How long between graduation and taking NCLEX?

dani_girl · Sep 12, 2008

Hi!! I graduated on the 10th of May and sat for the boards on the 28 of July 28th.. I also moved accross the country at the time too.. but my school said that statistically people do better in July then later (like October) if they graduate in May..

I think it is a personal choice as to how ready you feel.. but give yourself at least 6 weeks.. time to decompress from school then get back in to studying..

As for study tatics I made myself a list of what I thought were things I should KNOW down pat like Lab values and what hypo/hyper would cause me to see, Insulin peaks, isolation precautions, heart and lung sound locations, ect and wrote those things down till I knew them cold.

Then I re-read Kaplan and did the disc that came with it, and the paper test in the back.. saw where it said I was low and reviewed those sections.. anyway.. good luck!!

ChristineN, BSN, RN · Sep 13, 2008

I graduated 6/20 tested 9/8, so I had about 10 weeks. For the first month to 6 weeks, I was studying my Kaplan materials religiously, but after I started working as a GN, my studying really slacked off.

CT Pixie, BSN, RN · Sep 13, 2008

graduation was 6/22 and i tested on 7/9.

We were told to test the sooner the better.

**LaurelRN, MSN · Sep 13, 2008

i graduated august 10th and just took my boards 9/11. that gave me 4 weeks and i studied using kaplan and nclex made incredibly easy. as with prior posts, i looked at what i was weakest in and focused on that first- and i found out i passed yesterday! :yeah:

dani_girl · Sep 13, 2008

:ancong!: Laurel!!!!!

Maverick80 · Sep 13, 2008

I graduated May 10th, and took my NCLEX on July 9th!! I took the Kaplan course the week after graduation (it was offered at my university and was highly recommended one of our faculty teaches it!!), and then while i studied i worked as a tech about 30-35 hours a week. I live in ohio so we don't have the option to work as a GN. I found out i passed on july 10th and i started working as an RN on july 23rd!! I studied here and there but when I scheduled my test i had a little under a month to study and about 3 weeks before i really started cracking down on my studying. I would make myself do anywhere from 100 to 350 questions a day. The week before my test i decided to not work anymore until after i took the test, i had fun, and studied a lot. I decided i would only return to my tech job if i didn't pass. Plus after i was licensed i would no longer be aloud to work as a tech!! I thought the test went pretty smoothly, i was so nervous and terrified!! 75 question and a hour and a half would decide it i was an RN or not. I'm so happy it's all over with!! If you have any more questions just let me know!!!

Good luck with everything you will do great!!!

kerybery83 · Sep 13, 2008

graduated 6/11, NCLEX 8/30....and still waiting for results :cry:

RobertaMSNRN · Sep 13, 2008

i graduated august 10th and just took my boards 9/11. that gave me 4 weeks and i studied using kaplan and nclex made incredibly easy. as with prior posts, i looked at what i was weakest in and focused on that first- and i found out i passed yesterday!

congratulations!!!!!

roadrunner14 · Sep 14, 2008

thank you so much for your answers. they were very helpful! i do not have the kaplan course, am using saunders for a start. congratulations, laurel, for your great news! hope i can shortly say the same!

gmRN08 · Sep 14, 2008

Graduated may 10 and sat for boards on Sept 3-shut down at 75Q. Our instructors told us to sit ASAP for a better chance of passing , but due to fingerprint isses I could not sit any sooner.

I did start u sing Suzannes plan mid July and finished up the rest of her plan by the end of Aug. So I would highly reccommend her plan for passing. So I am not sure if what the instructors said is correct or not because I had months between. Good Luck!

roadrunner14 · Sep 17, 2008

thank you, gmrn08. your reply was very helpful, too. i had wanted to do suzanne's plan, but there are some who are saying that is making it too long of an interval between graduation & the nclex. i had already decided to go with my heart & do suzanne's plan, and your message just confirmed that you can pass with the nclex with a longer interval & using suzanne's plan. i am trying to finish suzanne's tip #1 and hope to get started after the first of oct. with her plan. thanks so much for your reply!