How'd you pass the NCLEX

mangopeach · Jul 6, 2012

Studied a little over 2 weeks doing about 100 questions per day. I didn't have a set time that I studied. I would work on questions & read the rationales till I felt tired. Then take a break, do something else and get back to the rest of the questions.

Used Saunders Q&A mostly. I used Saunders Comprehensive all through nursing school so I just went over some of the things I felt iffy about. Also went over the All Nurses Study Guide.

rmsm · Jul 7, 2012

Studied a little over 2 weeks doing about 100 questions per day. I didn't have a set time that I studied. I would work on questions & read the rationales till I felt tired. Then take a break, do something else and get back to the rest of the questions.
Used Saunders Q&A mostly. I used Saunders Comprehensive all through nursing school so I just went over some of the things I felt iffy about. Also went over the All Nurses Study Guide.

Did you take your nclex right after graduation?

mangopeach · Jul 7, 2012

I did not take it right after graduation. I took a BREAK! LOL - I needed to unwind after nursing school and catch up on some things that I did not have time to do. Plus it took almost 3 weeks to get my ATT after graduation. I graduated 5/4/2012. Sat for NCLEX 6/21/2012. Had I known what I know now, I would have taken it a lot sooner.

Good luck!

Mike R, ADN, BSN, RN · Jul 7, 2012

Studied a little over 2 weeks doing about 100 questions per day. I didn't have a set time that I studied. I would work on questions & read the rationales till I felt tired. Then take a break, do something else and get back to the rest of the questions.
Used Saunders Q&A mostly. I used Saunders Comprehensive all through nursing school so I just went over some of the things I felt iffy about. Also went over the All Nurses Study Guide.

Ditto but I used Kaplan instead. Though most would say I should have probably studied more. Oh well, I passed! Graduated 5/19 and sat for the boards 6/16. I was one of those who thought: Well, I just graduated and I'm currently the smartest I'll ever be. If I don't get this over with now, I'll just forget everything!

nelli783 · Jul 7, 2012

I graduated on 5/18 and took the NCLEX on 6/13. I reviewed all of my lecture notes from school and did all of the Kaplan qtrainer and qbank questions. Not sure how many hours of studying I put it. I didn't have a lot of time because after I graduated, I started my GN position on 5/21.

angelz68 · Jul 7, 2012

I used Saunders NCLEX review, I used the CD in the back of the book. I graduated on 4/28, I tested on 5/31. I would have taken it sooner but it took that long for my ATT. So approx. one month from graduation. I passed. I studied sporadically. I was nervous but all went well. I did not crazy study. when I had time I studied. The day before I studied more frequent.

Rhody34 · Jul 7, 2012

1) what sources did you use as a study tool

I took the Kaplan course. I went to each and every class, I watched all the content videos, and followed along with the course book while I did it. I completed 100% of the Q bank (with a 66% average). I did all the test trainers, all the sample tests.... every thing Kaplan had to offer- I used. I figured, I paid for it! May as well use it!!!

2) how many hours devoted to studying daily

In the first couple weeks I studied about 2 hours a day. Two weeks before I studied 4-6 hours a day. And the week before my exam, my Wife took the week off of work to watch the kids and I studied 10-12 hours a day. May seem like a lot- but I am a stay at home Dad to 3 kids under 6, and believe me- I had to make it work in those initial weeks!

3) how many MONTHS/WEEKS you studied for until the nclex

I graduated May 18, and took the exam on the 6th of July. I took about 2 weeks off after school, so I studied actively for about 6 weeks!

GOOD LUCK!!!!! :-)

rmsm · Jul 8, 2012

Congrats to all you guys!! Seems like many of yall took it soon. I been out of school for good 7 months now, kind of scared and seems like i forgot many things. I have almost all the good books/apps besides Kaplan... Hurst, NCLEX 4000, Saunders, PDA book.. I hope I make it through it all!!

Scarlettz, BSN, RN · Jul 8, 2012

Good luck to you! I graduated May 17 and took my NCLEX test on 7/6. I wanted to test a bit sooner than this, but I forgot to pay the BON so that pushed me back 1-2 weeks after my desired date. The NCLEX was really not as scary as I expected (or I just prepared myself well enough.) But I did have MANY questions where I had it down to two possible answers and just had to take an educated guess.

I am still waiting for my test results.. But, I am getting the good popup with the PVT trick. I am still worried, but I hope it's a good sign.

If I pass, I am going to write a post on my study tactics- since I LOVED reading others' stories.

I have been doing mostly practice questions for a year. I didn't devote 8 hr days in the month before (even though that seems my usual style ) I did have a few days in June where I would study for longer hours, though. I did try to do a little bit of studying each day in some form - questions, reviewing meds, reading content, watching Kaplan videos. But, there were about 5 or so days the month before the test where I didn't study at all.

I am going to list my sources in another post later on- but Kaplan Review Course (and their site) helped alot and Lipincott's Alternate Format Question book.

MissHaleyDawn · Jul 8, 2012

I graduated May 2012 and took a month to prepare for the NCLEX-RN. My main study tool was Kaplan; I did all the QTrainers and the whole QBank. What really helped was reading all the rationales for the questions, even for questions I got correct. I did a few sections in Lippincott's Q&A for the NCLEX-RN as well for content areas I knew I was weak in and wanted a brief review to jog my memory.

Because I'm very weak on select all that apply (SATA) questions, I purchased Lippincott's Alternate Format Only book; it really helped me to be comfortable with SATA - which I'm thankful for, as I got 29 of those little demons, and my test shut off at 75!

Total I spent about 6 to 7 hours a day studying for about a month up to my test. Good luck on your exam! It's hard, but definitely doable!!

Court90 · Jul 8, 2012

Hey, First of all good luck. I used ATI and Lippincotts. I studied for about 3 weeks and did 7-8 hours a day and around 250 Qs a day. I just passed on the 3rd shutting off at 75 questions.