I promised I would post this once I passed NCLEX RN exam:)
Unfortunately I have taken the NCLEX more than once 
I have definitely been through a lot this year with my grandmother being diagnosed with stage 4 liver cancer in January and then her passing in July.
My 12 y/o daughter had an ischemic stroke in May and that was heartbreaking. She is doing better now, but still has right sided weakness. She has PT/OT twice weekly for a few more months and hopefully she will be her ballet, Irish dancing, soccer playing self again.
And everything else in between that makes life a little more stressful at times....
My point is that we all have things going on in our lives and sometimes we do not realize that we need to take a "break" and need step back and refocus. Step outside and get some fresh air and/or meditate for at least 5 minutes to give your brain a rest because we have learned so much in nursing school and it was ongoing nonstop learning/studying.
Try this 5 min meditation video : http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/meditation/MM00623
WHAT I DID WRONG:
- NO studying ( I did a few questions here and there, nothing serious)
- No study plan
WHAT I DID RIGHT:
- Studied KAPLAN QUESTION TRAINERS 5 (58.7%),6 (69.5%),7 (58.9%) & KAPLAN Q BANK (about 1130 something questions) - 64% overall cumulative score give or take because I re-did questions over and over. I did the Q trainers 4 days (one a day) before the test to build up endurance on sitting for hours
- READ EVERY RATIONALE TO EVERY QUESTION RIGHT OR WRONG.
- Lippincott's NCLEX RN Alternate-Format Questions book (did about half, main focus was q bank)
- NCLEX 3500 Alternate Questions Only (15-20 a day)
- 100-200 qbank questions a day for 3 weeks
- Day before exam- DO NOTHING, RELAX (I got a massage)
I honestly feel that reviewing content will confuse you more.
I definitely feel Kaplan me helped the most, especially following the KAPLAN (decision tree) STRATEGY. There is definitely a strategy to taking this test along with some content/knowledge-you graduated. Believe in yourself.
KAPLAN DECISION TREE
1. Identify the topic/stem of the question
2. Assessment or Implementation (assess before you implement)
3. Apply Maslow- Are answers physical or psychosocial?
4. Apply ABC's
5. Think about the outcome of remaining answers
Ask yourself: "If you could do only one thing and then leave, what would it be?"
SOME NCLEX TIPS:
- Never ask WHY questions
- Do NOT leave patient alone
- DO NOT say "Don't worry"
- Do not read into the question
- Do not do nothing
I practiced using the decision tree while answering questions and wow what a difference it makes. It will start to make sense once you start/keep using it. It may not apply to all questions, but most and especially priority questions. You will start to see somewhat of pattern and how to answer the questions. Trust your gut feeling- go with it and you will surprised! You are smarter than you realize and the information is in there somewhere.
I also prayed before I studied, bedtime, morning of the test, right before the test and during the test. By all means I am not a church going person, but I believe in GOD and have faith. I have church in my heart.
Prayer:
Prayer to St. Joseph of Cupertino for Students
O humble St. Joseph of Cupertino, singularly favored by God in the difficulties of study and the worries of examinations, implore the Holy Spirit to enlighten my mind and aid my memory in the search of His truth and wisdom. Help me especially in the decisive moments of examination, protecting me from that forgetfulness and disturbing anxiety which often accompany them, so that I may grow in knowledge, love, and service of God from Whom flows that wisdom which leads to eternal life. Amen.
THIS HELPED ME-No doubt about it! Thank you GOD!
You can and you will pass! Keep telling yourself that-have to stay positive. Look in mirror and tell yourself that every day.
Study so you won't be a repeat test taker like me. Months have flew by and almost 8 months ago I graduated. I had to wait until most of the storm in my life passed and focused on studying 100-200--questions a day for 3 weeks. I work full time and I have 3 kids.
Oh yea! I did the PVT trick and it works!
When I didn't pass- CC page.
Passed- Good pop up!
NCLEX RN- I think 225 questions- about 12 select all that apply- 4 EKG- 1 math- 4 drag & drop- Seemed like the rest were Priority questions
I am sharing my story and hoping it will help someone else.
BEST of luck to everyone!
DeterminedRN2013
15 Posts
I also forgot to add that I had 4 exhibit questions