For those who've recently taken the NCLEX...

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Hi Everyone! I'm scheduled to take my board exam on the 12th and I'm terrified! I'm not normally anxiety ridden before tests, but I'm a wreck here! I feel totally unprepared! I feel like I still have so much to go over (review) before the test and that I don't have enough time. I don't work yet, but I've got a 1-1/2 year old at home that keeps me hopping all day. I get a little time to study during her nap but by the time my DH gets home, I'm exhausted and can't really focus too well. I've got added anxiety about passing this test too because I've been out of work for over 3 years now and I really need to start working (part-time) for financial reasons. I took an extra year to graduate due to complications r/t my pregnancy and I feel like I've forgotten everything!!!!! I mean, I know my weaknesses and I've been focusing on those, but I'm still not scoring as well on the practice tests as I'd like to....I've got the Saunders review book and the Princeton Q and A book (which I hate). I'm a mess right now and I feel like I'm jumbling everything up! AAAAAAAHHHHH......

My question is this....how did the NCLEX questions compare to the questions in the review books and the Q and Q books? Did you find the NCLEX harder than the review books? or the same?

~Bean

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I used both the Saunders Comprehensive review and the kaplan question trainer and question bank.

Don't over do it. Relax, get yourself together and take your time. I understand how hard it is to study with kids. I have a 4 and 7 year old home.

How are you doing with the questions from the Saunders book?

I was glad that I bought the question bank from Kaplan. I felt when I looked at the questions during my test--most of the material was very familiar.

But one thing I did that helped me a lot.*****I read the question. Read the answers. Read the question again. Then did true and false with the answers--until I narrowed it down to two.

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Specializes in He who hesitates is probably right....

The NCLEX wasn't near as tough as everyone told me that it would be. Fifty minutes and 75 questions, and I was on my way home :wink2:

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The NCLEX wasn't near as tough as everyone told me that it would be. Fifty minutes and 75 questions, and I was on my way home :wink2:

I agree I dont think its as hard as it's made out to be.. but pretty much everyone always thinks they failed cause we all question ourselves afterwards. Try not to stress and review the test taking techniques regaurding priority, delegation..ect rather than trying to memorize mass content. I studied for two weeks before the test and it really made no difference and I have a newborn that kept me running round too. I wish you luck!

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Specializes in Clinical exp in OB, psy, med-surg, peds.

I have used the Saunders comprehensive book and CD, and also the Kaplan Trainers and Q banks, to me the test was more like Kaplan, talking about anxiety driven, I was late for my exam, I had to run to my exam, and right now my body is in so much pain from all this running, when I get there, my clothing was soaking wet, and I had to relax, and used the bathroom before I went in, take it easy I was feeling this way about two weeks before my exam, it is a normal feeling.

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First of all...relax. Take it from me, you'll have yourself in a jumble and you will feel terrible when you leave the exam.

Personally, I thought the test was not easy. If it was easy, then anyone could go in and take it. There are ?'s about certain diseases, medication, but I myself had a lot of ?'s about 'who would you see first' & 'who would you call first' kind of questions. Nothing I studied prepared me for those ?'s, & nothing will because if you don't know how to prioritize, you won't get them right. I studied with Drexel, Saunders, & Saxton & I think that Saunders was the best of all of those.

Just relax, take a deep breath, & plug away at those questions when you take your test. It'll all work out. GOOD LUCK!

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Specializes in Oncology, Palliative care.

Does anyone know if you are allowed to take a calculator in to the exam to work out any drug calculations/drip rates etc. ?:confused:

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Specializes in icu.
Does anyone know if you are allowed to take a calculator in to the exam to work out any drug calculations/drip rates etc. ?:confused:

you are not allowed to take anything into the test room except ur ID..but you will be provided with an online calculator and a erasable writing pad and pen to write or do ur calculations...so u don't hav to worry. :nuke:

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Specializes in Oncology, Palliative care.
you are not allowed to take anything into the test room except ur ID..but you will be provided with an online calculator and a erasable writing pad and pen to write or do ur calculations...so u don't hav to worry. :nuke:

Hi oadewoye :)

Thanks so much for your message, that's a relief to know! ;)

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