NCLEX 2nd time and PASSED (8-tips)

First of, I would like to say that this has been a long journey. Perhaps short compared to some, but long nonetheless. After struggling through nursing school, having been a horrible test taker accompanied by test anxiety, the NCLEX exam was another dreadful ordeal to overcome in order to FINALLY become an official Registered Nurse *sigh* How great do those two words sound? Absolutely amazing! Especially when you don't get it just handed to you, but instead, have earned it with each drop of sweat and tear manifested by all the stress that comes along with it.

I don't want to make this too long of a thread, so you can read about my NCLEX experience the first time around here: https://allnurses.com/nursing-articles/i-am-not-411743.html

If you want to know the difference between the first and second time experience, just ask me and I'll be more than happy to share. There were a few perks that possibly made the experience better 2nd time around, but again, I don't want this to be too long of a thread

Time and time again, I see people stating that you need to spend 1/3 of your time on comprehension and 2/3 of your time doing questions. I never really believed that this would be true for myself, and prepared for the exam the first time, quite the opposite of the norm. I would say I spent most of my time on comprehension and a week or two on questions. That was not enough for me! And it was apparent when I failed at 160 something questions.

MY ADVICE:

QUESTIONS QUESTIONS QUESTIONS. I really stress that for any new graduate taking their NCLEX exam.

1. Learn how to take NCLEX-style questions. They're not like the exams you have in nursing school. Learn WHAT they're asking you, and HOW they want you to respond. Each and every question you face while practicing as well as on the NCLEX-RN exam, should be approached in this manner. I recommend Kaplan. Kaplan taught me how to appropriately defeat the questions.
   
2. You should have 1,200-5,000 questions under your belt before walking into the NCLEX. I did approximately 50-200 depending on how felt that day. Occasionally I took a day off to rest up. By the time I took the NCLEX-RN exam, I did about 5,400 questions
   
3. If you're taking Kaplan, I would recommend finishing the entire program i.e. ALL the Q-trainers and Qbank questions before taking your exam. First time around, I only finished 50% of what they had to offer. 2nd time around, I finished 100%
   
4. While practicing questions, every rationale should be reviewed. Even the ones you got right (just to see if what they're looking for matches up with what you thought they were looking for). If you know you won't remember a detail, write it down and if you want, review before bed every night (in my opinion, best time to retain information).
   
5. I would recommend Exam Cram. The "style" of the questions is very similar to the NCLEX. I also liked how some questions were repeated but in a re-worded manner. Repetitiveness is great! They include 5 tests, and also a CD in the back with a mock NCLEX exam, that actually shuts off in the same manner and tells you whether or not you passed or failed. I personally didn't utilize the CD because of my test anxiety, but many have found it useful as a diagnostic guide to what their weaknesses were.
   
6. My input about Saunders. I love the comprehensive book, having used it whenever I forgot a disease etc. But that was it. I also love the pictures in that book. There's also the internet for those of you who can't afford this book. Saunders Q&A is not a personal recommendation. I did the first 200 pages, and then stopped because the questions were too easy. I felt that Kaplan and Exam Cram were closer to NCLEX style and more challenging for that matter.
   
7. Last but not least, if you feel that you need more time to do questions...do not be afraid to post-pone the exam date. Better you post-pone than to waste hundreds of dollars only to do it again.
   
8. Take a deep breath as you face each question on the NCLEX-RN exam. Oxygen to the brain... You can do it!!
   

Hope this helps!!!!