How to study for Nclex-RN, 2014

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Yes, I am an official RN! My dream finally comes true!!

I've also got accepted to work at VA Long Beach Hospital! Woo hoo!! J

But in order to come this far, I've had mixtures of feelings and thoughts that I almost gave up on taking the exam. I'd say getting started to study for the Nclex after finishing nursing school is the hardest part for me, especially when many others told me that it only took them 3-4 weeks of studying to pass the exam while it took me 2-3 months after graduation just to get focused seriously on the studying. I'd say I'm not a smart student but I'm very hard working. But when I did the practice questions, I doubted myself and felt so dump since I got so many of them wrong. Reading the posts on the forums actually made my self-esteem worse. For instance, some said in 1 hour they can do 80-100 Saunder (content) questions or 50 Kaplan (critical thinking) questions, while I can only do around 20 questions in that same 1 hour. I kept postponing the exam date and even thought about giving it up, like forever... However, now I am sitting here with the license! I'm so grateful that I want to share with you some of the strategies that at least worked for me:

  • Strategy 1: Practice as many of critical thinking questions as you could.
  • Strategy 2: make "Elimination" become your second nature. ("Elimination Elimination Elimination!" = Key!)
  • Strategy 3: utilize what is called "NCLEX Decision Tree" (just search on google)
  • Strategy 4: Figure the "patterns and techniques" out of the practice questions!

In terms of nclex study materials, after taking the exam, I would suggest that Kaplan question style is very similar to the actual exam since it focuses more on critical thinking instead of content. Since you can never study all of nursing contents, training yourself with the "patterns and techniques" will help you answer a question even when you're unsure with the content. Even with tons of the flashcards I created for the content, I was still unsure with all the questions on nclex and felt as if I didn't study at all.. However, as I've trained myself so much with Kaplan questions and "elimination" technique, I was able to eliminate and finalize the answers.

  • Strategy 5: Isolate each content statement!

For those who study better when they really understand the core contents, I suggest NOT to open nursing textbooks and start reviewing from the beginning. Doing this will cost you so much time and will overwhelm you when thinking about how much more you will have to study. Instead, just start with practicing the questions. Then, take notes on the questions that you answered wrong + the questions that you "luckly" or randomly got them right. To take notes, some prefer writing down in a notebook as the writing part will help them remember longer. Some prefer typing in a word document to make it faster and easier for editing. For me, I cut flash cards into smaller pieces, then on each piece I write a short/rephrased statement that I got from the questions' rationales. For examples: "Pain = NOT priority", "Chicken pox = airborne", "Droplet precaution = 3 feet away", etc. (hint: Isolation Precautions are very very important to study). To me, doing this makes the statement stand out and subconsciously stick to my brain rather than looking at a lengthened notebook page with full of words. The reason that I cut the flash cards into smaller pieces (6 pieces for me as my hand writing is small) is because it makes it less overwhelmed at the end (I wouldn't want to review a carton box of flashcards the day before the exam :p).

  • Rule: do not discourage yourself after getting another wrong question! Remember: no healthcare personal knows all of the medical contents + the nclex lady just want to see how to react to certain new situations, so with just a tiny twist in a question can change a question completely à thus it is impossible for you to know all the answers; so just keep reminding yourself that you are trying to get a pattern from answering the questions, not to answer every single question correctly! Also, remember that you do not have to do 100% to pass the exam, right?
  • Also, do not discourage yourself after reading certain posts from forums. Remember that you never know how far they've studied before posting their progress and whether they paused to take notes frequently and intensively. Some might have practiced 2000-3000 questions before reaching that 70%-80% on an nclex practice exam.

Being able to hold the license in my hands is such a special feeling that I can't explain! So I want to share this with you all but I don't know where to start. So just feel free to ask me any further questions regarding how to study for the exam as well as how to overcome the emotional barrier.

You may also ask me to explain certain hard-to-get concepts and I will try to explain them the best I can even if I have to spend hours searching for the answers. :) Good luck with your studying, you can do it!

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Thanks for the post! You've given a lot of good information here. I am scheduled to take NCLEX this Saturday but I'm starting to doubt my readiness and thinking about re-scheduling. I've been studying steady for about 3 weeks but took the HESI exit exam about 5 weeks ago and got a 959.

Any advice on how long I should study? Should I reschedule?

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Hello,

Congrats!! What resources did you use to study from? Thank you

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Hi Jacobs.

For me, I practiced Kaplan intensively and found its style very similar to nclex. I shared Kaplan's online account with a friend and practiced the tests there. Also purchased its book called "Kaplan Nclex-RN strategies, practice, and review". The strategies they gave are very very helpful so make sure you study them! (ex: physical needs always > psychological needs, thus pain and emotional distress are not a priority).

I also attended Hurst live review and did its practice tests.

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Goldpk, It's hard for me to say how long is enough because it really depends on each individual's studying style. Since the hospital I applied for requires me to pass with only 1 attempt, I actually studied for 2-3 months. I practiced about 4000 questions. However, many of my friends told me it only took them 3-4 weeks (and I heard both passes and fails). If it was me I would take a little more time (but this is just me).

And have you looked up some strategies and advices from others on allnurses and other forums? That's what I did and they were very helpful.

Also, as I mentioned above, "Elimination" is the key. Try to eliminate each answer choice at a time rather than keep reading all 4 answers repeatedly since it will confuse you a lot (remember all answers might sound reasonably but you have to target the question's stem). I was very confused on the exam although I studied intensively. However, when I kept eliminating the obviously wrong choices and those that aren't really related to the question's stem, I was able to finalize my answers. So always eliminate, eliminate and eliminate!

Also, on the test, when you keep seeing "critical thinking" and "SATA (select all apply)" question styles, that signals that you have answered the previous question correctly and moved up to a higher level, which is good! You should keep it that way by taking your time to really consider each question so that there's a higher chance you can stop at 75 questions and pass (remember you can still stop at 75 questions but fail). You have to really tell yourself to relax and stay focused on the exam even when you can't recognize the question's topic. Quickly rephrase the choices down the erasable board they give you and start eliminating.

The first few questions are very important for you to take your time since the computer is trying to rate you to see where you are. If you got them wrong, the computer will categorize you in low level and you'll see very easy content questions.

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Thanks for this post! I take my NCLEX in a few days and need all of the advice I can get! Can't wait to be in your shoes soon! :) Were the SATA questions as hard as all of the practice ones feel? I've been doing great on practice questions… with the exception of the dreaded SATA questions… I have heard most people get 20+ SATA, so I want to be prepared. Were they at least semi- straight forward? and was the NCLEX as horrible as I am imagining it in my head? lol thanks! and CONGRATULATIONS!!!

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Thank you! I ended up re-scheduling and will take it in July now. I appreciate all of that advice. Congratulations again! Good luck with everything.

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Thanks for this post! I'm scheduled to take my NCLEX in 2 weeks and is getting more anxious because most of the ones I heard who passed got a LOT of SATA, and that is my weak area. Also, most of the ones who passed said they studied about 2-4 hrs per day. I study 5 days a week for about 6-7 hours, and am honestly starting to get burnt out. Any advice?

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Where did everyone go??!! Taking NCLEX in two weeks. Feeling like I know nothing. Did not take Kaplan but another review in our town. People say it's good and they passed but I am also using Saunders. Not doing super great with Saunders.

I feel like some questions I had not even learned in school let alone learning it now?

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