NCLEX scheduled 6/22 - Kaplan, Mosby's CAT, etc - advice?

amyrae76 · Jun 16, 2005

Hi everyone!
After a couple of weeks of surfing through the archived posts, I decided to register, and post my request for some advice and reassurance *I hope*.
I graduated May 13th from and ADN program...had a 3.4 GPA...didn't open a book until Kaplan started last week. Been doing about 200 questions per day...A LOT of practice exams, and scoring between 65-75% on Kaplan and NCSBN.com.
I just took my first CAT practice (MOsby's)....results showed a 94% passing of the NCLEX.....but I'm soooo worried!!! I have the some of the worst test anxiety, and am scared that I'm going to fail the NCLEX.
Kaplan hasn't helped too much....especially since my diagnostic test showed that I'm "borderline" passing....took the readiness test today and will get results tomorrow.
I'm scheduled for NCLEX on 6/22...plan to study/take practice exams from Friday through Monday...and take Tuesday as a "mental health" day.
Can anyone offer some advice? How about some therapeutic communication?
Thanks so much!!!

"So you feel stressed and worried about taking NCLEX? Can you tell me more about that?" (Just practicing my 'therapeutic communication'!) :chuckle

I also just graduated from an ADN program in May, and I'm taking boards 2 days after you. You've probably already read this from a lot of people on this board, but Saunders is a great book to study from. I've never used Kaplan, so I don't know how they compare. Here's a great idea my friend and I came up with -- go to Barnes and Noble and grab some NCLEX study books that you don't already have, and either quiz yourself or go with a friend and quiz each other.

Have you been using the CDs that come with your NCLEX books? They're usually really good. A lot of people are saying they're getting lots of prioritization questions, and I know the Saunders CD has a section just for that.

I'm worried like you! But it sounds like you're good about doing your practice questions, and you're scoring well. Do you know how many questions you've done total? They recommend 1000-3000 questions. I'm pretty sure I've done more than 3000 by now. :uhoh21:

So far, everyone I've heard of from my graduating class has passed with no problem, so that's probably a good sign!

Good luck, and stay relaxed!

amy :)

LaVonneRN · Jun 16, 2005

Hello, Plcrn05

It sounds like you are doing well with Kaplan. Kaplan states that if you can get a score at or above 65% on the Question Trainer that you are in good shape to take NCLEX. You have a 97.1% chance of passing boards!! We were told this in our Kaplan class. Take your time and you will be just fine. We take the BIG BAD on the same day GOOD LUCK to you.

LaVonne

christvs, DNP, RN, NP · Jun 16, 2005

Hi everyone!
After a couple of weeks of surfing through the archived posts, I decided to register, and post my request for some advice and reassurance *I hope*.
I graduated May 13th from and ADN program...had a 3.4 GPA...didn't open a book until Kaplan started last week. Been doing about 200 questions per day...A LOT of practice exams, and scoring between 65-75% on Kaplan and NCSBN.com.
I just took my first CAT practice (MOsby's)....results showed a 94% passing of the NCLEX.....but I'm soooo worried!!! I have the some of the worst test anxiety, and am scared that I'm going to fail the NCLEX.
Kaplan hasn't helped too much....especially since my diagnostic test showed that I'm "borderline" passing....took the readiness test today and will get results tomorrow.
I'm scheduled for NCLEX on 6/22...plan to study/take practice exams from Friday through Monday...and take Tuesday as a "mental health" day.
Can anyone offer some advice? How about some therapeutic communication?
Thanks so much!!!

Hi! Finally! Someone else here is from Mass like me! Which nursing school did you go to? I went to Fitchburg State (graduated May 21) but I live in Shrewsbury and am taking NCLEX-RN on july 1 in Worcester. I have Kaplan, Saunders, Mosby, and Lippincott review books and am just doing about 100-200 questions a day to prepare. I totally understand: we are all nervous about it! :) Good luck studying!

-Christine

plcrn05 · Jun 16, 2005

Amy, LaVonne and Christine...

Thank you so much for your moral support!!! :)

Amy....I think I've done about 2,000 questions (maybe a little less). We do 75 questions per class in Kaplan, and then I come home and hammer myself with more. I've been doing the CD that came with Kaplan, as well as completed all of the practice tests on NCSBN.com. Now I have 2 more exams for Kaplan (about 500 total), and will keep doing Mosby's CAT RN online.

Good luck to you on your NCLEX!

LaVonne....Thank you, too for your insight to the Kaplan trainer scoring. Acually, I'm scoring around the 63% on the trainers...so I have less than 91% chance of passing. A little scarey. I'll be sending you good vibes on our day.

Christine....I went to QCC for their ADN program. I heard Fitchburg State is really good.We are neighbors....maybe we should meet at the Borders on Rte 9 and have a little NCLEX book party. Good luck to you on July 1...I'm in Worcester on the 22nd.

