How to study the Content for the Nclex?

Smilty · Jul 18, 2013

Alicat23,

Your post is about the only thing today that has not made me want to puke on my study material. I test on Friday!!

Thanks for sharing :)

joanna73, BSN, RN · Jul 18, 2013

Agree with Lady Free 28. Study and basically memorize the domains that are being tested, along with corresponding competencies. Know this inside and out, because all questions are derived from these domains.

SAFETY and ethics

Always use the nursing process: Assess first!

Prioritization: ABCs

Health promotion and wellness

Client centred care: use of therapeutic relationship.

Spend a week going over these key areas. Then review common illnesses, theories, lab values, medications.

The goal is to choose the answer they want. The best nursing answer. If you understand the key domains first, you should succeed. Many people make the mistake of studying only content and fail the exam. The knowledge is there, but it needs to be framed from a nursing perspective.

I hope that helps. I'm currently reviewing for a certification exam in geriatrics using these principles. When I wrote my RN exam in 2010, I studied in this manner and I found the exam very reasonable.

Also, making a schedule of topic areas you plan to cover week by week really helps decrease that anxiety.

*** Just wanted to add: For maximum results, studying for 3-4 hours and breaking up that time during your day or night is much more effective than cramming for 5, 10, 12 hours. Research indicates that the human brain processes information much better in smaller time frames.

Good luck!

swansonplace · Jul 18, 2013

How do you know when you have the basic content down?

joanna73, BSN, RN · Jul 18, 2013

Spend some time reviewing with your texts....major systems, meds, pathology, lab values.

Review the domains which are tested periodically, since doing so keeps your studying on track. No use studying areas of little importance or factoids. Texts are loaded with those.

Then spend time doing practise questions, taking the tests, timing yourself and reviewing rationales.

Once you feel confident with the practise questions and you're scoring high, the content is probably being learned effectively.

ursweetpea · Jul 18, 2013

Hi! Have you seen Davis nclex rn sucess book? Its a conprehensive review book but I like it better than Saunders. The way its written is not too overwhelming than that of Saunders.

mali_santizo · Jul 18, 2013

I Will checo Davis book too tren thank You!.

I'm Liking Saunders Q'A. I love Saunders rationales. But the Q. Are to easy. So I will study content with this book and test taking with Kaplan since both have same areas :). And thank you so much for the replies. I will have my mind set for this test!

AlliCat23 · Aug 13, 2013

I have to agree that the study schedule that joanna73 stalked about is optimum--for most people. But, I've always been an "all-or-nothing" kind of gal, and studying for 12-14 hours is just what I do. I get so interested/involved that the time just passes by. Naturally, I'd take a 5-20 minute break every 3-4 hours...take an hour or so off for a big meal and walk the dogs...then I'd be back at it again.

Yes, I'd wear myself out after about 10 days....then take a week off...before going at it again.

Wouldn't recommend this schedule, but if this is the type of studier that you are....it still works! Just do what you do and be who you are. You ARE a nurse, credentials nothwithstanding.

You'll get there.

fcharmed23 · Aug 13, 2013

hi. I'm a Registered Nurse from the Philippines. I'm planning to take the NCLEX-RN exam. i have the application but haven't mailed it yet though. I know the process would take time, and so I've decided to start reviewing my notes when i took our local boards. i have a copy of Saunders Comprehensive NCLEX-RN Review 4e and have started to do the study questions. Is this the same with the latest version or should i buy the book or cd? I also have a file of NCLEX 3000 but i couldn't open it anymore. i also followed the link for the NCLEX 3500 institutional version and it needs internet connection. is there any version wherein i can access it even without the internet connection? and what about the Kaplan? can it be downloaded? i'm trying to find the Kaplan book but couldn't find one in our area. Any suggestions? it would be a great help for me! thanks!

nurseprnRN, BSN, RN · Aug 13, 2013

Agree with Lady Free 28. Study and basically memorize the domains that are being tested, along with corresponding competencies. Know this inside and out, because all questions are derived from these domains.
SAFETY and ethics
Always use the nursing process: Assess first!
Prioritization: ABCs
Health promotion and wellness
Client centred care: use of therapeutic relationship.
Spend a week going over these key areas. Then review common illnesses, theories, lab values, medications.
The goal is to choose the answer they want. The best nursing answer. If you understand the key domains first, you should succeed. Many people make the mistake of studying only content and fail the exam. The knowledge is there, but it needs to be framed from a nursing perspective.
Good luck!

Oh, if I could like this a thousand times over I would. What you're describing is "thinking like a nurse." This is what NCLEX cares about-- the data are just supporting members of that cast.

I don't know how many times I've tried to explain that fact memorization is not the way to think like a nurse. Different areas of nursing have different data sets; there are commonalities, sure, but the major commonality is the nursing process-- assessment, analysis, planning, implementation/delegation, and reassessment.

Nursing process, nursing process, nursing process is what makes nurses, not psychomotor "skills" or knowing every lab normal.

Know ranges enough that you can recognize outliers and think about what to do with them, and to recognize normals so you can avoid distraction and go look for something else. This is what gives you a good basis for prepping for NCLEX ... and for being a nurse.

evershy · Aug 13, 2013

hi

if u think u need to work on your basic content i highly recommend you to use NCSBN online course .... i think it is affordable yet very imformative.... i also tried kaplan first and then i switched to NCSBN 3 weeks course which i liked over kaplan... u can also use lacharity for delegation and priorities and lippincott alternative format...

mali_santizo · Aug 13, 2013

hi. I'm a Registered Nurse from the Philippines. I'm planning to take the NCLEX-RN exam. i have the application but haven't mailed it yet though. I know the process would take time and so I've decided to start reviewing my notes when i took our local boards. i have a copy of Saunders Comprehensive NCLEX-RN Review 4e and have started to do the study questions. Is this the same with the latest version or should i buy the book or cd? I also have a file of NCLEX 3000 but i couldn't open it anymore. i also followed the link for the NCLEX 3500 institutional version and it needs internet connection. is there any version wherein i can access it even without the internet connection? and what about the Kaplan? can it be downloaded? i'm trying to find the Kaplan book but couldn't find one in our area. Any suggestions? it would be a great help for me! thanks![/quote']
So, You haven't started with the BON your licensing? First find out if you need a class, then after clearing that our you can start studying

Jen_Jen88 · Aug 14, 2013

I'm reviewing content with Hurst and practicing questions with Saunders, Kaplan (free questions I found online), ATI app, Lippincott and LaCharity. I take many breaks though lol I start studying at about 11am and end around 10pm. I take weekends off though and go out with my bf and friends to eat or watch a movie.