Disappointment

[Nursingis4me11]

Suzanne, I am new to this board. I completely understand your message, b/c that is exactly how I studied. I probably answered more than 5000 questions, but I did not always read the rationale for the items that I either guessed right or it was of an educational guess. However I found that my rationale for picking a particular answer was somehow justified by good reasoning, but I would also understand where the rationale was coming from, especially on the priority questions. I really thought I was going to be okay with this test. I am an anxious test taker,but I was still able to make As and Bs in nursing school (1-C). This test was so different any of the test I practiced. I took the ATI test at my school and did okay on them, but still I felt like it did not prepare me well enough for what I was going to see. I took 256 questions, and the majority of them were priority and med questions. I felt okay about 1/2 of the med questions but some were ones that I have never seen. Sorry this is so long.......I guess my question is...why do most of these books and programs not give you enough priority and delegation questions? I knew that I was missing some of the priority questions b/c it seemed like every other question was one. I must have been tinkering on the border for awhile, but could never answer enough right in a row. Thanks for listening, Disappointed Future Nurse:nurse:

(But working Through IT)

Warn: (0%)

[suzanne4, RN]

Sorry that you did not get thru the exam, but we can get you thru it.

When you went thru the book, did you actually do the quiz before reading the chapter? Or after you read it?

And the most important thing that you did not focus on was reading the rationale behind each and every question, both the ones that you got right, as well as the ones that you did not. You need to focus on what NCLEX wants you to answer. The exam is designed to see how you would handle something. And remember what you learned in school, or did during your clinicals, may not be what NCLEX exam is looking for.

The NCLEX exam is unlike any exam that you will ever take, and once you pass, you never need to take it again. Whether you had straight "A"s in your program, no one is prepared for it.

You said that you did 5000 questions before the exam, but how many were you actually doing per day?

[Nursingis4me11]

I did anywhere between 100- 400 questions a day. I started off with 100 and a week before the exam, I did 200-400 a day. It actually might have been more than 5000, over the course of a month and 1/2. I read the Saunders from front to back, but many of the sections I read were over the course of about 6 months, while I was in school. Today, I went to my doctor and was put on Ativan. I had a lot of stressors in my life up to that test day. A family member of mine tried to commit suicide 3 days before the exam, and my husband is changing jobs and has also been dealing with a sexual harrassment issue at work (a homosexual coworker). So we have been dealing with the EEOC as well. I told my husband after the traumatic event with my family member that I should reschedule it. I just felt so overwhelmed with emotions. I never had any one close in my life try to harm themself. But needless to say, I tried to stay strong and go ahead and just get the exam out of the way. The last week of answering practice questions, I was making 70 percent or better on all practice tests. I thought I would be okay. And to top it off o, I started my period that morning before the exam. The stars were definitly not in my favor that week. Anyway Suzanne, thanks for just listening. I did buy a priority and delegation book today from Barnes and Nobles, that teaches you to answer these types of questions. Too be honest with you , I might have use to many resources, my husband feels that I over did it. I have a tendency to over analyze questions.. especially with the priority type questions. I truly felt that the test was just waiting for me to get a bunch of them right (256q 4hours). I just didn't get enough right I am taking a few days off right now, to get my head right again, so I can get back into the game. The game of life can be so discouraging at times. However , It only makes me stronger in the end...and I know this. "Just got to keep on Movin"

Thanks again for your kind words ..

[suzanne4, RN]

Unfortunately, what probably did you in was the 400 per day just before the exam, if anything you should be winding down then. Or you just oversaturate your brain.

When you add in stressors to your life, it only makes things more crazy for you. You only need the one Saunder's book to get thru the exam, and I suggest that you stick with just that.

Too many hands in the kitchen spoils the pot, remember what your mother told you. Same thing goes for too many books.

I want you to take the next week or two just for yourself and regroup. Go to lunch, go see some movies that you have wanted to see, etc. REad a book that is non-medical related.

Then start with the first tip exactly as it is written, do the quiz at the end of the chapter before reading the book, and see how you do. That will give you the best idea of what you still have retained.

Please keep me posted as to how you are doing..............