Failed the NCLEX? A Passed Down Blueprint to Pass the NCLEX

The following was a secret from someone who failed the NCLEX and then passed it on! I am now an RN thanks to this person. I am now giving back. Hopefully, this will help you pass the NCLEX. Good luck! Nursing Students NCLEX Article

Updated:  

Being and RN feels Great! A feeling hard to explain. It is out of this world especially when one sacrifices so much to reach the goal.

These steps will help you get to that goal. It worked for me. They worked for the person who passed it on to me. And, they worked for countless of others. Now, it's your turn.

Follow the exact steps. If you want to mix-n-match with other plans that is fine but DO NOT neglect the following steps.

1. Read NCLEX Test Plan (Detail)

Do Not memorize it. Just read it frequently to understand how the NCLEX people want you to think as you approach the questions. I Read this daily for a few minutes just so I get a solid understanding of what the NCLEX writers expect of a safe nurse. Once you read and beginning to truly understand it will feel as if the NCLEX people helping you pass the NCLEX. It is a Great Help. Read to Understand and keep it in the back of your head as you do questions.

NOTE FROM STAFF: Information found in these files may be outdated. But, it is worth reviewing.

2013_NCLEX_RN_Detailed_Test_Plan_Candidate (RN) (PDF Download)

PN_Test_Plan_2014_Candidate (LPN) (PDF Download)

Find it in Google if the link below does not work.

2. Davis Question Bank!

HUGE! HUGE! Help which correlates with the NCLEX test plan. Once you open the Davis question and answers click on the "customize a quiz." The question bank as about 4,924 questions.

Go to the "client need" area and compare the NCLEX test Plan sections. You will see that line by line the Davis Question Bank is a mirror to the NCLEX test plan.

Do ONE CLIENT NEED at a TIME. You can go down the list from the NCLEX Test plan or in any order you desire but the key is to First Read the NCLEX test plan client of need (to keep in mind how they way you to think.) Then open the same exact area in the Davis Question Bank and do 20 or 10 questions at the time. The goal is to just apply the way the want you to think accordingly to the NCLEX test plan to each area in the Davis.

** Do NOT worry if you get a bad score. Just do your best each time you take a test and try to remember the concept behind from the rationales. Every time you learn the concept behind you are improving. Remember if you score low does not mean anything because you will never get the same questions in the NCLEX. I was scoring from 60- 70-80 to my last 2 tests 50. I just knew that if I knew the concept I would be able to figure out the correct answer in the actual test. The lady that told me about this passed the NCLEX with 76 question and was scoring 50's and barely made it to 60. Davis question can be harder and you will see once you do Davis and go back to Saunders and even Kaplan. I felt Davis were harder but it was worth my time because I felt they were very similar to the NCLEX.

3. Kaplan Videos On Questions

This should be your "Bible" as the lady that told me about this. There is a section in the Kaplan were the director of Kaplan goes over questions in details for each client area. She has 5 Lessons and each lesson has included all client need areas and are about 60 questions each. This is about 300 questions! That she goes over in GREAT DETAIL. Do not write anything just pause come up with the answer and play again and let her explain you. THIS WILL FOREVER CHANGE YOUR LIFE AS TO APPROACH THE NCLEX. She goes over the way Kaplan analyze questions and all the questions are at the LEVEL YOU WILL SEE IN THE NCLEX. It removes the fear of seeing a complex question and not knowing what to do. Do not do them at once. It will take a long time -- she goes in detail but if you do 5, 10, 20 or as many as you might need per night but the key is to do it at night and during the day apply what she says to the Davis questions. You can also do questions from Saunders and Kaplan Q Banks but the, key is to apply what she does.

