NCLEX Preparation Tips

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Moral of my story is... I do not feel like a really smart individual. crammed for tests in nursing school. Knew the NCLEX was going to be hard for me. I knew that the material I had learned over the last two years was not fresh in my mind.

Here is what I would have done to prepare for the test the first time

1. Hurst review with the book, Watch all lecture material at least once. Get the info back into your head!

2. Read that book as many times as you need to get the core content Fresh in your mind. I didn't memorize it all but read book 3 times.

3. Review the 5th day materials. Covers types of precautions, Meds, Nursing basics like pt ambulating with cain, crutches... Read it all at least once or twice. I didn't worry about memorizing it all I knew I couldn't do it and Core content med surg knowledge was most important.

4. Watch Management and Delegation material again day of or day before test.You will get these questions! The lecture is like 40 min long and it will show you how to take these types of questions. They don't teach you this in nursing school.

5. Print out lab values from Hurst 5th day materials "This you have to memorize, No questions asked"

6. Do at least 600 practice questions with reviewing rationales after you will learn info that wasn't taught in book.

7. Do whatever it is you feel you nee to do to get ready for test, let yourpersonal intuition guide you on your studies, Ex. "I heard don't study twodays before test let your brain rest..." I don't care I studied my buttoff before my tests nursing school and studied until I walked through the doorto take the test. It helped! Do whatever it is you need to do to take the test.Can't compare to friends that took test and passed. I studied probably 10x morethan my buddy that passed the test in 75 first time, I don't care he is a goodcumulative test taker I am not.

That is all... If you are a good test taker and have most nursing school info ready to take test go for it this may not be for you. If you struggle with thistype of test, are concerned about knowing enough info, take practice tests anddon't feel confident enough. This is for you! Follow these steps I swear itworked for me. Taking the test the second time, I felt so much more confidentunderstood the diseases better, knew what to look for and how to eliminatepatients in the management and delegation section. Pay the money for Hurst, youwill not regret it! Follow those Steps and you can have success on the test thefirst time. Take the exam seriously and don't underestimate it, study and refresh your mind.

Alright, I have enjoyed reading the posts on this page in the past. Here was my experience with the NCLEX exam. Finished nursing school. I knew that I really struggled with the cumulative tests during the nursing program and was worried about the NCLEX. So I waited about a month and a half Bought the Kaplan online review with Q bank questions. I started watching the online content but there is like at least 45 hours worth of content. Felt a little exhausting and not as specific as I would have liked. So I just used the Kaplan quizzes to prepare myself. Took the first 5 quizzes go tbetween 54-64 percent on them. Then I took the NCLEX got around 125 Q's test shut off. I did not pass. Felt pretty disappointed, discouraged, almost depressed. Fortunately for me other class mates had similar problems. Seemsl ike a third of our class didn't pass the first time. So they all retook the exam 45 days later and passed. I had stuff going on vacations. They got me in touch with the Hurts review services. Wow talk about night and day. So I started watching the online lectures they have about 20 Hrs total that reviews basically everything. "core" content they call it. The lectures were focused, organized "in a manner that made it easier to learn and understand",read through the core content book that follows along with the online lectures.read through their 5th day materials. and probably did an additional 700-800online questions from kaplans bank and hurst review questions. I only got 63%of kaplans Quiz 7 that is 265 questions long. Then took the NCLEX for the second time today 9/23/2013 felt like actually recognized most of the topics on the test this time. Sure I had question that I was very unfamiliar with, but I knew enough of the Hurst core content to feel much more confident. Test shutoff and 75 questions. 90% sure I passed.

Moral of my story is... I do not feel like a really smart individual. crammed for tests in nursing school. Knew the NCLEX was going to be hard for me. I knew that the material I had learned over the last two years was not fresh in my mind.

Good luck eat a snack before you go in and pray! Mitch

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