Graduated 3 years ago, now I’m considering taking the NCLEX

Nurses LPN/LVN

Published

Hey everyone due to personal circumstances I was not able to take the NCLEX right after graduation in November 2016. I am in a more stable place in my life and I have recently been thinking about taking the NCLEX and wanted to know if anyone has been through the same experience as me and am I even allowed to take my boards so long after graduation. I live in CA right now. I would appreciate any tips and tricks for studying as well ! Thank you

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Hi I am in the same exact boat as you. I graduated a few years ago and now I plan on taking the exam. Did you take it yet ? How are you approaching it if you don’t mind me asking ?

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Specializes in acute care-step down/rehab.

How does that work? Taking the exam years later.

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Hi there! I have a relative in CA who went through this too. I think he initiated the online application process on BON and then talked to his nursing school because BON wanted his paperwork from school again. After the school sent the necessary paperwork and it was processed, his authorization letter came in the mail. He was able to schedule his NCLEX. To prep he used UWorld to study and passed NCLEX on his first try. Now he is working as a nurse and loves his job. Hope this helps.

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You'll definitely need to study aggressively. I tend to forget material that I haven't looked at in a long time. I used to work with geriatrics, but these days I occasionally work with pediatrics... and sometimes babies. I'm constantly reading stuff, like which nebulizer is given first (answer: Albuterol).

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On 9/17/2019 at 12:32 PM, Mavi said:

Hi I am in the same exact boat as you. I graduated a few years ago and now I plan on taking the exam. Did you take it yet ? How are you approaching it if you don’t mind me asking ?

I decided to re-read my nursing book and take notes and once I’m done doing that I will attend the NCLEX review classes my school offers. I’ve also noticed that since I’ve been re-reading, everything is starting to come back faster than i thought

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Specializes in LTC & Rehab Supervision.

I think studying your nursing notes from school would definitely help get your mind running again. I used UWorld and passed on my first try. You can do this!! Never give up.

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Specializes in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology RN.

To the both of you - do whatever content refresher you need to do. But starting asap do questions every day. It doesnt matter if you dont feel you are ready for questions, just do it. Read the rationales. Do questions! UWorld and Kaplan are great online resources. However there are nclex-style questions in every textbook! Good luck you can do it!

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Specializes in LTC & Rehab Supervision.

Definitely agreed with Nurse Kelsey, I used UWorld every single day and did around 100 questions a day. Shockingly, you learn a lot even if you get most of them wrong (Like I did ?)

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This was my situation and I just passed my boards 3 years later after graduating LPN school in May 2016. I failed my boards 10 times due to treating it like a side gig while I took my general education courses for the RN program. It was a bad idea so what I did this time was that I stopped taking classes when summer came and I did UWorld questions and when I say do them, I mean I did 700 questions over 3 months and wrote out the rationales. This was time consuming but worth it because I felt like UWorld gives you the answers for the NCLEX if you take the time to write them out. I also listened to a few Mark Klimek audios even though they we’re more directed for the RN but I felt like he did adjust to the LPN audience when he had to. I didn’t finish neither study programs in full but I felt confident when I took it this past August of 2019. Anyways, 3 years later, I’m telling you, it can be done.

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I listened to Mark Klimek also however it seems the audio is many years ago. Not sure if it's relevant now in 2019. I am reading Saunders and doing questions from book. Once I complete the ques from the book I'll move to Uworld. Or you think its better to start Uworld now and not do the Saunders online questions?

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If you ask me, I think I passed mostly because of UWorld. Don’t waste your time writing out the questions and answers, just write out the rationales only. The rationales are most of the answers for the NCLEX. As for MK audios, I thought it felt outdated too but it does help with breaking down information as well as using tricks to memorize tricky content.

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