How to study for nclex rn?

jole05 · Nov 12, 2012

Do not give-up. You have enough review books. Go over those same books and try to understand the contents and do lots of questions. You will have to encourage yourself in the lord, if you believe. I know it is hard. Read at least 2 chapters in Saunder book or any other book in the morning and do as much questions. You will see how much better your test score will improve.

birdlover12 · Nov 12, 2012

I hear ya but I dont know if I have any suggestion! I guess just faith and read the content rather than just focusing on practicing questions. May be you need to thoroughly go through the patho or whichever area you are weak in first and hey, everybody go through the anxiety especially because its the biggest exam so do not let that in your head. Just study and try to understand the stem may be! I hope you pass this time. I am giving exam this wednesday and I am going crazy like hell:(. take care and all the best.

bananal0ve · Nov 12, 2012

Lots of luck to you! you'll make it!!! try to keep calm and think about what you went through during nursing years in college. this exam will be the final step for all of us. :) I know we all have to sacrifice and dedicate our time for our studying and it'll be all worth it in the end. I'm studying again too, and this time I'll push myself really hard and finally pass this exam. Don't think about failing! You'll make it through! God bless! Pray hard! :yes:

birdlover12 · Nov 12, 2012

Thank you so much:). Hope for the best! Will update you after the exam.

Rocko · Nov 12, 2012

Hi! I went to college in Puerto Rico and graduated on May 2009. I took the NCLEX-RN for the first time on May 23, 2012!!! And failed!!! I was so depressed!! I used only the Saunders book (content and the qts CD)!! After doing research in the internet and reading here others peoples experiences I decided take the test for second time! I took the nclex again last saturday Nov 10! And got the good pop up! Here is what i used this time: Kaplan on demand (expensive, but you can pay $499 in three monthly payments) i watched all the videos, q banks, q trainer!! Look for every rational of each good and wrong questions Lacharity PDA , 2nd edition Lippincotts NCLEX RN alternate-format questions 4th edition Dont give up!!!! Best of the luck!!

mzmae · Nov 14, 2012

Taking my exam for the fourth time as well Dec. 27th. As the days go by and the dates get close I can feel my anxiety rise. Trying not to fall into the negative attitude around me, it's hard to fight it but its a must! I am not giving up. I have to believe in myself, If I don't no one else will...

perioddrama · Nov 14, 2012

You have a lot of study materials. Utilize them. Do not procrastinate. Do the practice questions and read the rationale.

Remember to take breaks every now and then from studying.

Good luck! Maybe fourth time is your lucky charm. :)

rmsm · Nov 20, 2012

First of all I want to say good luck on the studying. I have done a lot of research about studying, what and what not to study how, etc. I have many sources: ATI Books, Saunder Books, PDA Book, Lacharity book, Hurst Review, etc. I am currently studying and one thing I have learned from many people is to stick to a main study review. I am studying through Hurst Review (extremely good in content) and doing the NCLEX 4000 questions (if you cannot afford the CD... I believe you can get the NCLEX 3000/3500 online for free based upon the review I have read). If you cannot afford Hurst Review... there is a book called Exam Cram ($25 when you register for a free 30 day membership with barnes & nobles) which is 99% SAMe like Hurst Review minus the fact that Exam Cram does not show you videos of the lectures... and lastly there is a course called NCSBN nclex review which is $50 for 3 weeks.... I am going to get this but once im fully done studying with HURST review just to do practice questions only. NCSBN Nclex Review is made my the people who make the NCLEX so when you sit for boards you can try to understand how they put their formats together. Many people said the NCSBN is not so good to review on instead for their practice questions.. If you have an iphone or itouch etc... Download apps with practice questions for free such as Kaplan, Lacharity, etc. Once again good luck and hope I helped!

bananal0ve · Nov 20, 2012

OMG! thank you so much for this. these past few days, I have been so stressed out at work. i feel like i cant go on studying anymore. But i just needed this. Thank you! :)

rmsm · Nov 20, 2012

OMG! thank you so much for this. these past few days, I have been so stressed out at work. i feel like i cant go on studying anymore. But i just needed this. Thank you! :)

