my nclex is 2011, can I get started now?

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Specializes in critical care nursing, ED, education.

Ok, so I am finishing up my first year of my 2 year ADN program. Is it crazy to start thinking of NCLEX now? I have a couple of review books. (although both are of the old test plan) I would like to start working on a study plan for my short summer break and have it include some nclex review. They offered a hurst review at my school a few weeks ago but I was in the middle of a clinical rotation (and not sure i could have forked out the dough if I had been available to go) A friend of mine took it and she loved it. What kind of things can I be doing now to prepare, or is this even possible when I am lacking the teaching of two semesters of nursing school. ;-)

Thanks for any ideas you may have.

Betsy

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Specializes in Home Care.

Its never too early to start reviewing for the NCLEX.

Get yourself a current Saunders NCLEX review book that comes with a cd. Use the Saunders book to practice for your nursing school exams. Also get in the habit of reviewing at least 100 questions a week off the cd.

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Specializes in Emergency Medicine.

Absolutly, start now. My school used the Lippincotts NCLEX book. But any will do really. I would do NCLEX questions to study for upcoming tests. NCLEX 3500 is also a good program my school used and I got the individual version. I would pick specific topics that were being taught in class ex: respiratory, cardiovascular, etc. I would recommend using a cd because it is easier to do and I think it helps prepare you for computer tests.

Good luck!

Oh and as for summer, I would just kinda review everything that was taught so far and just did NCLEX questions all summer to keep everything fresh in my mind. If you have a chance to do a nursing externship I HIGHLY recommend it. I did mine in the ER and loved it. You get such a good learning experience, extra money, and it looks great on your resume.

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Preparation for NCLEX begins on the first day of nursing school. Good thinking on your part to put effort into the process early on.

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What I did throughout school was use my NCLEX review book as a study aid for test material. That way it reinforced the material I was going to be tested on in class and it helped me with the NCLEX style wording of questions etc. I really think it helped greatly. I would pull out the NCLEX disc and put the body system we were just lectured on (or whatever area) and attempt the test, see my score, see where I gave wrong answers and went back and refreshed the info from my notes and/or went over it in my book.

You can still do areas you haven't been taught yet, you can attempt the section in the book and see how much info you have without even being lectured the info yet. Lets you concentrate more on the areas that you need to work on. If you do the areas you will be learning in the upcoming semesters, you will have a leg up on the class.

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Specializes in Pediatric Cardiology.

That is a great idea. I wish I would have done more during school. In my last semester we were required to do 10 questions a week from the Saunders Comprehensive Review book. It definitely was not enough.

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Thanks a lot, I will be reviewing my books then.

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