Here are some Valuable NCLEX Tips

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I took my NCLEX on July 23rd 2014 and passed in 75 questions. Honestly, i found the test to be very easy because of how I studied. The practice questions i did seemed much harder than my boards. When i was asked about something i have never heard about i was able to take a deep breath, maintain composure and come up with the right answer using the knowledge that i had and trusting my gut instinct. If i was to sit back in that room i would be able to tell you who would pass and and who would not by just looking at people. Some girls were crying at their desk, bathroom, etc. My experience has taught me what the test is really about:The test is not only about what you know, but how well you can maintain composure under stress and trust your instinct.

The testing center security is intimidating as hell and this is why most people crack before they even start the test. Hell, I wanted to run before i even sat to take my test. I got my picture taken before i walked in the building and escorted to the room by security. Once in the holding room they took my ID, Att and phone. They put my phone in a tamper free bag and gave me a key and rule sheet. I put my water, snacks, and sealed cell phone in my locker. I sat down and read the rules. Then they called me up again. I showed them my ATT (again) and ID (again). They fingerprinted each hand two times and took a photo of me.

Someone then escorted me to the testing room 10 feet away where they one again... looked at my ID, finger printed me and compared the photo they took 10 feet ago with how i look standing in front of them. It's not like i turned a corner to walk the 10 feet, They saw me in the waiting room. security is that intense. I mean it when i say it is all about how you trust yourself and act under pressure. I was escorted to my seat and the test began. Questions appeared on the screen that i knew nothing about. Are you going to be the one that cries in the bathroom or the one that take a deep breath and says " i have no clue what this is, but i can use what i know to take a really educated guess/ find out." With that in mind, Let's do this!!!

Here are some valuable NCLEX Tips I have for you:

Before i begin, If you are to remember only one thing from this post know that you NEED to TRUST YOUR GUT INSTINCT and maintain composure! Have i made it clear enough? You have received (hopefully) a solid education and the information is in your brain, but you need to trust yourself!!!

GENERAL TIPS

-Let me get this out in the open. You don't know everything and the test knows that. You are going to get things wrong. It is life. Learn how to keep moving when you dont know about content.

-Do as many practice questions as you can and READ the rationals for right or wrong answers. Not doing so will not help you learn.

-Do questions from all different subject areas

-Review areas you are weak in

-Review course

-Memorize basic labs. This is nursing 101. You should already know this. You got this!

-Do not second guess yourself ( 80% of the time you are wrong when you change your answer)

-Become familiar with the test and how it works. 75 questions min. 265 questions max. unlimited breaks. 6 hours total.

-Go to the testing site a few days before and give yourself plenty of time to get there the morning of

-Eat a healthy meal. Actually,scratch that! Eat healthy a few weeks before your test. Well fed bodies help build strong minds!

-Sleep. You know this. Next.

-Do not cram study. Next.

-Study 4 hours a day for a month (around there)

-When you start do 50% content and 50% questions....slowly get to where you do 10% content (that you need to work on) and 90% questions

- Do nothing related to nursing a few days before the test

- They have ear plugs at the testing center, take them!

-DO NOT TELL PEOPLE WHEN YOU ARE TAKING YOUR NCLEX! Yes, the support is nice, but when you get a million " you can do it messages" you just went to cool and collected to crazy and freaking out. Anxiety feeds on anxiety.

Here are some specific prep tips:

Here is a good hierarchy of needs i learned in a test prep class:

Level 1 ABCs and Pain of a cardiac origin.

Level 2 Change in Level of Consciousness

Level 3 Change in vitals (unless the change turns into a L1 or L2 problem)

Level 4 Change in labs (Unless the change turns into another level. Ex: low blood sugar. sucks, but not critical. Level 4. Low blood sugar with change in LOC now is a L2

Level 5 Pain. Unless cardiac in origin (becomes an L1)

Note: if someone comes in complaining of chest pain but they think it is indigestion because they had a lot of spicy food then you still treat it like an L1 until labs rule it out.

-Sign up for a review course. I took the Anderson Review in Boston. I found this class to be very helpful. It was a review of information that i have already learned and they taught me how to do questions. Kaplan is also good

I recommend getting the Saunder Comprehensive Review book. Reading the chapter and doing the questions right after really help.

Kaplan Question trainers 6 and 7 is a big part of why i passed my NCLEX! These are all high level questions and get you to THINK. DO THIS! Go to google and print them out. The Q trainer 6 is 200 questions and the Q trainer 7 is 265. Time yourself when you do these. This was harder than my damn boards! SO WORTH IT!

Buy the Kaplan review book! It is broken down in the different categories you will be tested on. Saunders and kaplan are both content review, but presented differently. If you do both and maintain composure than i guarantee you will pass.

