NCLEX strategies - Help?

[lunemeister789]

Hey everyone, I'll be taking the NCLEX again for the 3rd time in November. I did KAPLAN and Hurst Reviews. I really enjoyed Hurst Review and felt I had a good grasp of the content and even scored an average of 80 on their Q-Review tests.

I try the PVT and the good pop up did not come up, so obviously I failed.

I've been reading around and talking with friends, and they've said I should focus on questions and just keep doing questions and reviewing their rationales. Another suggested I get the Delegation book by LaCharity. I have Saunder's 5th addition, which I hope is adequate since 6th edition is out now.

Any other advice would be greatly appreciated... I can't fail again!!

Thank you!

[Hopeful_Rina]

I agree, just keep doing questions. Use the Saunders CD (5th edition is fine) and do those exams questions as well. Keep reading the rationales and make you understand them. Here are a few tips I think you should follow, these helped me pass;

1. If you come across something you don't understand or are not familiar with , stop and look it it up

2. When answering questions, make sure you read it carefully and know what it is asking. I often misread questions and ended up picking the wrong answer. This time during NCLEX, I would say I re-read the question 2-3 times to make sure I understood them

3. Answer as many questions as you can!!! Get used to NCLEX style questions that make you critically think

4. ASSESS before you implement, unless it is absolutely necessary to take action

5. Know your lab values. Learn them, love them, remember them

6. Don't jump into conclusions. Remember there is only one correct answer. Most questions you can already eliminate two of the options. For the other two, remember Maslow, which ones the safest? Which one makes sense? Which is a more global answer?

7. For meds, it's important to know the nursing considerations such as when to take, what to avoid while taking and adverse reactions. Categories of meds I would advise to focus on more are anti-psychotics, anti-infectives, antihypertensives (diuretics), h2 blockers, MAOIS, anticonvulsants

8. ANTIDOTES! make sure you know them- for example know that protamine sulfate is given if a pt has a prolonged PTT ( it's the antidote to heparin)

9. Infection control - know which PPE goes with which, and know the conditions in each category ( I.E- TB is airborne precaution)

10. POSITIONS- it is important to know which position is appropriate for client - i.e a laboring client with hypotension would need to be turned to her left side)

11. DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES- be familiar with them...you should know that by 2-3 month, an infant is able to lift his/her head

12. You know more than you think!! all you need to do is apply them during NCLEX. Good luck!=)

[blessedBSNRN]

YOUTUBE every nursing skills you can think of, Calculation, ECG even Lab Values. really helps.

[lunemeister789]

Thank you! I've been doing the Saunders questions since I've taken my test lol They are really helping and thank you for the other suggestions. I can definitely say there are a lot of maternity/peds questions.