How To Pass the NCLEX

  1. Read the NCLEX plan- understand area per area of how the test makers what you think
  2. Use the Davis because is a mirror of the test plan for each area and apply how the NCLEX what you to think with real questions.
  3. Listen to the Kaplan questions video daily at night
  4. And practice approaching the question the way she does to Davis and other questions you may want to use. The key is understanding the concept of what you learn.
    These are just personal thoughts I had in my mind daily which I posted in my computer as I did the questions and on the writing board they give you at the test.
  5. The answer is within the question. Once I had that in my mind, I knew that no matter how complex was the question, I could figure the correct answer. This an amazing input from Ms. Diana.
  6. I will always "COMPARE" between answer A and B. I would say which one is a better answer for my question. Then I would keep one and eliminate the other. I would continue to compare the one I liked the most and the next one until I arrived to the last 2 and when still in doubt I would use the strategy learned from the Kaplan question strategy videos. Another usually taken from granted strategy yet highly effective way to attack the NCLEX. This was also another great idea Ms. Diana stressed in her class.
  7. Before the test and when in doubt during the test I would cross my eyes and say "I am holding your hands and we are going to pass this test together." Each time I said that I felt some energy and questions would become clear because I knew I was not alone and Nothing or anyone could ever defeat the force I was holding the hand of. It is weird to say that but This is something I must say because I will never take full credit when I know I was working with a secret partner that is ready to help if we call for his help. The lady that gave me all the above advices told me about this and until I tried myself I realized what exactly she had experienced. I will not call him any name because we all have different religion and some have no religion so I am just giving facts of what I did. Feel free to try it and you will see for yourself.

Let me know if you need anything. I will be here for you.

Specializes in ICU/CCU.
nkodua said:
CONGRATS and thx for your info. Where online can I watch the Kaplan videos for free?

You have to pay for it.

1 Votes
Specializes in ADN.

Good approach. Very helpful thanks

1 Votes
Specializes in ADN.

I have Kaplan available access can you provide a link to those videos . Are by chance LOD . Test taking workshop and content review videos ???

1 Votes
Specializes in ADN.

Now Florida board of nursing just allow you to take it 2 times because if you go beyond 6 months and not schedule for the test before you have to go remediation program .

1 Votes

I am sorry I have not been back in a while. As we will all agree there are so many things we put on hold while we are going through the process of becoming a nurse and now it is my time to take care of those things.

1 Votes

In regards to your comment about what other states you can apply to take the test, as far as I know you can take it in all states from your own city at any pearson center. This is information I rarely came across as I was preparing for this test. No one really talks about this and believe it or not in my opinion if it is mentioned more often we would have so many more great nurses that have given up because they simply did not know the information. THE PROCESS IS EASY. Once you are registered nurse NO One cares or will ever know how many times you failed the NCLEX. It is my opinion not to tell anyone when you will be taking the NCLEX. Tell them until you have passed it. If people press you asking you when are you taking the NCLEX given any answer but NEVER tell anyone. At least that is my personal opinion unless you feel like you must tell someone. When I passed the NCLEX, I did not tell anyone I was taking it. NO ONE. "Secrecy is Key."

It took me about 1 year to pass this test and I can assure it that if I known that I could take the NCLEX in some states as many times as I wanted, I would have registered to take the NCLEX as soon as I graduated from school. I waited about 2 months to take it the first time an then another 4 months the second time and so on. After failing the 3th time in Florida, I took the required Remediation course so that I could be able to sit on the test again and it is then when I learned that one can take the same NCLEX test but from a different state in my own city. In every Pearson center you can take the NCLEX from any state. Georgia, New York are good states to take the test. In my case I passed the NCLEX before I even completed the Remediation class in Florida. Once I paseed the NCLEX, all I did was transferred my license to Florida which it took less than 2 weeks. Now I am a registered nurse in Florida.

My best advice is call the Board of nursing of different states and ask for their requirements. Start with the above 2 states. I believe in Georgia one can take it as many times as one wants as long as one waits 45 days after one fails the test and one must have graduated within 3 years. New York as far as I know has no restriction. The only restriction is the 45 days between tests. Please, just call the board of different states and find out their requirements. The great thing about it is that you can register in different states at the same time.

When I say I would have registered in different states and taken it much sooner I mean putting the work expecting the Pass each time. Trying different things until I passed. Money at least to me was a problem but guys you have spent so much of your time and money in nursing school. You are only one step away for the goal.READ CAREFULLY. Each one of you that are reading this trying to pass the NCLEX WILL PASS but the only thing you have to do is DO NOT give up. Read CAREFULLY the first Post I placed "Blue Print to the NCLEX." Practice any other books, methods you may want but make sure that you follow the steps in the Blue Print to the NCLEX. Believe you will pass it. I know it can be hard. I have been in your shoes but it can be done and IT WILL be done. Look the reality is that you can not go back. My friend once told me "You already got on the horse the only option you have is to learn to ride it." You have come this far and there is only one way for you go to. That way is to forward to Pass the Nclex. I will tell you one more time to read my original post and do not dismiss anything. The NCLEX wants you to think in a certain way and you must know the EXACT way they want you to think. As I mentioned in the past. To open a lock you must know the numbers and use them in the right sequence. The NCLEX has its sequence. The Board of nursing gives a detail test plan tell us the right combination of how they want us to think to pass the nclex. Read the original post I put carefully.

