Australian nurse stressed out about taking NCLEX exam

Published

:nurse: Hi everyone,

My husband and I are returning to the USA (he's from Az) and I have my Master's in Critical Care nursing in Australia. I have about 12 months to study for the exam but I am stressed out already.

My biggest worry is that the drugs have different names here in Australia and we also use the metric system. I have to learn all new trade and generic names as well as not use the metric system.

Does anyone have any tips on what I should focus on for the exam? What is the major themes that the exam goes on? Where should i focus my study time?

I wish there was someone in Melbourne who could study with me.... If you are in Melbourne and are going to sit the NCLEX exam contact me please!

Even if you're overseas, we can skype?

Thanks for reading my rant guys! :redpinkhe

Take Care!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Moved to the NCLEX forum where there are many threads discussing the exam and what worked for them

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi. Im from Sydney and am stressing out big time about the NCLEX as well. I happen to be studying at the moment! I have no time frame to do the exam but my hubby really wants to get to the US early next year. We are both Australians and have no idea where we will go but have got approval from New Mexico Nursing Board. That process took sooooo long thanks to CGFNS. 14 months in total!

Any way from what I have read on this site you have to sign an agreement when you do the exam not to give any info out to anyone about the questions/content.

I have done a couple of practise Q's and noticed that metric and imperical were added.

I am just starting with Saunders Comprehensive review and going through chapter by chapter, basically refreshing my very rusty brain. Ive been nursing for 18 years but have been a midwife for 15 of those!

As for Pharmacology. OMG. I dont know where to start. I have the small Kaplan 'medications you need to know for the exam' book, but so far I have opened it and closed it again!!! I have noticed that they have generic names as well as other common names with each med. Some are very familiar.

Hope this helps. I rekon heads down and bums up with the study doing one area at a time and add some practise Q's when you feel confident in an area. Im sure we will chat soon!

:rolleyes:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

"...approval from New Mexico Nursing Board. That process took

sooooo long thanks to CGFNS. 14 months in total!14 months!"

14 months! Are you kidding me? Can you contact any state nursing board there? It's lucky I have seen you message or else I would've been left high and dry.

I'm in Melbourne and I did the same thing with the medication book. I have also purchased another medication book but i forget the author as I have lost the receipts but they are in the post now. The book Depository in the UK have heaps of books for the exman and they were all heaps cheaper than any book listed in ebay. I then compared them to reviews of each book on amazon.

Kim :confused::nurse:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Pharmacology Made Easy for NCLEX-RN

By Linda Waide is the other medication book i bought and also

NCLEX Review 4000: Individual Version

By Springhouse

They were both highly recommended on Amazon.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Mental Health.

How did things go for you? I left you a post in another place, but in case you don't see it, here is my situation:

I am an American and have been considering coming to Australia for nursing school. D you think that's a huge mistake unless I plan to stay in Australia? My main issue with US programs is that the prerequisite requirements are not standardized. What's required for one program is different from another. You could take the prerequisites you need for one university, but if you don't get in and you want to apply to another, you might have to go back to school to take whatever extra classes they require. It's so frustrating!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I had no problems with NCLEX and passed 1st time with 75 questions now licensed and working in U.S. I did my bachelor of nursing in early 1990 and it covered all areas unlike the same nursing degrees now days. You could do a 4 yr BSN in Australia rather than the standard 3 yr degree if you are thinking of returning to the U.S. You will pay more for a degree as a non resident in Australia keep that in mind. Good luck with your decision.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Hi to all,

I'm am preparing o take my Nclex test the end of April.

I am an overseas RN from an non English speaking country. after two attempt I'm sure I will pass this test this time although I am scare for pharmacology. I'm in Canberra and I'm looking for a study mate, it can be a distant study mate to share ideas or study materials.

Good luck to all, we will nail this test soon or later.

Cheers

Clau12

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Mental Health.

Congratulations! I have been accepted to the nursing program at QUT. I'm trying to decide whether or not to go. If I go I would graduate 10 months earlier than if I stay in the US. The downside is I assume I would have to take some bridge classes in order to be able to pass the NCLEX. Time wise then it may work out to be the same. I just don't know what to do. It would be so helpful to talk to someone who is from the US that studied in Australia. By chance do you have a contact? What would be your general opinion. It's hard to weight the experience against extra studies, however, if I stay in the States I can't start a BN program until January. I've been accepted at QUT for July. Like I mentioned previously if I go to QUT I would graduate approximately 10 Months earlier than staying in the US. Any thoughts or contacts to help me make a decision would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks! Carter

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Congratulations! I have been accepted to the nursing program at QUT. I'm trying to decide whether or not to go. If I go I would graduate 10 months earlier than if I stay in the US. The downside is I assume I would have to take some bridge classes in order to be able to pass the NCLEX. Time wise then it may work out to be the same. I just don't know what to do. It would be so helpful to talk to someone who is from the US that studied in Australia. By chance do you have a contact? What would be your general opinion. It's hard to weight the experience against extra studies, however, if I stay in the States I can't start a BN program until January. I've been accepted at QUT for July. Like I mentioned previously if I go to QUT I would graduate approximately 10 Months earlier than staying in the US. Any thoughts or contacts to help me make a decision would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks! Carter

Have you even looked into the accelerated BSN ( which is a 2 year program) or direct entry MSN programs in the US.
Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Neuro ICU, SICU.

well the good news is that we use the metric system here in america (in the medical field); everything is mg, kg, ml, liters, etc.... should be pretty close to what you are used to...

i recommend saunders comprehensive nclex review... the book is yellow and white... the cd rom that came with was very useful.

i wouldnt stress so much, you have plenty of time....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
14 months! Are you kidding me? Can you contact any state nursing board there?

Nursing licensure in the US is handled by each individual state. You can apply for licensure in any US state you choose, but you will need to be licensed in the state in which you wish to work (and, presumably, but not necessarily, live). You can apply to and be licensed in a different state if you wish, but you will still have to apply for licensure in the state in which you want to work, and applying somewhere else first will take longer and cost more money.

Best wishes for your journey!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion