Level 1 student; help me out if you can

Published

I realized that nursing tests aren't really about what you know, but how you take the test. I know b/c last semester I would memorize over and over and read chapters again and again but still fail a test b/c the nursing test questions are... well, we all know.. DIFFERENT.

I mean I would learn and read about prioritizing, but the question was asking the priority between cleaning a food tray from patient's floor or removing an equipment from a hallway or attending a lady patient who is crying. Answer was food tray and made me think "God D*** this is freaking ridiculous". So here I am re-taking Competencies only, thank God. But I can only tell that it's not what we learn from notes or lecture, but really figuring out how to answer the questions correctly; b/c we know that those nursing tests are mostly absurd and do not make sense. The only way to pass or make an A is to know how to answer the questions and know what the professors are asking.

So it is concluded that I must get my hands on a book that contains bunch of practical test questions that I can solve and practice on. I already have an NCLEX exam book from amazon.com, and this thing doesn't have all that much. Just bunch of text, text, text and very few questions to solve. I need a book, possibly that has all its pages filled with questions. If that's not an option, I heard there's an phone app that have NCLEX questions to solve. Just let me know whatever please!!! Thanks in advance.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

i use the free NCLEX iphone app. I love it. i also use the discs that came with all of my books, i use ATI practice tests, and I use my own flashcards. My theory is (and its working) if you KNOW the information then you can put it into context on the tests. Im really good at critical thinking though and some people are not. Those that arent great at it just need more practice! Also look for a website on the inside cover of your book. Most of them offer practice tests as well.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

davis test success books are only questions

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in LDRP.

theres an ati nclex review app as well as a davis one.. they are each like 15 dollars, but cheaper than the books, and they are easy to do when you are just sitting around "on breaks, in the waiting room at the drs office, etc) without pulling out a book...

also, i have saunders nclex review book and there are a lot of questions in there. i fi were to recommend a book, that would be it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

awesome, thanks for the input guys!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
davis test success books are only questions

I have Fundamental Success that I used to take my first text today... hope I did well!! The questions after each chapter in our Basic Nursing Books are only 5-10 questions and I was getting tired of answering the same questions over and over again. I think getting NCLEX books or even using iphone/ipod NCLEX apps will help you. Make sure they give you rationales. I like the Davis Fundamental Success Book because it gives you rationales for the right and wrong answers. Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

i use the davis success series also. i use it for every course and it has worked wonders so far! it really helps you learn how to answer the questions....how to apply the information you learned. awesome books!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Ortho/Med/Surg.

here what I do:

1)do reading BEFORE going to class. This way lecture makes much more sense.

2)do reading again after class. Make note (I do not make note, I underline)

3) look at the POwerPoint slides from lecture.

4) STudy practice question from the end of reading chapters

5)study my ATI book. I also went to ATI web-site and did tutorial on NURSING LOGIC - it actually teach you how to "think nursing" and deal with those application level questions.

So far my strategy gives me no less than 94% in all my classes.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I was going to suggest Fundamentals Success by Nugent and Vitale also...

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I used Saunders Q&A for nursing school and to pass my nclex, both of which I did with ease. BUT, I did a ton of practice questions constantly; I also used online Hesi and Kaplan, and nclex questions from the MedSurg book which was thousands of questions. practice, practice, practice is the key to success!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

i do have an nclex practice questions from saunders. overall i think highly of it, but not enough questions i assume. i also have medsurg txt book. i didn't know they had thousands of practice questions, but that will help out. i plan to buy the $19.99 iphone app for nclex practice questions. thanks yal for helping me out

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion