Graduated in 1996 in the Philippines, to start reviewing the NCLEX

maritelrn · Jul 28, 2011

Hi ccamp123...me too is a graduate of class 1996....scheduled last week of august for NCLEX....but i took cgfns last 2006 and got good score....yet i'm confident i still retain some....not all but enough infos for the nclex....i'm done with saunders...which i finished the whole book...god,it's an ordeal fighting the sleepy feeling i got everyday i'm doing it....everyday i'm doing 50 to 150 questions from Nclex4000 too...i bought la charity book and the latest kaplan book for strategy. i did not enroll from any course coz i cant afford for one....Hope i can make it...and for u too....from what place u graduated? Goodluck and welcome to allnurses.....

joe17 · Jul 28, 2011

I graduated and took the Nursing board exam(and passed) in the Philippines waaaaay back in 1996, but did not practice the nursing profession. Hence, I feel that I have forgotten EVERYTHING I have learned in Nursing school. After 15 years, and now residing here in California, I have now decided to give it a try and take the NCLEX. I am enrolled in a review course (Kaplan). Do you guys have any advice for me, with this situation, as to how to start my review, how to learn the "forgotten" nursing concepts? Is the Kaplan review course enough? or do I need to pile up on other NCLEX review books out there? HELP!!

core content is all u need...HURST REVIEW IS THE BEST

ccamp123 · Jul 28, 2011

Hi, maritelrn! It's nice to know that I'm not the only one who's an old grad and still giving it a go to take the nclex.

Yes, I know the feeling of fighting that sleepy feeling while studying. Good luck to you on your exam! :) I graduated from Fatima University (Our Lady of Fatima College when I graduated in '96). Thanks for your help.

ccamp123 · Jul 28, 2011

Hi, joe17! Yes, you're right, I really need to focus on content for starters. I honestly don't feel confident about this, because I feel like I've forgotten everything. HURST Review.. is that a prep course, or a book? (Sorry for my ignorance). :confused:

toto_ · Jul 28, 2011

Hi ccamp123...me too is a graduate of class 1996....scheduled last week of august for NCLEX....but i took cgfns last 2006 and got good score....yet i'm confident i still retain some....not all but enough infos for the nclex....i'm done with saunders...which i finished the whole book...god,it's an ordeal fighting the sleepy feeling i got everyday i'm doing it....everyday i'm doing 50 to 150 questions from Nclex4000 too...i bought la charity book and the latest kaplan book for strategy. i did not enroll from any course coz i cant afford for one....Hope i can make it...and for u too....from what place u graduated? Goodluck and welcome to allnurses.....

Hey tol, I laid my back too for 4 years in the Philippines. I hate to say it but that's how it is in a laid back country...I didn't have the opportunity to work too as a nurse.Took nclex-rn last july 21 and passed it the first try.

My advice for you is to hit the core content of Saunders and practice a lot of questions on prioritization, delegation, and infection control. Studying pharma is overwhelming but there are lots of tips here to narrow them down and get a good grasp of them.

During my exam I believe I didn't do well on a lot of questions coz I forgot about the core concepts. I hated to read the thick book of Saunders after being out of school for 4 years but I studied all the questions contained in the cd by heart to the point of knowing all the questions and answers contained int it (literally getting 90-100% from practice quiz).

I know this is not the correct way of preparing for nclex-rn. I got no good advice how to study from friends and neighbors who took the exam before (only that words of encouragement lol), I didn't attend review class because I can't afford it. Most of all didn't know about this great site before my exam, and didn't search on the web how to prepare for it. I was literally blind!

My point is, knowing how to attack a question on prioritization, delegation, and having good critical thinking was my SAVING GRACE and you can learn it by a lot of practice.

I really believe it doesn't matter which question bank or how many you stick to... Kaplan, Hust, Lippincott, LaCharity, Saunders. I studied only Saunders q bank (56 box 5th edition from barnes and noble was the only one I was able to afford).

Knowing how to attack a question is a learned process, so If you are poor in memorization and recall this approach might be good for you. Good luck!!!

joe17 · Jul 28, 2011

Hi, joe17! Yes, you're right, I really need to focus on content for starters. I honestly don't feel confident about this, because I feel like I've forgotten everything. HURST Review.. is that a prep course, or a book? (Sorry for my ignorance).

Like urself I'm batch 94 BSN. I find hurst very very good in explaining the core content of very fields of nursing. Exactly what we we need after a long lay off from school. Hurst review is a prep nclex review course. They provide materials u need to pass nclex and she trained u as a newly graduate nurse.

ccamp123 · Jul 28, 2011

Like urself I'm batch 94 BSN. I find hurst very very good in explaining the core content of very fields of nursing. Exactly what we we need after a long lay off from school. Hurst review is a prep nclex review course. They provide materials u need to pass nclex and she trained u as a newly graduate nurse.

Thanks, joe17! I will definitely consider Hurst. :)

ccamp123 · Jul 29, 2011

hi, toto.. Congrats on passing the NCLEX! It's so awesome to think that you only did self-study and passed on your first take. :) You're right that I really have to focus on the nursing concepts. A lot of people have told me that Saunders is a great concept book, yet some have told me to just concentrate on one book so I won't be overwhelmed. I totally agree that critical thinking is an important key in passing the NCLEX. Again, congrats and thanks for the advice. :)

caliotter3 · Jul 29, 2011

My advice is to give yourself enough time to regain your knowledge. Don't beat yourself up because it doesn't seem to come overnight. Realistically, you can do this, you just need a little more time. Good luck.

Love_RN · Jul 29, 2011

two most important books: saunders and delegation by la charity. invest in those two books. start with saunders and give it plenty of time. also, have a source of practice questions.

daily prayer will also help!

also, here are some threads, among many others, that you can read hoping to inspire/motivate you.

emerlindo https://allnurses.com/nclex-discussion-forum/omg-i-passed-528887.html

bryan_rn2911 https://allnurses.com/nclex-discussion-forum/its-official-im-542909.html

senseirn https://allnurses.com/nclex-discussion-forum/how-i-passed-588963.html

mine https://allnurses.com/nclex-discussion-forum/passing-nclex-one-596537.html

ccamp123 · Jul 29, 2011

My advice is to give yourself enough time to regain your knowledge. Don't beat yourself up because it doesn't seem to come overnight. Realistically, you can do this, you just need a little more time. Good luck.

Thank you caliotter3. Yeah, sometimes I do get so frustrated because I can't seem to even start reading. It's like there's so much info that I have to cover. Thank you for your encouraging words. :)