July NCLEX Takers come on in!

love-d-OR · Jun 19, 2008

Thanks for your response Silverdragon102, but where did you get your info? I'm just wondering becauIse ATI has said SATA questions compose only 4% or so of the NCLEX. So, I guess they are wrong. I will check with ncsbn...

love-d-OR · Jun 19, 2008

All right guys, I did my research on ncsbn and Silverdragon102 was absolutely correct when she stated there was no minimum or maximum number of sata questions. ATI is incorrect and I might have to email them about this. Thanks again silverdragon!

Silverdragon102, BSN · Jun 19, 2008

All right guys, I did my research on ncsbn and Silverdragon102 was absolutely correct when she stated there was no minimum or maximum number of sata questions. ATI is incorrect and I might have to email them about this. Thanks again silverdragon!

You are welcome and hope you get something sorted. I always go into an exam expecting the worse and if it isn't as bad as I expected then a bonus

4ever_heaven · Jun 20, 2008

Hey guys! I'm also taking the NCLEX in july (31st)! So I still have plenty of time to review. I'm studying and reviewing everyday for 3 weeks now. I attended the Kaplan review class for 2 weeks and I recommend it a lot, cuz the strategies help, especially the "decision tree".

I'm also getting really anxious! But I know it won't do any good to get nervous and anxious..

July test-takers...

If others did it, we can do it too!!!

Jack_ICU · Jun 20, 2008

Hello there,

Just an opinion. I am taking my NCLEX on July 17. But I feel that for some reasons no matter how hard I am studying, I know that I won't be a 100% ready by test time... I am using any book you can imagine (Lippincott, Kaplan, Nclex exam Cram, Saunders 3 rd ed), RN 3500 software and I am thinking about subscribing to NCSBN 3 weeks online NCLEX course review ($49.00). My strategy is to do at least 100 questions a day and review the rationales for the questions that I missed and write them down in one big notebook that I called "NCLEX"... LOL

Common sense would be to chose one plan and stick to it... My average is b/t 60 and 70%...

Can anyone suggest a better plan? Should stick to my guns and see how I do on the test b/f enrolling in a course such as Kaplan?

Thanks!

love-d-OR · Jun 20, 2008

Jack5801, I dont know that my method is better than yours but I will share how I have been studying.

I tarted doing the tests from ATI and if I passed the bench mark my virtual instructor told me to review the questions I missed and move on to the next test (i.e maternity or mental health). I soon realised that although I could not possibly study everything I have learned in the past, I needed to do some general review ( I came to this conclusion when I noticed that although I was making 70-80% on the ati, some of my responses where based on me using the nursing process and critical thinking even though I did not realy know the answer or correct rationale behind it). Stressed ad overwhelmed, I spoke to my bf who had to study 2 months for the bar couple years ago. He adviced me to review topics and content for the first half of the day, and then do questions on the second half.

So, I review say cardiac and neuro from the saunders book (focusing on topics I am not too familiar with. So if you are good with HTN and not CHF, focus more time on CHF). Then I take a break, and the other half of the day I do about 200 questions. I have reserved the week before the exam to do only questions. And the two days leading to the exam will be rest days.

Oh I also have to work during the weekends, so on those days I will do questions during my lunch break and when I get home.

Okay, my study break is over and I have to get back to studying, but I did not proof read my response, so I apologise ahead of time for any grammatical errors;)

LadyQT · Jun 20, 2008

I am scheduled for NCLEX on July 30. What I have been doing so far is trying to do at least 150-200 questions a day. I did a Judy Miller NCLEX Review Course which focused mainly on content. So after taking the course, I decided to focus my studying on comprehensive questions only using Saunders, Nclex 3000, Kaplan and ATI. After 1 week of doing that. I stopped. I decided that I will organize and structure my study plan based on content area, alternative questions, delegation/prioritization, etc. from next Monday until 2 days before NCLEX. So I divided everything up so that I will focus only on one area at a time. Then in the last week before NCLEX do only comprehensive test questions from Kaplan and Saunders only. I pray every morning and ask God for wisdom, knowledge and understanding. Because although I may not know the answer, using critical thinking strategies I should be able to make a logical decision. Good luck to all July test takers and may God be with us all!

Jack_ICU · Jun 20, 2008

Love-d-Or,

Actually a friend of mine is doing almost exactly the way you are doing. Review weak areas and do few questions a day (90-100).

I already did many ATI questions and I know what my weaknesses are. So when I do questions, I always come up with something new (disease, procedure,...) and I look at the rationale and better understand the material. For example I was doing a question today regarding KAWASAKI disease and I was like what the @#$#$ is that? :eek: LOL I had to review the rationale and know what kind of disease it was...

So to me the more questions I do the better I am off as long as I have rationales to my questions. As of today I did a total of 5000 questions, 3000 before graduation and 2000 after (I graduated in May).

Also I think that you should do questions exclusively more than 1 week before the test. At least 2-3 weeks should be enough time to do questions.

I got all the strategies from Kaplan book! They are very good at it...

I heard that the test bank at the NCSBN Nclex review course is very good. One of my clinical instructors suggested it to me...

http://www.learningext.com/products/rnreview/review.asp

I am going to subscribe today for 3 weeks ($49.00).

Good luck and I am sure that we'll do well.

love-d-OR · Jun 20, 2008

Thanks for the advice Jack, however I do not have 3 weeks to devote esclusively to questions, as I test in about 2 weeks!!!! Like you, I started doing questions before graduation. I also do about 200 questions a day along with reviews, hopefully that will be enough!

Jack_ICU · Jun 21, 2008

Good luck on the test. I am sure you'll do well. Hopefully July will be our lucky month.

tdbRN · Jun 21, 2008

9 days and counting! I have been doing 3 exams of 75Qs fr Saunders and NCLEX 3500, everyday for about a month with scores from 71%-81%.

My ATI tutor said that my scores are concerning. My ATI predictor in nursing school said I got a 71% which is a 91% of passing NCLEX RN. In ATI Ive been scoring 60%-76% with weakness in electrolytes and renal. She said that my ATI predictor should determine if I should reschedule or not.

But I know this!! My anxiety will only increase if I postpone. I barely have been working and been studying. Now this last week, I plan to do Questions questions questions with some review in the middle. Im gna do the Kaplan 180Qs disc and the ATI predictor and thats that!

So please help me prove this ATI tutor wrong!

momathoner09, BSN, MSN, APRN · Jun 21, 2008

Is your ATI tutor from virtual ATI? I've about had it up to here with my lady. She keeps accusing me of cheating and looking up the answers b/c of my scores. She said she had a student that did that recently and then failed the borads. I was like thank you, you have just increased my already heightened anxiety.