Advice on preparing for NCLEX-PN (seperated from How NCLEX works)

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Thanks Cashew for the info on how the nclex-pn works. I finish up the Lvn program about a year ago and I just recently got nclex-pn forms to take the boards. I just started back studying and it's all starting to come back to me, but I'm still very nerves on taking the test. What advice can you give me for preparing for the test, how long did you study before taking the exam? What type of questions or on the exam? What should I focous on? Did you take a review course before hand? What review books would you recommend? Any advice you feel is helpful please share.

Thanks

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Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.

Hello and welcome to the family of allnurses. Enjoy your stay and good luck!

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Well, I just took my boards on July 28,2005. I passed thank God. Anyway, I did the exam books and online. I memorized lad values and such. Then I went and took the exam it is mostly priority questions. Mostly you will need critical thinking skills. Good luck, Nancy

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Saunders makes a Comprehensive Review book for the NCLEX-PN exam.

I highly recommend this one. :)

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I used my NCLEX book and CD. I found a site on the net for 20.00 for 30 days with 3000 questions available at all times. Some of those exact same questions were on my NCLEX. Talk about being glad I had signed up for it. Good luck

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Specializes in Home Health, PDN, LTC, subacute.

Could you give us that address? Thanks.

-Deb

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I just studied from the Mosby's NCLEX-PN review book. Not sure of the version but it came out just this year so has the new format-type of questions in it. I took my test Aug 8 and, I had passed. Most of the questions I studied weren't the type of the questions that were on the test since they were more critical thinking based. Good luck!

Shell :)

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I used my NCLEX book and CD. I found a site on the net for 20.00 for 30 days with 3000 questions available at all times. Some of those exact same questions were on my NCLEX. Talk about being glad I had signed up for it. Good luck

what is the websit address

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Thanks Cashew for the info on how the nclex-pn works. I finish up the Lvn program about a year ago and I just recently got nclex-pn forms to take the boards. I just started back studying and it's all starting to come back to me, but I'm still very nerves on taking the test. What advice can you give me for preparing for the test, how long did you study before taking the exam? What type of questions or on the exam? What should I focous on? Did you take a review course before hand? What review books would you recommend? Any advice you feel is helpful please share.

Thanks

Since you've been out of school for a year, you might want to consider that review course. I'm an older student (50), and I had trouble remembering things. I graduated from school (a LOUSY program, I might add), then I immediately spent about a solid month reviewing on my own. I started a brand new notebook, and went thru the NCLEX book chapter by chapter. At this point you don't need to know all the details, but you still need to have a grasp of the big picture--like how the heart works for example(left ventricle is good spot for hrt attack). I picked up things that I didnt get from school. I chose to skip the maternity/ped sections. The old NCLEX tests tended to focus on maternity, but I don't think they do anymore. My test and the friends I have talked to didn't get a lot of maternity questions.

Also, I memorized the basic lab values, and certainly the normal vital sign ranges. This really helped me a lot. I was lucky and didn't get too many drug questions. The fill in the blank questions were all math questions--and the math was sooooo easy!! From talking to my friends and my own experience, lots of questions were priority type questions. You'll be given a brief summary of 4 pts, and asked which pt do you take care of first?

I did pass the test, but it was more than the minimum of 85 questions. I advise you to pause periodically during the test--take a mental break. You've got plenty of time to take the test!! And bring water w/ you!!

Good luck--hope this helps. (PS, I'm the wife of Papaw John,RN)

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Specializes in LTC, Agency, HHC.
Well, I just took my boards on July 28,2005. I passed thank God. Anyway, I did the exam books and online. I memorized lad values and such. Then I went and took the exam it is mostly priority questions. Mostly you will need critical thinking skills. Good luck, Nancy

Congrats to you! I took mine on July 27 and passed!! :balloons:

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Specializes in LTC, Agency, HHC.
Thanks Cashew for the info on how the nclex-pn works. I finish up the Lvn program about a year ago and I just recently got nclex-pn forms to take the boards. I just started back studying and it's all starting to come back to me, but I'm still very nerves on taking the test. What advice can you give me for preparing for the test, how long did you study before taking the exam? What type of questions or on the exam? What should I focous on? Did you take a review course before hand? What review books would you recommend? Any advice you feel is helpful please share.

Thanks

I would recommend a Kaplan book. I didn't take a review course I didn't want to waste the money, I shelled out enough money as it was!!But it might be beneficial for you to take a review course since you've been out of school for so long. You can't study for the boards like you would an OB exam. And even though some say there may not be a lot of OB questions, that's not so. Every question is generated by computer so for all you know if OB was your worst part, you will get all OB questions. My friend got a lot of pharm questions, and another got mostly OB so don't think you won't get any of one type of question. There really isn't anything to focus on in general as you don't know what kind of questions you will get since they are pulled from a pool of questions and are adapted to your skill level. I started studying about 2 weeks before my exam as I am not a long term studier, I am a crammer. Do as many questions as you can. I was trying to aim for the 2 hours a day that they suggest and didn't quite reach that goal. They also say the more questions you answer the better your chances are of passing. Critical thinking skills is what you really need. The kaplan RN book (even though you are taking the LVN boards) is really helpful, and has test taking tips and how to break down the question to get to the right answer. Good luck to you! If I passed so can you!! :balloons:

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please tell where i could find that 20.00/30days questionnaires. Many thanks.

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