Foreign nurse passed the Nclex on 1st try

[am312]

I am posting about my experience because this forum helped me a lot and for sure helped me to pass, so I hope my post will help you as it helped me.

A brief resume: I am a currently a French graduated nurse, with almost a 2 year experience in a cardiac ICU. And I have been seeking for licensure in Virginia.

Here what I did (a lot inspired by that forum of course) :

I studied for a bit less than 4 months, but as I am working in the meantime, I did not study every day. I really study every single day for at least 4-5 hours during 2 weeks prior the exam.

Review materiel I used:

Personally, I needed content, as a foreign I did not know what you have learned at school, what was expected for the exam, and nursing was few years ago, so a review of content could not hurt (I have actually appreciated it, I believed it helped me with my work to).

1) Hurst review:

I just loved it! I watched all the videos and some few time, I used their paper support as well. It helped me a lot to refresh/review the core content. I thought it was a good review, easy to understand and memorize. I has been a huge help for me.

2) Lacharity book "delegation and priorization'

I read it from cover to cover. This one is a must to have!! Before, I did not really know what to delegate to who, because in France we don't have as many type of nurse (just the RN, nursing assistant and the headnurse who is managing the unit). They review the scope of practice of the different personnels, as well as evaluating which patient to delegate. And then, it helps a lot with priorization and SATA's.

3) Big yellow book from Saunders.

It was the first book I purchased before even knowing that I was allowed to take the nclex. I was very excited about it, and try to read it all: huge mistake. I got overwhelmed, I did not know what was important to focus on, I thought I had to memorize the whole book. So, I used it when I needed more information on a specific content.

I did use the CD for the questions, they have a bunch of them and you can choose what type you want, so it is pretty good to practice the SATA's.

4) kaplan strategies book.

I just loved it, I read it from cover to cover too. I really liked their questions and their rationales, and the explanation concerning the test, and the strategies to adopt.

5) Kaplan review online:

I got it only 2 weeks before taking the exam. I did not use their content videos (I actually tried one and it was so boring, the person was basically reading her paper thru the lecture).

I did use from time to time their book on kindle, very well made, clear and focused of the essential ( which I could had it before I would have used it, instead of Saunders). I also watched review of questions videos, and the strategies ones too. If you are using kaplan online, watch them they are very very helpful!

I know some of you did not like the decision tree, but I actually liked it. I did not use it for the questions though, because I did not need it, but when I was not sure about which was the best answer to pick, I used it and obviously it seemed to work not too bad for me.

In resume, I used mostly hurst for content, and kaplan for Qbank.

I did not finish the qbank, because of a lack of time, but here my score -they are not crazy good, but I guess enough to pass...

qBank

diagnostic exam; 62%

trainer 1: 62.7%

trainer 2: 64%

trainer 3: 56%

trainer 4: 61%

trainer 5: 66%

trainer 6: 62%

trainer 7: 60%

Readiness exam: 67%

I focused more on the obstetrics which I had a hard time with, because once again it is different here as it is in the US.

Meds was also challenging, because about half of the name are totally different... and all the interactions and everything... too much. But I guess, by what I have read in the forum, it is for everyone the same with those meds.

During the exam:

I had mostly SATA's (which I do hate and during practice was not very good at), a lot of alternate items (with pictures, drop box, charts exhibit), a bench of priorization and few standard questions.

The computer shut down at 75 questions after a 1 hour of testing. I did not know what to expect.... Back home I did the PVC trick and I had the good pop up. Later in the day, I looked at my account on the VA BON website and I had a licensure number issued from the day (I took the exam in London, so I guess the time difference helped me to figure out the results on the same day).

I am still waiting on the more official results, but I guess I passed I did it !!!

Foreign (or not) the nclex is a challenge, I never thought I could do it but I did, so don't give up even when you are overwhelmed, take a deep breath, think positive, you can do it!

Sorry if I write a lot, I hope I have been helpful even to only 1 person, but this forum helped me a lot to see though the nclex; now I want to give it back

New goal for me, passing the CCRN xD

[MAStudent8578]

Congrats!!!!!! I just took my exam and I got the good pop up. Waiting for the official results. I am happy and want to celebrate but I want to know for sure I passed.

[am312]

Congrats tooo !!! I Guess today was a good day !

I am still waiting for the official one, but on my account on the virginia board I got a license number with an issue date of today so, I guess I am good ... hopefully ...

[KatRNBSN2014]

Thank you for sharing! Great advice!

[ernbabjr, BSN, RN]

Thanks for your detailed advices. You inspired me to study again. I hope I can pass this time. Congratulations again.