NCLEX & Kaplan

Hello People,

This is my first post but I wanted to share my experience with Kaplan and the NCLEX. first and foremost let me tell you that I took my NCLEX this week and passed with 75 questions on my first try, now let me tell you what i did to prepare.

I graduated mid May 2015, and by June 1st I was already back on campus for a Hesi live review paid by my school. At the end of that week we took a computerized simulation similar to the NCLEX. This test had a minimum of 85 questions, and the most i heard was 180, mine shut off at 85 and I passed that.

Then I took a week off, and the following week I was doing Kaplan classroom course. That week for almost 7- 8 hours a day all we did was practice questions. I personally thought it was helpful. Then I did the 7 Q trainers, Readiness test, and around 50% Qbank

here are my results for that

Diagnostics= 16.1% ( I missed over 100 questions, I wasn't interested and ended it very soon)

Readiness: 65.0%

Q 1= 66.7%

Q 2= 58.7%

Q 3= 54.0%

Q 4= 65.3%

Q 5= 60.0%

Q 6= 61.5%

Q 7 = 57.4%

Q bank I did around 50% with an average of 61.0% (there are a few outliers, as I let some of my non nursing friends take a few nursing tests, and they failed miserably lol.)

I watched a few basic comfort content videos which helped, as that is one of my weak points. 0_o.

I do have to say that I definitely went over content as this is vital for me. Through out nursing school I found that I did't do as well when I was doing questions and no content. I got frustrated because i just kept answering questions memorizing rationales and not understanding. At least for me I know that if I truly understand the patho physiology of let say Diabetes, I was able to figure the questions out by going over it in my head and picturing what's going on in the body and what can that caused. So for me practice questions was the last step in my studying.

So for the NCLEX I used my nursing school PowerPoints, notes & youtube videos ( because I'm a highly visual person and that's how I learn.) I recommend Nucleus Medical Media for visuals.

I didn't have an specific well elaborated study plan, but I did managed to cover all major areas. One day i did questions, the next i reviewed content, the next both. Etc..

I didn't use the Kaplan decision tree, because it takes too long, and to be honest I never really got the whole thing. Whenever I used the tree I got it wrong, I left it at the back of my mind and used it when I was completely clue less.

As for the NCLEX it self I must say I was terrified while taking this test, as I got a hand full of Alzheimer questions ( the one disease I didn't go over, is the one I was being tested the most on), Also half of my exam was select all that apply, they were in ever subject you can think of, from meds, peds, ICP, OB, Infection control, management, restrains, Alzheimer, Alzheimer, wait did I mentioned Alzheimer!!. Any way, it was hard I wont lie, and the 48 hour wait for your results, is the worst agony ever. During this time I played so many different scenarios in my head, questions slowly come to your mind and you realize what a mistake you made, you doubt your self. But stay calm, at the end you will pass, hopefully.This is very long I know, but hope it helps someone in the future or now idk.

by the way kaplan does help, very similar to the NCLEX..

Also my kaplan account is active until the end of August, I know this is an expensive program so I'm willing to share my login with who ever emails me first.

[email protected]

(I know hotmail so outdated but it gets the job done .. Good luck every one.