I finally decided to make an account after coming to this site almost everyday, for the past several weeks, to research nursing topics. It has helped me greatly and Thank you all for you contributions!
I recently graduated from an ADN program and I am soooo happy and grateful that I was actually able to complete it because it was the MOST challenging experience I have EVER gone through in my entire life. I have to admit, it has been extremely hard to get back to the studying for the NCLEX. It's like my brain rejects the information every time I try to pick up a book and do questions... my brain says: "oh, no not you again." hahaha.... ugh! Never the less, I know I have to prepare for this beast which brings me to this post. I was thinking... Why not challenge some of you who plan on taking the NCLEX late? March/early April 2011? What do you guys think? Maybe we can message each other here by the end of the day and share whether or not you met your daily goal. For example, I have 2 books (lacharity and Davis Q&A) and I plan on doing 100-150 questions a day until my test date. Even if I do 20-25 in increments throughout the day, the point is to do them daily. Then I will come here and share how my day went. That way we can motivate each other through this excruciating journey.
Whaddayasay huh?!?.... I plan on starting this Sunday... Let me know if any of you guys are interested, I would love to motivate and be motivated by you guys... We need to get together and tame this beast! Lets do this!!!!
I will be completely honest with you... you will get different responses to your question because they all pretty much work great. And there are so many resources out there that soon enough you will fine yourself studying from different ones and becoming overwhelmed, I know most of us did. lol
I think, regardless of the option you choose, you have to make sure you are ready to give 100% of yourself to it, and stick to one at a time until you understand what it is trying to teach you. For example, if you get LaCharity than just stick to it until you get a hang of answering all those questions THEN you move on to the next, if you'd like additional info. Personally, looking back I would choose one that has it all in one... content, concepts, questions, strategies, etc.... NCSBN learning extension seems to have it all and its made by the same people that make the NCLEX exam.
What really worked for me was the Kaplan Qbank along with the NCLEX-RN Kaplan book that elaborated on the strategies, I was literally hooked on it. (I paid for it on my own) For some reason DAvis Q&A made me depress, lol... Didn't even get through the first few pages. I hope you find something that suits you well and I wish you much success on the exam! :)
Thanks so much, Awww..It's My Nurse! Your candidness on everything on this thread has been so helpful and encouraging!
What is the NCSBN extension? I'm tryiing to find a good all-in-one, b/c I am feeling so overwhelmed by the many options. I tried to sign up for an ATI live review but missed the deadline (by 1 day, of course!), so I'm not quite sure where the best place is to start. Graduation is Sunday (yeah!) so I want to start hitting it hard first thing Monday AM. I currently have the NCLEX exam cram. Have you heard anything about the ATI virtual review? We had to take the ATI modules throughout school, but I felt the books are very vague. And it's those same books that they use for the virtual review, so I'm not sure how helpful that will be...
Sorry to ramble on, just trying to figure out the best way to jump on this thing! I'd like to take boards beginning to mid-June, while everything is still fresh!
Thanks bunches again! You're my new hero, Aww.. It's my nurse!
Well, as far as ATI... I had to take them also throughout school. I did my content review for the nclex with the CDs that come with the books. I only did Med-surg by the way. Also, whenever I did questions and got them wrong I would look it up on the Saunders comprehensive review book for clarification.
I've never heard of the exam cram but since you already have it, I'd say start there. I definitely recommend LaCharity P/D/A because the questions help develop your critical thinking.
Ok, FINALLY able to get results...and I PASSED... Unfortunately, I am the ONLY person who didn't get results from the Dept of Health's website in 24 hours...so I still don't have a license number...have to wait 10 day...sucks.
I hope I do well and get out with minimum questions requried too!
I don't know everything... I still get questions wrong, but I did pretty good on the Kaplan sample test 3.
So, Aww Nurse, I hope it works for me like it did for you and tildor!
I got my ABC and Maslow down.... I will not know all the knowledge based and all the drugs....... I am going in with positive thinking!
Thanks to everyone for sharing their stories, this has been so helpful!!!!
Here is to positive thinking!