ATI/HESI review questions help, but meh. They are ok. focus on Kaplan and Saunders

That is a start :)

HAPPY NCLEX PREPPING! YOU CAN DO IT!!!!:yes:

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I took my NCLEX on July 23rd 2014 and passed in 75 questions. Honestly, i found the test to be very easy because of how I studied. The practice questions i did seemed much harder than my boards. When i was asked about something i have never heard about i was able to take a deep breath, maintain composure and come up with the right answer using the knowledge that i had and trusting my gut instinct. If i was to sit back in that room i would be able to tell you who would pass and and who would not by just looking at people. Some girls were crying at their desk, bathroom, etc. My experience has taught me what the test is really about. The test is not only about what you know, but how well you can maintain composure under stress and trust your instinct. The testing center security is intimidating as hell and this is why most people crack before they even start the test. Hell, I wanted to run before i even sat to take my test. I got my picture taken before i walked in the building and escorted to the room by security. Once in the holding room they took my ID, Att and phone. They put my phone in a tamper free bag and gave me a key and rule sheet. I put my water, snacks, and sealed cell phone in my locker. I sat down and read the rules. Then they called me up again. I showed them my ATT (again) and ID (again). They fingerprinted each hand two times and took a photo of me. Someone then escorted me to the testing room 10 feet away where they one again... looked at my ID, finger printed me and compared the photo they took 10 feet ago with how i look standing infront of them. It's not like i turned a corner to walk the 10 feet, They saw me in the waiting room. security is that intense. I mean it when i say it is all about how you trust yourself and act under pressure. I was escorted to my seat and the test began. Questions appeared on the screen that i knew nothing about. Are you going to be the one that cries in the bathroom or the one that take a deep breath and says " i have no clue what this is, but i can use what i know to take a really educated guess/ find out." With that in mind, Let's do this!!!Here are some valuable NCLEX Tips I have for you:Before i begin, If you are to remember only one thing from this post know that you NEED to TRUST YOUR GUT INSTINCT and maintain composure! Have i made it clear enough? You have received (hopefully) a solid education and the information is in your brain, but you need to trust yourself!!!GENERAL TIPS-Let me get this out in the open. You don't know everything and the test knows that. You are going to get things wrong. It is life. Learn how to keep moving when you dont know about content.-Do as many practice questions as you can and READ the rationals for right or wrong answers. Not doing so will not help you learn.-Do questions from all different subject areas-Review areas you are weak in-Review course-Memorize basic labs. This is nursing 101. You should already know this. You got this!-do not second guess yourself ( 80% of the time you are wrong when you change your answer)-Become familiar with the test and how it works. 75 questions min. 265 questions max. unlimited breaks. 6 hours total.-Go to the testing site a few days before and give yourself plenty of time to get there the morning of-Eat a healthy meal. Actually,scratch that! Eat healthy a few weeks before your test. Well fed bodies help build strong minds!-Sleep. You know this. Next.-Do not cram study. Next.-Study 4 hours a day for a month (around there)-When you start do 50% content and 50% questions....slowly get to where you do 10% content (that you need to work on) and 90% questions- Do nothing related to nursing a few days before the test- They have ear plugs at the testing center, take them!-DO NOT TELL PEOPLE WHEN YOU ARE TAKING YOUR NCLEX! Yes, the support is nice, but when you get a million " you can do it messages" you just went to cool and collected to crazy and freaking out. Anxiety feeds on anxiety. Here are some specific prep tips:Here is a good hierarchy of needs i learned in a test prep class:Level 1 ABCs and Pain of a cardiac origin. Level 2 Change in Level of Consciousness Level 3 Change in vitals (unless the change turns into a L1 or L2 problem)Level 4 Change in labs (Unless the change turns into another level. Ex: low blood sugar. sucks, but not critical. Level 4. Low blood sugar with change in LOC now is a L2Level 5 Pain. Unless cardiac in origin (becomes an L1)Note: if someone comes in complaining of chest pain but they think it is indigestion because they had a lot of spicy food then you still treat it like an L1 until labs rule it out.-Sign up for a review course. I took the Anderson Review in Boston. I found this class to be very helpful. It was a review of information that i have already learned and they taught me how to do questions. Kaplan is also goodI recommend getting the Saunder Comprehensive Review book. Reading the chapter and doing the questions right after really help.Kaplan Question trainers 6 and 7 is a big part of why i passed my NCLEX! These are all high level questions and get you to THINK. DO THIS! Go to google and print them out. The Q trainer 6 is 200 questions and the Q trainer 7 is 265. Time yourself when you do these. This was harder than my damn boards! SO WORTH IT!Buy the Kaplan review book! It is broken down in the different categories you will be tested on. Saunders and kaplan are both content review, but presented differently. If you do both and maintain composure than i guarantee you will pass.ATI/HESI review questions help, but meh. They are ok. focus on Kaplan and SaundersThat is a start :)HAPPY NCLEX PREPPING! YOU CAN DO IT!!!!:yes:
Thanks for the good tips, will this work for LPN's also, I'm going for number 3, and I've been out of school for a year now.
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Wow! Thanks for all of the tips.

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

AN does NOT endorse obtaining copyrighted material illegally.

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You mean the level of needs? I created my own from review class, what my clinical told me and what my friends were doing. If you want you can delete it. The information I used to prep was from many different sources and I made it my own. Even memorizing lab values didn't come from just on source. I researched a lot.

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Thank you for this information.

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You mean the level of needs? I created my own from review class, what my clinical told me and what my friends were doing. If you want you can delete it. The information I used to prep was from many different sources and I made it my own. Even memorizing lab values didn't come from just on source. I researched a lot.

I think she's referring to googling & printing kaplan questions off the Internet.

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Thanks for the tips

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