My future Nurses, I want you to please do one thing for me just like I have done with great honor for some of the people that have changed my life forever. Please, once you pass the NCLEX and throughout your nursing career do all you can to help others that were once in your shoes. I am deeply greatful to my boss and his associate nurse (both nurses) for introducing me to nursing. They were once in my shoes and others helped them become great nurses. I will follow their path to help others in any way I can. So I sincerely hope each one of you do the same the once you pass the NCLEX and work as Nurses.

I just want to apologize, If I do not come back as often to check the post since there are so many changes taking place now in my new life. My future nurses Best Wishes!

HG RN :-)

1 Votes

I used Kaplan and passed, but wished I had done more content review in preparation, especially pharm

1 Votes

State of Florida STILL allows 3 attempts before remediation for RN... Just FYI

1 Votes

Thanks a lot for your excellent Blueprint, I failed once the NCLEX last year, and I don't want to go in the vicious cycle of failing more than 2, so your blueprint is a good strategy I want to follow. After graduating, my faculty just told me to do more than 3000 Questions and you will be fine, but it did not work for me. I did questions and Kaplan On Demand videos + studying for the book.

I ordered again the Kaplan Question Bank + the Video on Demand Kaplan, however, It appears that these videos do not include the "Kaplan Client Needs" and detailed explanation on how to tackle ~ 300 questions as you mentioned in your post. I was wondering if I had the wrong Video Kaplan, in my Kaplan on Demand, I called Kaplan and they told that this is what they have. In my Videos on Demand the Kaplan Director talks in the first lectures, and then there are other faculties lecturing after her. I will appreciate if you can point me to the right source for this material or to confirm that this Kaplan on Demand is what I need to understand how to address the questions.

Thanks in advance,

Lu

1 Votes

Hi! Reading what you wrote has definitely been a boost of hope. I'm taking my nclex soon and I'm already freaking out. I have the kaplan course and I'm wondering where the videos are located? Do I go to the NCLEX Prep tab and press the RN Review of Questions tab? I just want to make sure this is what you used because I want to pass!

1 Votes

I managed to have access to Kaplan through my school and then I good friend of mine. Call Kaplan and you want to ask them that you must get a package that has the client need question videos. As I mentioned before they are important because you will learn essential test strategies. Please, read all my postings as the steps are vital to passing this test.

1 Votes
Specializes in ADN.

Today I found out that I passed my NCLEX RN exam in 75 Questions I thanks God and this forum and participants for their approaches and good advices and guidance to pass .thanks God I just need my second try to pass .for me to follow the detailed ncbsn study plan review the Kaplan videos LOD (LESSONS ON DEMAND ) especially the test workshop and part of the content in their 35 h video tutorials was great . And also complete the qbanks fron Kaplan online was great some of their questions are bizzard but I think kaplan is the critical thinking skills you need to approach the questions in real NCLEX . To be able to answer high level questios like sellect all that apply and some particular procedures to order in drag and drop question is good to review content from Saunders book I used all the resourses available I copied all the Kaplan lessons in 2 CD's in mp3 format and I heard those while driving to gain time and memorize basics if still in doubt go to e-book Saunders all is in there .but the most usefull resource and ordered in areas of content according to deal with the BOARD Kaplan 90% in the q banks seccion I did around 60 ,% overall 64% not much but some of their questions are pretty encrypted even if you master the content so I just review questions again and right and wrong questions sometimes you just guess but you need to know why did you guess it helpssssss a lol .. usually critical thinking is just association of synonymous of signs and symptoms related to one diseased process be acutely with grammar and gramatical times to approach priority questions . Nowadays SATA questions are in there for tons 3-4 in a row trust me ..I had to made breathing exercise to relieve my anxiety during the test . Close my eyes and Pray ..pray and faith in this exam is key . Good luck to all of you in your exam .you can do it too ..english in my case is my second language.

1 Votes