Any one who just passed the NCLEX? Please share your experience and study tips.

arismendez_LVN · Oct 7, 2008

Alright, I just took my NCLEX on Thursday, found out I passed on Saturday and my license was posted online today (Tuesday). First of all let me start off my saying...RELAX!!! you already know the material...the NCLEX is simply a review of your year of nursing school! Try not to cram the night before the test! Start studying weeks in advance. I started 3 weeks in advance. There are plenty of review guides for the NCLEX and they are helpful. Try not to stick to one subject and KNOW YOUR DRUGS! I promise at least one pharm question will be on the test. The night before your test, dont even look at a book. Drop everything and have fun. Because at this point if you do not know the material you probably wont by the next day. Relax...its just one test. I walked in confident in myself and so should anyone taking the test. Look at what you have already accomplished! This is just one more step to saving lives! GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE! Hope this helps. o and btw...the number of questions has NOTHING to do with a passing or failing score. I had 87 and my computer shut off and I cried because I just knew i failed. But I didnt:redbeathe:nurse:

mrscoozy · Oct 7, 2008

i passed mine about a week and a half ago with 75 questions. it was my second attempt and the first time i had all 265. so the second time i used saunders 4th edition and i also did the ncsbn learning extension for 5 weeks. but i think the one thing that helped me the most was telling myself everyday that i was going to pass!! you must have confidence and go into that test center ready to succeed. i certainly didn't the first time, i was a big ball of nerves and i failed.

good luck to all!!

mrscoozy, rn:nurse:

HikingNinja, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, APRN, NP · Oct 8, 2008

Took and passed my test a couple of weeks ago. I did:

NCSBN learningext - most helpful

Saunders for content

Kaplan - strategies didn't work for the q's I got

Medspub - provided by my school (for a hefty fee!), didn't help much

Allnurses - infection control mnemonics, random facts sticky, tv meds

Just remember this when you sit down and read that first question and say "What the f***!! is this!!!". This test is unlike anything you have ever taken. The questions are no where near similar to the questions in the study guides you choose. Often, at least in my test, you could not use strategy to answer the questions. Just breathe, use your critical thinking skills, and when in doubt, go with your gut.

D

CleveRN2008 · Oct 8, 2008

Hi,

I just passed the NCLEX last week with 75 questions. I used the Kaplan complete review for the majority of my studying. I also did all of the questions in the SAUNDERS Comprehensive Review...very, very helpful.

I suggest doing at least 150 questions a day and just going over each and every rationale. That will help you the MOST. Also, buy pharmacology NCLEX review study cards as pharm is highly tested on NCLEX.

Hope this helps and best wishes to you! You will do GREAT!

WindyhillBSN · Oct 10, 2008

passed w/ 75q. did suzanne's 1st tip, then 3000q on cd and read all rationales, 100q per day. i also read the kaplan strategy book and went on the cdc website for isolation precaution tips.

sareebadi · Oct 13, 2008

I just passed the boards on the 5th try. I followed Suzannes advise and purchased the Saunders book. I know this helped. just hang in there and pray alot. Study Study Study and u will pass.

good luck to all. By the way I took it on my birthday ,oct 10 , :yeah: :chuckle:redbeatheat which time I turned 59. never too late. when u get frustrated put the book down and take a break.I also purchased the study module NCLEX Audio Learn. You can buy it on line and download it.

annievitugrn · Oct 13, 2008

..i took my nclex last january 16 in hk, that's actually 10 days before my birthday..i had 75 questions for 2 hours (i guess that's the longest 2 hours of my life!) it was so cold during that time in hong kong.. and i was jittering then after the test! i was so anxious! hahah! but before that, i allocated 2 months for my review. 1 month lecture / comprehensive review and 10 days final coaching (with saunders at my side) and spent the remaining days with self review, practicing test questions, reading past lectures over and over again! i sleep late at night :yawn: but still manage to wake up as early as i can. i made a schedule for each topic that i will study for the whole month. and it was really helpful. i make sure that i won't sleep until i'm done reviewing.. come to think of it, just do it for 2 months, concentrate.. pray and study hard. it's all worth it.. specially when u get the result.. :lol2:

heartintx · Oct 13, 2008

Well I don't know if i passed yet, but I advise not to take your NCLEX on a Friday and especially when Monday is a holiday! It is killing me!! :banghead:

nsng4me · Oct 19, 2008

have you thought about a review class?

I'm not sure if it's offered in your area...

it's called Excell...

Good luck...

lovelymar · Oct 19, 2008

try suzanne's plan it works

Tee1980 · Oct 24, 2008

I took the NCLEX-PN exam on October 17, and got my results on the 21st "unofficial", but i recommend Saunders 3rd Edition, this was a great book to use, alot things that were on my test were right there in that book, plain and simple. If your questions get harder and harder then you know you're doing good. Know your meds/classifications Example: ACE=pril, BETA=olol, Benzo=azo, aze, pam, know the side effects of the per classification, this is an easy way to remember what drugs cause what, Example: Antibotics like Gentamycin (cin)=cause nephrotoxicity, audiotoxicity. Remember priority ABC's, Airway, Breathing and Circulation, always treat a pt that is having breathing problems first, airway is always first!, Maslow Heirachry-this addresses the safety of a pt-physiological needs are always first when dealing with Maslow, and the Nursing Process=(data collection)-u would always assess a pt first, so if you're asked a question that ask your initial or first nursing action look for words in your options reflect data collection, if you do not see anything that reflects data collection move on to the second nursing process which is planning then implementation and last evaluation. Know infection control, what pts would be isolated, when is droplet, airborne, contact precautions are used. Use theses points to answer your questions, they really helped me. Also never read into a question asking yourself what if, just answer a question as if the pt is going to die and you need to prevent that from happening, (I know that sounds harsh but it did help). I hope some of this information helped you, I know you will do great, so relax, breathe and become a NURSE! GOOD LUCK! :nurse:

Sunshyne2008 · Oct 24, 2008

Does it really matter what book you study from?