How much did you study for the NCLEX-PN?

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I'm taking my boards next week, and am a little overwhelmed with all the study materials available. When I review books like Saunders or Mosby's, I feel like I'm redoing all the stuff I already studied in Med/Surg or Pharmacology. So I've been doing questions in the books and on the CD-ROMs, and I've been doing okay, but I've heard from other people who've taken the test that a lot of it is pure critical thinking and common sense more than memorized information.

Did you study for weeks on end? Do you think it helped or it wouldn't have mattered? Or did you not study much at all, and felt you should have studied more or were glad you didn't study too much?

I graduate on November 3rd. Our school has been preparing us for the NCLEX since day one as well. I have already started going through my Saunders NCLEX CD. I will attempt to do at least 100 questions a night in various areas. On my spare time, I will do more. My school offers a one day class for NCLEX prep but I doubt I will go through it. We take a Hesi test as part of our final grade. If I do not do well, I will take the class. Good luck.

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I have been out of school since april of last year. to tell you honestly this nclex has put a full hold on my life within the past year ive been taking it. i failed about 3xs.. not embarrased to admit. it. i studied so much and I had blanked out.. dont know why. that was the last thing i wanted was to blank out. now im trying to ask help from anyone possibly.. anyone that i see studying for nursing. i just feel like quitting but i really love this field and i paid so much for this private school.. im so upset, angry and never realized what i tell myself until after i finish taking the exam which i think makes no sense.i studied a lot.. i have so many reveiwers.. i dont even know what to study from aneemore.:angryfire

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I studied about 1 hour a day. From graduation time until test time I read a book called Fryes 3000 Nursing Bullets PN. This book was wonderfull. I would highlight the tings I was not familiar with then reread them until I was familiar with the complete book. Not so much as memorizing but enough that if I saw it on the nclex with only 4 possible answers I could pick out the corrent one. Then a week before the test I started doing 100 questions nightly from the Sanders Review CD that comes with the Saunders Review book.

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Specializes in gerontology.

There was no review for me. My mom forced me to take the exam months after I graduated. It was her idea that I take LPN classes anyway. Besides I was happily taking pre-engineering classes and juggling several jobs to worry about it. But to appease her, I took the exam without really much hope of passing. Boy, did I sweat out the several hours it took for me to encounter the more than 200 questions thrown at me. Once or twice I thought of just leaving, much like everyone else taking the exam that day. Good thing I didn't because I actually passed. By the way, that engineering thing has not exactly panned out yet so I am thankful and feeling blessed that I passed the exam.

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

I would stay I studied a total of 12 hours over a period of 1 month. I mostly did the sauders CD and ATI. Passed the first time with 85 questions. Good Luck to you!!

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I also used Saunders to study quite awhile ago when I took my LPN NCLEX. I just used the book and also the CD that came with it.

Passed with 85 questions on the first try.

You can too!

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I take the NCLEX in 10 days..So far I done about 850 questions from Saunders NCLEX PN..I plan to finish with 3000 plus questions in 10 days..Wow, I do procrastinate..At school, I stayed up very late to study for exams..Guess, I am in the same mode

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Good luck to you. I am currently studying for the NCLEX 5 days a week and i am still nervous. Hopefully you do great

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Specializes in Med Surg/LTC.

I read 3 chapters a day for 3 months and then took the test. Passed it on one try.

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I graduated Dec. 2005 and took NCLEX April 3, 2006. I studied every day, for what seemed like all day. I shut off at 85 and passed.

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Anyone here take HESI to graduate? If so, how similar was it to boards? I'm wondering if I need different review material for HESI, some people I know that have taken it say it is MUCH harder than NCLEX and that worries me a little since all I have is NCLEX review books, and if I don't pass HESI next week, I don't graduate. Any info would be much appreciated.

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Hi, I was going to take my NCLEX on August 14 but I moved it up to August 23...I was doing the Saunders NCLEX CD. and I was only at 750 questions today..I felt that it was not enough time to do all 3400 questions and review it..So I am studying a lot now..I want to pass that NCLEX..And by the way, our school had a 75% pass rate in NCLEX..So I am preparing myself.

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