There is a luck factor as well, luckily I was given the areas I knew and not labor and delivery. From your post it says you took Kaplan so I assume you know the assessment/implmentatation and ABC technique they teach. I found out that knowing my labs and really understanding what high and low mean paid off since I was able to eliminate some times a lab in the correct range or be suspicious of one in the bad range. Good luck, you will pass it, I know how hard it is, I failed my first time at 75 and luckily passed my 2nd attempt
I used a Lippicotti nclex review question book. The questions are very difficult and it tests both knowlege and critical thinking. If I got the question wrong, I went back to Saunder's book and reviewed the information. I also used priortization, delegation and assignment book by Linda Lacharity et al.
I thought after 3 times you had to go back thru a review course or is that just some states? I have seen several state that they have done it more than 3, was just curious.
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
I thought after 3 times you had to go back thru a review course or is that just some states? I have seen several state that they have done it more than 3, was just curious.
Some states require some sort of course after failing 3 times but not all. Some do allow unlimited attempts
I know what you mean about getting sick of failing. I have taken it 3 times and haven't been sucessful yet. Kaplan didn't help me either. It can be really frustrating!! I would just say keep working at those questions. That is what I am going to do. I think that the more practice questions you do the better you get at them....at least that has worked with me. Hang in there and you will pass!! Best of Luck!!
Sorry to ear you failed. It is hard especially when failed more than twice. I passed on third go. All I can suggest is practice questions and make sure you understand both the question and the rationale. Don't over study as that can be just as bad as not studying enough. I aimed for 2-3 hours a day and up to 4 when I wasn't working but didn't do more than that. I also preferred Saunders and NSCBN learningext.
I was curious as to why you prefer Saunders over the NCSBN learningext?
(1) with each of your state test results did you find that you are receiving more above the passing standard for the 8 categories (safety and infection, reduction of risk, health promotion/maintenance, management of care, pharm, psychosocial integrit, physiological adaptation and basic care/comfort)being tested or are your results staying the same??? if you find that you are still at below the passing standard or near the passing standard on the same categories with each test you may want to focus on these areas (below and near) more so than the other areas. as long as you see that there is improvement with each of the tests that you are taking, you can only be proud of yourself. as you prepare for your next test, study for all of the 8 categories but place additional focus on the areas where you are lacking.
(2) do you find that you have other stressors going on in your life right now that may be causing you not to be able to prepare as well as you should??? take the time and search within yourself to find out if you have too much going on right now.
take some time off and then begin studying again. if you normally were reviewing/studying at home, find a public library to go to. if you have colleges/universities in your area, you may want to consider going to their library because the usually have better hours (open longer/later in the evening. university libraries in my area stay open until 12 midnight!!!). studying at home does not always work because of the many distractions. you will be surprised at what you can cover in 2-3 hours at the library versus studying at home... give it a shot if you haven't done it in the past.
good luck. the 5th time will definitely be "the charm" for you. you willget it with #5 -- just claim it and focus on that as your goal.
That your were just above the line. You have to be far past the line. Isnt that crazy enough we have to pass, but we also have to be way above passing? Just have to be more consistant in all areas.
There is a luck factor as well, luckily I was given the areas I knew and not labor and delivery. From your post it says you took Kaplan so I assume you know the assessment/implmentatation and ABC technique they teach. I found out that knowing my labs and really understanding what high and low mean paid off since I was able to eliminate some times a lab in the correct range or be suspicious of one in the bad range. Good luck, you will pass it, I know how hard it is, I failed my first time at 75 and luckily passed my 2nd attempt
This is something I have been very curious about. I have not gotten past the first few chapters of Saunders to review for the NCLEX because I can see that these lab values are being asked about often. I know my blood gases from when I was a nurse. I can understand the electrolytes. However, I worked with babies, not adults and so all these hypertension and cardiac status related to these events are not fresh in my memory. What about all these drugs and their lab values? Do you see a necessity to memorize these?
I was thinking that in studying for this or approaching it, if I know, for example, the basics of infection, that I will know how to handle an infection that I'm not necessarily familiar with if I know these parameters. Am I correct in assuming this?
Tide01
4 Posts
There is a luck factor as well, luckily I was given the areas I knew and not labor and delivery. From your post it says you took Kaplan so I assume you know the assessment/implmentatation and ABC technique they teach. I found out that knowing my labs and really understanding what high and low mean paid off since I was able to eliminate some times a lab in the correct range or be suspicious of one in the bad range. Good luck, you will pass it, I know how hard it is, I failed my first time at 75 and luckily passed my 2nd attempt