Lurked and read....here with advice.....

[nursememrie]

I just graduated from nursing school (RN) in early May. Over the past year, I have come to this board regularly to help make the best choice out of all the options out there that help prepare for the NCLEX. Two grads that I know from December failed the NCLEX the first time they took it. The respective hospitals they work for gave them the Kaplan book. They each said that it was the closest thing to the NCLEX that they had seen. They studied the book and practice tests, and the next time they took it, they passed. Those two, combined with all the "it looks most like the NCLEX" endorsements on this site convinced me that it was the way to go.

That said, I was a strong student and test-taker. Every test I ever took in school was an NCLEX-like test (besides pop-quizzes), but it was on specific objectives. In other words, I *knew* what to study. I had looked at ERI and Saunders disks....taken hundreds of their questions, but they were all like regular test questions I had in school....so how could that prepare me for the dreaded NCLEX I was hearing about....the worst test ever? Then I opened my Kaplan book.

I read the book, took a test on the disc that came with it, took the test in the back of the book and did over 900 qBank questions. When I took my NCLEX on Monday, June 9, I felt like I was sitting at my computer at home taking Kaplan qBank. I was amazed at how much it was like Kaplan. Was it hard? You bet! Did I know it all? No way! But when you practice question after question that you don't know, you become more skilled at choosing the best answer more often than not. When my test turned off at 75 questions, my first thought was, "I passed!!!!!". Of course, I didn't feel 100% sure, but that was my gut reaction. I NEVER expected to feel that way, but it sure was a wonderful feeling, I tell you. The receptionist was so surprised when I walked out smiling. She said most people come out so discouraged. She said the young woman who came out just before me said that she took the Hurst Review, and that the NCLEX looked nothing like what she had prepared with. (Several of my classmates have said the same thing.)

So.....for those of you out there still trying to decide what study route to take.....I say Kaplan rocks!!!! I found out this morning that I passed....I'm officially an RN! Good luck to everyone else getting ready to take it!:loveya:

[DavericaRN]

Congratulations!!!!! Thank you soooo much for comenting on your experience. I bought the hurst review and started reading the postings about Kaplan. I couldnt afford the question bank, but i bought the book and have the question trainer. I have been using Hurst for content review. I am soooo glad I did. Ive been working with it and not that I feel over confident, but I not as scared as I was. I hope the question trainer is enough and the two tests that the book came with. Ive been using the process of elimination and reviewing the strategies. Thanks.

[SuperSN2008]

congratulations, Rn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Surgical_RN08]

yeah those kaplan questions are super hard..i bought the kaplan complete and had the 4 day class on campus. i pulled the required scores on the q-trainers......thanks for the encouragment:D:heartbeat:up:

[gwafuh_rn, BSN, RN]

congrats

[Amber07]

Congratulations on passing!!!!! :yeah:

Thank you so much for coming and posting your experience and positive outcome. It really helps to stay encouraged when you hear things like this.

[caliotter3]

Congratulations!!!:balloons::balloons::balloons:

[gadayana]

Congratulations!!!!

I have a question: how can you check if you passed or failed after one day? I took NCLEX at June 10, but I think that it will take at least 3 days fo find out about passing or failing. Could you please tell me how did you chek your score?

Thanks

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

Congrats

Some states will issue results the same day or within 24 hours, each vary as do the ones who participate in quick results or not

[sweet_soul79]

congratulations!!!!!!!!!!! and many more wishes for comming future!!

enjoy tonight!!!!!!!!!!

yeah!!!!!

[nursememrie]

gadayana....in Mississippi, you can go to the State Board of Nursing website. There is a link on there that allows you to do a license search. You can type in your last name and the last 4 digits of your SS#. If you passed, your info pops up. Fortunately for me, I was a lucky one to get it so early. Usually, it's not possible to do that until midnight *two* days afterwards. But a classmate and friend of mine tested the previous Monday, and she checked Wednesday morning, and it was there. I had not planned on checking until midnight on Wednesday night, but when I woke up that morning, I thought, "what the heck", and gave it a shot. My license # was there. I don't know how it works in other states...hope that helps!

[LynseyEB]

:ancong!:

I am so happy for you.