Hello everyone, My name is Lisa. I graduated from the LPN program May 2010. First, I want to say it hasnt been an easy ride. Every test I tool in the LPN program I struggled with. Nothing has ever been easy for me. But that doesnt mean I wont try. I tested soon after graduation I will admit I focus on memorizing instead of application. Obviously that didnt work out. The second time I took my time around, I study different. I used the Kaplan strategies I did the Kaplan online Question in the Bank (Even if I would get it right I would review EVERY rational). The first time I tested I got 87 questions. Which according to what I know the ONLY reason after 85 questions you will continue to get more is because your still in the game! So the second time I got 170. Which means my readiness improved. And I tested again not to long and again I got about the same questions. This time I studied the Kaplan strategies once more. Also EXAM CRAM all the questions. I just found out I failed today. So going in again for the FOURTH time it looks like. And since I graduated 2010 (IOWA) I only have another year to test then I'm either done or go back to the LPN program. I can honestly say with everything I know I can truelly say its NOT the material its not that I dont know it. I know myself. But I tried almost everything. As I was taking the Nclex I realize OMG this questions are making sense to me, but I'm still having trouble chosing the BEST ANSWER!!! I kno thats what my problem is!!! And I feel so discourage because no one can really help me. I am seekign out help ANY way shape or form. I'm not giving up. This is what I love to do work with PEOPLE. It brings tears to my eyes everytime because I know, I know the material (otherwise I wouldnt of passed the class). Im staying focus and keeping a positive attitude. I'm just very frustrated I dont know what to do anymore. I want this so bad, I want this so so so bad As you can see I even went online and saw this AMAZING website and I am only hoping somebody reads it and replies. Please give me any advice and what helped you that might help me.
For those who are reading this and have taken the Nclex more than 2 or 3 times please answer this: Why do u think u passed the third time? What did u do different?
Please guys help me, Im literarly BEGGING for help!!!
Thank you guys and GOD BLESS every single one of you
yes, and if u read my thread i stated that i used kaplan strategies before. i ask myself what is the ? asking me (if i cant identify the topic) if i kno the topic i look at the answer choices and if it makes sense and why it makes sense. i also keep it client focus because its a test about caring for people! of course some lab test diagnostic test are on there but those are different. i kno what my problem is i dont kno how to say it any clearer and so far nobody can help me and it frustrates me!
when i took the test i knew what i was doing. i'm able to asses who would i see first (abc's/ maslows). my problem is: i'm still having trouble picking the best answer (health promotion and maintance). thats all i can say. i might consider getting a totur and expalining everything why. ugh!!!!! but imma keep trying! thanks anyways
yes, and if u read my thread i stated that i used kaplan strategies before. i ask myself what is the ? asking me (if i cant identify the topic) if i kno the topic i look at the answer choices and if it makes sense and why it makes sense. i also keep it client focus because its a test about caring for people! of course some lab test diagnostic test are on there but those are different. i kno what my problem is i dont kno how to say it any clearer and so far nobody can help me and it frustrates me!
when i took the test i knew what i was doing. i'm able to asses who would i see first (abc's/ maslows). my problem is: i'm still having trouble picking the best answer (health promotion and maintance). thats all i can say. i might consider getting a totur and expalining everything why. ugh!!!!! but imma keep trying! thanks anyways
well in that case...i think it just comes down to following your gut instinct. do you ever change your answers back and forth by second guessing yourself? honestly i am trying to help you out, since i really struggled with this at the beginning of nursing school. i understand the frustration, but you have to identify what happens when you are in those final seconds of answering the question. what are you feeling? what are your thoughts? are you reading too far into the question? there are tons of questions one could ask, but identify those things first and then decipher if that is what is causing the hardship of not being able to choose the best answer.
thank you! i appreciate ur help i really do. when im answering the ?'s i really cant see which one is the best i dont know. it could be that i dont relax.....honestly i dont kno..... ugh maybe i need a zanac! lol well at this point im motivated and i have a totur now so......i just dont kno anynmore, but i wont give up!
