Less than 1 week till NCLEX

Silverdragon102, BSN · Jun 7, 2008

Would just practice questions and understand the rationale to them especially the ones you get wrong

Good luck

racing-mom4, BSN, RN · Jun 7, 2008

My last week I did a lot of positive self talk and relaxing. Know that you have prepared the best you could, know that you graduated from nursing school and that alone is a great accomplishment, know that you passed all your finals and completed clinicals and know that there are thousands of people out there right now who would do anything to be in your position of taking Nclex--think how many people started in your nursing school vs how many graduated?

In my personal opinion the anxiety of NClex is waaayyy worse than the actual test. Try your best to relax, deep breath and be calm, when you get to the tough questions know your reaching a higher level, this is a good thing. If you dont know the answer read all the choices and see if you can cross a few out just based on what you know about safety and nursing, then with the remaining 2. Guess. Go with your gut instinct, know that you only need to get 51% correct and I am guessing you never got below a 51% in nursing school.

You can do it, you have come so far. Dont let the anxiety get the best of you. This is one final test before your nursing lic.

Best of luck...

DavericaRN · Jun 8, 2008

I take my test next Monday, June 16. I too keep trying to give myself positive affirmations. Every night before I go to sleep, I tell myself, I will be a Registered Nurse Jan. 16th after I am done with my test. And I keep trying to imagine myself being relaxed when Im taking my test. Im hoping I will get in the same test taking mode, that I would usually get into in nursing school, once I start taking a test. You know that feeling of being really nervous, but once you get into the test, your focused. I have been doing the hurst review by sections. Once I review a certain section, I ll do a focused test from ATI, like resp. or cardiac. Then, Ill do the questions from Saunders and review whatever I got wrong. I also started reading the Kaplan book, which I am finding so helpful. WOW!!! It really helps when your stuck and you need to narrow down the answer. Im surprised. So, my plan is for this week is do questions and apply the strategies ive learned from Kaplan and Hurst. Friday, will be my last day to study. Im thinking of also going over Saunders Medication sections each day and trying to make sure I memorize my labs. I know most of them, just to refresh on the not so common ones. I dont know, is this too much. I love what racing mom said about reminding yourself how far you have come. How someone else would love to be in our place. It is sooo true. Thanks for the reminder. Good Luck to everyone taking the test this month. My blessing to you all. :saint:

racing-mom4, BSN, RN · Jun 8, 2008

Daverica you will get in the zone. When I was at Pearson Vue I had my feet propped up on the desk and my chair tilted back just like I did at home when I did my practice questions. There were probably 10 other people in the room with me testing, but I didnt know it till I walked out. I felt like I was in there alone.

Remember 85% of US schooled nurses pass on 1st attempt--those are great odds, you have done the work, you know it. When you get to the harder questions think to yourself "ok this is good, I am at a higher level" adn dont get tripped up because you dont know something, narrow it down to two and just guess. Nclex is set up so you only get about 51% right, so your going to miss some. Think about it, minimum 75 questions. 15 of those or maybe 10~~ someone correct me~~ are sample questions for next year, they dont even count. So you have 60-65 question that count, you need to get 51% right. What is that 30 some questions....can you do that? of course you can...you did it all through nursing school.

Just take it one question at a time, dont fret and dont panic. You did the work, your ready.

Best of luck---I cant wait to read the post next week from you that states " I am a nurse!" and hopefully another post that tells others it wasnt that bad.