Help passing NCLEX

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I have just now taken the NCLEX 3 times...I am soooo frustrated with the exam and feel like I will never pass it. The first time I took it walked out at 113 questions and failed. I have taken the Kaplan course online and also in person and completed the test in that course with passing grades with the Kaplan instructors saying there should be no way I dont pass the NCLEX with the scores I got on the tests. I took the test a second time with 265 questions and was told I was so close to passing I could taste it. So I gave it another chance today and failed again with 165 questions.

So my question is does anyone else have any ideas on how to pass this test or other studying classes to take other than Kaplan since I have done that twice now....any help would be amazing I want to pass this exam for once and FINALLY be a nurse! I keep wanting to give up but I have come too far to let this bring me down so I would love any ideas or help!!! Thanks!!!!

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Awww just wanted to give you my (((((HUGS))))) key word is dont give up, i have been following posts here and practicing questions ,reading the rationales seems to help with the content understanding. i think its important to know content, how do you feel content??? what other materials have you used aprt from Kap, 4000, saunders...seem to be good with Content..

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Thank you! I have been using Kap, and Saunders. I have seen a lot of posts about Hurst Review but I have never heard of it. I feel good with most of the content I know pharm is huge area that I struggle in but there are so many meds and it seems like you get tested on such random ones that I dont even know wehre to try and learn meds to do better in the pharm part.

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hi. i took the nclex-rn

and basically it was a self review.

i used. kaplan nclex book and bought the kaplan qbank. then lacharity...and for the infection control i got a copy of pda format from hurst. and i passed.

what is your study habit?

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I keep hearing about this hurst is it helpful, because I have never heard of it all that they talk about where I live is just do Kaplan and that is it. I started nursing school using saunders and then my school even told us to just use kaplan.

after I failed the second time i took time off to refocus and think about things, and then just started reading kaplan again and tried to get in at least 60-100 questions in everyday plus reading in my book.

I just feel as if Kaplan isnt working for me or Im just doing something so wrong when it comes to the test since I scored in the upper 60's on my readiness test and was given the go from my kaplan instructor that i would pass.

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Im sorry you didnt pass, ive taken mine twice and failed them. im hoping third time is the charm, i also did the kaplan the first time and hurst the second, this time i did kaplan again and got a 63% which is higher than i got the first time and i am also a care partner at a local hospital. I just want to pass too and i need help as well. Im sorry i didnt help much with information on how to pass but i just wanted to let you know that youre not alone and our time will come keep strong!

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@MTballer do you have Skype? I can send you some info for Hurst. I am in your same position... and studying again. We can do this.

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I keep hearing about this hurst is it helpful, because I have never heard of it all that they talk about where I live is just do Kaplan and that is it. I started nursing school using saunders and then my school even told us to just use kaplan.

after I failed the second time i took time off to refocus and think about things, and then just started reading kaplan again and tried to get in at least 60-100 questions in everyday plus reading in my book.

I just feel as if Kaplan isnt working for me or Im just doing something so wrong when it comes to the test since I scored in the upper 60's on my readiness test and was given the go from my kaplan instructor that i would pass.

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I do my name on there is mtballer25

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Specializes in Adult/Ped Emergency and Trauma.

Ok, I took the Hurst Review in 2004, It is awesome.

She goes over test taking strategies that have you soooooooo ready for that test. I promise, nearly every question, just the skills she gives you- you can narrow it down to two nearly every high and medium level question. I think she get someone passed it who has never attended nursing school- that is a compliment to her.

Marlene Hurst often worked with the foreign nurses when I was here who never attended American Nursing Schools. She does do a Nursing Action- Pathological/Anatomy Review, but I am telling you, the answer is in the "question analysis strategies" she teaches.

She prepares you for what it means to keep seeing the same kind of question asked differently (Mine was Singed nasal hair it must have appeared 5 times as a triage question.

I know you probably know that the test asks 3 levels of questions. General Knowledge is Low Level. Critical Thinking is Medium Level Application is High Level (Teaching, Triage, Therapeutic Communications, and Nursing Process).

