NCLEX Advice

DisneyNurseGal, BSN, RN · Jul 8, 2013

My school recommends that we are exposed to 10,000 NCLEX style questions before the exam :eek: . My school fees included access to a sample test data base Prep-U which is awesome. I also own a couple of books I purchased off Amazon.

During the summer I am doing 100 questions MINIMUM a day, and when school is in session I do at least 20. The more questions you are exposed to the more you are used to them. Pay attention to the answers and the rationales, understand why you got the question wrong AND right.

I pick random topics just so I don't get bored! Good luck

jschex6 · Jul 8, 2013

I graduated this past May and just took the NCLEX today...still waiting for results. Our school made us do ATI which I scored a 76% on the comprehensive test, that translated into a 97% chance that I would pass the NCLEX. After I graduated, I did Hurst review and found it to be extremely helpful especially with understanding content. I also downloaded the NCLEX Mastery app to my phone which has over 1400 questions that were really helpful. All in all, I studied non-stop for a good 2-3 weeks and probably did about 2500 practice questions scoring between 75-80% on practice tests. I have heard of people passing with only scoring 60-70% on practice tests. When I took the test today, I did feel confident and I did only get 75 questions so hopefully that is a good sign. My advice would be to do as many questions as you can, understand what the question is asking, and know that rationale behind the answer. If you can't tell from above, I tend to over prepare. I know alot of people that did less than me and still passed. Good luck.

britnian · Jul 9, 2013

Thanks everyone for your input! I am not exactly sure how my nursing school will review for the NCLEX. Our nursing program is new and our first set of graduates only had a 50% passing rate... which really doesn't put my nerves at ease. Therefore, I am really trying to push myself and hopefully I can pass! @ebailey1218 what books did you purchase from Amazon? & did they help? @schex6 Is the Hurst review an online program? Thanks! :woot:

DisneyNurseGal, BSN, RN · Jul 9, 2013

Thanks everyone for your input! I am not exactly sure how my nursing school will review for the NCLEX. Our nursing program is new and our first set of graduates only had a 50% passing rate... which really doesn't put my nerves at ease. Therefore, I am really trying to push myself and hopefully I can pass! @ebailey1218 what books did you purchase from Amazon? & did they help? @schex6 Is the Hurst review an online program? Thanks!

Amazon.com: Lippincott's Q&A Review for NCLEX-RN (Lippincott's Review for Nclex-Rn) (9781451172287): Diane M. Billings EdD RN FAAN, Desiree Hensel: Books

Mosby's Comprehensive Review of Nursing for the NCLEX-RN® Examination, 20e (Mosby's Comprehensive Review of Nursing for Nclex-Rn): Patricia M. Nugent RN AAS BS MS EdM EdD, Judith S. Green RN AA BA MA, Mary Ann Hellmer Saul RNCS AAS BS MS PhD,

Amazon.com: Med-Surg Success: Course Review Applying Critical Thinking to Test Taking (0000803615760): Colgrove: Books

I would recommend the Hurst as well if your school is still trying to figure things out. They have a money back guarantee if you don't pass. Their program is a comprehensive review

Hurst Review Services - NCLEX Review Course

jimithing112 · Jul 9, 2013

My school also uses ATI and I had a 98% predicted odds of passing on the first try - also took it today and will know official results in 2 days but I'm pretty sure I passed at 75 questions, too. I used the ATI books and the big yellow saunders review book.

jschex6 · Jul 9, 2013

I did the live hurst review which was a three day course offered at my school but I know they have an online review as well that is cheaper. The hurst review (both online and live) offer 6 practice tests that were 125 questions each that were helpful. Good luck!

BloomNurseRN, ASN, BSN, RN · Jul 9, 2013

There is actually an NCLEX forum here on allnurses.com and you might want to look at posts there, as there is a lot of advice for study materials.

In all reality, you should be studying for NCLEX throughout your nursing school experience. I know my school did NCLEX style questions for all tests and we had ATI integrated into our program. I was in a 2-yr program so during the summer before my second year I purchased the Kaplan 2012-2013 book, LaCharity's Prioritization book, and NCLEX flashcards. I started doing maybe 100-150 questions a day and tried to look through those things during my last year.

The NCLEX of course isn't easy but the earlier you start preparing the better. Not only that, but I found my tests weren't nearly as intimidating when I really started using the NCLEX resources I had to study the topics we were going over in class.

Good luck!

lanaRN1002 · Jul 9, 2013

I just graduated this May. I took my NCLEX July 1st and passed on my first attempt. Throughout my schooling all test were given in Nclex style. In addition to that for ever credit a class was worth we had to do 100 Nclex style question so a 3 credit course equaled handling in 300 questions by the end of the semester. My school also used ATI. We were required to pay for it and we definitely go use out of it. After graduating we had a 2 day live review. We were given a comp predictor and individualized study plan which I used. I also studied from Saunders Comprehensive review for NCLEX RN, a review book with alternative formatted questions which was really good, and Saunders Nclex flashcards. It included over 1000 questions and was easy to carry around as compared to a bulky book. After graduating I took a week off. Once my break was over I did 75-100 questions a day up until my test which was about 3weeks

Really you should be preparing throughout your schooling. For me, the key was answering question. Even if i had no idea what they were talking about like when I first started. Just answering them, reading the rationales, and understanding is the key. I was asked a number of question about diseases I've never heard of on the NCLEX, it's not always knowing a specific disease but more knowing basic nursing skills and strategies to pick apart and answer the question. That's exactly what test prep courses like ATI and Kaplan teach.

I hope this helped. Good luck!