deeply frutrated, UK RN trying to pass NCLEX

[Poonamkc]

I have been studying for nclex now for almost 2 months now. I am not newly graduate.I am a registered nurse in UK who just moved to US.I have got the test in less than 2 weeks . I have just been scoring like 60% in average with this Kaplan nclex .

Everybody keep saying study smart. Eth is so overwhelming . I cannot memorize all the content. I don't know what to do . I have been doing the practice test n focussing on rationale along with some content.

can smbdy advise on how to study smart with out getting frustrated n depressed

[LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN]

The issue may not necessarily the source of the review, but how one approaches the NCLEX itself: understanding the four concepts of becoming a competent, entry-level nurse:

1. Safe, effective care;

2.Health promotion;

3.Physiological Integrity;

4.Psychosocial integrity

Will determine WHAT the question is asking you; the question may be Respiratory related-but is it a Health Promotion or a Safety, or a Physiological or a Psychosocial one? Would you know the difference and choose the BEST answer?

Once one understands the concepts of NCLEX, they can do so successfully.

Don't look at content; you know most of the material because you passed nursing school; begin to do questions related to each concept; review all questions and rationales; ANY rationale you struggle with, THEN review content. Lather, rinse, repeat.

When practicing the questions, prepare the questions like a mock NCLEX exam, review the minimum and then work up to the maximum for endurance purposes.

I will suggest if you are having issues with content ExamCRAM as a good resource and review book; also the NCSBN program for 8 weeks is like a review course online and is VERY comprehensive.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

There are a number of excellent threads in the NCLEX forum that discuss ways to prepare for NCLEX. I suggest you go there and read as many of them as you can.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

I just don't know what I am doing wrong.. I've studied all kinds of stuff I've used Kaplan,

RN

mastery app!! I just don't know what to do or what to study.. I'm starting to feel defeated..

She, like you, is trying to memorize everything, and asked what she could possibly do different..and this is the answer for you, too: stop focusing on memorization and start focusing on meanings, rationales, understanding the WHY of every fact you know.

NCLEX (and nursing) expects you'll have some level of baseline fact knowledge, of course, but is much more concerned that you know how to think about using them when you have them.

Do you need to get more information? Why?

Do you understand what's important in a scenario or question, and what's not? Why?

Do you know what's expected? Why?

Do you know the effect of a drug? Why do we care?

Do you know what a lab value means? Why do we care?

So many more whys...

Why, why, why... it's the basis of everything we do, it's the foundation of critical thinking in three little letters. It's not something you have to do just to pass NCLEX, it's something every nurse has to do every day of a professional life.

Every time you read a fact, close the page and explain out loud why it's important, why we care, what difference it makes. This will get you closer to actual critical thinking, which is what NCLEX wants to see.

Anyway, that's what I told her. And then I got an email telling me that she stopped memorizing and started thinking about her critical thinking, and found herself on Monday going into the testing center calm and confident. And like the mayonnaise: cool but not frozen. And she passed.

[PacoUSA, BSN, RN]

Just do tons of questions and study the answer rationales. That's it. That's all I did and passed with 75 questions. There is no secret formula to this test. By the way, I was scoring average 65% on all my practice tests.

Sent from my iPad using allnurses

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Moved to our NCLEX Discussion Forum for best chance member advice.

Our NCLEX FAQ section has many threads on how to pass exam including:

NCLEX Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT)

How The NCLEX Works (Part I): Computerized Adaptive Testing

How The NCLEX Works (Part II): What To Expect At The Testing Center

How do you answer questions?

Passed my NCLEX-RN! My NCLEX review material tips..

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

You need to approach the exam as a new grad. Do not think about any experience you have. Practice questions and reading the rationales.

[susing0726]

Hi I also did my Bsn nsg India... I studied for 3 months... 3 hrs every day... For content I followed NCBSN and for questioning lippincott alternative format which is one of the best book and I passed nclex rn on 7 January 2015

[susing0726]

By d way I was scoring 50 to 65% from practice questions.... But I was reading rational