Another question for those who have taken the test.

I don't want to freak you out but I felt the NCLEX tested neither. I took it yesterday and, although I can't remember much about the actual content, I do feel that it didn't test content more than it tested "What would you do as a nurse?" The priority questions were vague but if you use your ABC's and if none of the answers pertain to that, then what would you check? It was a very strange strange test, unlike any I have ever done.

I really think they are testing a bit of knowledge but a lot on how you do under pressure. I mean, come on - I took 2 years of nursing school and only had a 75 question 45 minutes test prove that I will be a good nurse? Seems very weird and a bit scary to me.

I haven't passed yet, so you may have to throw eveything I said out the window :)

I would say the questions are more application/analysis based like what are you going to do first, who are you going to see first, what would the nurse be most concerned about. You obviously need to be familiar with content to answer those types of questions, but I didn't get many straight forward knowledge based questions. They assume that you already learned the content in nursing school. They want to know what you are going to do with the knowledge that you have. Now that I've taken the test and passed, I think the most helpful way of studying for me was to answer practice questions. It got me thinking the "NCLEX way" and I retained more information that way rather than trying to study facts from a book. I thought the Mosby Prioritization and Delegation book was very helpful. Good luck studying!

My test was alot of prioritizing and delegation. The majority of my questions had a list of patients, and I had to either pick who I would assess first, or who I would assign to the LPN or nursing assistant. I also had quite a few check all that apply. While it didn't FEEL like it questioned content...you obviously needed to know the patients and diagnoses to answer who you'd assess.

it was a weird test nothing ive ever taking like for example in a question multiple choice two answers werent it but the 2 that sounded good both sounded good ...it was like picking the best ...when they werent both really great... thats sounds dumb huh...also i had questions on which pt should u discharge first (they were all bad!) so i guess or picked the really unstable one....i hope i did good im thinking like a nurse..GOSH

i deserve to be a nurse...im just waiting for my results now...i want to pass out...so the time will go by faster LOL:idea:

I agree that nursing test questions are an odd bunch.

In regard to preparing, review a test prep book and read the section about how to take the test and how the questions should be read. Review the rationales for the correct choices. Unfortunately, I didn't feel that questions really reflected much on useful knowledge you'll need as a nurse. But you've got to pass it so prepare accordingly.

The NCLEX questions are definately application of nursing knowledge, even though you will get questions about stuff you have never heard of before! LOL!

The test was a killer, I would never want to take it twice. I passed with 75 questions. When I came out, I thought surely I failed. But, mostly everyone feels that way. Im sure youll do fine. Practice, practice, practice.