Help! Need Advise On Nclex

ERNurse752, RN · Feb 13, 2006

My best advice is, don't worry about anyone else...they don't matter. Only worry about you. And don't get so scared and freaked out that you screw yourself up...that's the best way to fail, is to think you will.

Take a review course, study some of the questions...but don't obsess over it.

You know yourself best and how well you've done on tests in the past, so go by that. Know what your strong areas are and what your weak areas are, then brush up on the weak areas.

The hospitals I've worked at before would keep you on as student nurse if you didn't pass the first time. So, yes, you would lose your GN/RN pay rate, but you didn't have to worry about getting fired. If they are threatening to fire people who don't pass the first time, I would (myself) not want to work in an environment like that, regardless of whether I didn't pass or whether I passed.

Good luck with the NCLEX and the job!

ERNurse752, RN · Feb 13, 2006

I just noticed the "in a van down by the river"...lol...blast from the past

clee1 · Feb 13, 2006

I am scheduled to take boards on 3/1/06 and until today I have been very calm. However, today I found out that one of my friends has failed, and now i am starting to get nervous. The thing is, I am working as a GN and if I fail i lose my job. The hospital may keep me as a CNA but obviously my pay goes down etc, etc. Soooo... I need real life sage advise from those who have taken the test...please.

amy

First off.... QUIT stressing! :nono:

The WORST thing you can do is become paranoid, and set yourself up for failure.

You CAN do this!!! You made it through NS, have confidence and trust your training.

Get a Saunders and a Kaplans NCLEX prep book(s) and study. You have 16 days. RELAX..... :mad:

jonear2, RN · Feb 13, 2006

I have both saunders and kaplan and mosby's nclex flash cards... as well as the companion discs etc etc. I am pretty confident in my test taking skills, but I dont want to feel too confidents ya know? Oh, and I WILL be living in a van down by the river if i dont pass. LOL

mediatix8 · Feb 13, 2006

It isn't legal for them to keep you on after you failed. They won't be able to hire you back until after you do pass. Well, that's the law for Illinois at least. Where I work, they were happy to re-hire a new grad who didn't pass the first time. She's doing fine.

MikeyT-c-IV · Feb 13, 2006

I agree with the previous posts. You've made it through school which means you know or knew the material. The fact of the matter is the NCLEX will throw you something that you don't know, or in fact, never heard of. Don't sweat it. Keep studying, be confident, and take the test. Take a deep breath and do it. I think it's a universal experience for us to freak out before and after the nclex. That is normal. Just keep studying and be prepared the best that you can be. If you study hard, you'll make it! Be confident in your abilities.

XtineRN · Feb 13, 2006

boy do i know exactly how you feel. i took the nclex last monday and passed at 80 questions. everyone is right when they say to calm down (although i know just how difficult this is). its important to try not to get hung up on 1 question. once you've answered it, thats it. try and move on and not dwell about it because studies show that you will continue to get questions wrong if you do. 15 questions on the entire test are throw outs. they are just sample questions and they are using us as guinea pigs. so if you come across a question that you just have no idea, think of that as one of the 15 that is going to be thrown out!

the night before, get lots of rest and eat a good dinner the night before and breakfast that morning. also, you might want to take a trip to your testing center before you test date so you know exactly where you are going - one last thing to worry about test day.

you will never be fully calm but you can try and keep your anxiety in check. you can't learn anything new at this point. you know the information, you just have to believe in yourself, take your time with the questions and keep breathing!

good luck!

christine