Published Jun 22, 2020
Rachel_Oli
1 Post
Hello!
I wanted to know: how you studied for NCLEX? What are the best study guides and preps? (paid or free). I`m a little lost on where to start and how to have a study schedule that works for me, and also what I need to know before taking the test (like tips on how the test works, techniques, questions model...)
Many thanks ?
P.s: I have at least 4 months to study and prepare for the test.
AB3614, BSN, RN
26 Posts
Hi! I highly recommend UWorld as studying material for the NCLEX! I completed every question in the test bank as well as wrote down rationales from missed questions on content I may have not been the greatest at. There is also a note and flash tool within UWorld but I found it helped more to write it out. If you end up using UWorld, I wouldn’t recommend writing the rationales word for word bc you’ll have hundreds of pages of notes. After I wrote the rationales, I would re read the rationales until it was stuck in my brain and I could recite it from memory. I recommend that you divide the number of questions in the test bank by the number of days you want to study/ have before the test and do approximately that number of questions each day. UWorld gives you a variety of different questions types from sata, hot spots, calculations, and drag and drop. I will say that UWorld questions are increasingly more difficult that the questions on the NCLEX but I feel as if that prepared me well.
my school also made us pay for Kaplan so I also used that QBank from time to time bc people said that Kaplan is more similar to the NCLEX. However, the rationales on Kaplan are far less superior to those on UWorld!
hope that helped!
BONBON, BSN, RN
36 Posts
Started out with a Lippincott Q&A 13e book from amazon based on recommendations from coworkers who had passed. I got the book as a way to keep me on track. I mainly wanted practice questions to get a feel for answer NCLEX style questions. Because at the end of the day, you don't have time to review ALL material you've ever learned in school. I ended up getting a free UWorld account from someone who finished their NCLEX and had 2.5 weeks left on it. I used that for 2.5 weeks and LOVED it. The rationales ended up being even BETTER than lippincott's book. They also cover all NCLEX question types. Additionally, it gave information outside of just the answers. I liked that I could also electronically track my progress. 4 months is a long ways away from the actual exam. I would just start by making a word doc with need to know lab values, ABG info, narrow therapeutic drug ranges, and S/S of hyper and hypo electrolytes (K+, Na+ Ca+, Mg+.) You could then watch Registered Nurse RN Youtube videos on topics you feel you need brushing up on. She will cover the need to know NCLEX material. I don't think its worth diving into any textbooks on material. The NCLEX is so broad that you might just end up wasting too much time on a specific area/topic.
boRN2020, BSN, RN
15 Posts
I also highly recommend UWorld and Mark Klimek reviews!
NeverGiveUp27
7 Posts
I used NCSBN and Nursing.com. Then I also used the Lacharity book bout delegation/prioritization.
I started studying from head to toe ( per system ). Then I would take 75 questions per day and do daily remediation. I also did a daily audiobook that I recorded based on my daily remediation. So when I do cardio or go to bed, I would listen to my daily audiobook which really helps me.
Once I got my ATT and scheduled my test date, I started taking my daily 75 questions on the time of my test date so that I can train my mental state. Two weeks before my test date, I took practice Simclex from Nursing.com on the same day and time of my test date (it's like a mock exam day).
Two weeks before my exam, I also listened to Mark Klimek.
Goodluck and control your nerves/anxiety. Stay positive and calm.
Damion Jenkins, MSN, RN
23 Articles; 168 Posts
This FREE Study guide is Sure to Help!
JustANewGrad
13 Posts
I passed NCLEX in 60Q's last week having used ATI, Hurst, and UWorld. I have to say that UWorld is far and away the best NCLEX prep of them all. Hurst lectures were helpful for concept review though. The look and feel of the UWorld test bank is 99.9% like the real thing, down to the wording of questions, the website design, and even the little popup calculator. UWorld rationales do a great job of not only explaining why the right answers are right, but why the wrong answers are wrong.