NCLEX was nothing of what i expected

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i passed nclex on monday, i am so relieved. i answered 75 questions, and like everyone else i truely thought i failed and this is why. for the past 2 years i have been studying and taking "NCLEX style" tests and questions. however the questions i answered on monday were nothing like i had been preparing for. the reason i thought i failed was because the format of the questions were so brief, one short sentence and the answers were 1-2 words. between school, kaplan, saunders, mosbys etc i was used to the info packed lengthy questions; which made me think that the 75 questions i answered on monday were knowledge. i just wanted to put it out there that 1. a short question/answer isnt knowledge (DUH i should know that, but it scared me) 2. someone needs to design more questions like this to study. if i could pick one thing to study my vote would go to infection control, 50% of my questions were infection control, then meds (lots i didnt know), priority and SATA. and one more thing, please be aware of the Calcium unit differences, i had both on NCLEX mg and meq, know them both. i didnt until i took kaplan. thanks for all the help good luck to all.

*IF THE INFO THAT I INCLUDED IS A VIOLATION OF NCLEX, PLEASE REMOVE THIS. I TRIED TO STAY NON SPECIFIC

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Specializes in m/s ortho.

thanks a lot for the pointers!! :) and a well deserved CONGRATULATIONS!!

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Congrats!!!

Also, what do you mean know both meq and mg for Calcium. Do you mean calculations? A bit confused here...

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Specializes in m/s ortho.

mEq = miliequivalent vs. mg = miligrams. i suppose we need to pay close attention to the units, too and not just the numbers? :)

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Gotcha, thanks! Had me freaking out that there was some big concept I missed!

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:yeah: CONGRATULATIONS ON FINALIZING THE JOURNEY. :nurse:
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my daughter graduated high school this year, she is trying to get in the rn program

this fall at cacc, she is taking math 101 right now she started the day before

she graduated high school. she will not be able to take just basics before the

clinicals because she will be 19 next year and will have to be a full time student

to stay on our health insurance, if all she takes is basics this time then she wil

have to take other classes to get enough credit hours to be a full time student

so i dont see either way really making it easier for her. she graduated with

honors and with beta she has 3.7 gpa and her act equals 92 on the compass test her points are 162 for all her biology , a & p , algebra II all are her high school courses.......we have already sent her checklist to try to get in the fall

she is not going to work and will have math 101 out of the way does anyone have advice to give to what we need to do go take the full program if she gets in this year or take basics and if she gets in next year and have clinicals with other

courses that are not even in the rn program .....i dont see either choice being much

easier can anyone give me advice. i really know nothing about nursing i am just

a mom

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i cant remember which is which but there are 2 value ranges depending on the unit... mg or meq, one is 4.5-5.5ish and the other is twice that 9-11. so if it says the patients Ca is 5__ pay attention to which unit to determine if its low or normal

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Triage, Cardiac ICU.

Think about it!!! You passed!!! Why do you think those programs are good at preparing test-takers???? Because they go beyond what is expected. I all of the reviews just stuck to what they "though" could be asked on the NCLEX in a "knowledge" based form....do you really think you would get all of the knowledge that you needed to answer random computer navigated questions? NO!

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I agree totally with you. Your test sounds just like mine and I felt the exact same way yesterday. I get my "unofficial" results tomorrow and feel like I failed. I felt like I didn't know hardly anything on that test and then it shut off at 75 questions. I'm still a little afraid but since reading you guys's experiences and how closely they sound to mine, i'm not as afraid anymore. Congratulations to you...R.N.! :nurse:

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:ancong!:

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