Did Anyone NOT Study for the NCLEX and Do Well?

[lifelearningrn, BSN, RN]

I see all of y'all going through so much studying and preparing for this

test. I'm wondering if there is anyone that threw caution to the wind

and went in cold? I ask this because from our very first exam to our

last, they've arranged the questions and time limits to mirror NCLEX, so

I've had extensive practice in that respect. Also, after every

clinical class we have taken specialty HESIs, as well as the

comprehensive HESI at the end of the program. I've done between 916-

>1000 on the HESIs.. I really didn't study a lot for the HESIs, just

practiced some of the Saunders questions.

My mind kind of tells

me that after two years in an intensive and renowned program I should

know this stuff. It's kind of impossibly to know what is going to be

asked on the exam, so how do I focus on what to study?

Letting my instincts take over helped with HESI- shouldn't I do what works?

[Kuriin, BSN, RN]

If you think you can do the NCLEX without studying, then go for it. But, the question is, why would you go into a national boards exam without studying for it?

[danceyrun]

Agreed with the above poster. There's no reason to not prepare and study unless you love dropping hundreds of dollars on retakes.

[schnookimz]

I almost always scored about 1000 on my hesis, I think I had one in the 900s. On my exit hesi, I scored 1150.

I did not study for nclex. I got my test date two days before I tested. I did about 300(?) practice questions while I was at work those couple days and that was it.

I had 75 questions and finished in less than an hour. If you know it, you know it.

[Pangea Reunited, ASN, RN]

I bought a review book and opened it for about ten minutes while I was waiting to check out a rental car. I never got further than that, and I passed NCLEX on the first try with 75 questions. I felt 100% sure that I had failed it, though.

I am a strong believer that it's not good to overstudy. If you focus on (and understand) the big picture, you can reason out the small things.

[schnookimz]

I bought a review book and opened it for about ten minutes while I was waiting to check out a rental car. I never got further than that and I passed NCLEX on the first try with 75 questions. I felt 100% sure that I had failed it, though. I am a strong believer that it's not good to overstudy. If you focus on (and understand) the big picture, you can reason out the small things.[/quote']

I totally agree about over studying. I think often those are the people that fail bc they are so overwhelmed by too much information.

And I think EVERYONE feels like they failed. No matter what.

[martinoni]

I did not study at all and passed on the first try with 75 questions in less than an hour. If you know you're a good test taker, and your exams mirrored nclex type questions, you should be fine. I think you have to know yourself, and be confident. I know a lot of people spend a lot of time studying and work really hard, but I just didn't see the need at all.

[keepmovingrn]

I think it depends on how quickly you take it after graduating. I didn't study much at all. Looked for questions maybe 2 days for maybe an hour if that. And I passed 1st try with 95 questions.

The way I see it is you've been preparing for the Nclex your whole last semester at minimum. How much studying do you need after that.

Take it soon as you can, the longer you wait the more you decrease your chance of passing unless you study to keep material fresh.

You can do it. I think people overstudy for the Nclex with leads to over analyzing the questions when you take the test. JMO.

[USCrn]

I've heard of few who said they didn't study for it and passed, but passed with 265 questions. I wouldn't suggest not studying for it. This is the national board exam that will determine whether you're a nurse or not. But it's completely up to you. Those who have studied usually always pass and those who fail with studying, it is because anxiety gets the best of them.