She teaches you what is going on when it brings up a rare disease you have never heard of, but how to answer the question. Same with a rare medicine you haven't heard of. It's doing that on purpose. She teaches you to analyze "What is this question REALLY asking? (Safety, Nursing Process, Critical Thinking Skills).

As far as each test is set up, the critical thinking is usually set on one of the above areas "throughout the test" and she teaches you why its giving you the info it is. Did it seem like the same info kept repeating on your test? Mine was Triage. Every time you miss a question, you drop a level. When it feels confident that your ready, it moves to critical thinking (which are EASIER to answer than actually lower level- general knowledge questions.) Then you know your doing well if your spending a whole lot of time in higher level questions.

Always triage airway, breathing, circulation, dysrrhythmias.

When triaging, the more "chronic", the more "stable." (Don't pick a COPDer over a Burn Victim w/Singed nasal hair!

When it asks what to do next, Find out from the question where in the nursing process are you? then look at your answers.

If you have assessed, planned, and implemented, the answer should be another assessment of "Evaluation."

When doing ANY nursing action, Do the LEAST invasive thing FIRST. Comfort- reposition, then PO PRN, then IM/SQ, then evaluate- and ALWAYS use safety measures with mind altering medications IMPORTANT.

It's these and many other strategies that help you analyze the questions, and pick the winner! Good Luck Everyone.

(Isn't it frustrating to read the question, know the answer, look down, and it's NOT THERE!! That's when these helpful tips are just awesome!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Adult/Ped Emergency and Trauma.

Ok, I took the Hurst Review in 2003, It is awesome. She goes over test taking strategies that have you soooooooo ready for that test. I promise, nearly every question, just the skills she gives you- you can narrow it down to two nearly every high and medium level question. I think she get someone passed it who has never attended nursing school- that is a compliment to her.

Marlene Hurst often worked with the foreign nurses when I was here who never attended American Nursing Schools. She does do a Nursing Action- Pathological/Anatomy Review, but I am telling you, the answer is in the "question analysis strategies" she teaches.

She prepares you for what it means to keep seeing the same kind of question asked differently (Mine was Singed nasal hair it must have appeared 5 times as a triage question.

I know you probably know that the test asks 3 levels of questions. General Knowledge is Low Level. Critical Thinking is Medium Level Application is High Level (Teaching, Triage, Therapeutic Communications, and Nursing Process).

She teaches you what is going on when it brings up a rare disease you have never heard of, but how to answer the question. Same with a rare medicine you haven't heard of, It's doing that on purpose.

She teaches you to analyze "What is this question REALLY asking? (Safety, Nursing Process, Critical Thinking Skills). As far as each test is set up, the critical thinking is usually set on one of the above areas "throughout the test" and she teaches you why its giving you the info it is. Did it seem like the same info kept repeating on your test? Mine was Triage! Every time you miss a question, you drop a level.

When it feels confident that your ready, it moves to critical thinking (which are EASIER to answer than actually lower level- general knowledge questions.) Then you know your doing well if your spending a whole lot of time in higher level questions

Always triage airway, breathing, circulation, dysrrhythmias.

When triaging, the more "chronic", the more "stable." (Don't pick a COPDer over a Burn Victim w/Singed nasal hair

When it asks what to do next, Find out from the question where in the nursing process are you? then look at your answers. If you have assessed, planned, and implemented, the answer should be another assessment of "Evaluation."

When doing ANY nursing action, Do the LEAST invasive thing FIRST.

Comfort- reposition, then PO PRN, then IM/SQ, then evaluate- and ALWAYS use safety measures with mind altering medications IMPORTANT

It's these and many other strategies that help you analyze the questions, and pick the winner! Good Luck Everyone. Isn't it frustrating to read the question, know the answer, look down, and it's NOT THERE!! That's when these helpful tips are just awesome

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Adult/Ped Emergency and Trauma.

Sorry Guys!

I was trying to edit the year (stupid me), and I double posted somehow. (Boston is not computer savy at all).

Please Excuse my Goof!

:bugeyes:Suffering from Fomite of the Brain.

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