NCLEX prep for students out of nursing school over several years

[ajax61]

I am in dire need of assistance. I graduated from nursing school in 2006 and have not taken my NCLEX exam. i would like to know how I can begin studying for it. I am now weak in content as well as test taking skills. Are there any programs that will help?

I thank you for your help in advance

[caliotter3]

Suggest you consider taking one of the live or online review courses to get you jump started. Then you will have to take it from there. You might want to give yourself more time to get the task done. You might have a difficult time trying to get it altogether in only two or even three weeks. Good luck.

[Leonardo Del Toro, RN]

I suggest you start taking the Kaplan

[helpmepass]

Kaplan or Hurst! I have been out 8 years and have failed. Jumping back in to pass this BEAST! GOOD LUCK!

[inspired26]

I would go with hurst and learning.ext because you will get a good review with both. The hurst review is a little more expensive than the learning.ext. The Ncsbn is affiliated with the learning.ext review. I would also look at the Saunders Comprehensive Review for Nclex Examination 4th Ed. There is a cd that you can do that has a ton of questions on it and the book compliments each other in my opinion. I just know when you are out for awhile, you really need a review that will break everything down. That is why I would look at Hurst before I chose Kaplan, but ultimately the decision is yours. I wish you and everyone else that has the opportunity to take boards now good luck.

Also, check with your school that you came from and see if they have a review available. They may even give you a review for free or a reduce price because you attended their program. Once again, best of wishes to you and good luck.

[Brown Bear3]

Hey I know how you feel. I graduated in '96 and didnt decide to take test and passed in 2007. I bought several review books because I'd been out so long. I think the most important thing to do is do mock tests (buy Nclex books with computer CD's.) You need questions, questions, and more questions! I studied about 2 hours a day for six months took it once and passed. So if I can do that anyone can. You just need to take as many tests as you can to get familiar with the wording and know what the questions are really asking. Good luck.

[neww]

Wow I am in a similar situation graduated in 2006 and I'm planning on taking it in december...Hopefully I can pass it after all these years.... I'm just trying to remain positive.

[AMIRA15]

I have been out the school for 8 years too. I took kaplan last year and didn't worke for me due to lock of content. I am doing online hurst review and I love it. Planin to sit for nclex sometime in Sep/Oct. Good Luck!

[babinski123]

hi, i have graduated 3 years ago and i was toooooo worried to take the nclex. all of my siblings passed the NCLEX on their first attempt. i was too scared to fail to the point that i did not take the exam. my brother told me this: not taking the exam is just the same as you failing it. what i did was i scheduled an exam without reading/reviewing. i did this because i was too nervous and what's a better way to combat this than getting a feel of the ACTUAL exam? i know i failed ( i haven't gotten the results yet), and i know that some people will find this crazy, but at least i have faced my fears, i have gauged my knowledge and i will pass my 2nd take! =)

[pers]

I used Kaplan and LaCharity, strongly recommend them both! Waited more than ten years between graduation and the NCLEX but passed the first time in 75 questions.

hi, i have graduated 3 years ago and i was toooooo worried to take the nclex. all of my siblings passed the NCLEX on their first attempt. i was too scared to fail to the point that i did not take the exam. my brother told me this: not taking the exam is just the same as you failing it. what i did was i scheduled an exam without reading/reviewing. i did this because i was too nervous and what's a better way to combat this than getting a feel of the ACTUAL exam? i know i failed ( i haven't gotten the results yet), and i know that some people will find this crazy, but at least i have faced my fears, i have gauged my knowledge and i will pass my 2nd take! =)

I don't think you are crazy. I did some review (all of LaCharity, the Kaplan question trainers and a couple of their videos) but took the exam just after starting the Kaplan course. I had a stretch of time off and decided that testing and failing would help me structure my studies (based on the info they send you when you fail). So I studied what I could for a few days then took the exam. I too thought I failed (lots and lots of pharm on my exam) and walked out knowing that was something I'd have to focus on for the second time around. That night when I got home I decided to pay for the exam again right away (no way was I putting it off another 10+ years!) and the site wouldn't allow it so I knew I'd passed. I was floored and totally unprepared to tell people since I hadn't told people I was even taking it! Congrats on attempting it, I think for those who waited to test getting over that initial fear is the hardest part. And don't be so quick to assume you failed either, it's entirely possible that you passed even without all the review!

[seijidan]

I graduated last year in March and just took my Nclex exam a week ago and failed. It's really hard to remember alot of the things you have studied in school if your learning has stopped and you became stagnant for such a long time, like me. I'm currently enrolled in the Kaplan program for international graduate nurses. I'm hoping to pass on my second take. It's definitely like tuning up an old car

[resilientnurse]

I have wondered, for those who have significant gaps since graduation and actual licensing (I graduated in 2006 and sit for the NCLEX for the second time this September), how hard is it to find a job afterwards? Will hospitals or other health care settings hire you?