Well here's my 2 cents. I detect the first problem and that is that you have MAJOR ANXIETY! DIAL IT BACK! That is not good to have an excessive amount of anxiety. You can do this. It's great that you ahve perseerance and the willingness to find out what is wrong and remedy it.
1. Dial back the anxiety
2. Visualize success- Speak that you WILL pass the exam, CLAIM it in the name of the Father, Son and Holy spirit
3. Write affirmatins that you will pass it and post it on the fridge, on your bedroor door, in your car, on your car keys
4. Surround yourself with positive people not negative people
5. Try another review service but do it in person. Seeing that you tried Kaplan already, try HURST (it's content based and i know u feel that that is not your weakness but it will keep the info fresh in your mind until u retest again)
6. USE ABCs in selection an answer. In most cases, airway problem takes precedent over circulation/breathing problem
7. Always think safety first when answering a question
8.I don't know about the PCLEX as I'm studying for NCLEX but know delegation and priority
9. Never choose a pass the buck answer unless life threatening and the physcian needs to be notified immediately
10. If you can, try get the answer down to 2,most can do that. Then go back to the stem and see if what the focus of the question is, and try to pick an answer to picks up on that- by this time, u should ahve a 50% chance of getting that question right roughly
11.Know infectin control and how to apply it in terms of putting patients in the same room with like illnesses or PPE
12. Never choose pain unless Sickel Cell, Burns or Kidney stones- rememeber pain never killed anyone
13. Know main lab values and how to interpret them not just by wrote- i.e calcim/mag- muscle problems, sodium, neuro, potassium- heart
14.Know therapeutic communications- never ask why or closed ended questions, always open ended to give pt chance to verbalize feelings
15. when u are in the exam, don't panic or get anxious, I always say how do you eat an elephant? It's one bite at a time. Focus on only 1 question at a time and don't race ahead or agonize that you are now on #150 and u must not being doing well.
STUDYING 7HRS A DAY IS NOT CONDUCIVE TO RETAINING INFORMATION OR EVEN HEALTHY!
I would focus on questions- Kaplan has a very good Qbank- read the rationales and see if the ones u got right have the same rationale and look at the ones u got wrong
it's okay to take a break
They always told us not to do more than 150Q a day. Doing 400 Q a day, I'm not sure if you are retaining anything or have the chance to let info sink in.
I wouldn't do more than 150Q, read the questions again THEN the rationale one by one. Soon you will start to see a pattern if you let your brain.
Don't over analyze yourself or beat yourself up too much. Look at Kaplan and see what areas u are weak in.
If you know content, then your problem is application and knowing the tricks. Even when I have doubts with an answer and the circulation answers logically looks better, I pick airway unless I'm overwhelminging convinced it's circulation and usually airway is right.
Good luck but honey 7hrs a day iss too much and not effective
thanks newgoalrn, i appreciate ur advice and yes i have anxiety. and about the ?'s well i did 1000 qbank of kaplan online. and yes, after every ? even if i got it right i would read the rational. and i can swear that because of reading the rational i did better. i also did the hurst and its harder then the actual test i would say, but it didnt help me, unfortunetly. i also did exam cram (the one w/5 test and its only ? and answer and rationals). i also have a folder where i have all the lab values, precautions, pharm etc. i bought a saunders book and recieved it today. but we shall see. out of all the material i have used i can honestly tell u kaplan has been the most helpful, but i still cant pass. and trust me everyday i try to pray and i wrote in a pice of paper my name and lpn next to it. i graduated in 2010 i only have a year to pass and i really want this. i want this so bad thats all i think of, ever since graduation. but i refuse to believe i pass i graduated from college!!! and i cant pass boards? i'm a fighter and i will do this i will do this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
I believe everything is possible w/the help of God. He knows I been trying he knows I worked hard, because I really have. And even as I write this at this very moment I wanna cry my eyes water. Because its been how long? since May 2010 and its March. 8th 2012 and I'm sitting here like a loser.....and what hurts the most is that I am actually trying, I really am. People say this isnt for me, but theirs nothing that I wouldnt do. I love people yet maybe this isnt for me but I cant give up somethign tells me I have to keep going. And Im crying right now, I dont know anymore. I wish it wasnt me I wish I could just wake up and say yes I finally passed. I pray to God to help me.
