NCLEX Advice/Help Needed

Double-Helix, BSN, RN · May 18, 2017

At this point, just do something. You're less than three weeks away from your exam date and don't have time for a full program anyway, so just pick a website or book and crack it open. Unless there's a specific content area that you feel you're weak in, doing practice questions is probably the best use of your time. So try UWorld or buy an NCLEX practice test book. Do an many practice questions as you can in the next couple of weeks, and switch to reviewing content if you find that you're consistently answering certain questions wrong.

The PVT doesn't apply until after you've taken your exam, so don't even worry about that right now.

Editorial Team / Admin · May 18, 2017

Double Helix is right- you need to get yourself in the mindset of being ready to take the test. Part of NCLEX isn't just knowing information and being able to apply it but also understanding how to read and answer the questions. Crack open a book that includes techniques on how to answer the questions, and then practice, practice, practice.

The PVT doesn't apply until after you've taken your exam, so don't even worry about that right now.

Or, since the PVT isn't official, has been wrong in some instances, and only heightens the anxiety of the person who tried it, simply avoid it and don't worry about it ever.

Sour Lemon · May 19, 2017

Just go to Disneyland. That's what worked for me.

raindrops1234 · May 19, 2017

UWORLD! That is all I used for about six weeks straight and then wrote and passed first attempt. Questions are complex, gives great rationale, covers different topics, and also let's you take a practice test to see if you are projected to pass or fail. Since you only have three weeks left, do like 200 questions per day. I did all of the questions and then started repeating the ones that I had answered wrong.

And you will be very nervous on test day. I could barely sleep the night before or eat breakfast as I also get test anxiety. But be confident in the fact that you did manage to get a degree in nursing so this should be no problem! I also took a couple free webinars online that went over how to answer NCLEX questions which were helpful. I forget what they were called but you could probable just do a quick google search and find some.

Good luck!

oceanblue52 · May 19, 2017

Focus more on test questions rather than studying material. If there are basic concepts you really struggle with, like electrolyte values or NG tubes or something, save it for review the night before. it is impossible to know everything for the NCLEX, so test strategies and general practice will serve you much better.

akulahawkRN, ADN, RN, EMT-P · May 19, 2017

...Part of NCLEX isn't just knowing information and being able to apply it but also understanding how to read and answer the questions. Crack open a book that includes techniques on how to answer the questions, and then practice, practice, practice...

Pretty much THIS! Without giving anything away... what I will say is that the NCLEX will be very challenging and you probably already know the material well enough to pass the exam. If your predictor exam showed you have a good to excellent chance of passing, believe it. Just do general content review on that end of things. The questions are generally going to be straightforwardly written and the correct answer will be there too. You have to just learn to read and porifice the questions a bit to be sure that you didn't misread a question or an answer. It's easy to do. It's also easy to read a deeper meaning into a question than is needed. If you look at an answer and say "Yes that would be true (correct) for a patient under xxxxx conditions", or a "Yes, but..." then the answer you likely might choose is incorrect. The correct answer is the one that clearly answers the question and without any "Yeah, but..." stuff in there to make it right.

Learning to porifice these questions and doing it well (which helps avoid part of test anxiety ) is why we suggest people start doing NCLEX questions fairly early in nursing school.

cosha · May 19, 2017

Wow! Thank you guys so much for all of the responses. I do believe on of my issues is learning to test. I think once I figure out a good rhythm I will be alright. For now, I am going to continue my content review/questions on NCBSN, and purchase UWorld. Thanks again for all the help :)

cosha · May 19, 2017

I do have a San Diego beach trip planned the days before

Medic6758 · May 19, 2017

Similar to you, I finished and graduated my program on May 5, this past Monday I purchased the Nclex Rn Mastery app and it took me 2 days to answer approximately 1700+ questions along with using ATI. On Wednesday I went over only the 350+ questions I got wrong. On Thursday at 8am I took the Nclex and it stopped at 76 questions and as of this morning I found out I passed.

Heylove, BSN, RN, EMT-B · May 20, 2017

Similar to you, I finished and graduated my program on May 5, this past Monday I purchased the Nclex Rn Mastery app and it took me 2 days to answer approximately 1700+ questions along with using ATI. On Wednesday I went over only the 350+ questions I got wrong. On Thursday at 8am I took the Nclex and it stopped at 76 questions and as of this morning I found out I passed.

How in heaven's name did you answer 1700 questions in two days? I think I may have had one day where I maybe did 100 questions. Wow! My brain would be fried!