Enjoy your day everyone...I'm off to my last day in Kaplan today...the readiness test results are in. :uhoh21:

Pam

christvs, DNP, RN, NP · Jun 16, 2005

Pam, That is so funny you went to Quinsig! I actually applied there but was put on such a looooooong waiting list-so I said I'm not waiting and Fitchburg State took me right away-that is why I went there. but how funny! :) So how do you like the kaplan course? You must be taking it on Belmont Street? Right? I think some girls from my class are taking it there possibly! Do you know where you want to work as an RN? I'm going to be on a med/surg floor at UMASS-Memorial Campus. Just need to get this pesky test out of the way! :) And hey-I live 5 minutes from Borders in Shrewsbury-that is where I bought all my 50 gazillion NCLEX books! :) Write back when you get a chance!

-Christine

chachh, BSN, RN · Jun 16, 2005

learningext.com has a nclex readiness course that I highly recommend. Written by the same people who write the nclex. I passed at 75 questions. PRIORITY is a priority to focus on before the test, along with everything else, ha! GOODLUCK!!!

plcrn05 · Jun 16, 2005

Pam, That is so funny you went to Quinsig! I actually applied there but was put on such a looooooong waiting list-so I said I'm not waiting and Fitchburg State took me right away-that is why I went there. but how funny! :) So how do you like the kaplan course? You must be taking it on Belmont Street? Right? I think some girls from my class are taking it there possibly! Do you know where you want to work as an RN? I'm going to be on a med/surg floor at UMASS-Memorial Campus. Just need to get this pesky test out of the way! :) And hey-I live 5 minutes from Borders in Shrewsbury-that is where I bought all my 50 gazillion NCLEX books! :) Write back when you get a chance!
-Christine

Hi Christine....

My sister-in-law went to Fitchburg State....said she didn't even study for her boards....guess she took a different test than we are. :chuckle

Kaplan was good...some good strategies, just have to know when to apply them. I took it at WOrcester State because the class was too large for Belmont Street.

That's so cool you're going to work at Memorial. I got an offer from Milford Regional, but it's a little far. How did you get your resume into Memorial? How was the hiring process?

Anyway, hope you're having a great day! One of my friends is taking NCLEX on July 1st in WOrcester, too.

Write back when you can.

Pam

plcrn05 · Jun 16, 2005

learningext.com has a nclex readiness course that I highly recommend. Written by the same people who write the nclex. I passed at 75 questions. PRIORITY is a priority to focus on before the test, along with everything else, ha! GOODLUCK!!!

Hi...

Thanks for the recommendation for learningext.com. Actually I did that one already....didnt' score above 70-75% on the random Q&A, but most were around 60-65%. How were your scores on their 'mini' exams? I scored a 67% on their pre-test.

Congrats on passing with 75!! I hope that's me too. :)

dlhommer · Jun 16, 2005

I probably can't give you any better advice than you already have received, but you have to tell yourself that you can do it. I used the Kaplan book and Saunders Q & A which has some great questions, I also used the Mosby's online CAT excellent as well. what ever you use just practice questions, do as many as you can and get lots of rest because you will need all of your energy. A friend of mine told me this on the am of my test, "go in there and show the big bad NCLEX who is boss" that's the best advice I have. You can do it!!

Deb

plcrn05 · Jun 16, 2005

I probably can't give you any better advice than you already have received, but you have to tell yourself that you can do it. I used the Kaplan book and Saunders Q & A which has some great questions, I also used the Mosby's online CAT excellent as well. what ever you use just practice questions, do as many as you can and get lots of rest because you will need all of your energy. A friend of mine told me this on the am of my test, "go in there and show the big bad NCLEX who is boss" that's the best advice I have. You can do it!!
Deb

Hi Deb,

Thank you for the advice...trust me, I can use all of the advice and support I can get at this time!! :)

I'm glad you found Mosby's CAT helpful...I'm going to do that again, along with the Kaplan Trainer test 6 and 7. Talk about an exciting weekend. :chuckle

So, I'm going to go in there and show the big, bad NCLEX that I'm the boss!!

Thanks again!!!

Pam

chachh, BSN, RN · Jun 16, 2005

Hi...
Thanks for the recommendation for learningext.com. Actually I did that one already....didnt' score above 70-75% on the random Q&A, but most were around 60-65%. How were your scores on their 'mini' exams? I scored a 67% on their pre-test.
Congrats on passing with 75!! I hope that's me too. :)

That was about my range, actually lower on some of the tests. My pretest was a 75%. But on the randoms I would go from a 50-80% range. I would then repeat the exams until I was in the 90's. I redid the priority and managerial stuff and looked over endocrine and pharmacology. Of course did not have one endocrine on my exam and only one pharm. question. I just remember priority, priority, priority. GOOD LUCK, and you will do fine!