How I passed the NCLEX in 75 Questions

blissmj12 · Jun 17, 2016

Okay. I know many of you don't like to read long posts, but I PROMISE THIS IS WORTH IT! Follow my advice and the nclex will be so easy to you. So, I looked to this site a LOT for advice as I neared my NCLEX-RN test date. I wanted to share with those of you who have yet to take the boards how I was successful! I'll try to keep it short and sweet. The sources I used included:

Lipincott Q&A and Lipincott Passpoint (but I only used passpoint for a week)

Prioritization, Delegation, and Assignment by LaCharity

Virtual ATI

These are the only sources I used in preparation. I graduated on May 15th 2016, and I took my boards on June 13th, 2016. I did not start studying until about May 20th, so that gave me about 3 weeks to prepare. So, my first piece of advice is, if you're worried about lack of time to study: DON'T BE! Just dedicate yourself within whatever time frame you have. I did 7,600 questions in that 3 week time frame. I studied for HOURS and HOURS every day. When you want something, you have to be willing to work for it like I did. I can't stress enough to do questions questions questions! There will be stuff on your boards that you didn't cover in school, and doing questions helps you review those topics and sections that you have not covered!

This is where Lipincott Q&A comes in handy. It has over 6,000 questions. It breaks everything down into small sections so you can review one section at a time (which is good if you know for certain that you are weak in a certain area). For example, it has a pediatrics section, and under pediatrics it has sections such as: cardiac problems, neurological problems, gastrointestinal problems, etc. Same goes for every other section (such as maternal/newborn, med surg, and mental health--Pharmacology is incorporated into all sections)! Lipincott also has great comprehensive exams at the end of the book (I believe there are 6 comprehensives). These are GREAT. This whole book is great. The questions are difficult, yes. But it prepares you SO well, and the rationales are great. It really is probably one of the sole reasons I passed my boards! DO THIS BOOK. I CAN'T RECOMMEND IT ENOUGH. I'd say Lipincott questions are harder than those I saw on the boards.

On Lipincott PassPoint, it is just like Lipincott Q&A. There are practice exams on there as well, and they help give you an idea of where you're at. They will give you a mastery level after you finish. My mastery level was an 8 out of 8. But the passing level is 4. So if you get a 4 or above, you're doing great.

The Prioritization, Delegation, and Assignment book is great as well. It helps teach you what the priority is in common given situations. Do this book, because I bet what you think is the priority in a certain situation, isn't actually the priority. And this book will give you questions and rationales as to why a certain thing is the priority in a given situation. Seriously, please do purchase this book.

Virtual ATI- I gotta be honest, I wasn't a fan of it while going through it. I thought that it was not preparing me enough content wise. The rationales aren't that great. But... It DID teach me some stuff that DID show up on my boards! The comprehensive predictor predicts your chance of passing the NCLEX. I scored an 81% on it, which is a 99% chance of passing the NCLEX first try. Apparently VATI has a near perfect pass rate too. So if you get the "green light" from your coach. Trust it. But do other prep in addition to gain more knowledge of content. Additionally, ATI questions are VERY similar to those you will see on NCLEX.

DO NOT second guess your answers on the boards. Unless you know for SURE you picked the wrong response. Usually your gut instinct is right. Go with what you know. Trust your knowledge from school and from studying.

That is all. I hope some of you find this helpful. If you have any questions, please do ask! I love to help!!! Good luck to everybody who has to take it! I'm certain if you follow my advice, you will nail it. Because of all the prep I did, and BECAUSE I USED THESE SOURCES, I found the NCLEX SUPER easy. I don't think there was a single thing I didn't understand content wise :)