How I studied for the NCLEX and passed with 75 questions

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Hello everyone!

I wanted to post a thread on how I studied for the Nclex-RN exam in hopes that it may ease some of the fears reagrding the exam and maybe give someone a idea on how to prepare. I do not believe that my method will work for everyone but I would just like put it out there for anyone in need of help.

So here is my nclex experience.....the computer shut off at 75 questions. I was convinced that I had failed! I had tons of medication questions and numerous SATA, it was brutal. But to my surprise I passed!:)

Here is how I prepared:

How long I studied after graduation: 7weeks

Books I used: Kaplan 2010 edition, Mosby's review questions (both with disks)

Review class I went to: Drexel Univerisity EXCEL course

The day after I graduated I began doing 100 questions everyday. I wrote down on a calandar each day the number of questions I did to motivate myself and keep track of my progress (I ended up doing 4,000)

The Kaplan book is very useful because it tells you how to read questions the right way and how to eliminate answer choices. I read these tips over at least 3 times before the test.

I began doing questions in the books because that way I could do 20 or so at a time and check my answers immediatley. I would try to do a different subject daily (med/surg, peds, OB, meds,pysch etc.)Any disease process, medication, lab value etc. that I did not know I looked up and made a little notecard about it

I put all the common lab values on notecards and quizzed myself daily on them. (I included the actual values and also the S/S assoicated with the values)

I printed out a diagram of one of those anatomy men that show all the organs and stuff and studied it daily along with a diagram of where to auscultate heart and lung sounds and the different positions used my nurses(fowlers, sims etc).

I tried to identify my area of weakness right away, and it happend to be medications! I looked up every medication I possibly could and memorized little menmonics (sp?) like drugs with "lol" are beta blockers etc.

When it was about 2 weeks before my exam I started to use the disks that came with the books. I would sit down at do roughly 175-265 right in a row without breaks to build up my staminia.

The day before the test I stopped doing questions but I did review all of my notes and notecards that I had made along the way.

I hope someone will find this useful.

stay postitive throughout this journey, I know everyone can pass!!!!!:redbeathe:yeah:

TaraRN:nurse:

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Congratulations and thanks for sharing, my test is July 9th, i feel like i still have a lot to cover, sometimes i'm just overwhelmed.....

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congrats! well earned and deserved.. :)

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Congrats and thanks for you study plan!!

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:ancong!:

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Congratulations and thanks for sharing, my test is July 9th, i feel like i still have a lot to cover, sometimes i'm just overwhelmed.....

You will do just fine when you take it. Think of it this way, more people pass than don't and also you got through nursing school for a reason.

Trust your instincts, prepare when you can and take a deep breath..........your gonna blow it out of the water:)

Best wishes and all my luck

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Thanks Tara, i'm putting in my best....and congratulations again, u did it !!!!!:yeah:

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Hello everyone!

I wanted to post a thread on how I studied for the Nclex-RN exam in hopes that it may ease some of the fears reagrding the exam and maybe give someone a idea on how to prepare. I do not believe that my method will work for everyone but I would just like put it out there for anyone in need of help.

So here is my nclex experience.....the computer shut off at 75 questions. I was convinced that I had failed! I had tons of medication questions and numerous SATA, it was brutal. But to my surprise I passed!:)

Here is how I prepared:

How long I studied after graduation: 7weeks

Books I used: Kaplan 2010 edition, Mosby's review questions (both with disks)

Review class I went to: Drexel Univerisity EXCEL course

The day after I graduated I began doing 100 questions everyday. I wrote down on a calandar each day the number of questions I did to motivate myself and keep track of my progress (I ended up doing 4,000)

The Kaplan book is very useful because it tells you how to read questions the right way and how to eliminate answer choices. I read these tips over at least 3 times before the test.

I began doing questions in the books because that way I could do 20 or so at a time and check my answers immediatley. I would try to do a different subject daily (med/surg, peds, OB, meds,pysch etc.)Any disease process, medication, lab value etc. that I did not know I looked up and made a little notecard about it

I put all the common lab values on notecards and quizzed myself daily on them. (I included the actual values and also the S/S assoicated with the values)

I printed out a diagram of one of those anatomy men that show all the organs and stuff and studied it daily along with a diagram of where to auscultate heart and lung sounds and the different positions used my nurses(fowlers, sims etc).

I tried to identify my area of weakness right away, and it happend to be medications! I looked up every medication I possibly could and memorized little menmonics (sp?) like drugs with "lol" are beta blockers etc.

When it was about 2 weeks before my exam I started to use the disks that came with the books. I would sit down at do roughly 175-265 right in a row without breaks to build up my staminia.

The day before the test I stopped doing questions but I did review all of my notes and notecards that I had made along the way.

I hope someone will find this useful.

stay postitive throughout this journey, I know everyone can pass!!!!!:redbeathe:yeah:

TaraRN:nurse:

a big congrates . i am not able to send message?

gold2010

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congrats!

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Thank you Tara, it not just helped me but it inspired me as well. Congratulations!!!

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Specializes in LTC.

Thank you for your advice. I just scheduled my NCLEX-PN today for July 22. I am nervous and came on here because I was unsure of how to study for it but I think you gave some great pointers. Congrats to you!!!

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Specializes in CVICU.

Thank you very much for that. I am taking my NCLEX-RN on June 29th. I am very nervous for it! I am doing an online Kaplan review course and took a 3 day live course. I have been trying to do 100 questions a day, with your advice I think I will dedicate myself to doing more! Congratulations!

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