Hey everyone! So, I passed my nclex pn! I took it on 8/2; got my unofficial results yesterday. Had 105 questions.
I remember I was freaking out over it and so I thought I would just share my experience with you guys.
Studying:
My teachers had recommended that we do about 200-300 questions a day. Honestly, I didn't do that. I focused on making sure I knew the content and then I did questions as well, there were some days when I didn't do any questions at all.
I'm always hearing people talk about review courses like kaplan and such. My school had us take a 4 day review course called ready to pass - it was 4 days long, and you received a book as well. The book is awesome!! It had like everything you need to know and it was really easy to understand. In the back of the book there are questions too. I mostly used this book to study. If you're looking for a good review course, I highly recommend this one!
Studying is important.. just don't do questions and not review your content and don't just review content and not do questions.. As long as you have a good balance you will be fine.
Topics I feel you guys should know:
Delegation!! Know what you can delegate to a uap; know what you can do and can't do!!
Advance directives
How to keep pt confidentiality.
Priorities!
Infection control - This is realllyy important. Me as well as many of my classmates had a lot of questions based on this - know which diseases are airborne, droplet, and contact precautions!
Orem and Maslow - knowing these theorist really helped me with many of the questions I had
Lab values! Know your lab values!! Make flash cards on them! I had exhibit questions and felt knowing my lab values really helped.
Diabetes!
Nutrition - mostly disorders and what these pts can eat, can't eat
Sputum specimen
High/low pressure alarms
How to use mdi
Internal/external radiation
Hepatitis
Parkinson's
Pharmacology = know side effects
tips for those that are going to take the test:
Go in feeling confident!
Once the test actually starts don't worry about anything, just take the test
Don't change your habits when taking the test - by this I mean answer these questions just like you would any other questions - don't over/under analyze the questions
After you're done with the test you will probably freak out and feel as if you failed- that's normal lol
After the test try doing the pearson vue trick - where you try to re-register for the exam - if you can't; then you probably passed =)
How I studied:
Flash cards
Good luck to all those that are going to take the nclex pn ; you can do it! =)
