NCLEX: KAPLAN, SATA(n) & PHARM

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Hello everyone & MAJOR congrats to those of you who have passed the NCLEX! I'm taking the exam next Saturday and although I've reviewed content, questions, math, and some other stuff STILL feel completely unprepared.

So, in reading some of these posts I've come up with some questions. I really appreciate your candid responses since I'm sure like other readers, we'll ALL find the info useful:

1) KAPLAN- my scores just suck. I've ranged from 38-79 on the Qbank questions and my Qtrainers have ranged from 48-71. Does this say anything for my performance? I still will continue doing their questions, but should I start looking elsewhere for additional questions? I have about 400 questions left in the bank and am at 58% score.

2) SATA- notice how it's missing an "N" at the end? Anyway, are they ridiculously difficult or if there is enough knowledge on a topic is it workable to figure out?

3) PHARM- how detailed are the questions? I've been studying overall categories and some meds within those, but with so many drugs and each having such similar adverse effects am I doing enough? Calculations I'll just keep practicing. I feel with the content area of Pharm being 13-19%, am I really ok with just knowing overviews of categories or do I need to know specific drugs?

4) THE END. Do you really leave the test center with a feeling of impending doom or is it just relief that it's over regardless of performance?????

Overall I'm starting to freak out about this test and have not really slept for the past two nights b/c of my anxiety. I can only imagine how I'll be next week!

Any advice on a change of direction in my studying is appreciated. I took the Kaplan class in May. I've done everything it says to do, but find myself making careless mistakes and rushing through. Aside from xanax (I wish) any tips for test day?

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I take my test in 2 days. I am freaking out as you can imagine. The only thing that is keeping my anxiety at bay is repetition. I do questions whenever I start to feel that feeling of fear deep in my gut. I am hoping that the more questions I do that the more calm I will be on the test...yeah right...lol. I just have to remember to slow it down and really read the question...look for what it is asking...and read each anser carefully. Thats my plan, I guess. I hope it works. Anyone that has more info though would be wonderful to hear any last minute tips!!!

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Specializes in Med/Surg <1; Epic Certified <1.

After getting as far as Question Trainer #4 with less-than-stellar results, I'm just hoping for questions about things I RECOGNIZE when I take my NCLEX in a few weeks.

Good heavens I think I need to go back to like -- second semester?!?!

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I took my NCLEX yesterday, but I know for sure I failed. :sniff:

150 questions from which almost 80 were drugs. Mostly it was giving the name of the drug and asking for side effect or what to expect from that drug. The test ended with food rich in folic acid. I didn't have many select all that applys or delegations. Pharma is my weak part and they found out about it, so if you have weak part they will find it out. Kaplan I was getting 57% over all, but the NCLEX is same as a Kaplan. It looks so similar that you don't know you are taking Kaplan on NCLEX test. People in Kaplan told me that if you are getting on their test 60%- you'll pass the NCLEX, so you have left only 2%.

I am glad that I took exam. Now I know what to expect. It was good practice for me, so take the test and think that it's only practice!

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Specializes in emergency.

I know it's hard to believe, but keep on working on the qtrainer and qbank , you'll be fine. I felt the same, but tried to stay calm and focused on doing the qtrainers and reading over what the analysis showed as my weak points. I ranged around 58-60% on all the tests, got 75 questions on the NCLEX and passed. My classmate was getting the same kind of scores, got 202 questions and passed.

My advice is to focus on the KAPLAN questions and book. To keep from freaking out over my scores, I limited the # of question I took each day to 100-150 ( another class mate told me she did the same thing). I put away the book and turned off the computer @ noon the day before my exam. I didn't look at the # of the question I was on, just did one @ a time and took my time on each question. Each time I got a SATA (17 in all), I closed my eyes, took a deep breath and read the questions and answers and check the ones that definitly applied then re-read the question and remaining answers. I had several pharm questions and I thought they were pretty easy, mostly side effects, pt teaching,indications etc. The last thing I looked at in the Kaplan book before putting it away was the drug section so that it was the freshest on my brain (kept comming up as my weak spot on the qtrainers).

Overall, I think that KAPLAN was the best preparation, the questions were a little harder than than the actual NCLEX questions, but that is my opinion. I know everyone studies different, but this is what worked for me. The most important thing is to keep calm and remember that you know the answers, that you were taught by some of the best nurses around. YOU CAN DO IT!!!! also a little prayer never hurts!

GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL!!!!:smokin:

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Oh Mmy COD!!! I passed!!!!! I was sure I failed :no:

Don't even think- go and take the NCLEX!!!! Jast concentrate on each qestion, take your time, choose the best answer. I passed with Kaplan score of 57%, so you with your 58% have great chance!!!!!!!

GOOD LUCK!!!!!!

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Specializes in Operating Room.
Oh Mmy COD!!! I passed!!!!! I was sure I failed :no:

Don't even think- go and take the NCLEX!!!! Jast concentrate on each qestion, take your time, choose the best answer. I passed with Kaplan score of 57%, so you with your 58% have great chance!!!!!!!

GOOD LUCK!!!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU!!!!!!!!!

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Sorry, I was so stressed that misspelled everything

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

congrats

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Congrats!!!!

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Specializes in Med Surg, Telemetry, Long Term Care.

congrats

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Oh Mmy COD!!! I passed!!!!! I was sure I failed :no:

Don't even think- go and take the NCLEX!!!! Jast concentrate on each qestion, take your time, choose the best answer. I passed with Kaplan score of 57%, so you with your 58% have great chance!!!!!!!

GOOD LUCK!!!!!!

:yeah::yeah:Congratulations!!! :yeah::yeah:

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