Am I as crazy as everyone thinks I am?

[Work in Progress]

Hi all- I am sure I will get the same reactions from you that I have been getting from my classmates, but maybe some kindred spirit out there will tell me I am doing the right thing.

I graduated May 28. Did not take any review courses. I had been casually doing NCLEX questions for the entirety of the last semester. I started seriously studying at the beginning of May. I got my ATT June 8th and scheduled my test for June 17th (as in 36 hours from now). No one else in my class of 145 people is taking it before July because they "need" more time to study (I think some of them are fine, just a little over anxious). I have been consistently scoring 77-88 percent on my practice tests. I have always been a decent test taker and I feel like when I am studying I am just beating a dead horse.

My question is, am I being over-confident? Don't get me wrong, I am still terrified. But I know it will be worse if I wait longer. Everyone in my class thinks I am crazy for not taking Kaplan and for not waiting longer. Do you think I am crazy? Am I going to prove them right?

[caliotter3]

There are people who pass without studying. They did well in school and retained the material and they are good test takers. The beauty of all this is that if you fail, you can retake the test until you pass it (dependent upon the rules in your state). So eventually you will have spent enough time preparing for that inevitable pass. Good luck.

[itsmejuli]

I don't think you're crazy. You are the only one that knows what you know and you have your own comfort level.

Go for it!

I bet you'll do well and pass :)

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

Nope - statistics prove that the sooner you take the test after finishing school, the better you do.

When I did the NCLEX-RN, I didn't study at all, went in, did 75 questions, was out in less than 30 minutes. This was in 1994 and you could choose to do the pen/paper test or computer.

[EmmyBee]

I don't think that sounds crazy at all. I plan on taking mine as soon as possible, after I graduate in December. You have to do what you feel is right for YOU. Don't doubt yourself or let anyone pressure you into doing otherwise. Good luck! :)

[futrldnrse]

I don't think you're crazy. I graduated May 23, got my ATT June 1st and took the boards June 3rd at 8am, was I ready? heck no, only had the chance to look at information for 2 days and went in took the test, passed with 75 questions in 45 minutes. Not sure if one can ever really feel fully prepared for such a broad test so I said the what the heck because chances are if you didn't retain the information during school, how do a person expect to try to "get ready" in a couple months but everyone is different with testing and studying. I say go for it and good luck!

[Work in Progress]

Thank you guys for the support and reassurance. I think it will be just fine. I'll let you know how I feel tomorrow after the test, though.

[RNMeg]

I did exactly the same thing as you. I did about 50 review questions every other day, and read an NCLEX review book while I was at jury duty. That's the extent of my studying. I also took it as soon as possible after getting my ATT. I passed. It's all about knowing your own needs :) (You'll probably walk out of the test center feeling like you failed, and you'll regret not killing yourself studying like everyone else. I totally felt that way.) Good luck!

[elkpark]

What I don't get is the huge money-making industry that's sprung up in NCLEX review materials and courses. The NCLEX is supposed to measure that you learned what you should have in nursing school. If significant numbers of people didn't learn what they need to know to pass the NCLEX in nursing school, that's a different, larger problem.

I took the exam back when it was two 8-hour days of paper/pencil testing. I did some reviewing from my school textbooks, but not any major, organized "studying" for the exam -- and passed easily.