NCLEX Review Help NEEDED

cyram81APRN, MSN · Mar 3, 2011

Just stay positive. I failed it the first time already. It took me a week to get back on my feet to study again. Buy a monthly calendar and slowly do 25 questions a day from any resources you have. Slowly increase it by 25. Don't over stress yourself. Just do questions and read ALL rationales. You can do it!! You are not stupid. You graduated from a nursing school. No one is stupid. I just have test anxiety when it comes to standardized tests.

It was hard to tell my teachers and the class below me about me not passing. But guess what? They might lend your resources you didn't know about and it's free. My school was all about ATI, so I get to attend the live review for free. So check out your school especially the teachers and see what else they can help you with.

Good luck to you!

STL2008, RN · Mar 3, 2011

i think I would go with Kaplan. I took Kaplan and passed first time.

fsinsd · Mar 3, 2011

Im not sure if I failed my second exam yet for sure, but I am extremely anxious. I tried the PVT and checked bon and no positive signs. I felt like the questions weren't really difficult because I was familiar with them but I wasn't sure with my answers. I took the test on Monday, the following day I was numb, I felt like I was on anesthesia, I wasn't freaking out or nervous or anything, which scared me actually because this is how I felt the first time I took the exam, I thought I passed but obviously I didn't. When I got the official result, all the categories said near passing, except pharmacology and there's another category, which actually said I passed, but regardless I failed. Just want to let you know you're not the only one and we can do this. If I indeed failed the second exam, it sucks but I will try and try and try and try until I pass it. I can't do anything about what people would think of me especially my family but I can do something to pass this exam and that's what I'm going to focus on. Good luck to the both of us.

Rednights · Mar 4, 2011

The Kaplan questions are the bread and butter of that whole program, they train you to do NCLEX questions, those books (info only, no questions)... of which I didn't bother to read cause Saunders does it better BTW ... chuck em to side. Did a Kaplan class ... so so IMO, but the 1800 questions were beastly good on how they mimic in style and question type the real NCLEX test. And you get a refund / reclasses if you fail anyway. Good luck, do questions!

Studying~CypressCA · Mar 6, 2011

I chose Kaplan for a couple of reasons. Kaplan has been around for 25 years, I heard their questions and rationales are the best, and they have a much larger bank of questions than ATI. ATI seems a little repetitive and they are a relatively newer company compared to Kaplan.

I just started Kaplan On Demand, and spent a lot as well, but I'm hoping it's a worth-while investment.

Tell us what you end up using. Good Luck!

caliotter3 · Mar 12, 2011

Whatever you decide to use to prepare, put everything you have into it and don't give up. And don't forget to work on relaxation techniques.

texasrndude · Mar 13, 2011

:DYou asked for advice. I feel I am a bit qualified to answer. Took it 6 times and passed on the 7th. Passed Friday.

I had excellent skills and bedside manner, just horrible at exams. :) But I saw this exam 6 times. You better be practiced in SATA. Those are high level questions and I had a LOT! You gotta nail those.

I was not as prepared on the first 6 as I was the 7th.

I too tried all those 3" study guides, questions over and over, old notes....everything from Mosby to Saunders etc. Who really wants to read those thick books?

Want to know what put me over the top?

Investing in the HURST REVIEW. Go to the three day live seminar if in your city. If not then take the online version.

This course is very thorough and gets you READY for all the core content of RN school. Lots of test taking strategies and practice questions. Very well done. Do what Marlene Hurst tells you to do and you will pass. The videos keep you interacting.

Once again, the thick books did nothing for me. No book will prepare you for this exam. The Hurst nails each system and you learn WHY things happen..... Why you choose certain answer etc.

When I took the test this last time I was in the high level questions feeling more confident than ever. I left feeling good and PVT worked also. I know what it feels like to walk out feeling horrible and "like nothing was familiar". 6X. Not with Hurst.

With Hurst you MUST know the workbook. And you can. Because you interact and write in it.

Hope this helps. You need a new strategy because the one you were using did not work right? Hurst is refundable also if you do not pass. April too soon in my opinion. Take all the days needed on Hurst Review on line. Then sign up.

I was ready with Hurst in 45 days, working FT.

You have to know the content without a doubt and without hesitation! Read that again. You gotta be able to TALK about content out loud to yourself or a friend. Reading alone will not work. Hurst gets you to think.

Hurst also has a RN review book out also. HURST REVIEW RN. They are on ebay or local book stores. Nice compliment to the on line course.

babanie · Mar 15, 2011

:DYou asked for advice. I feel I am a bit qualified to answer. Took it 6 times and passed on the 7th. Passed Friday.
I had excellent skills and bedside manner, just horrible at exams. :) But I saw this exam 6 times. You better be practiced in SATA. Those are high level questions and I had a LOT! You gotta nail those.
I was not as prepared on the first 6 as I was the 7th.
I too tried all those 3" study guides, questions over and over, old notes....everything from Mosby to Saunders etc. Who really wants to read those thick books?
Want to know what put me over the top?
Investing in the HURST REVIEW. Go to the three day live seminar if in your city. If not then take the online version.
This course is very thorough and gets you READY for all the core content of RN school. Lots of test taking strategies and practice questions. Very well done. Do what Marlene Hurst tells you to do and you will pass. The videos keep you interacting.
Once again, the thick books did nothing for me. No book will prepare you for this exam. The Hurst nails each system and you learn WHY things happen..... Why you choose certain answer etc.
When I took the test this last time I was in the high level questions feeling more confident than ever. I left feeling good and PVT worked also. I know what it feels like to walk out feeling horrible and "like nothing was familiar". 6X. Not with Hurst.
With Hurst you MUST know the workbook. And you can. Because you interact and write in it.
Hope this helps. You need a new strategy because the one you were using did not work right? Hurst is refundable also if you do not pass. April too soon in my opinion. Take all the days needed on Hurst Review on line. Then sign up.
I was ready with Hurst in 45 days, working FT.
You have to know the content without a doubt and without hesitation! Read that again. You gotta be able to TALK about content out loud to yourself or a friend. Reading alone will not work. Hurst gets you to think.
Hurst also has a RN review book out also. HURST REVIEW RN. They are on ebay or local book stores. Nice compliment to the on line course.

:ancong!: are in order Texasrndude!!!!

Also :tku: for your tips. On your last attempt with using the Hurst Review, did you benefit from using the NCSBN learning ext course or Kaplan test taking strategy class?

Good Luck on your new adventure and God Bless :)