July NCLEX Takers come on in!

I_love_my_job · Jul 3, 2008

Hi, I am taking nclex in just less than two weeks. I have always been a last minute kind of studier, and I understand that it's not going to cut it for nclex. I am STILL having problems with establishing a routine. I have taken the kaplan class and am also using the qbank questions (~200) and question trainers (only a few of them). I don't know what is wrong with me. I want to be a nurse more than anything else and really don't want to nclex more than once. I don't know if I am so tired of studying from school that I have an aversion towards it now. :banghead:
Currently I am looking for a new house, closing on my current house in 3 1/2 weeks, packing up a house, starting a job in one week, trying to study and helping my sister plan a wedding for december (I am matron of honor)! My head is ready to explode! Before all of this I had an anxiety problem and took xanax prn, but now I am constantly panicked to the point where I frequently feel heaviness in my chest.
Any words of advice? Everyone keeps telling me that I will be fine, but I don't know that. :confused: Thanks for listening to my vent!

Hello,

I agree with the previous post from Jack5801. You need to give yourself a pep talk and focus on this one last important test.

I printed a calendar from the internet on 8.5 x 11 paper. I looked at my life one month at a time and scheduled everything I had to do. Then, I arranged for blocks of time to study. You don't need to stress about trying to have 4 hour blocks, break them up. It will be more manageable and less likely to procrastinate if you study in shorter durations. At least that works for me because after a couple of hours my brains stops and needs a break.

Aim for 150 questions a day. What I did was two 75 question tests. I also used different sources like Saunders and NCLEX 3500 (my favorite). I like Kaplan too and I have heard many people are happy with the Kaplan course. I just did questions from the book and CD without the course.

Anyway, ask friends and family to help you stay focused and motivated. Have them help you by helping with the house so you have time to study.

Best of luck!

I_love_my_job · Jul 3, 2008

Well... 45 minutes and 75 questions later I'm 99% sure I slew the mighty NCLEX monster. Guess ill know for sure in a couple of days!

Awesome! I hope I do that well...in about 11 hours I face the beast!

WISH ME LUCK!! :yeah: :yeah:

Jack_ICU · Jul 3, 2008

Awesome! I hope I do that well...in about 11 hours I face the beast!
WISH ME LUCK!!:yeah:

Good luck I_love_my_job! U can do it. Keep us posted...

Jean

tdbRN · Jul 3, 2008

I just took boards yesterday and Im pretty sure I didnt pass.

I was studying from Kaplam, Saunders and NCLEX 3500 and ATI. My

tutor said I was ready to go and caput, I go blank and have no idea

what Im answering.

All I know, is know-

Infection Control (what visitors where, what you wear etc)

Meds (interactions, side effects, the works!)

PRIORITIZATION

and its nothing like the books, its all 4 sound good and whos most critical?

Heck If I know.

I didnt pass now I have to retake in 45 days or maybe enjoy my summer

and retake in the Fall.

love-d-OR · Jul 3, 2008

I am sooooo tired of doing NCLEX practice questions, but I feel guilty not doing them. I test on the 8th, and although I am not 100% ready I'm soo ready to get it over with.

Good luck to I_love_ my_ job! let us know ifyou tamed the beast tomorrow, we know u will...

chosenchocolate · Jul 3, 2008

Great attitude! Sounds like you did well, questions stopped at 81! Did you have lots of SATA? I hope and pray I will be calm and read the questions thoroughly. I'm telling myself I shouldn't cram the night before but part of me wants to keep doing questions until the end.
I'll keep checking the board and keep my fingers crossed for you on the 4th.

My test was mostly delegation and prioritizing you know the "which patient would u see first kind" about 5 drug problems, no labs.

I am not sure what SATA stands for please tell me. I've been seeing that abbreviation a lot.

THx for crossing the fingers!

I_love_my_job · Jul 3, 2008

My test was mostly delegation and prioritizing you know the "which patient would u see first kind" about 5 drug problems, no labs.
I am not sure what SATA stands for please tell me. I've been seeing that abbreviation a lot.

SATA=select all that apply

I think, let me know if I'm wrong, but 15 questions on NCLEX are not counted against you. I believe the Select all that apply questions fall mostly in that category.

Hopefully that's true because I hate those!

I_love_my_job · Jul 3, 2008

I just took boards yesterday and Im pretty sure I didnt pass.
I was studying from Kaplam, Saunders and NCLEX 3500 and ATI. My
tutor said I was ready to go and caput, I go blank and have no idea
what Im answering.
All I know, is know-
Infection Control (what visitors where, what you wear etc)
Meds (interactions, side effects, the works!)
PRIORITIZATION
and its nothing like the books, its all 4 sound good and whos most critical?
Heck If I know.
I didnt pass now I have to retake in 45 days or maybe enjoy my summer
and retake in the Fall.

