Help! I'm losing focus...

cursenurse · Aug 27, 2005

how have you studied for nclex, the other times that you have taken it? kaplan course comes highly recommended. also the saunders book is good to use. the kaplan course or a comparable course that you would have to go out to may be better for you since you seem to need some structure. you are probably kind of discouraged d/t failing previously, so you need to try and have a positive attitude and tell yourself that this will be the last time that you will ever take this test. good luck, set yourself a schedule for studying.

Sherri RN · Aug 27, 2005

1. Relax. 2. Plan to relax. If you can get a sitter a couple times try studying in a relaxing place that is relaxing for you. For me, it's by water like the apartment complex swimming pool (passed ACLS that way!) or a pretty, woodsy park with a lake (passed NCLEX studying by a setting sun over a large pond and skipping rocks on study breaks). This might be enough to get you started. There was another nursing test I had that I couldn't study for at home (cable, video games, computer kept calling my name) so I ended up only being able to study for it away from home (like the medical library at my hospital where I worked). 3. Look into a NCLEX review course, like Kaplan or some other, that you attend and review everything as a group. Reviewing in a group is great because then you see all the folks in the same boat as you, and you have access to the review course instructor, some real flesh and blood who specializes in these type struggles, hey! Good luck!

Leda · Aug 27, 2005

You might want to consider getting a "study budy". This can be either face to face or online, but the purpose of a study partner would be to provide motivation and structure for each of you. What you need most is a structured study plan, this is essential given your statement that you have a history of being a "really bad study person". Establishing a plan and having a study partner to help you stick to it can help to keep you on track.

If you were near passing standard in all categories and received 265 questions, then you are very close to passing NCLEX. The three points to your study plan should be content review, test-taking strategies, and focus/relaxation.

The NCLEX -coaching experts recommend that you complete 100 questions per day, making sure to review the rationales for both the correct and incorrect answers. As you do this you also need to concentrate on the test-taking technique associated with selecting the best answer.

Saunder Comprehensive Review is highly recommended as a source. However if you have already used this and exhausted this resource you might want to consider Lippincott's Reivew for NCLEX-RN, 8th edition by Diane M. Billings. This is only a Q & A text but the questions in the text are an excellent NCLEX review, especially the chapters with the general client needs tests.

Best of luck to you and keep us posted on your progress.

ManyRN2B · Aug 27, 2005

Hi! I would recommend setting aside 3 hrs a day to study. When I was taking my prereq's I had a 6 mos old and I would study after he went to bed at 8pm. I would study every night from 8pm to midnight. It worked. Try and figure out a time to sit dow and study and commit to it each day and try and get through a certain number of questions.

Do you keep a book of notes that you jot down when you are reviewing rationales? I had a book full of notes of just quick facts that I would look at before I went to bed or if I was going somewhere and my husband was driving.

I know it's hard to set time to study but try and commit for a least one month before your test date.

I really liked NCLEX3000 and Lippincott the best! Saunders was really good but I felt like the other 2 gave really good rationales for the wrong answers. Lippincotts questions are very challenging. I found Saunders too easy. Try not to stick to one source to study, try a variety of stuff. Also review your hurst stuff over and over.

Good luck and email if you have any questions

Tiffany

Apple30 · Aug 27, 2005

Hi everyone! I have taken the NCLEX three times all ready and I'm starting to get REAL irritated. I just can't seem to pass the damn thing. I took it for the 3rd time in June 2005 and got all 265 questions and failed. On the sheet you get after you fail I was "near passing standard" in ALL categories.
My problem RIGHT NOW is that I can't seem to focus on studying. I'm just starting to NOT care, but I want more than anything to be an RN. I tell myself everyday you didn't spend 4 years in college working your butt off for NOTHING. I want to PASS, I really really do. I'm just in a weird place right now and can't seem to get my studying together.
I have a 9.5 month old little girl and she is my world, along with my hubby of course. I'm currently a stay-at-home Mom and studying just isn't part of my day. I'm playing with her all day and when she naps I just can't seem to bring myself to study. I SHOULD use that time to because she usually naps anywhere from 2-4 hours in a day and that is plenty of study time. I could potentially be studying 10-20 hours a week and I'm not. Also, I'm going to be going back to my old job as a medical assistant in the next few weeks part-time (3 days a week, 4.5 hours a day) because we need the extra money since I haven't worked in almost a year.
Anyway, I'm just LOST right now and I need HELP. I want to be an RN, please don't get me wrong. I'm just a REALLY BAD study person and I always have been since the early days of school.
Does anyone have any advice for me? I need help. I MUST get into NCLEX mode and FAST. I want to take the exam before the end of the year!
Thanks!

If you really want to pass NCLEX, you have to study for it. It's as simple as that. Therefore, ask your mother/husband/babysitter/, whoever, to take care of your baby everyday for at least 4-5 hours. Lock yourself in the room and STUDY.

You can do it!!!

Mommy2Maddy · Aug 28, 2005

To answer someone's question I studied using every fricking way possible.

1st time: Kaplan course

2nd time: Saunders Q&A Book and CD

3rd time: Hurst and Saunders again

I don't know what the problem is. I did the ENTIRE Saunders book and barley got any wrong. Do you guys think the book could be too easy for me? I mean I don't know what to do. I ordered some flash cards, but I don't think they'll help because they seem more geared towards studying for a test in Nursing where memorization is the key and after taking the NCLEX three times I know memorization isn't the key.

I don't know, but something has to change. I guess I should probably just get out of my house and study at the library or something. I get VERY VERY easily distracted, which is also my problem.

