Canadian Nurse -NCLEX -Passed at 75 Questions on May 6, 2015

[gababa88]

Hello everyone,

Similar to a lot of others, I used this site as encouragement while going through my NCLEX journey. I wanted to come back and do the same for anyone that might find this helpful in anyway.

Background

I'm a registered nurse in Ontario, Canada (2010) I passed the CRNE on my first try (Canadian version of the NCLEX back in the pre NCLEX days)

-worked in NICU, Mental health, nursing home, palliative care, teaching Registered Practical Nurses and Personal Support Workers

-Currently a Nurse Educator (course development and nursing research)

To be perfectly honest, I moved to south florida for personal reasons. I decided to enroll in graduate school to possibly advance at my place of employment. My graduate program required my florida RN license which is why i had to write the NCLEX. They were surprisingly very lenient since I had my Ontario license, I had a total of a year and a half grace period to attain my RN license in south florida. Converting my transcript and getting my papers in order was the most challenging part about the whole process.

Issues to point out

Remember that i've been a nurse for several years now, no longer a "textbook" nurse. This is not a good thing because I found that the biggest weakness I had was that I am answering the questions based on "real world" not "NCLEX world".

In the recent year, I only worked as a nurse last summer since I had my license in ontario i would get a contract teaching position and taught LPN in summer school and worked bedside casual on weekends. I was not a well adjusted bedside nurse. I've bee really out of touch with my critical nursing skills and BSN degree.

Also, the unit measuring system is also in CANADA is Metric. This means all my lab values had to be reviewed. It was very tricky because I would constantly confuse myself as to if I was remember the values in Metric or Imperial. Something as simple as temperature!!!!!! 37degrees Celsius not Fahrenheit!!!!

Wording in the NCLEX vs my Canadian practice was another challenge. For example, we used trade names and generic for some or both for medication. It was just different overall nursing practice

NCLEX Process

Once I got the papers in order, I got my NCLEX scheduled and I began studying.

I received the Hogan, Kaplan, Davis, Saunders 2010 versions as a gift (used), My best friend wrote her NCLEX back then and passed with over 200 questions and decided to share her resources with me (love her to bits)

I admit I have OCD and while looking through my free resource I started questioning the accuracy of the information since i felt it may be dated so I started browsing on this blog at resource other people were using.

I ended up buying a ton of resources and I will only share which I used.

My preparation began at the end of December 2014. I enrolled in a local (non kaplan) prep course mainly due to cost. I think the course was the key to really why I passed since it was a four day a week prep class for 6 weeks. It broke down the classes into different systems everyday and I was able to get a refresher on each topic.

The topics were

-Skin

-MSK

-Exocrine and Endocrine

-Fluids and blood

-GI

-Cardiac

-Resp

-Renal

-Reproduction

-Neuro

-HIV/AIDs

-Psych

-Maternity

-Peds

-Pharmacology

I attended the classes 4 days a week (10am-2pm). I was also a full time MSN student. Luckily i scheduled my classes to be all online courses this semester to allow participation in the NCLEX prep course because i knew that i needed it.

I would bring my Illustrated Study Guide for the NCLEX-RN® Exam, 8th Edition by JoAnn Zerwekh to class. The prep class was a fast refresher of "must know" info in each system and i found that this book was thin and light and gave the same info that matched what my instructor was reviewing. This book also had pictures that I could look at that would support what i was learning because she would be going so fast, I would take notes from the class and write down what page number to read on the corners of my page then go back and read more for topics I didn't get or needed more info on.

After class each day, I would finish the questions that was available at the end of the JoAnn Zerwekh study guide (approx 10-15) to quiz myself and see how i was doing. JoAnn Zerwekh's book comes with a pin online passcode which included over 2500 questions and I would review that in the section i was studying that day to a) learn about topics not covered in class b) practice questions

When i got sick of looking at JoAnn Zerwekh's study guide i would switch to the online free version of NCLEX 3500 by simply typing in NCLEX 3500 into google and have it on practice study mode. The 3500 was good like the JoAnn Zerwekh's study guide because it include alternative method of questions such as hotspot pictures and select all that apply (SATA).

side note: this NCLEX 3500 stopped working 2 weeks before my nclex, but it is working now. The site is very glitchy. Sometimes it will freeze when I was studying so be warned to only have it on study mode. The exam mode will likely not produce a result. Link below.

Review Content Select - NCLEX-RN 3500 - Institutional Version

I was told that theres a NCLEX 4000 available for purchase that is the same but newer version.

