I graduated nursing school a couple of years ago and have failed my NCLEX a few times. At this point...I don't have much confidence that I can pass. The first time I took it, i took Kaplan and second time I took Hurst Review. I do have major test anxiety, but I think there's more to it than that. Does anyone have any suggestions? Anyone struggled a few times and then found something that helped them pass? I'd take any recommendation and ideas on what I should do in order to succeed.
I actually had a subscription to Kaplan and I was studying the Qtest for the first test and I failed. I switched it up by taking the Hurst online review (do this for 45 days.. small amounts one video per day) and doing the Hurst in person review 3 days before the test to refresh my memory. I took several Qtest with Hurst and did not score high but, I refused to give up. I studied the things I got wrong. I continued to take Kaplan test but changed to taking a 5-10 question test at a time. I could quickly take a test and study the missed questions without feeling like it was too much. Here are a few things I added to my studies that helped me (Positioning --example Lumbar puncture before and after), CPR, Insulin, endings for basic drugs, air embolism signs and symptoms and there are a few quick youtubes on how to remember Lab values that are helpful. Know some of the basic things on Maternity like FHR positions depending on baby positions. Dont kill yourself on trying to know details.. KNOW what to look for for the things that will kill the patient. (Tension Pneumo, Air Embo, Bleeding risk ect) these will save you when you have no other clue you can look at the s&s and figure it out. MOST OF ALL: THERE ARE NO GOOD PATIENTS ON THE NCLEX ASSUME THE WORST! (This is important because your telling the NCLEX lady this is the only thing Im going to do OVER AND OVER.. ex.. sit the patient up)
@Tamlyn32 Congratulations on passing! What a great thing to find out right before Christmas!
@nurse551 I am trying Uworld this time around as I've been reading that it's helpful. So I'm not really studying material anymore and strictly doing questions. Aiming for 100-150 questions per dyad to take it at the end of January. How have you been studying?
@Tamlyn32 Congratulations on passing! What a great thing to find out right before Christmas!
@nurse551 I am trying Uworld this time around as I've been reading that it's helpful. So I'm not really studying material anymore and strictly doing questions. Aiming for 100-150 questions per dyad to take it at the end of January. How have you been studying?
I am doing hurst + kaplan + uworld. I am taking my 2nd attempt in exactly 1 week. I try and quickly fly through at least 1 core content a day (studied core content hard last month) and then do small quizzes and do 3 75 question exams and read the rationales for both wrong and right.
I am a Canadian RN who wrote the NCLEX a few times....it is devastating and I know you feel like "what is wrong with me, what is with this test". I felt as though I was doing something wrong, after all I passed (with great marks) my science degree and CRNE without difficulty. Plus I was a practical nurse prior to that and wrote that exam without difficulty and only once as well. All in all it was very disappointing and depressing but instead of sitting and overthinking it I decided to do something about it.
First of all I want to say is don't listen to everyone that tells you that based on the questions you get and when the computer turns off will gauge if you passed or failed. A person can get 75 questions and fail and another person can get 265 questions and pass. If you focus on the number of the question ( ie . question 5. ) then you are not focusing on the question being asked so how can you answer it?
After I failed a few times I needed to re evaluate what I was doing wrong. It became obvious that reading and the traditional studying was not working for me so I looked for a different way. I knew that if you showed me ( visually) how to do something I would be able to do it, no problem. Remember that for a lot of us it has been over 10 years since we wrote the CRNE and the information being covered is a touch different than what we were taught here in Canada. In Canada the focus was diabetes, insulin, MS, hypertension etc was covered because that is what we see in Canada. For the NCLEX I was asked about sickle cell, Addison's disease etc I had no idea at least not enough to answer the question correctly.
So instead of buying another KAPLAN book or "NCLEX LEARNING" book, I found a site that was my saving grace. "Review for nurses" is an online course by nurses who have wrote some of the NCLEX testing questions. It showed me what they focus on and the disease / meds/ tests that they will or may ask you about. I passed the exam without difficulty.
Just remember that everyone learns differently so you need to find out how you learn and then go from there....do some research.
Akee, BSN, RN. Congratulations on passing! What a nice news for the New Year. I've also taken mine 4 times. I'm really feeling doubts and fears rising as I start putting my efforts into it again. What did you do to overcome that part of it? I feel like I'm having a hard time believing in myself and that I can do it. What is the 35 page note? Where can I find that? Also I'm not sure what Mark K is either. Will you guide me to those and where I can find that? Again, congratulations on becoming a nurse!
Mark klimek is a review class available in ohio area. I have a friend who attended it and share the review books to me. Unfortunately, i can't share the material with you but you can register and attend his class if you are near the area.
Lastly you really need a very supportive network (family and friends) who will encourage, support and understand you. Apart from yourself they are the next person who sees your effort, determination and sacrifices. That's how i survived during those roller coster rides to pass the test.
Tamlyn32
5 Posts
I passed. I found out 3 days before Christmas.