Counting down the days until my NCLEX-RN

Hello fellow nursing graduates

My name is Justine, and I have 23 days until the big day.

My anxiety through the roof! O.O

I just wanted to share my experience in nursing school and how I intend to continue studying for the test. If you share any of the same feelings, please share because it will make me feel as though I'm not going through this alone [and not the only person going positively insane (o:]

I graduated May 17, 2013 with my BSN. This was no easy feat! I soon came to realize after beginning the nursing program, that I had to study 3x longer and 3x harder compared to my peers. I wasn't sure if this was just confident issues or a serious learning disability, but it sure was a struggle. I did it though WOO HOO!!!! (:

After graduation I knew that I had to do some serious reviewing; however,

from about May 17 to June 3, I took a break [ i KNOW shame on me ): ] but after my last semester I was so burnt out from NOC neurosurgery preceptorships/finals that I absolutely KNEW that I needed to take this break, otherwise I won't be able to study as efficiently for NCLEX and mostly likely crack under pressure.

I set my NCLEX date for July 23.

Started preparing (lightweight studying) = February-June. Meh.

Started studying (somewhat hardcore)= June 3

Started studying (SUPER hardcore)= June 23 >.

This is my way of mentally preparing for what is to come.

I'm so tempted to change my test-date to Aug 9 or Aug 15, but I know I shouldn't :/

I am going to go over the study materials I have been using, and (more importantly) how I intend to utilize them!

My strategy is to understand CORE content (through HURST),

and grasp the main NCLEX test taking strategies (through KAPLAN).

I also use NCBSN and SAUNDERS as another source for NCLEX style questions.

Here is an overview of what I plan to do the next 3 weeks !!

If you guys have any questions, comments, constructive criticism or want to share your NCLEX prep experience please feel free to message or comment.

I'm SUPER friendly. Nurses need to work together keep each other afloat (:

I'm trying to stay positive and not freak out, but it's SO hard. lol

P.S I don't mind sharing my scores on the Kaplan Q trainers/Qbank/Hurst Q review with others, I'm just too lazy to go through them and add it on right now.heh

Review NCLEX Content- June 23 to July 6

Hurst Review: Core Content / Resources

Kaplan: Focus Review Tests

NCSBN: Comprehensive Pharm Post-test

Comprehensive Body Sys Post-test

**Lab Values, Medications, Testing Strategies and Tips

Review NCLEX Questions - July 7 to July 21

** July 16 Complete Kaplan Question Trainer/ Hurst Q-Review

- Reschedule test date if needed! August 9-15

** Review ALL rationales

NCSBN

Questions 1-50 (50)

Kaplan

Q-Bank (1,172)

Unused (158)

Question Trainer 1 (75)

Question Trainer 2 (75)

Question Trainer 3 (100)

Question Trainer 4 (150)

Question Trainer 5 (150)

Question Trainer 6 (200)

Question Trainer 7 (265)

NCLEX Sample test 4 (50)

Hurst

Strategy Questions (66)

Q-Review 1 (125)

Q- Review 2 (125)

Q- Review 3 (125)

Q- Review 4 (125)

Q- Review 5 (125)

Q- Review 6 (125)

Saunders

Comprehensive Questions CD - Yellow

~150 day

Comprehensive Questions and Answers - Blue

~150 day

Estimated Total Questions by July 21~ 3,303

** Review before Test Date: https://www.ncsbn.org/2914.htm

** Test Date: Tuesday, July 23

Hurst Core Content

• Fluids and Electrolytes
  
• Acid/ Base Balance
  
• Burns
  
• Oncology
  
• Endocrine
  
• Cardiac
  
• Psychiatric
  
• Renal
  
• Gastrointestinal
  
• Neurological
  
• Respiratory
  
• Orthopedics
  
• Maternity
  
• Pediatric
  
• Management and Delegation
  

Kaplan Focused Review Test

• Kaplan Basic Math
  
• Cardiovascular System ½
  
• Community
  
• Endocrine
  
• Fluid and Electrolytes
  
• Fundamentals ½
  
• Gastrointestinal ½
  
• Health Assessment
  
• Hematology Immune
  
• Kaplan Level 2 Math
  
• Kaplan Management of Care 1/2/3
  
• Maternity/Gynecological 1/2/3
  
• Kaplan Math for Critical Care
  
• Musculoskeletal System
  
• Neurology
  
• Oncology
  
• Pathophysiology
  
• Pediatric Math
  
• Pediatric 1/2/3
  
• Pharmacological 1/2/3
  
• Psychiatric 1/2/3
  
• Renal
  
• Respiratory ½
  
• Sensory
  

NCSBN Review

- Reduction of Risk Potential

• Cardiovascular
  
• Respiratory
  
• Neurological
  
• Gastrointestinal
  
• Genitourinary
  
• Endocrine
  
• Orthopedic
  
• Oncology
  
• Emergency
  
• Pediatrics
  
• Complicated Obstetrics
  
• Integumentary
  

[TimothyMoorer]

I am a pre nursing student attending UAB. I want to know how was nursing school? Did you have time to do anything else? Did you come out with pretty good grades?

[jsanchez512]

Nursing school is mentally exhausting and extremely challenging, but it is definitely the most rewarding career.

My social life was greatly impacted. My family/boyfriend/friends knew that once the semester began, I disappeared off the face of the Earth. I attended important events (birthdays,anniversaries) with my loved ones, but was unable to make most casual parties, hangouts etc. Not ALL, but MOST. I don't want to scare you, lol.

Of course, this really depends on how you do academically. Personally, like I stated above, I struggled. It took a while for me to determine personal effective studying methods. I had a tendency to straight up memorize content, without understanding the concepts. FULLY UNDERSTAND the nursing concepts, disease processes, medications beyond the point of memorization.

Don't. Just. Memorize. It will not help you.

Your goal as a nursing student is to be able to apply the content given and critically think like a nurse.

I learned this about halfway through the nursing program lol.

My study method was to take notes, read concepts I didn't understand, rewrite notes in my own words, then meet up with other students and talk about it.

If you can successfully re-explain to another student what the teacher has taught you in your own words, then you're golden.

My cumulative GPA was 3.47 (not bad, but not amazing)

My nursing course grades ranged from:

Lowest B- (82%)

Highest A- (93%)

[TimothyMoorer]

Thanks for the information I am really nervous about nursing school and even though I'm confident in my abilities and kept good grades (4.0) all through school, I have no idea what to expect. I wish you the best of luck, I'm sure you'll pass the NCLEX with flying colors! What was the most difficult section of nursing school? And what is your most preferred specialty?

[jsanchez512]

Thanks for the kind words, greatly appreciated! Med surg I was hardest for me to grasp, but by my last semester advanced med surg was my favorite lecture/clinical. The professors greatly impacted what I thought about each clinical rotation. Wow 4.0, I'm sure you'll do great on your program, you sound like a hard worker! (:

[lemuel24]

What a nice resources and a strategic plan.. .:) i learned something from you. ty. Goodluck...