The reason I came to this website was to reach out for help, Im literally BEGGING people for advice. My classmates all they say is "Oh u will get it" "You will be fine" and I smile but deep inside I cant help, but to be a lil negative. I have to do this, I feel like this is whats holding me back from actually starting my life. Just this test this very important test. In my previous times I taken the Nclex I been very closed and nothing.....nothing. But I keep going and keep going. Right now I say to myself I dont wanna do this anymore I dont wanna study the same material I dont want to do this, I really dont! But I get up and I say NO!!! U have to do this, I have to......I HAVE TO! I graduated Nursing school and for what? As of right now I have a tutor online they should be contacting me anytime now (they said w/in 24 hrs) thats my last hope, Literarly
First thing is first...You WILL pass! Wake up and tell yourself that you are going to study to pass the exam. The day I went to take my test I called a friend of mine from back east, and she talked to me to calm my nerves for a couple of minutes. After talking to her the rest of the drive all I repeated to myself was I am going to pass today....Literally for 20 minutes. I went in and I was almost an hour early...there was another tester in the lobby so I talked to that person and a few more trickled in and talked with them as well. When I was sitting in the testing room I said a prayer before I began, and continually prayed throughout my test.
Now I know this doesn't address choosing the best answer, but this does relate to anxiety. I have hypothyroidism and as we all know you can suffer from major anxiety and depression because of this disorder....well I certainly suffer from anxiety. Now good for you for talking to a tutor. Have you ever taken a NCLEX prep course? I know this is one of those things that you know you can do, but are struggling with. DO NOT give up your dream! I know that you can do it! Have you ever watched "The Secret"? It's a documentary type movie, and if you have not watched it I highly suggest you do. It may be boring, but I have seen this film about a gazillion times and it sends a very powerful message.
Please don't give up. We are all here to support you and be your own personal cheerleaders! We know you can do it. Remember tomorrow is a new day and a fresh start....take that and run with it!
thanks for the encouragement and i will watch that movie. and i kno u dont kno me and i dont kno u, but what u just said like was, it ust made me feel soooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much better:jester: it really did honest to god :) thank you! like finally someone understands me!!!! u have no idea how that feels :-)
"[color=#b22222]i know this is one of those things that you know you can do, but are struggling with"
sorry i didnt respond quickly i really hope u read this (fxmama). i'm going to pass! a friend told me to think positive because only good things come outta positive thinking! i can do this! all i need is practice and believe in god, who makes everything possible! thanks a lot fxmama!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! if u have any advice please dont be afraid to write anythign down
As you can see I even went online and saw this AMAZING website and I am only hoping somebody reads it and replies. Please give me any advice and what helped you that might help me. 
but I cant give up somethign tells me I have to keep going. And Im crying right now, I dont know anymore. I wish it wasnt me I wish I could just wake up and say yes I finally passed. I pray to God to help me.
realLisa
18 Posts
fxmama:
yes, and if u read my thread i stated that i used kaplan strategies before. i ask myself what is the ? asking me (if i cant identify the topic) if i kno the topic i look at the answer choices and if it makes sense and why it makes sense. i also keep it client focus because its a test about caring for people! of course some lab test diagnostic test are on there but those are different. i kno what my problem is i dont kno how to say it any clearer and so far nobody can help me and it frustrates me!
when i took the test i knew what i was doing. i'm able to asses who would i see first (abc's/ maslows). my problem is: i'm still having trouble picking the best answer (health promotion and maintance). thats all i can say. i might consider getting a totur and expalining everything why. ugh!!!!! but imma keep trying! thanks anyways
purplechicxiii:
thanks and imma keep going!