April 2008 NCLEX test takers, COME ON IN!

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Per the request of janina08 ;) I've started the April NCLEX takers support group. When do you take it? What are you using to study? Would anyone like to review any of the systems/meds that he/she feels weakest on? Let's keep each other in our prayers and good thoughts as we go through one of the biggest experiences of our lives. :) :nurse:

I will be joining your group. I just found out I failed again. I ran out of time with 163 questions. I did Kaplan which is good for strategy but not for a content review. I did part one on Suzanne's plan so I requested part 2. I am tied and angry, but what can I do? Just keep going. I hope together we will all pass. Good luck to all!

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Hello,add me for 10 of April ...

Good Luck ,

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I know how you feel keep your head up..You can do it....

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I will be joining your group. I just found out I failed again. I ran out of time with 163 questions. I did Kaplan which is good for strategy but not for a content review. I did part one on Suzanne's plan so I requested part 2. I am tied and angry, but what can I do? Just keep going. I hope together we will all pass. Good luck to all!

Hi,what is the part 2 of suzanne plan?

Thank you,

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add me to April test takers, I will be testing the last week in april for the third time.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Hi,what is the part 2 of suzanne plan?

Thank you,

Once you have completed the first part and sent a pm to Suzanne she will send the second otherwise we respect her wishes and do not discuss the plan

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Alright everyone. I had a few of you ask what I did to study for the NCLEX, so here it is... I hope this helps:

- First I had to figure out what my strengths and weakness were. Then I started a week in advance and really studied.

- These are the ONLY books that I studied out of and the were wonderful in prepaing me for the boards. They are not a lot of bull crap that just confuses your mind and make you think ten times harder about everything you learned. These books take all the things that you have learned in school and have broken it down to the simplest of simple. TRUST me I have seen them all and I SWEAR by these books.

-The HESI Book

- This is a book that helps you concetrate on the KEY things that the NCLEX test over. This is the link that will help you beter understand the book. It is a must have. It is very simplistic and easy to understand!!!

----------http://portals.elsevier.com/portal/HESI/ProductAction

- Nursing made Insanely Easy

- This is another book that breaks everything down to just the basics and uses pictures to help you remember different things and situations. This is another must have.

------------http://www.icanpublishing.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&category=1

------------http://www.icanpublishing.com/

- You can also get the Pharmocology Made Insanely Easy, I didn't get this one but have seen the book and it is AMAZING.

These two books were the only ones I had and they are VERY slim books. I just found my weaknesses, which were Maternaty and Psych and That is what I really concentrated on. Then I went through the rest of these two books form cover to cover --- and I am telling you that they are not some HUGE book that would be impossible to do ---- and anything that I did not understand I would go into one of my more in depth nursing books and read what I wasn't understanding and then go stright back to my made simple books.

If you have ANY questions please don't hesitate to drop me a line. I am telling you these books are WORTH buying and the are not that expensive, I thing for the both it might run you 80 dollars NEW and I am sure you can get them a lot cheaper!!!

You friend....

BriAnne:redbeathe:p

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Specializes in ED.

Thanks to start April group, we need all the help from every one, who can give us. I registered to give my exam in April 29 and I am currently taking KAPLAN review course and my school will also offer two days review. I am also using Lipp, Saundra.

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I have been studying daily and frankly at this point i'm just so unmotivated. I do q's daily and read the same material over and over and over again. I canceled my last test date because I did not feel ready but now that I have no date in stone I just feel bored and blaa. This test has taken over my life and I know that I shouldn't let it but I cant help not thinking about it every second of everyday. ALL my friends are nurses and working already... Should I just schedule a day and stick with it? I dont know if I feel this way because i'm ready to test AGAIN or if its just that this studying nonsense is getting old. My gray hairs are showing more and more!

Any advice would be greatly apreaciated. Thanks

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I have been studying daily and frankly at this point i'm just so unmotivated. I do q's daily and read the same material over and over and over again. I canceled my last test date because I did not feel ready but now that I have no date in stone I just feel bored and blaa. This test has taken over my life and I know that I shouldn't let it but I cant help not thinking about it every second of everyday. ALL my friends are nurses and working already... Should I just schedule a day and stick with it? I dont know if I feel this way because i'm ready to test AGAIN or if its just that this studying nonsense is getting old. My gray hairs are showing more and more!

