NCLEX beginner (need help to start)

Nursing Students NCLEX

Published

Greetings everyone,

I need help :down:,

I have graduated since 2007 and am specialized in Mental Health Nursing. It means I don't really have the experience of working in other departments.

I want to do the NCLEX exam within at least 3-4 months from now.

I bought the Saunders review book a month ago. I started reading it but I panicked!! It's because I did not practice these stuff due to working in a mental health facility, I can't relate to the content. I felt so depressed and I stopped reviewing!

Now I decided I should get back on my feet again and do it..

I started looking for online courses to help me out with content and strategies.

I read reviews about Kaplan, Hurst and ATI but I still can not decide.

What do you guys think? any advises or tips on what to choose and how to start?

I will highly appreciate your feedback,

thanks all

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Are you educated overseas or in the US? If an internationally educated nurse (IEN) ATI is not an option as their packages are only for US educated nurses. Kaplan does have a program specifically tailored to IENs to fill the gaps for US based practice and minimum standards for US nursing.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I've graduated from Cardiff University (UK) . I want to apply for the mental health nurse practioner masters program in the states. So what can I do now? Am totally lost :(

Up Vote Up Vote ×

For content reviews I like both Hurst, and Feuer.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

U S is generalist trained. Have you applied for license by examination with any state board of nursing ? All states & territories require clinical & theory in adult med/surg, pediatric , maternity/women's health, geriatric, and mental health for initial licensure. There are many NCLEX prep programs. But if you are not generalist trained you may not yet meet the requirements for license by examination. Most masters programs require a current active license as a condition of enrollment

First figure out if you are presently eligible to become licensed by examination as an IEN. I know initially UK was generalist trained but ultimately transitioned to specialist training. The link to the US boards of nursing is at the bottom of each page of this site. All have instructions and qualifications for licensing by examination as an IEN. Good luck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Well I have done general nursing with everything you mentioned. It is just that I worked in mental health right after my internship until today.

I am eligible to become licensed by examination.

I just need help in figuring out how can I make studying for the exam easier to me!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Look at Kaplan then for test strategies, Hurst for test content, and la charity "priority delegation and analysis". The first two offer in person, online and print format review. LaCharity is a book. Kaplan also covers content. They offer a free practice test for signing up on their site and have some you tube videos to understand the basics of the NCLEX including the test psychometrics/computer adaptive testing

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank u so much that was useful.. How about ATI?! I read very good reviews about it!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

If you are not a US educated nurse, you cannot officially use ATI as per several members who tried to sign up but were rejected once they entered a non US based nursing school. You can find the information here: http://www.atitesting.com/Solutions/PostGraduation/nclex.aspx

Kaplan has a product for internationally educated nurses. (in addition to their standard products that can be used by any student) http://www.kaptest.com/NCLEX/NCLEX-RN-Prep/nclex-intl-classroom.html

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment