We see all the time on allnurses how people graduate with honors, do Kaplan/Hurst/PDA Reviews, answer hundreds of questions and hit the benchmarks and still fail this exam - sometimes multiple times! I can tell you what I did but this test is so bizarre and thousands have done what I did and more, and did not pass it. I honestly don't know exactly how I was successful nor do I know why others failed who did what I did. My biggest tip is probably that there really isn't only one way, but that there are multiple ways to pass this exam.
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OMG! I can't believe it!! I checked on Nursys too and my name is there!!
I can tell you what I did but this test is so bizarre and thousands have done what I did and more and did not pass it. I know that is so disheartening but it's true. I have a BS in Education and taught kids and adults for many years with a strong interest and experience in curriculum design and tests and measurements. I have lots of issues with this whole process but that's another topic.
I had 75 questions. I graduated in May from an ADN program and barely worked this Summer and studied a ton! I got a prescription from my PCP to calm me down since I know that I can get bad test anxiety.
Here's What I Did To Pass The NCLEX
✔️ Kaplan Classroom Review on my own and 93% of the Qbank completed with 62% correct. I watched almost all of the videos and read all of the Content Review Guide- a lot of the time taking notes while watching the videos. I did 2 Sample Tests and the horrific Alternate Type Quiz (25% less than a week before I took the exam and that's not an uncommon score!) Their screen looks almost exactly like the NCLEX and that was so comforting!
✔️ Memorized all of the lab values by writing them on index cards listed in the Guide. I did not use the Decision Tree knowingly (maybe sub consciously I did a bit!) but I think it's a valid and helpful exam strategy.
✔️ I had to do ATI all through school and had to go through their Live Review and used the book and online questions minimally. The best thing that I got from ATI was 9x12 card with all of the Content Areas, specific sub topics and percentage range. You can print out the same info from the NCSBN in several pages-which I highly recommend-but the card was so convenient.
✔️ I bought Prioritization, Delegation and Assignment by LaCharity and did questions by hand in the book and also did them using the interactive textbook. I liked this BUT I ran across a question that I got wrong where the rationale was the opposite from Kaplan. Also, if you do the interactive questions they can repeat. Overall, it was helpful and feel it was worth it even just from a psychological perspective.
✔️ I did about 100 SATA questions from NCLEX-RN 4000 that I borrowed from a friend who passed using it.
✔️ I went over a ton of content lectures from school. Skimmed through my A&P book on the Brain and the Heart mostly, skimmed through my entire Fundamentals book. (It's amazing what I forgot and highly recommend it as a refresher!)
✔️ I am a visual learner so I looked at bunch of stuff on Pinterest and went to the links that other visual learners placed here last week. Really good!
✔️ Did study conference calls with @30days2nclex which were awesome! She found a free conference call set up which I highly recommend others doing since we learned a lot and supported each other. She's a gem and also started the current red hotLets play the drug of choice game.
✔️ I came on AN a lot and got so much support from people who truly understand and that is worth it's weight in gold!
If you haven't taken the exam or will re-take it, I truly wish you the best of luck!
Also, A HUGE "thank you" to all of you here who have helped and supported me during this time!