Any advice would be greatly apreaciated. Thanks

I know how you feel. I've been studying since June '07, trying to relearn everything I've lost over 8 years. It's not easy, and some days, I just don't have the energy, will or patience to study.

I went ahead and scheduled my test for April and it's pretty much what has kept me motivated this last month. I go into "panic" mode every morning thinking about why I scheduled it so early. I just got my ATT on 3/3. But by the end of the day, after rereading and doing questions, I feel like I'm ready.

It's ok that you rescheduled but I think that having a set date and sticking with it will help you get through these overwhelming feelings. Don't second-guess yourself.

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Specializes in Cardiac/Telemetry.

Hey everyone!!! To those I have yet to put on the list, please go ahead and pm me so I can add you on. It's kind of hard having to go back a few pages and getting the names. :) Thanks in advance!

Anyway...

A few days ago, I posted the cranial nerves and their functions. Today, I'll be posting how to assess those CN.

Nerve [Classification] [Major functions] Assessment

I Olfactory Sensory Smell Have patient identify a familiar scent with eyes closed (usually deferred).

II Optic Sensory Vision (acuity and field of vision); pupil reactivity to light and accommodation (afferent impulse)Have patient read from a card or newspaper, one eye at a time. Test visual fields by having patient cover one eye, focus on your nose, and identify the number of fingers you’re holding up in each of four visual quadrants.

III Oculomotor Motor Eyelid elevation; most EOMs; pupil size and reactivity (efferent impulse)Check pupillary responses by shining a bright light on one pupil; both pupils should constrict. Do the same for the other eye. To check accommodation, move your finger toward the patient’s nose; the pupils should constrict and converge. Check EOMs by having patient look up, down, laterally, and diagonally.

IV Trochlear Motor EOM (turns eye downward and laterally)Have patient look down and in.

V Trigeminal Both Chewing; facial and mouth sensation; corneal reflex (sensory)Ask patient to hold the mouth open while you try to close it and to move the jaw laterally against your hand. With patient’s eyes closed, touch her face with cotton and have her identify the area touched. In comatose patients, brush the cornea with a wisp of cotton; the patient should blink.

VI Abducens Motor EOM (turns eye laterally)Have patient move the eyes from side to side.

VII Facial Both Facial expression; taste; corneal reflex (motor); eyelid and lip closureAsk patient to smile, raise eyebrows, and keep eyes and lips closed while you try to open them. Have patient identify salt or sugar placed on the tongue (usually deferred).

VIII Acoustic Sensory Hearing; equilibriumTo test hearing, use tuning fork or rub your fingers, place a ticking watch, or whisper near each ear. Equilibrium testing is usually deferred.

IX Glossopharyngeal Both Gagging and swallowing (sensory); tasteTouch back of throat with sterile tongue depressor or cotton-tipped applicator. Have patient swallow.

X Vagus Both Gagging and swallowing (motor); speech (phonation)Assess gag and swallowing with CN

IX. Assess vocal quality.

XI Spinal accessory Motor Shoulder movement; head rotationHave patient shrug shoulders and turn head from side to side (not routinely tested).

XII HypoglossalMotorTongue movement; speech (articulation)Have patient stick out tongue and move it internally from cheek to cheek. Assess articulation.

I can't, for the life of me, remember the mnemonic that goes with the CNs. If anyone can post it, it'll be greatly appreciated. :)

Reference: http://rn.modernmedicine.com/rnweb/article/articleDetail.jsp?id=120796

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here are some.

[color=#414141]1. some

[color=#414141]2. say

[color=#414141]3. marry

[color=#414141]4. money

[color=#414141]5. but

[color=#414141]6. my

[color=#414141]7. brother

[color=#414141]8. says

[color=#414141]9. big

[color=#414141]10. brains

[color=#414141]11. matter

[color=#414141]12. more.

[color=#414141]

[color=#414141]where

[color=#414141]s = sensory

[color=#414141]m = motor

[color=#414141]b = both

* on old olympus towering tops, a finn and german viewed some hops

this one is bad... and i am sorry for that --- but for some reason this is the one i could always remember -- sick i know and i am sorry!!!!

*oh oh oh to touch and feel virgin girls lady partss and

hymens--cranial nerves

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