NCLEX RN Freakout. Dont do it!

Published

Took the NCLEX on June 3rd and passed w/75 questions. After taking my test and speaking to many of my classmates who have also taken their NCLEX, here's my advice.

1. Don't pay any attention to what type of questions (SATA, hard, easy etc.) you get because every test is so different it just doesn't matter.

2. Be prepared for a test unlike any prior nursing test you've taken. Its hard to explain why this is, but when you finish you'll understand.

3. You will miss a lot of questions. You will see stuff you've never studied. You might get a give me or two if your lucky.

4. If this was a test in school you would fail miserably, its not, remind yourself of this every time you start to doubt yourself.

5. Many and I mean many of these questions they don't expect you to know the answer. Just use the processes you been taught i.e. ABC, Maslow, etc. and you will be all right

6. If you go past 75 questions try to look at it as starting over. There not sure you are above the passing level yet, you weren't when you started either!

Hope this helps and Good Luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Great tips! I am taking mine in 5 days and will be sure to keep this in mind :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Taking mine on June 15. Could you please tell us what you used to study? I am using Kaplan.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in MS, OB.

Thanks, I need to hear this. testing in about 6 hrs. Woke up with horrible ha and felt panicked. I need to just trust myself. I will report back later. Good luck to everyone testing today.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Thanks I need to hear this. testing in about 6 hrs. Woke up with horrible ha and felt panicked. I need to just trust myself. I will report back later. Good luck to everyone testing today.[/quote']

Best of luck to you! Let us know how it goes :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I used ATI, Saunders 5th, LaCharity PDA, and the NCSBN online review (50$ for 3 weeks). Also, a couple of days before my test I got my hands on the Kaplan review book and really liked it. All the above were helpful, and, even though at first I thought the NCSBN review really sucked, once I got use to its format/quirks it became my favorite.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency Nursing.

Everyone ends up with around a 50% on this exam.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
I used ATI, Saunders 5th, LaCharity PDA, and the NCSBN online review (50$ for 3 weeks). Also, a couple of days before my test I got my hands on the Kaplan review book and really liked it. All the above were helpful, and, even though at first I thought the NCSBN review really sucked, once I got use to its format/quirks it became my favorite.

Do you feel that 3 weeks of NCSBN was enough time to go through it? How much time did you spend each day doing NCSBN for the 3 weeks?

Thanks for your help and congratulations!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Yes, 3 weeks is enough, especially if you just concentrate on your weak points. Also, this is how I would prepare differently knowing what I now know.

1. Limit study time on A&P type content and disease processes because that’s not what the NCLEX is about. Exceptions to the above would be any area you’re really weak at, especially, maternal, peds,mental health, renal/dialysis, and endocrine/DM.

2. Concentrate study time on areas of nursing knowledge that you will use regardless of what specialty you choose to work in. i.e. what patient to see 1st, delegation, safety, breathing treatments, pain control, INFECTION CONTROL(precautions), personnel protective equipment, positioning, what patients to place with other patients based on diagnosis or infectious process, ordered responses, for example trach care, and legal/ethical/cultural topics. etc.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Yes, 3 weeks is enough, especially if you just concentrate on your weak points. Also, this is how I would prepare differently knowing what I now know.

1. Limit study time on A&P type content and disease processes because that’s not what the NCLEX is about. Exceptions to the above would be any area you’re really weak at, especially, maternal, peds,mental health, renal/dialysis, and endocrine/DM.

2. Concentrate study time on areas of nursing knowledge that you will use regardless of what specialty you choose to work in. i.e. what patient to see 1st, delegation, safety, breathing treatments, pain control, INFECTION CONTROL(precautions), personnel protective equipment, positioning, what patients to place with other patients based on diagnosis or infectious process, ordered responses, for example trach care, and legal/ethical/cultural topics. etc.

Thanks so much for the advice. I guess I should really focus on infection control since you say it and I feel like that is a weakness of mine. I tend to forget what disease requires what type of isolation. Once I get my ATT I'm going to sign up for the 3 week NCSBN course, for right now I'm doing the PDA book and a little of the Saunders book (and in an RN-BSN program). Thanks for all the information!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm really a NCLEX-RN freak out.. Thank you for sharing this..

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I'm taking Nclex on Tuesday. I am an RN in the UK with 5 years experience. Studying for this has been hard! It's a lot different than the UK. I'm really scared I will fail :/

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion