Myths about NCLEX being easy

purplemania, BSN, RN · Jul 12, 2005

all tests are easy if you know the answers. If you have been exposed to NCLEX-type questions during school you will probably do fine. They ask questions intended for new grads, not mature nurses.

ftr_bb_catchr · Jul 12, 2005

Well I haven't taken it yet, but I too have pondered this question, and here is what I have concluded.... It's like anything in life. It's going to be easier for some than others... think of nursing school. I've heard people say that it almost killed them, people say that it wasn't all that bad and people say that it really was easy. I'd be willing to bet, that depending on a whole load of personal factors, the NCLEX is the same way. Easier for some, impossible for others, survivable for the majority! Just depends on who you're asking....

thursdaygrl · Jul 12, 2005

ManyRN2B,

All the friends I graduated with (and some RNs I work with) have said the test is incredibly hard, but at the same time every one of them has noted that they wished they had not studied so hard because studying did NOT help. In fact, they've all said "you either know it or you don't" and that "studying will not help". One friend did about 10 online tests, went to take the NCLEX, believed she was a complete failure, and passed the test. Another studied every day (starting back in January--we graduated in May), took the test last week, thought it was the worst experience of her life, and passed.

Anyway, the experience is obviously different for everyone but NO ONE I've spoken to has said it was an easy test. I am a multiple graduate (I have other degrees) and I'm an older student changing careers. I am terrified of this test, but only because I hate failure. I don't think that your ability as a STUDENT will make one bit of difference on this test--if I believed that, I wouldn't be worried at all. :) I think it is probably a test of your ability to use content in a SENSIBLE, SAFE manner. I take the test on July 16 at 9 a.m. Good luck to everyone!

ManyRN2B · Jul 12, 2005

ftr bb catchr~ I agree with that too but I just thought it was interesting how we are hearing different sides of this test. I see on this website hard and she is hearing not that bad....easy.

Thursdaygirl~ I totally agree with what your saying. I've heard from many people studying may not have helped etc.etc....I was just shocked about her comments. Obviously some studying does help because I don't think anyone could go into this test without knowing an ounce of nursing knowledge. I guess if you know enough to answer the question. LOL....I'm scared about this test but being scared is what gets me to do my best in things.

I take my test August! 3wks away!!! Good luck to everyone too!

ninagrace · Jul 12, 2005

Hi everyone!

I dont want to seem over-confident here... but here is my honest opinion!

I took my exam exactly a month after my graduation, on 06.15.05. I studied like crazy for a month... I would wake up at 6 am and sleep at 2:30 am everyday just reading my books, I bought 7 review books. And I even purchased a 6 wk course at learningext.com. I almost had a nervous breakdown. I realized that if I don't stop or atleast cutdown on what I was doing that I really am going to go crazy! So 2 weeks before my exam I started just reading my book, and I focused on 1 book, I stopped doing the cd questions, and I stopped the online course.

2 days before my test. I stopped studying.. period!

When I took the test I was able to relax, and as I was answering my questions (by the way I got a lot of priority questions), I realized that the questions were "EASY". I know it seems weird.. I started doubting myself, because my thoughts were like "How in the world could this be EASY?? My school, my instructors all told me that the test was extremely hard. So I definetely must be doing something wrong. I'm probably reading the questions incorrectly." After 1 1/2 hr, I left the test center feeling numb all over, I got 75 questions. The test as they say will not be what you'd expect... but geezz.... I had no idea what that really meant. I had the feeling that it was easy but I also had doubts, i knew it'll be relieved once I get my results.

I painfully waited for 10 days.. I got my results and passed!

I wish you all luck on the NCLEX... and remember just breath in (and out) and relax. I know its easy to say now but I know everybody can pass that test!

Nina

MizRani · Jul 12, 2005

I took it yesterday.

I studied nonstop for three weeks. Basically I answered about 4,000 questions, used three different books, and poured over the meds I should know.

Here's what I learned yesterday

1.)They ask a lot of priorty questions. (You are charge nurse, which patient do you go see FIRST)

2.) Some of the questions were weird. (I got one on herbs!)

3.) Some questions give you TWO correct answers, you have to select which on is the best. (Which is the best assessment of dehydration on a patient, skin turgor ,oral mucous membranes, or potassium level?)

4.)Some questions are just easy. (What foods should the patient not eat when taking Coumadin?)

I expected to be finished at 75 questions as most of my friends did. But at question 75, it continued to 76, then 100, then 120. I started thinking that I was one of those unlucky souls that would have to answer all 265 questions when it cut me off at 132.

I left feeling okay. I mean, I really tried my best. But as the day progressed, some of those questions started to haunt me. Maybe I should have picked B instead of C. Maybe that patient who had the hiccups with a new surgical wound really was the least stable of them all.

I'm pretty bummed. I'm convinced I failed. But I do know that I tried my best and I have studied almost a year for this sporadically and nonstop for three weeks. I feel that I did all I could.

It certainly wasn't easy though.

My advice to you guys out there are the following

1.) Breathing. I'm not kidding. You'll find yourself holding your breath when you come across a really hard question.

2.) Eliminate WRONG answers. Don't try to find the right one. You'll get screwed that way. Think each answer through.

3.) Take your time. Watch for those words FIRST,LEAST, MOST,etc.

4.)Do NOT study the night before. I'm not kidding. I went and saw a movie "March of the Penguins" to forget about it.

5.)YOU CANNOT KNOW EVERY SINGLE THING. DO NOT TRY TO CRAM. I'm not kidding. You can't condense two years of nursing school into a week. My suggestion is PRACTICING answering the questions. Learn the methods.

6.) Remember that this is general stuff. They're not gonna ask you about The Great Transposition of the Great Vessels.

7.) Meds count! The big ones. Digixon, Heparin, Coumadin, Insulins.

8.) Do not try to put this off. Start studying TODAY.

9.) Expect to stay there the whole time. I certainly didn't. I was there for FOUR hours.

10.) Relax. You know this. You saw it in clinical. Just think. Calm down, it isn't the end of the world if you fail. The sun will still rise. You still have your life. It will be alright.

Good luck you guys.

Grace_RN2005 · Jul 12, 2005

ManyRN2B,
All the friends I graduated with (and some RNs I work with) have said the test is incredibly hard, but at the same time every one of them has noted that they wished they had not studied so hard because studying did NOT help. In fact, they've all said "you either know it or you don't" and that "studying will not help". One friend did about 10 online tests, went to take the NCLEX, believed she was a complete failure, and passed the test. Another studied every day (starting back in January--we graduated in May), took the test last week, thought it was the worst experience of her life, and passed.
Anyway, the experience is obviously different for everyone but NO ONE I've spoken to has said it was an easy test. I am a multiple graduate (I have other degrees) and I'm an older student changing careers. I am terrified of this test, but only because I hate failure. I don't think that your ability as a STUDENT will make one bit of difference on this test--if I believed that, I wouldn't be worried at all. :) I think it is probably a test of your ability to use content in a SENSIBLE, SAFE manner. I take the test on July 16 at 9 a.m. Good luck to everyone!

Hi,

I had been studying for 7 weeks before the test. Still do not feel confident about the result.

Grace

ManyRN2B · Jul 12, 2005

Mizrani, You have very good advice and I thank you.

Nina~Sounds like you studied like crazy. For a while I was studying 2 hrs a day, then I kicked it up a notch to 4 hrs a day doing at least 200 questions. I've kicked it up a notch again to 250 questions today. When I get in a groove, I just keep going. Thanks for the advice and thank you. I think anxiety really matters.

Grace,

Good luck I"m sure you passed. Since I've been here I haven't seen anyone not pass at 75 questions. Thanks for the heads up on lab values. Someone told me the same thing.

Good luck to those waiting results! I take mine First week of august!

RollingThunder · Jan 26, 2006

I tested Tuesday, 1/24 and had an active license on the state board of nursing website this morning. I honestly believe that no amount of studying can prepare you for that exam. It is pick the lamest answer out of four lame answers. If you passed nursing school with decent grades, put the books aside (unless you have a majorly weak specific area that concerns you, like diabetes, not the entire endo), just do practice questions and read rationales. They will be as random as the exam. Myself and several of my friends did only this and we all passed at 75 questions. I just asked myself with each question what am I worried about and what am I telling NCLEX lady if I choose this particular answer. You can pass it.

:)

DBlack1 · Jan 27, 2006

I did like the guy you know. I studied a couple of hours a week for a month and went and took the test. I really just wanted to feel the test out so to speak. I failed in 120 something questions. Next go around I did all the questions on my Kaplan disk and all of the questions on my saunders disk, some set twice if I was weak in that area. I didn't spend more than a hour reviewing meds because I didn't think they were that important and didn't see but one or two on the first attempt. The second time it took me right at a hour and 75 questions to pass. Know delegation, assistive devices, and anticoags. The priority questions were easy to me, but the first go around I got like 5 assistive devices questions I had no clue on and apparently missed them all.