HELP!!! Working full time and studying for Nclex

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Hi everyone! I recently graduated from nursing school in October and recently started a full-time job. I have been doing some studying but I feel like it's not enough. I try to do at least 50 questions a day either before or after work using my NCLEX-RN Mastery App and try to use flash cards from my Cram app. I feel like I'm all over the place and need some structure. I don't know show to study for this. Do you guys have any suggestions? I'm weak in content and feel like I don't know anything. Has anyone else felt this way after nursing school? I was thinking about using Hurst to help with that. I also have the Saunders book and was think about using it along with Hurst to help cover content. Is that a good idea? I'm so nervous about taking the NCLEX. I haven't scheduled a date yet but I was thinking about scheduling it for sometime in April or May so I could give myself enough time to study. I was also thinking about taking a Kaplan course after taking Hurst to help with my test taking strategies. I've also heard that Kaplan's Q-Trainers can be really helpful and since Kaplan's questions are similar to NCLEX I think it might be helpful. I just want to do all that I can to pass on the first try. Please, if you have any suggestions or if you are/were in a similar situation and you're doing/did something that worked, please let me know. I can use all the help I can get. Your feedback and support means so much to me. Thank you so much guys.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Welcome,

I worked full time and allocated a couple of hours after work to do questions and read the rationales and days I wasn't working I tried to increase to 3-4 hours

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I do that now and worry it may notwork. I think it's jitters. Obviously it is possible thanks for your post!

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I worked full time. I just did some practice questions and had no problem. You seem a bit nervous though and I totally was not. I wanted to test and get it over with as fast as possible so I could start working as an rn and see some money!

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Here are some suggestions from what I read from your post.

From my own personal experience, my anxiety would reduce after establishing a study plan and answering questions correctly.

In order to reduce your anxiety, you have to determine what your strengths and weakness. If you feel that content is your weakness, you should go deeper to determine what parts such as cardio, resp, etc.

I would also recommend taking Kaplan to help you determine which parts you are weak on. Kaplan gives you a guide on how many questions to answer per day (depending on how many weeks away your exam is. They recommend taking it 3-4 weeks after completing Kaplan). I only know about Kaplan so I can't give any advice about other programs.

If you feel that your job status is a concern, I would reduce hours weeks before test day.

In my experience, answering questions (not repeated questions) and reading the rationale helped me with content and critical thinking.

Also, think positive! YOU CAN DO IT!

I hope any of this helps. Good luck.

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Thanks. I just requested time off. two weeks prior to the exam and I am taking Kaplan tomorrow is my last class, I will follow their 2 week plan. I just felt that i have so many books and other resources that at times it makes more anxious. I recently decided that i was going to stick to the Kaplan plan and add one alternate style question book for 2 weeks, and the last week Kaplan with pearls of nursing.

Thank you so much for you input and encouragement. I do appreciate it .

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i could relate because i just do want to get over it, but people who know i am working think i am crazy, and at times it is a bit discouragement but I am glad that you responded to my post. Greatly appreciated.

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I too worked full time with 3 kids, so I know how you feel. My content was week. I study on my lunch, break, before and after work and I had no life. I did hurst review for content, Kaplan qbank for questions and pda. For 3 wks and I passed this week.

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I too worked full time with 3 kids, so I know how you feel. My content was week. I study on my lunch, break, before and after work and I had no life. I did hurst review for content, Kaplan qbank for questions and pda. For 3 wks and I passed this week.

That's so awesome! May I asked how you studied the Hurst content (especially the 5th day materials?) I finished watching all the of the videos and I've read each section about 4 times already. I'm reading up the 5th day materials now and the meds are scaring me! I also am using the Kaplan qbank and pda.

Any suggestions on what to focus on? I'm so anxious for this exam!

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That's so awesome! May I asked how you studied the Hurst content (especially the 5th day materials?) I finished watching all the of the videos and I've read each section about 4 times already. I'm reading up the 5th day materials now and the meds are scaring me! I also am using the Kaplan qbank and pda.

Any suggestions on what to focus on? I'm so anxious for this exam!

I watched all videos once and only some twice for HURST. My scores in Kaplan were low, I only got a couple over 60, the rest were 57 and above. As far as the test I GOT ALL 265, IT WAS HORRIBLE, a lot of SATA, A lot of pharm, and priority (which patient you see first). I am weak in pharm, I would suggest start by learning your classification and go from there. I only had one med I knew on the test. But you can do it, I prayed prayed and prayed some more. Another good thing I did was as I did questions, I kept a spiral if it was something I didn't know I would look it up write in my own words in the spiral and go over it ever few days. I also used the 35 page study guide in here

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I also work full time, so setting up some structured study time was crucial for me. I set aside 3-4 hours during the week after my kid went to sleep and on weekends, I went a little longer. I needed content as well so I used my HESI NCLEX Prep Book (4th edition) combined with NCSBN for questions and any content that wasn't covered in the prep book. I think whatever method of studying that worked for you in nursing school would apply to NCLEX prep. I answered review questions at the back of my prep book because it forced me to go back and look for the answers. I also utilized concept maps that broke each disease process into patho, risks, S&S, meds, diagnostics, and nursing interventions. I studied for three weeks.

I also looked over that study guide that's floating around here, but I waited until the day before NCLEX to look at it. I also took some intermittent time off work. One day the week before the exam and also the day before.

I really couldn't suggest what to study on...my exam was different from my friend who took hers a few days before me and both of ours were different from our other friend who took it last month. We have one more in our group who sits tomorrow and I'm sure she'll have a completely different experience. However, I can suggest this; the day before your test, take some time out and do something for yourself...get a mani/pedi, a massage, indulge in a marathon of whatever TV show you had to give up because of Nursing School...something that is just for you that is relaxing. Anxiety before AND after the exam is to be expected.

Best of luck to you! Working full time while prepping for this exam is a challenge but it can definitely be done. :yes:

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Thanks you much guys. Your post give me so much hope. Thanks for the encouragement and advice!! í ½í¸Š

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