Anyone passed the NCLEX?

suzanne4, RN · Jun 24, 2006

There are no insider tips, each exam is different. You need to feel comfortable with the material, and how the exam asks questions.

Every nurse in the US that has graduated since NCLEX went into effect has taken the exam, you cannot get a license without passing it.

veryhopeful1 · Jun 25, 2006

Well, I took it, and haven't found out the results quite yet... but I seem to have gotten the type of questions what the majority of people posting on this website have gotten as well.

Basically:

Prioritization: LOTS! Who to see first, what situation to handle first, stuff like that...
Delegation: What case/patient do you assign to the LVN? To the UAP?
Infection Control: Weird... but I got lots of these, like what would be the appropriate attire for this particular case? On a side note, does anyone think that these would be easy level questions? Or is that in my head?
Math: Well, I got no questions on this. My Kaplan review instructor said that there probably wouldn't be much math on the exam, so if this is your weaker area, don't sweat it
Meds: There's no way to predict which medication out of 10000000000 meds are on the exam, but if you know your basic medications and suffixes (beta blocker = -olol, ace inhibitor = -pril, etc.) maybe you'll be able to figure them out. I got a few of these, nursing considerations about meds and stuff like that...

Anyone... feel free to correct me or add more...

DSplendid · Jun 25, 2006

my only tip, is to live and breath by saunders review book...

i also used mosby's prioritize/delegation book, and really loved it. i felt that book really helped me. and of course, i do like kaplan. when it gets closer, i would suggest ordering mosby cat online. i found it to be a great tool.

good luck, sending positive vibes your way.

AdonaiLoveable · Jul 9, 2006

I recommend taking the exam soon after graduation -- probably within a month of graduation. Don't procrastinate. If you have problems organizing and structuring a study plan and sticking to it, consider taking a review course like The Hurst Review (I took it and it was great!) or Kaplan (some of my classmates took that and liked it too). A good class can be worth the expense I think.

Do practice prioritization, management and delegation, and infection control questions like the poster "VeryHopeful1" says. I think many of those questions are the higher level questions and you want to get to that level of questions and get them right.

Many of the easy level questions seemed to be more pure knowledge based -- the "either you know it or you don't" type of questions. So for those you need to know lab values, vital signs, what to look out for with certain drugs, etc.

I used the Saunders and Lippincott's books for more practice review questions after I did all the ones I got from The Hurst Review.

Everyone seems to walk out of the test feeling uncertain about how they did. I was sure I had failed because some of those prioritization and delegation questions look like they have more than one right answer, but I learned that I had passed and so did all my classmates who also felt like I did after taking the exam. Its normal! Just try not to be too anxious until your results actually come in because if you put in the study time, chances are you passed.

Good luck!

Adonai

NurseBunky · Jul 9, 2006

I just found out today I passed. I too used Saunders (book and CD). I also used Lippencott, and Exam Cram CD's!! I spent about 4+ hours per day studying and even got with my study group from school a couple of times. Do at least 3000 questions before you take the exam and go over areas you have trouble with. I would also study up on medications b/c I got quite a few med side effect questions. It wasnt the easy one's either. You know..the ones you can use your suffix's with like (Aminoglycosides=mycin) Nope..I got dang gumb cholesterol lowering questions and I didnt know what the side effects were b/c I was so focused on the other meds!! Good luck to you!!