I saw that someone also mentioned a study buddy. That is a good choice for someone OTHER than myself. I'm a horrible study partner. I tried that the first time when I took the NCLEX. The person I studied with passed, but obviously I didn't.

Something has GOT to work for me. I know I'm not stupid. I know I CAN pass, I just don't know why I'm not.

Ahhhhhhh, so irrtiated it's not even funny!

Brandi :)

the wanna-be :nurse:

Apple30 · Aug 28, 2005

To answer someone's question I studied using every fricking way possible.
1st time: Kaplan course
2nd time: Saunders Q&A Book and CD
3rd time: Hurst and Saunders again
I don't know what the problem is. I did the ENTIRE Saunders book and barley got any wrong. Do you guys think the book could be too easy for me? I mean I don't know what to do. I ordered some flash cards, but I don't think they'll help because they seem more geared towards studying for a test in Nursing where memorization is the key and after taking the NCLEX three times I know memorization isn't the key.
I don't know, but something has to change. I guess I should probably just get out of my house and study at the library or something. I get VERY VERY easily distracted, which is also my problem.
I saw that someone also mentioned a study buddy. That is a good choice for someone OTHER than myself. I'm a horrible study partner. I tried that the first time when I took the NCLEX. The person I studied with passed, but obviously I didn't.
Something has GOT to work for me. I know I'm not stupid. I know I CAN pass, I just don't know why I'm not.
Ahhhhhhh, so irrtiated it's not even funny!
Brandi :)
the wanna-be

Brandi, you obviously are not studying enough. Just don't get mad at me. You're not practicing enough with the questions. You're not putting EVERYTHING to it. You need to give up your time!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and concentrate. I know it's not easy, specially with the baby and all that, but you have to do it.

Sacrifice your time, leisure activities, just everything, and study all day, EVERY day, minimum 100q a day, read your textbook ( saunders knowledge base), make flash cards, review kaplan strategies again, practice kaplan's q's, go through Lippincott, Mosby's.

Different authors have different questions, and that's always a plus to you if you get all these perspectives.

The point is, there is nothing that's not worth doing. Do everything you can. Give yourself 2 months, get organized ( make a plan), and put your mind to it. Just concentrate and don't think about anything else. It's only the test!!!!

You have to pass it first ! .... Then everything else. Make it your goal, your dream, your life for these 2 months.

And then you can do it. I'm sure. You're not the first one to fail, and you're not going to be the first one to pass. Millions of nurses passed it, and they don't have any extraordinary mental capacities, they are just like you!!!

Remember, if you work really hard, you will definitely achieve your goal.

You're not stupid, you just had a baby. That's why you've failed before. It's not easy to pass THIS kind of test with an infant on your hands.

Get strong, ask your family for support and understanding, and do it!

cursenurse · Aug 28, 2005

Brandi, you obviously are not studying enough. Just don't get mad at me. You're not practicing enough with the questions. You're not putting EVERYTHING to it. You need to give up your time!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and concentrate. I know it's not easy, specially with the baby and all that, but you have to do it.
Sacrifice your time, leisure activities, just everything, and study all day, EVERY day, minimum 100q a day, read your textbook ( saunders knowledge base), make flash cards, review kaplan strategies again, practice kaplan's q's, go through Lippincott, Mosby's.
Different authors have different questions, and that's always a plus to you if you get all these perspectives.
The point is, there is nothing that's not worth doing. Do everything you can. Give yourself 2 months, get organized ( make a plan), and put your mind to it. Just concentrate and don't think about anything else. It's only the test!!!!
You have to pass it first ! .... Then everything else. Make it your goal, your dream, your life for these 2 months.
And then you can do it. I'm sure. You're not the first one to fail, and you're not going to be the first one to pass. Millions of nurses passed it, and they don't have any extraordinary mental capacities, they are just like you!!!
Remember, if you work really hard, you will definitely achieve your goal.
You're not stupid, you just had a baby. That's why you've failed before. It's not easy to pass THIS kind of test with an infant on your hands.
Get strong, ask your family for support and understanding, and do it!

i agree with this. also, brandi, when you are doing the questions, remember to read the rationale for the answers, the ones you get wrong and the ones you get right. you sound like you are having problems with test taking. you need to start thinking like nclex, know rationales. nclex is not about memorizing facts, but knowing how to apply them.

Apple30 · Aug 28, 2005

i agree with this. also, brandi, when you are doing the questions, remember to read the rationale for the answers, the ones you get wrong and the ones you get right. you sound like you are having problems with test taking. you need to start thinking like nclex, know rationales. nclex is not about memorizing facts, but knowing how to apply them.

Exactly!

Mommy2Maddy · Aug 28, 2005

I know exactly what you are both saying. I studied my ass off. Especially on the 2nd and 3rd time. I did at least 3000 questions reviewing the rationale for EVERY answer and still nothing. I gave it my ALL. I did the MOST studying this last time.

I'm just coming to the point where I can't take it anymore. I feel like I have done a lot and got nothing in return.

Apple30 · Aug 28, 2005

I know exactly what you are both saying. I studied my ass off. Especially on the 2nd and 3rd time. I did at least 3000 questions reviewing the rationale for EVERY answer and still nothing. I gave it my ALL. I did the MOST studying this last time.
I'm just coming to the point where I can't take it anymore. I feel like I have done a lot and got nothing in return.

I can understand your desperation and frustration.

But 3000 q is not enough!!!!!

You have to do at least 6000 questions. Difficult questions!