NCLEX After 7 years

Meriwhen, ASN, BSN, MSN, RN · May 17, 2017

Moving to the NCLEX Forum.

I wouldn't say so much "dummy down" as that you have to approach NCLEX scenarios and questions from the RN/LVN scope of practice, instead of the EMT or firefighter scope. You may have been permitted to do things in your past lives that are now outside of your scope of practice as a nurse. Also, in the field, you might do--by necessity--things that might not exactly fly in a facility or on the NCLEX..

Similar issues happens with CNAs/PCTs/other hospital employees becoming nurses or LVNs becoming RNs--they're used to working (and for LVNs, nursing) in the real healthcare world, whereas the NCLEX is set in the ivory tower world of nursing. You know, that perfect little world where you have one patient, all the resources you need at your fingertips, all the time in the world for your patient, and your patient responds predictably to every single intervention.

It can be hard to keep real world and NCLEX world nursing separate, especially during the test: your gut screams "A" because that's how you've actually handled it before, but in the NCLEX world of nursing, the answer is "B."

Check with your BON to see if you are still eligible to take the NCLEX as is. At 7 years out, you may not be able to take it without either re-enrolling in school or taking a refresher course.

Get the most recent study guides that you can. Do lots of NCLEX questions so you become very familiar with them. If you are weak in a particular area (e.g., pediatrics, pharmacology, etc.), also pick up review books in those areas too. You could consider a NCLEX review course such as Kaplan. They review content as well as test-taking and question-answering strategies. Or even consider enrolling in a refresher course, which will review content as well as clinical skills.

Best of luck.

klorena · May 18, 2017

Since you stated you will be purchasing books to review. I would definitely recommend La Charity. It really helped me with appropriate delegation and which patient to see first. I was out of school for two years and utilized this book and Hurst Review and passed. Reviews also provide their own review materials. I would recommend a review since it has been 7 years and there are always changes and updates. Many people will tell you how they passed but it truly ranges person to person. I tried Kaplan but it was not helpful for me but beneficial for others. I recommend sitting down and determining your weaknesses and from there determine how to review and study. I was somewhat weak in certain areas of content and Hurst really helped me. Do lots of NCLEX questions. I recommend UWORLD as well. Make yourself a schedule to lay out how many hours a day per week you plan to study with specific content areas you plan to review and how many question you want to do. Good Luck Future RN!

Party_of_five, BSN · May 18, 2017

I'd say you need content review. Hurst is excellent and has both online and Live classes. But first I'd do a PP mentioned and check with your BON. 7 years is a long time. Good luck

imhorsemackerel, LPN · May 18, 2017

Are you doing the LPN or RN? I felt Saunder's NCLEX exam book helpful and comprehensive. I know the one for LPN is red, but not sure the color for the RN one.

Lupe Sanchez, BSN, RN · May 20, 2017

I was out if school 7 years and passed. I used Mark Klimek, Lacharity, and last but not least UWorld. You can do it!

FolksBtrippin, BSN, RN · May 24, 2017

If you think you need to "dummy down" from what you knew as an EMT and firefighter in order to pass NCLEX, then humility is your biggest problem. You absolutely cannot learn with an attitude like that.

You need to get smarter not dumber.

If you can't accept that, then I sincerely recommend that you give up, because you have no chance of passing.

This is my 100% no ********, straight up truth.