I studied exactly the same sources. ATI predicted me to pass at 97% last month. I kept studying anyway because I want to be doubly certain, but all I know is the more I study the same I feel and that there is no way to feel 100% certain with this test. We've prepared throughout nursing school for this and studying one more day or one more week is not the answer. Kaplan is great for strategy to answer questions and that's what I'm concentrating on. People, don't get buried in content. Your brain will be mush!

malenurse122879, MSN, RN · Jul 3, 2008

Well, here's what my test was like.. I hope I'm not revealing enough to get me in hot water with boards...

75 q's and I finished in 45 minutes.

Lots of Infection control as previously mentioned...

Lots of triage/priority patients

3 math

12 SATA

8 or 9 Meds - Reactions/Need further teaching

I studied Saunders 4th Ed. CD questions, NCSBN Learning Extension (questions only), HURST Live Review (only the questions helped - the review was kinda basic), and the NCLEX-RN 3500 website thingy - there's a link in one of the threads around here somewhere...

I took one practice test a day (about 75 q's) for a week... did NOTHING last night... and walked in this morning - LUCKILY I don't get test anxiety... I felt weird finishing so early... lol. I'm sure everyone else there was like "Damn.. that dude musta failed it."

I started with an easy question and never saw another one.. I was getting hammered with SATA's and Meds towards the end.... so that's why I'm sure I passed. Nothing that totally threw me.. I could pretty much ADPIE and ASSESS through them.

Tips -

*ASSUME THE WORST

*If it's a cardiac problem and it asks you pick the priority intervention - then pick something CARDIAC related... even though the others sound good...

* If you haven't heard of it - then it's probably safe to say another entry level nurse hasn't either - so don't pick it.

* ABC's

Hope this helps!!! Know your airborne precautions and that you room patients with the same/similar dx's together.

Lilluv117 · Jul 3, 2008

I just took boards yesterday and Im pretty sure I didnt pass.
I was studying from Kaplam, Saunders and NCLEX 3500 and ATI. My
tutor said I was ready to go and caput, I go blank and have no idea
what Im answering.
All I know, is know-
Infection Control (what visitors where, what you wear etc)
Meds (interactions, side effects, the works!)
PRIORITIZATION
and its nothing like the books, its all 4 sound good and whos most critical?
Heck If I know.
I didnt pass now I have to retake in 45 days or maybe enjoy my summer
and retake in the Fall.

Thank you so much for this info!!!!! You know they say if you feel like you didn't pass, it's a good sign. LOL. Otherwise the questions would have been the easy level. It sounds like if you had a lot of prioritizing, maybe you were at the higher level questions. So don't get down until you actually find out. I will keep you in my prayers and keep my fingers crossed for you! Good luck and let us know what happens!

Lilluv117 · Jul 3, 2008

Well, here's what my test was like.. I hope I'm not revealing enough to get me in hot water with boards...
75 q's and I finished in 45 minutes.
Lots of Infection control as previously mentioned...
Lots of triage/priority patients
3 math
12 SATA
8 or 9 Meds - Reactions/Need further teaching
I studied Saunders 4th Ed. CD questions, NCSBN Learning Extension (questions only), HURST Live Review (only the questions helped - the review was kinda basic), and the NCLEX-RN 3500 website thingy - there's a link in one of the threads around here somewhere...
I took one practice test a day (about 75 q's) for a week... did NOTHING last night... and walked in this morning - LUCKILY I don't get test anxiety... I felt weird finishing so early... lol. I'm sure everyone else there was like "Damn.. that dude musta failed it."
I started with an easy question and never saw another one.. I was getting hammered with SATA's and Meds towards the end.... so that's why I'm sure I passed. Nothing that totally threw me.. I could pretty much ADPIE and ASSESS through them.
Tips -
*ASSUME THE WORST
*If it's a cardiac problem and it asks you pick the priority intervention - then pick something CARDIAC related... even though the others sound good...
* If you haven't heard of it - then it's probably safe to say another entry level nurse hasn't either - so don't pick it.
* ABC's
Hope this helps!!! Know your airborne precautions and that you room patients with the same/similar dx's together.

It sounds like you passed to me too!!!!! LOL. Wow! It must feel good being done with it! Thank you sooooooooooooo much for sharing some feedback and tips! I really appreciate it!

malenurse122879, MSN, RN · Jul 3, 2008

It sounds like you passed to me too!!!!! LOL. Wow! It must feel good being done with it! Thank you sooooooooooooo much for sharing some feedback and tips! I really appreciate it!

LOL I hope so.. the more I'm reading posts on here tonight the more I'm starting to second guess it haha. That's how it was in school too.. thought I did good on a test until i got in the hallway and everyone else came out telling what they put down and why they put it blahblah :)