Good luck Katm0!
not everyone of us knows everything about nursing. but believe you, you have already known much of it in your heart and brains.. don't worry, pray and keep the faith. when i came into my testing center and the my computer started , i close my eyes first and prayed. Always look for the stem of the question, write it down, rephrase the question and do not be in a hurry. do not mind too much on what number you are in. just keep going. if you feel like taking a break, take your break. i took my break on my number 20-25 , he he he he , took the breathing exercise. it will help you.
first....big congrats:bow: to all of you who have passed boards!! yaayyyy! god is great!!!!!
hey yall! been reading through this thread since i registered to take my exam on may 19th !! i graduated on april 14th bsn :yeah:and needless to say i'm a bit nervous esp seeing all alot of you have done to study and i havent quite done alot since graduation! i work at this wonderful place that is paying me to study for boards via the hurst review and i take that this week starting tomorrow. in my nursing program we took the hesi it was def a little challenging but i did great on them. my former classmates who graduated in december said the hesi was more hard than the actual nclex exam!
however,.... i'm not taking anything for granted so what would you all recommend for me at this point with like 11 days before i take boards?? any help would be greatly appreciated. i just dont want to overload my brain as its still recuperating from 3 intense years of nursing school .....thanks yall!
hmmm, 11 days? I say go extremely hard with questions. Especially priority type questions. Go to the library/Barnes and noble everyday and practice, practice, practice. LaCharity and Kaplan NCLEX-RN are some good books. Learn the strategies Kaplan NCLEX-RN and Saunders comprehensive review books teach in the beginning and keep applying it to the questions. If you have money to spare, just get the Kaplan online qbank and do 2-3 exams a day for the next 10 days.
P.S. Nothing is set in stone. Do not put unnecessary pressure on yourself if you see that by May 17th you're not ready rescheduled for the following week and keep practicing questions!!! Good luck!
hey guys i was just going over OB for my exam and I came up with some shortcuts to remember some things.... i am just posting to see if this can help anyone ok here is goes... this is to remember the different symptoms specific to each trimester:
1st Chad Gave Hegar A Doppler
-----1st trimester; Chadwick's sign (soft cervix 1st month); Goodell's sign (blusih lady partsl mucosa and cervix 2nd month) ; Hegar's sign (softening of lower uterine segment 2/3rd month) Amanorrhera; fetal heart beat heard through Doppler
-----3rd trimester; Lightening (presenting part descends to pelvis); Engagement (presenting part @ inlet); Braxton Hicks contractions (more frequent); Soft cervix; Rupture of membranes; Nesting (sudden burst of energy will deliver in 24-48 hrs)
Hope it helps.... please ignore if it just sounds like gibberish....HAPPY STUDYING!!!!
Breathe in breathe out! whew! il be taking the exam tomorrow at 8am :redbeathe
Im anxious and yet excited!
i had a goodnight sleep today.. went to church early this morning. im cooking my favorite dish and will rest early later to wake up tomorrow with a sunshine on my face. Bless me oh God! i can do this and i will go out there and take the exam and make this happen! Carpe diem :)
Please pray for me! :heartbeat i can do this! i'm gonna pass the NCLEX EXAm! With God's grace i can do this! We can do this! :)
thank you guys for the support and encouragement specially to Aww_itsmynurse and Ann_08! :hug::hug::hug: This is it! :)
Good luck to you too saffronvision! We can do this! i can taste our sweet success! yiiii :hug:
Katm0, I've been waiting for your day with great anticipation! :)
Don't forget the strategies, relax, take breaks if you need to, don't worry about time, don't panic if you pass 75... go in there with the mentality that you're going to finish all 265 if you have to, to pass. The rest is up to God.
Pray pray pray!
We will all be with you and with all those who are taking it tomorrow in spirit sending you guys positives vibes. Have a good night and I'll speak to you tomorrow when you get back. :hug:
thank you so much! i will keep that in mind and together with all your advices.. i prepared everything i need yesterday so all i need to do now is have a goodnight sleep! thanks again! :)
il speak to you tomorrow then! yiiiii!!! keep it cool kat (oh that was me talking to myself)
Never the less, I know I have to prepare for this beast which brings me to this post. I was thinking... Why not challenge some of you who plan on taking the NCLEX late? March/early April 2011? 
What do you guys think? Maybe we can message each other here by the end of the day and share whether or not you met your daily goal. For example, I have 2 books (lacharity and Davis Q&A) and I plan on doing 100-150 questions a day until my test date. Even if I do 20-25 in increments throughout the day, the point is to do them daily. Then I will come here and share how my day went. That way we can motivate each other through this excruciating journey.
)
!! i graduated on april 14th bsn :yeah:and needless to say i'm a bit nervous esp seeing all alot of you have done to study and i havent quite done alot since graduation! i work at this wonderful place that is paying me to study for boards via the hurst review and i take that this week starting tomorrow. in my nursing program we took the hesi 
it was def a little challenging but i did great on them. my former classmates who graduated in december said the hesi was more hard than the actual nclex exam! 
(oh that was me talking to myself)
katm0
59 Posts
CONGRATS TILDOR! wohooo!!!
:yeah:
:yeah:
Goodluck to us cyram81! Next week will be our turn and to all who will be taking the exam! Pray for us!
I'm gonna pass the NCLEX exam! We're gonna pass the NCLEX EXAM! :) :) :) wohoo!:bdyhdclp::bdyhdclp: