Exit Exam/NCLEX Prep

[LOVEnicuRN]

I am a nursing student, set to graduate in December of 2011. This summer I have an internship in the NICU at the local hospital.

A few days after the semester ended, I received an email about how we will be taking the Elsevier Exit Exam. This exam is required for one of my classes and will make up 25% of my grade. I have to score at least a 900 - if I don't, I have to retake the exam at my own expense. Obviously, I'd like to go through this experience only once (and save myself some money). So, because of this, I will be spending my summer preparing for this exam, which I also see as prep for the NCLEX itself. My request/question is: What do you suggest I do in order to best prepare for this Exit Exam? What books, programs, etc. will help me?

I Have:

- A used copy of a 2002 Saunders NCLEX-RN Review Book/CD-ROM

- A link to NCLEX-RN 3500

- I just ordered Prioritization, Delegation, and Assignment and the HESI Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN

I was debating about getting Davis's Q&A for NCLEX as well as the new NCLEX-RN 10,000 but I had to make a decision and the two books above is what I bought. But do you highly suggest either of these two books (Davis or 10,000)??

Thank you so much! I really have to work at doing well on tests so I know I should start preparing now. I really am motivated to be an amazing, compassionate, intelligent, quick nurse and I'd love your advice!

[EllieMac]

I used the online resources from the HESI Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN book to study for the HESI. I also have the book but haven't used it much. I started studying about 4 days before I took the test. I was originally scheduled for a clinical conference on the same day as our HESI and I was going to miss it. To my surprise at the last minute, they changed the day the HESI was scheduled and I was required to take it. I passed with a 972. If you do a search for HESI on this site - there are several posts.

[caliotter3]

Have you received any advice from the people at the school?

[yuzzamatuzz]

I just graduated and am taking the NCLEX in a few weeks. I've been using Mosby's to review content, Davis's Q&A, and the Prioritization, Delegation, and Assignment. I haven't used Saunder's before but I hear it is pretty equivalent to Mosby's.

Mosby's has been very helpful in terms of content and I assume that Saunders would be as well.

The Prioritization, Delegation, and Assignment book is also a really great book. It really teaches you how to answer those types of questions and it has significantly increased my scores on practice tests.

If you don't mind spending the money on Davis's Q&A then I would definitely recommend it. The questions from Davis are hard though and pretty much all critical thinking questions. They are probably the best practice you can do but can be very discouraging at times (I had been scoring consistently about 85-90% in the Mosby book but pretty much always score between 65-75% in the Davis's book). However, I think the book is definitely worth the money and the questions are much better practice than what I have been doing in the Mosby's book.

Meds are difficult and I'll be honest and say that I have been neglecting this area in my own studying just because it is so overwhelming. Last night I was doing some research on it and found these threads on this website that are very helpful. The first one lists med categories and their common prefix/suffixes. The second one is an awesome website that someone made to help you remember med categories:

https://allnurses.com/nclex-discussion-forum/pharm-for-nclex-465945.html

https://allnurses.com/nclex-discussion-forum/i-made-pharm-215872.html

I have been trying to review content and do about 200 questions a day for the NCLEX. We took the HESI at my school but there was no minimum score required to graduate so no one really studied for it. With that said, most people did just fine. I would definitely study if you have to pass with a minimum score (and that will only help with the NCLEX anyways) but I wouldn't be too nervous about it. Good luck studying and at the NICU this summer, that's such an awesome internship!