Problem with many who are taking the test is that they are too nervous/anxiety building up especially when the test comes closer. One thing you need to remember is TO RELAX!!! do deep breathing exercises, go enjoy yourself a bit, warm shower or whatever thats going to make you relax.. be confident!!! I understand what you are going through regarding family not understanding because mines are extremely similar i feel like many Asian parents tend to do that. They want their kids to pass with no excuses without thinking what we go through. Currently, i spend over 12 hours a day handling family issues (caregiver for a family member with cancer and other family related issues)... the days when the family member is in the hospital I probably spend 15-16 day takecare including other family related stuff... So by the time im home from several appointments im drained. The biggest and hardest thing I cannot give up on is sleep. If i dont get proper amount of sleep im unable to study the following day. Remember to eat proper and sleep well. If you are stressed at work.. fix the problem that might be causing the stress. DO not make job an excuse. Instead study and take your time. For example... lets say you have 2-3 hours a day to study.. use those times wisely and study... if you really need it bad you need to cut down on tv time, phone time, going out time... but still treat yourself once a week or twice if possible to decrease the stress load... another thing i learned is if your working, running around, etc...instead of doing the studying after work instead wake up earlier and study ahead of time and after work do practice questions.... this will help by you being alert and focus on studying if u do it before your work and not drained or stress after work... Try to aim for 60 questions a day (many peoples review I have read they said 100-150 per day and towards closer to the exam they go up to 300 questions a day... im not saying to do all these questions at the same time instead break it up for example do 50questions at one time and another 50 questions another time... i started doing this by taking my itouch with me to the hospital and doing practice questions because i cannot study in the loud hospital setting... instead alone so during those times i do practice questions... you could probably do that too... even if its 10 questions its still worth it because its 10 less questions u have to do end of the day... you could probably do practice questions when your on your break or when its a slow day if your boss allows it... but for sure use your break to answer few questions) I have been unsuccessful with my study plans but this time around i have to since i got jobs lined up and I dont want to lose any opportunities. ANother would be when your relaxing, watching tv.. during break try to get in 10 questions... make sure you try to achieve your minimal everyday dont make your schedule so packed and busy that u wont be able to accomplish it... take it slow and study... everything you study review it the following day... do as many practice questions... u should be able to reach over 3000 question (some do about 6000 questions before the nclex)...practice questions are extremely vital to ur study plan... like one of the ladies said she did saunders... saunders is a good book but in my opinion too much info to rmr... and its a bit confusing to me... their CD is a great source of practice questions.... rmr not to give up because the more u become lazy u will delay it even more.... lastly on a calendar write down ur goals and what u have achieve that day... for example are u going to study for 3 months??? or how many months... if so fill ur calendar in with 3 months of what ur going to do each day... so u can see where u stand.. how behind u r or ahead.... if u think ur unable to get ur studying in... look and write down how ur day goes... for example if u work 8 -5... drive time additional 30 min... home, shower, eat... then u have the evening to urself... or wake up early to study and get to bed early... its about sacrifice of many things in order to pass!!! well once again goodluck

bananal0ve · Nov 23, 2012

thank you so much for this. I have just actually finished making my study schedule. im pretty satisfied with it. yay! thank you because you are all so very helpful here. :woot: I just got a reply for my re-application, unfortunately, the board is requesting a copy of my clinical cases, or PRC forms as we call them in my school. Now, this is another cause of stress for me, since I have it here with me, and I have to send it all the way back to the Philippines and have my school certify and send it back here again. But, before that, someone has to go through hell to facilitate the signing of my PRC forms. Hunting Chief Nurses for their signatures are sooo not the business :grumpy: but I am so thankful and lucky :) for having supportive friends back home who are willing to go through all that hassle AGAIN to help me take my exam. It's just gonna take a long while though, and I decided it'll give me enough or more time to review and go over and over my materials as well as do pratice tests until I'm done processing my re-application. hopefully after 2-3 months from now, I'll be more than ready and prepared to take that exam. I don't want to rush it like the 3 last times I took it and failed miserably. :cry: I'm still gonna work full time, and just like you said I WON'T MAKE IT AS AN EXCUSE ANYMORE. Thank you, because you are so right about this. Took me awhile to finally admit this even to myself. I feel so much better. I am soouo looking forward to accomplishing my goals and becoming a nurse. WE CAN ALL DO IT! goodluck to all of us! and GOD BLESS!!!