failed nclex multiple times open to suggestions

RedWeasel, RN · Jun 20, 2007

ONE book. Saunders Q&A review for NCLEX_RN. Doo the whole book. Jumbled questions just like NCLEX. Reasons for answers. Reasons why other options arent right ETC. GREAT BOOK> Passed first time using it Not bragging just was a good book.

RedWeasel, RN · Jun 20, 2007

Make sure it is the Q&A review-=not the plain review book. ISBN is 0-7216-9238-9

saadia_s · Jun 20, 2007

i suggest u do saunder cd.

lavender rose · Jun 23, 2007

Hello everyone! I did not pass the NCLEX, I am waiting to receive my authorization to test. But since I received my results i have been studying and working on questions. I've been doing the questions from the Saunders PN. Been doing alot and studying up on how to pick out what you need to know of the question so to know what it is asking. Of course there are those that I do not know and by doing the strategies I get alot of them right. My percentage for instance of random questions 1-10 is 70-90% right. I take my time and do not use my gut instinct. I have to be sure that I believe it to be the right answer. Of course I have to guess sometimes but it takes time to guess that answer between like C and D. I just can't wait to pick out a test date. Probably in mid july. That's the first availability. Im in CA. Im still studying each content and doing the study questions on the contents. I won't stop till my test date. The more you do cannot hurt you. Just remember to take breaks in between study time, especially in front of the computer. The more I do, the more info I learn too such as reading the rational after each question.

suzanne4, RN · Jun 24, 2007

Hi!
Can you send me some information about Suzanne's plan?
Thanks!Domi

There is a sticky at the top of this forum. All instructions are there, and it uses only one book, the Saunder's Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-xx. No other versions and no other books, only that one and it comes with its own CD.

LauraMT · Jun 24, 2007

I was really worried about the NCLEX too because I feel like I was a "crammer" in school and didn't always have all the concepts down.

1. I got to Kaplan NCLEX RN strategy book and read it and applied the strategies to the practice questions.

2. I MEANT to do Suzanne's Plan but never got around to PMing her d/t laziness and procrastination as evidenced by my cramming all through nursing school. I read her first tip and did the whole comprehensive book, taking the tests before I read and not reading the chapter if I got more than 75%.

3. Did about 300 q a day, using the strategies from the Saunders comprehensive book and the Q&A book. I liked the 100 q tests on the CD. I read all the rationales and strategies.

4. Made note cards with the lab values on them.

5. Had my big medical dictionary with me and looked up everything that I couldn't remember.

I meant to study for 2 months but only did about one chapter a day. I ended up studying seriously for about 3 weeks. I passed in 75 questions and 25 minutes. You can do it!

Vektor · Jun 24, 2007

I passed in 75 questions and 25 minutes. You can do it!

Holy Moley, Laura! 25 minutes! I took over an hour to do my 75 questions. I passed too, so it's all good, but wow!

Your keyboard must have been on fire! :chuckle:

lilah · Jul 18, 2007

I have done literally thousands of practice questions on CD. I can't say that I saw any of them today when I took my test. I don't feel to good about it. I memorized every lab value and side effect of hypo this or hyper that, metabolic this, respiratory that, S&S of all kinds of stuff but none of the stuff on my test!!.I can understand the frustration. I finished school with 3 small children to care for at home with a 3.0. I just don't feel I can go any further if I don't pass. I just don't want myself or my family to suffer anymore of my studying or saying leave mommy alone, please be quiet. It hurts all of us, especially mommy.

MissRN07 · Jul 18, 2007

I've heard this over and over again....

"know your content"

review and review and review CONTENT. go through the different systems (GI, Endo, Cardiac, Respiratory etc) just know the content and then you should be able to prioritize.

I got a lot of priority questions on the test, so I would recommend that you first KNOW the material/content.

Also if you have a copy of the TEST PLAN (like the blue print of the percentages of the different areas on the exam) you can then go into your CDs with questions and most of them give you the option of picking which types of questions you want to practice on.

Like for example, if the highest percent of questions are on Management of Care. Pop in a CD into your computer and select to test ONLY on management of Care questions. and see how you do. Do that for the next highest percentage and so on and so forth.

Set a study plan. Have a number of questions per week, a number of pages to read at the end of the week, etc...That way you have a goal and strive to meet that goal.

This worked for me, and i had a really hard time with med/surge in school, which really if you think about it, most of the content IS medsurge.

Hope this helps.

:nurse:

caliotter3 · Jul 18, 2007

The easiest thing I can offer is to keep on trying. Get one source of NCLEX questions, do it. Then get another, do them. Do as many NCLEX questions as you can. Just everyday. And make sure you read all of the rationales, because you pick up more just from reading those. Just keep plugging away. Eventually it will fall into place.

Gennaver, MSN · Jul 18, 2007

Hello everyone.... I will NOT waste any more money on preparatory courses which boast a high pass rate which is meaningless to me. I failed the NCLEX 3 times.

Hello Derngrad,

Nice to read you. I am glad you reached out. I am still waiting my results so I am definately no expert AT ALL.

However, I do want to reply to your post, if it may be of any use to you, great, if not, then totally disregard!

First, I agree that you shoul dnot waste any more mony on prep course, they obviously do not help you! Secondly I recommend stopping what you are doing, it isn't working, stop doing all those questions everyday, at least for now.

If doing questions from review books all day every day helped you fail by a greater and greater percentage I would cease, stop and freeze.

Now, what did you initially do different on your first NCLEX when you were the closest to passing? OUTSIDE of all those questions and the reviews?

Gen-lets see if we can help you come up with a successful strategy

derngrad06 · Jul 18, 2007

I have been away for a while. I appreciate all of the good advice from everybody at allnurses.com I have even been following the advice of my classmates who took NCLEX-RN and passed. I had more confidence when I took the exam the first time and I guess I never fully recovered from that first failure. I did the $350.00 Kaplan classroom course with much anticipated hope I that will pass because I never missed a class and I learned their techniques which was useless given the new 2007 NCLEX-RN Test Plan. Not suprisingly, I failed again. Even though I took the ATI course in school which was required it did not make a difference. I took a long vacation from work and I took the virtual ATI course for $200.00 and after numerous online practice exams I failed again. After that failure that was it I will not spend any more money on these type of courses. As a result of all my efforts my confidence was gone. My desk look like a paper storm with all of my school notes and multiple CD-ROMS stored in my computer. Everybody is telling me to do this and that obviously what worked for them does not work for everybody. I do know nursing content. I know I should not give up and make the degree on my wall mean something. Its painful to have to go to work and everybody is asking me did you pass your boards yet. Because they all know I graduated seven months ago. So whenever the topic comes up; I say whatever will be will be and leave it at that. I am numb, disgusted, and angry for all of the sacrifices I have made to finally graduate nursing school and I can not get pass this exam. Like I said before, whatever will be will be.