I take my NCLEX on Tuesday, and let me just say, I didn't know test anxiety could get this bad! I had minor test anxiety throughout nursing school, but the beneficial kind; however, these last two weeks leading up to the NCLEX have been gruesome. I can't sleep and when I do I have crazy dreams about failing the NCLEX or getting kicked out of the testing center for whatever crazy reason (lol). My heart rates permanently >100, and I've had a pounding headache that won't go away...
I have been studying nonstop for the last three weeks, going over Hurst and doing Sanders/ATI practice questions; My Hurst Q-Reviews have ranged from 78-101; my ATI have ranged from 78% to 86% and my Saunders (I've been taking the 100 questions tests in exam mode) have ranged from 60-82%, with the exception of the alternate format tests which I have yet to get above 60% (average 40%)
My questions is, is the NCLEX as gruesome/horrible/awful/scary as I have somehow conjured it in my head to be; or am I completely overreacting... Do the practice tests, prepare you? Is it really as hard as I am imagining it? There's so much to remember, I'm afraid I won't know enough come test time...
I've accepted an offer for my dream job, but I HAVE to pass this test the FIRST time! Any advice or comments would me much appreciated to me and all of the other graduate nurses preparing to take the NCLEX that might be freaking out just as much as I am!!!
Kaplan was the only thing I did. When I took the nclex it was just like I was doing pratice kap question. Put the majority of your study time doing ALL the q bank and question trainers. You'll be good to go!
Our school did hurst and ati, so I didn't even know about Kaplan until a few days ago :/ I take it in less than 24 hours so I hope I do fine! Really wish I would have known about Kaplan!
I heard hurst is really good! I'm not sure why but my school did Kap. That's the only reason I knew about it. Good luck! And be sure to doodle on your white board!
Thanks for y'alls advice and words of encouragement! The deed is done! 75 questions and the good pop-up! But man was it hard! my head hurts :/ lol
Congratulations @itscalling721 WOOT WOOT!!! I bet you are so proud and happy. I was about to start studying again today and I decided to go on AN to just browse. Your thread was the first I saw in this forum so I read it because I am having some pretty high anxiety. I did ATI all through school and got a 96% chance of passing the NCLEX on our comprehensive. Then, people started talking about how its really important to do Kaplan which has been freaking me out. I have the Saunders comprehensive review 6th editions, NCLEX 3500. I just got LaCharity for Priority and Delegation. But, I'm still so worried that I didnt take the Kaplan course. I'm scoring anywhere between 60-80% on the 3500 and most people say those questions arent hard at all that they're just for content. I am mostly scoring in the 70-90% for my Saunders book. Then on the Saunders Evolve site I'm scoring in the 70's. I have no idea if this is good. Oh and I also have the Cengage Delmar online CAT prep which I've been scoring in the 70's as well. AHHHH :) lol I dont know. I am just going to keep doing as many questions as I can possibly handle every day. I take my NCLEX 6/26.
Congrats again! What is your overall take on the exam?
It sounds like you are on the right track to me! I don't want to give too much advice until I get official results, so that I can KNOW that I have the right to give advice lol :) the first 10-15 questions were dreadful to me, I had NO IDEA what the answers were (most likely because I was so incredibly nervous), but once I got my first SATA, I calmed down a little and it was semi-smooth sailing from there. It was 100% the hardest test I have ever taken, but I took my time, took breathing breaks every few questions (it took me 2 hours for the 75 questions with the first 6 questions taking me almost 30 minutes :/). I think as long as you study and do practice questions, you will expose yourself to all the different types of questions and topics and be as ready as you can be! Good luck! (your scores were all very similar to mine, so keep on it!) Let me know how it goes :)
Tinman1017
115 Posts
Kaplan was the only thing I did. When I took the nclex it was just like I was doing pratice kap question. Put the majority of your study time doing ALL the q bank and question trainers. You'll be good to go!