NCLEX Prep

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · May 21, 2015

I spent about two months preparing due to I still had two more courses to complete for my requirements in my BSN program.

I used the Kaplan book and used NCSBN and several other books for questions; I used ExamCRAM for content review; I used Saunders NCLEX flash cards while on the go and Lippinicott apps as well.

I did mock NCLEX exams, starting with the minimum and worked my way up to the maximum to prepare for endurance if I ended up getting the maximum.

ETA:

The issue may not necessarily the source of the review, but how one approaches the NCLEX itself: understanding the four concepts of becoming a competent, entry-level nurse:

1. Safe, effective care;

2.Health promotion;

3.Physiological Integrity;

4.Psychosocial integrity

Will determine WHAT the question is asking you; the question may be Respiratory related-but is it a Health Promotion or a Safety, or a Physiological or a Psychosocial one? Would you know the difference and choose the BEST answer?

Once one understands the concepts of NCLEX, they can do so successfully.

apff · May 21, 2015

Thanks so much for your help! Is content review as important as practicing answering questions?

LadyFree28, BSN, LPN, RN · May 21, 2015

It's import to understand the questions; don't forget to review all questions and rationales to understand the WHY of the better answer.

nykki1122 · May 21, 2015

Content was a good thing to know but I felt like the content on the test broke down to really basic stuff. It's not like "what is CHF?" but more like "what in the body is effected by CHF?" stuff like that with content. It's really a deeper level of thinking and I feel like the only way to get there is to do questions over and over and learn how to break them down and figure out what they are asking in the question.

I prepared for 3 weeks but the last week leading up to the exam I did nothing but questions and review every single rationale, right or wrong. The most important thing I feel like I did to prepare is learning the test plan. It felt like once I knew what they were testing, I need which direction to go with my studying.

apff · May 21, 2015

Thank you so much for the advice! Did you use a particular program/book to study? Just got my ATT this morning & signed up for June 22!! I'm so nervous!!!! That gives me about a month to prepare.

springchick1, ADN, RN · May 21, 2015

I used HURST review which is content based. Yes, it is very important to understand what the question is asking and to weed out any distractors. But if you don't know the content, none of that will matter. HUST does content but it does throw some test taking strategies in there.

I also used the Lacharity Prioritization, Delegation book. It was FANTASTIC!!

apff · May 21, 2015

AWESOME! Thanks so much!!!! Good point about the content.

nykki1122 · May 21, 2015

I used Kaplan for test taking strategies, NCLEX mastery app for content, and PassPoint and UWorld for question practice :)