NCLEX is kicking my butt! so discouraged!

Davey Do · Mar 3, 2015

It's been over 25 years, but I remember the frustration of not getting the right answers, Samantha. I had four years of EMT and six years of LPN under my belt when I tested and wondered why in the Sam Hill I was not doing better on State Board Practise Tests.

Then it came to me: I was answering the questions based on my knowledge and experiences in the Real World and not on what the Questioners WANTED.

When I started answering the questions based on that Premise, I excelled.

So, my asked for advice to you, Samantha, is to consider that Concept: Don't answer the questions on what you think is the best answer, but on what you think the Questioners want.

Good Luck and the Very Best to you.

Safety Coach RN · Mar 3, 2015

I have now taken the NCLEX twice I got 250 questions both times and I am so discouraged I don't know what to do, although I have decided that I WILL NOT fail again I have to pass and I will!! I will study like crazy but I want any advice that I can get???

Maybe you're studying too much or suffering from test anxiety. Take some time off and relax. It can't hurt can it?

Sabby_NC · Mar 3, 2015

It is so easy to let the frustrations sneak in, you have some good advice but do not give up. Have you practice using those CD's you can get, I practiced multiple NCLEX questions and that is how I got the feel of how the test would be. I so agree with Davey in the response to questioning and also you need to take a break as well getting overwhelmed with this will not be advantageous for you. I wish you all the very best.

Davey Do · Mar 3, 2015

What Safety Coach said. We need to give our Brains Time to Assimilate Information.

Time and Food.

Eat more Fish. A Doctor I worked with advised me of this before I took my State Boards.

Davey Do · Mar 3, 2015

Something else I just recalled that helped me with the ol Test-Taking Anxiety Thing, Samantha, and that was Relaxation Techniques Before and During the Test Taking Process.

Now, 25 years ago, State Boards were a Two-Day 6 to 8 Hour Thing. The Day Before the Test, I went to the Auditorium and got Comfortable with the Environment. During the Test, I took some Short Breaks and did some RelaxationTechniques like Deep Breathing.

I also need to give Credit to the Rabbit who gave up one of his Lower Extremities for my Good Luck Charm.

Editorial Team / Admin · Mar 3, 2015

Thread moved to NCLEX forum.

There are several threads in this forum that will help you as you prepare for the next exam.

Good luck.

kittcat023 · Mar 3, 2015

Have you done a Kaplan course? Don't bother reviewing a ton of material, so much of that test is learning how to take it. I took my NCLEX 4 years ago and Kaplan was awesome for me. Today I just took and passed my Family Nurse Practitioner boards, and the whole time I was studying, I was thinking how much I wished there were a Kaplan course because that saved me in the NCLEX.

When I studied for NCLEX, I think I did something like 2,000 practice questions through Kaplan before taking it. I studied VERY LITTLE actual material and just spent my time doing questions.

Jglaplanche · Mar 4, 2015

I need some clues too. I was very discouraged as well. I have taken it once, but I didn't pass. I just don't know how to study for this. Any advise as well from anyone? Thanks

915 Nurse, BSN, LPN, RN · Mar 4, 2015

I wanted to help all those who wanted tips. Good luck and God Bless :)

I passed and so excited to share !!

RN nclex passed yesterday @ 8am with 75 questions!

Here is how I did it :

Bought NCSBN 3 week one and did all qbanks (read and understand ALL rationals)

look up what you don't understand.

La Charity Priority Book (about 5 chapters) really helps, ( I didn't do case studies)

Memorized labs

NCLEX RN Illustrated Book, w questions online. did as many questions as I could.

Know infection control

I studied for about a full month. 5-6 days a week . 6 hours day. 150 questions a day on average. ( I would drop son at school, go to my college lib and stay until it was time to pick him up)

Sat was a light day with 50 questions and thats it. (at home)

2 days before test I did 200 questions on each day at lib. stopped at 530 pm. I was fried. some peeps take day before off , what ever you feel works best.

Prayed, Meditated daily and watched "the secret",visualized myself in testing room passing, wrote my name with RN in journal. wrote in a journal daily.

Do a quick drive of the testing center a week before, go in and check it out. Talk to check in people to see the "order" of things. Helps !!

TEST Day: Breakfast of egg, spinach, ham sandwich on whole wheat toast. Milk, no coffee (for me no caffeine before a test helps). Left with enough time in case of traffic. I arrived about one hour sat in my car to review labs only. Prayed before test. Believed in myself. Leave cell phone in car!

I covered time and question #s the whole time. Took my own break at 50. Bathroom, Water, breathing, and more prayer.

Started again, I checked where I was about 2x) at 68 I didn't check anymore and figured okay about ten more...and BOOM screen shut off. I left scared, sick to my tummy. (nerves)

Results of my passing today at 1230.

Stay positive, stick to reading only positive posts here always to inspire. Read motivation quotes, pick one and read it daily before you study and test.

Good luck to you all ,

Please stay positive, always BELIEVE in yourself,

If I can do it, You can def, do it !

YOU GOT THIS! babywinona23, pmabraham, and memern14

[h=2][/h]

915 Nurse, BSN, LPN, RN · Mar 4, 2015

some peeps in my class used Kaplan, with some not passing and some going all the way further than 75 questions.. 200+ or all the way.

some pass, some didn't.

(In my own opinion, Kaplan does something to these peeps... desicion tree sounds scary to me !!!!!! I didn't even go to the "free" kaplan thing at our school so it wouldn't mess with my brain. If I have a system down during school, why CHANGE it now? )

use NCSBN from NCLEX.. do your self a favor.

Best of luck, positive thinking positive energy!!

ForeverDreaming · Mar 21, 2015

Keep your head up! You got through nursing school; you CAN do this.