NCLEX..prioritizing.......

A friend of mine recently passed her NCLEX and insisted it was a LOT to do with prioritizing, only problem is in all three of my review books there is very little on the matter. Is most of that info just gut instinct after what you learn in school, or do you really have to "study" for it?? If anybody knows of any brush up web sites pertaining to prioritizing or delegating that might help my confidence. Thanks guys!!!!!

xo

Hi XO kelly. I keep hearing the same thing: everyone here who has taken the NCLEX already all seem to say there's a lot of prioritization on it. I'm also wondering how to prepare for this type of question other than thinking about ABCs and Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Let me know if you find out any way to prepare for them! when do you take NCLEX? I take it July 1! :)

I think ABC's and Maslows is pretty much it. I think prioritization is probably easier than some of the other questions because you can use your knowledge of normal vital signs and the rest is common sense. Airway is always always first, and every one else can wait. :) If you are picking between two patients who both seem pretty bad it seems to me that they always thow in one detail that makes one of the patients more at risk of airway compromise than another, like they're on a tube feeding and at risk for aspiration or something like that.

The N-CLEX review books focus mainly on reviewing everything you should have learned in nursing school. It's the practice questions that you really should spend time on. That's where you'll find info on what should be your priority. The best books or CD-ROMS have tests and then in the answer section, they explain WHY they prioritized the way they did.

I bought 2 review books - one that was a review with questions at the end, the other was all questions with a CD-ROM. I ended up only using the question book and taking the tests on the CD-ROM - never even looked at the "review" book - and it helped more than anything. After doing hundreds of practice questions, you'll start to get what they're looking for. Studying every single thing you learned in school is great if you have the time, but like others have said, the test focuses more on prioritization than actual nursing trivia.

Passed in 84 questions, took about an hour on the big day.

Thats so true about answering as many practice questions, before graduation it was mandatory that we answer 5000 practice questions on the schools programs and it really seemed to help. I also bought a few books, mainly a review book and a few question review books. The question review also can keep my interest longer because it isn't at all like studying for school which the review book reminds me of. I take my NCLEX July 20th, I had the option to take it in early July but I got all paranoid that I wasn't prepared enough so I thought an extra month of studying will help. I start my first job on July 25th, so hopefully I will pass on the first try. My school has had a hundered percent pass rate for the last five years, thats some pressure right there!!!!!!!!! Goodluck!!

Good luck XO kelly! :) You sound prepared with your plan for studying-keep your fingers crossed for me and I'll do the same for you! Hee-hee! :)

-christine

Hi XO kelly. I keep hearing the same thing: everyone here who has taken the NCLEX already all seem to say there's a lot of prioritization on it. I'm also wondering how to prepare for this type of question other than thinking about ABCs and Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Let me know if you find out any way to prepare for them! when do you take NCLEX? I take it July 1! :)

ABC's, and Maslow got me through the boards. It is a very good technique to learn. I had 83 questions with priority and delegation. I used the process of elimination first then I would do Maslow to rule out psychosocial, then I would do ABC's if this didn't help I would next do safety. I did this on every single question. I learnes this process from Kaplan my best friend!! Delmar NCLEX review has some good questions in it. There are 8 test in the back of the book. It covers everything. When I sat for the boards there was not a topic I had not covered in Delmar!! My school recommended that we do 5,000 questions before sitting. I see why now you cover everything possible!

Hope this helps someone

K Kay, RN!!!!!!

Hurst's Live Review really helps with prioritization, review of core content and test taking strategies. Hurstreview.com The review builds on core concepts like fluid and electroyltes...prioritization and management of care...It is great..Check it out...You can take the class after second semester and repeat it again before boards for free..I heard they will do an info session at anyones school and buy lunch for everyone and tell you more about it...they go to state conferences also...I felt so much more ready and prepared for boards after the review..