Additionally, on the weekends i held a pretend NCLEX at home by using

1) Prioritization, Delegation, and Assignment: Practice Exercises for the NCLEX Examination 2nd edition

2) Lippincott's NCLEX-RN Alternate-Format Questions 5 edition

I only allowed myself to sit for 75 questions and I would get up and walk around, called my friends and watched netflix. Then returned to reviewing.

When I was out with my boyfriend at whatever event or dinner, I would flick through the NCLEX Mastery app on my iPhone. I found that the most crucial part about studying was reading the rationale. If I did not understand a question and explanation, I would screen shot both and look it up or google it right away.

I also signed up for 10k Nclex, free question of the day. It sends you a free question to your email everyday. I would answer it in bed before getting up every morning.

link here:

Free NCLEX-RN Practice Questions | Question of the Day

My boyfriend bought me the Kaplan NCLEX-RN Strategies, Practice, and Review, 2013-2014 for christmas that i rediscovered but it was getting too close to my exam date and I only used it for the legal chapter to review all my legal terms and questions. (helpful)

2 weeks before my exam, my best friend and sister had their baby shower in Toronto. Had to go!!! I used my email to sign up for a free 2 week trial of the PassPoint to practice on the go and review more questions.

Link here: NCLEX-RN Exam Study Guide 2014-15, Practice Quizzes and Questions

scroll to the bottom and look for the big blue button that says "try it now". You will get two weeks of trial for free before you buy and it takes about 24hrs to get set-up.

My initial score was 6.4 on the pass point. I would fluctuate higher and lower. 2 days before my exam I only hit 8. Mainly because i practiced so much, I started to recognize the questions and yes I took a total of 27 practice exams and I would use the quiz section in the nursing concept to topic the pass point program told me i was week in. For example, I had a low score in pharm (scoring a 3) I would set up the quiz only in pharm topic and would do 10-20 question and read ALL rationale.

Day before exam

I was watching netflix, woke up at Noon and relaxed. Packed snacks (power bar x 2, water) in my big purse located my ID for test day. Printed off my test centre address and located where i had to go. I also put a sweater with zip up (lululemon) in my bag. I went out for dinner with my boyfriend and had a glass of wine to calm my nerves. I went to bed at 11pm and set 5 alarm clocks. (not kidding)

Exam day

I got up at 6 am (exam at 8am). Made myself eat. Drank my morning coffee, and ONLY brought the Hogan text book "Pull out" with me into the car. This is a paper that is at the front cover of the Hogan textbook my best friend gave me way back.

[h=1]Pearson Reviews & Rationales: Comprehensive Review for NCLEX-RN (2nd Edition) by MaryAnn Hogan[/h]I drove to my test centre and parked my car. Review labs, isolation, and order of don/remove gloves gown, how to go up/down stair in crutches (pretty much everything on that pull out. This got my brain thinking into NCLEX mode again. (not a morning person).

Exam

I got situated by 830 and finished at about 1130am. I was not concerned about time at all. I read each of my questions very carefully and sometimes even put my head down when I got tired. Before picking an answer i would think about what i think the answer is before looking at the answers. I took a break at 10am to the restroom. I stopped at my locker and ate half of my power bar and just stretch my hip flexors. I returned to the exam after 10mins. I started get all SATA questions. I had a total of about 20-30 SATA, 4 hotspot and 1 math question.

My computer shut off at 75 and trust me when i tell you this!! I started to cry!!! I was convinced that i failed. I immediately googled all SATA questions and found another nurse on this site writing the same thing but passed.

link here

https://allnurses.com/nclex-discussion-forum/passed-nclex-rn-970544.html

I held onto that and just went home and slept. The next day i woke up and went on a shopping spree. I drove to my boyfriends work at noon on the following friday (48hrs later) to purchase the pearson vue quick results.

I PASSED!!!!!!!

I hope my story will give all NCLEX takers the encouragement! I wish you all the best and all i have to say is practice, practice, and practice.

Good luck everyone. I hope my post was helpful.

[forevertravelin]

Congratulations! :)

[SENSUALBLISSINFL, BSN, RN]

What a wonderful detailed and organized way you posted in the way you studied. Congratulations on you passing the NCLEX.

How is your MSN going? Where are you doing it? And what is your concentration?

[gababa88]

Sorry for any grammar/spelling errors... site would not let me edit after my initial post.

[gababa88]

I am almost done, a lot of work but totally worth it. I am at FAU and in the nurse education track.

[gababa88]

Thank you

[niyilaide]

Hi gababa88,

I find your story very encouraging. Can provided in formation of the local non Kaplan prep course that you enrolled in and help you to pass. I have someone that need such help.

Thank you again