move you make. Good luck to you!!!

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Specializes in Cardiology/Telemetry.

Thanks for the replies. I'm sure I will do fine. I will look into all of your suggestions.

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