My formula for NCLEX success

[AZO49008]

I just found out that I passed the NCLEX-PN exam. I felt pretty confident afterwards, but still the computer shut off at 85 questions. And I did have a lot of Select All That Apply questions (maybe 10 or 11?) which some people have suggested means you are doing well - in other words, SATA questions are supposed to be more challenging.

At any rate, here's how I beleive I achieved success on the NCLEX:

At the beginning of the LPN level of my two-year ADN-RN program I bought the Kaplan Study Guide and the Saunder's Comprehensive Review Study Guide. I used them as we progressed through the program. The Kaplan I found to not be very helpful. It had one 150 question test in it.

The Saunder's guide was GREAT. It's organized by body system and disease process. Following each body system/disease process it has a test of anywhere between 20 and 45 questions. Then, after each body system/disease process there is a section that deals with drugs/pharmacology related to that body system/disease process. The other great thing about the Saunder's guide is that it goes through and reviews each body system and highlights the key concepts and things you really need to know, so you can use it as a study guide to augment your text book and other resources.

So, essentially you can use it as a "real time" study resource, AND to practice NCLEX-style questions. I used it as such for each and every body system and disease process we went over as the year progressed and I found it not only prepared me for the NCLEX, but I strongly believe it helped me do well on my in-class tests.

With the Saunder's guide you also get a CD with 3000 questions. You can do them in sets of 10, 25 or 100. You can select them to focus in on a particular type of question or a particular body system. Anytime I had a little free time, I was hopping on the computer and doing practice questions off the CD. I did this all through the school year.

When you do a set of questions, it will give you a report telling you your weak areas and your strong areas. The next time I sat down to do more questions off the CD, I focused on the areas that were my weak points. Over the course of the school year, I gradually saw those weak areas strengthen.

After the school year ended, I waited a full two months before I scheduled my test. For people who are stopping at the LPN level and need to have the license ASAP this probably isn't a viable option. For me, I'm going on to the RN level this year and took the LPN NCLEX purely for the experience and as a back up in case something happens in year two that temporarily forces me out of the program (illness, injury, etc.) in which case I would have an LPN license to do something during the wait to renter the program.

Anyway, for a good month after completing the LPN level I didn't pick up a textbook or study guide. I didn't even THINK about NCLEX. Then, about a month before the NCLEX I started studying out of the Saunder's again, about an hour a day. The last two weeks before my exam I bumped it up to about two or three hours every other day or so. Then, two days before the exam I put away the NCLEX book, my text books and just stopped. I relaxed, didn't think about the test, had fun and went on about my business.

Different strategies work for different people, but this is what worked for me and I just want to share it. I've never believed that cramming works. I beleive that studying from the Saunder's guide all year long along the way in a large part contributed to my success.

Beyond that, I would encourage you to:

- KNOW YOUR MATH!!!

- Learn how to critically think and understand what the question is asking you. Again, Saunders does a great job explaining different types of questions and how to approach them.

- Absolutely know how to filter questions through the ABC's (airway, breathing, circulation) and Maslow's Hierarchy. I found that when I was stuck on a practice question, if I just thought the question through those two theories, I usually got them right.

- Start studying now. Don't wait until two weeks before the exam and start cramming.

- Remind yourself that YOU CAN DO THIS!

So, for what it's worth, there's my two cents on how to prepare for the NCLEX. Good luck, everyone.

[Brandi124]

thanks azo49008!!! always great to hear helpful info for the test!! congrats to you!!! sounds like you have a great plan going!! :yelclap:

[nursejackie2010]

:up::wink2:Thanks soo much for that insight. I will be starting the pn program this fall 09, and I wanted to start studying for the nclex with my studies. Your information will be very helpful.