Hey Guys I passed my PN boards last week and I finally came off cloud nine. :yeah::yeah::yeah::yeah:I'm going to share my tips because I WISH someone was as blunt as this.....
This is what I did and what my test was like and how I passed.....
1. Do a minimum of 3000 questions. I did 4708 questions.
2. DO questions from Saunders Comprehensive PN CD 100 a day and 200 questions on the weekends in study mode. It's better from the CD because you can not look up the answers before you answer the questions. As you do the questions on the CD you gain more and more confidence in choosing the best answer.
3. Don't be afraid to get the question wrong because you will learn from that mistake and not make it again. People always remember the NEGATIVE!
4. If you see you have a weakness in an area or keep getting certain type of questions review your text.
5. A week before your test do a test a day AND GRADE YOURSELF.
6. I bought the Saunders PN flashcards and did them every where I went, especially at work on my breaks. I felt the flash cards were much harder and were very similar to the test. Do them towards the end of the exam.
Don't be afraid to get them wrong. You'll learn.
7. On my exam I had at least 50% of the questions" choose the answer where the client needs further instruction" or "choose the answer which indicates the client understands." I had no calculations, 2-3 PEDS, 2-3 MATERNITY, AND 4-5 SATA.
8. I had lots of priority such as which client would you see first and which will you MONITOR first after you admit a pt. Think maslow's or ABC'S. also what is the MOST IMPORTANT thing you would do for a post-op pt. What is your INITIAL step in some kind of process.
9. I had lots of infection control questions. These are the GIVE AWAWYS and you need to get all of them right. Such as Isolation procedures for contact, droplet and airborne precautions. Isolation for TB, Meningitis, Mumps, Rubella. Know what PPE is necessary and INFECTION CONTROL TECHNIQUES.
10. I had a lot of therapeutic communication for depressed clients, suicidal and clients who didn't understand their diagnosis. choose the "Corn ball, sappy answer"
11. Had a lot of antidepressant, antianxiety, antibiotic, endocrine and renal medications.
12. You MUST, MUST, MUST I STRESS must, READ EACH QUESTION CAREFULLY AND SLOWLY. It is not how fast you can complete the exam but how many you get right! Analyze every answer and pick the one in which you are confident in.
13. You know you have PASSED when towards the end when the computer is about to shut off you are getting many questions right in a row and the last question before the computer shuts off, you are 110% positive you GOT IT RIGHT!
14. 2 days before the test I DID NOT LOOK AT ANYTHING NCLEX. I relaxed went out to dinner, watched a movie, was extremely confident and PRAYED A LOT.
15. Get a good nights rest and eat a good breakfast. Get there early and PRAY.
PS- WAITING THE 48 HRS FOR THE QUICK RESULTS WAS MORE STRESSFULL AND PAINFUL THAN THE EXAM.:banghead:BUT THEN YOU BECOME A:nurse:
I am graduating this May and I'm already getting scared for the NCLEX.. I bought the Saunders 4th edition. haven't opened it yet because this senior semester is crazy. I am in the process of signing up for Kaplan as well.
My questions are..
1. is it too much to plan to do Saunders 4th edition and Kaplan? Or the more the merrier?
2. Did you work while preparing for boards?
3. I will be graduating in May. I take the Kaplan course in July. It ends the last week of July.. then I plan to take my boards (probably first week of august). Teachers are telling me that I will be waiting too long and that I will forget everything.. Are they correct? I was thinking that I would need the time to study.. and that rushing it would be worse?
:yeah:
brem86
23 Posts
Congratulations RN!!! Thanks for great advice..
I am graduating this May and I'm already getting scared for the NCLEX.. I bought the Saunders 4th edition. haven't opened it yet because this senior semester is crazy. I am in the process of signing up for Kaplan as well.
My questions are..
1. is it too much to plan to do Saunders 4th edition and Kaplan? Or the more the merrier?
2. Did you work while preparing for boards?
3. I will be graduating in May. I take the Kaplan course in July. It ends the last week of July.. then I plan to take my boards (probably first week of august). Teachers are telling me that I will be waiting too long and that I will forget everything.. Are they correct? I was thinking that I would need the time to study.. and that rushing it would be worse?