NCLEX

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Hi everyone, I am in my lst semester of nursing school and I was wondering of different ways to study for the NCLEX. I took the HURST review this summer and was wondering if that is enough. I want to pass this thing on the first try! :) If I just learn that book will it be enough?

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.

Concentrate on nursing school for now. You're not ready to study the material for NCLEX.

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Specializes in ER, progressive care.

I suggest buying an NCLEX review book - Saunders is excellent. Do practice questions based on what you are learning in class...so for example, if you are learning about cardiac, flip to the cardiac chapter in the book and read the review/do the practice questions. This will not only help you study for school but also prepare for you the NCLEX in the long-run. I see that you are in your 1st semester...I wouldn't bother with an NCLEX review course now. Save it for after you graduate.

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lst means LAST not 1st LOL

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Specializes in Med Surg.

Hurst worked for me!! I also got a book of just straight question and answers. Go through as many questions as you can!!

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.
Concentrate on nursing school for now. You're not ready to study the material for NCLEX.

Agree 100%. You need to focus your time and energy on learning the fundamentals before you can even think about NCLEX questions.

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I suggest buying an NCLEX review book - Saunders is excellent. Do practice questions based on what you are learning in class...so for example, if you are learning about cardiac, flip to the cardiac chapter in the book and read the review/do the practice questions. This will not only help you study for school but also prepare for you the NCLEX in the long-run. I see that you are in your 1st semester...I wouldn't bother with an NCLEX review course now. Save it for after you graduate.

I agree 100%. Most of us did this in my nursing class, as part of studying for each exam. And don't just answer the questions, but read the rationales as well. They help you understand why the answer is correct, and explains/breaks down the different topics in the chapter you are reviewing. Students used various books, but Saunders was always my favorite.

ETA~ At my school they stressed that they purposely tried to make our exams like the NCLEX (on the computer, not allowed to go back to a question, etc), therefore studying review questions was very helpful.

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I did Saunders every quarter (relevant areas) and we also use ATI every quarter. Not done yet so not sure how effective it is, but I always score well! :)

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Specializes in ER, progressive care.
lst means LAST not 1st LOL

whoops :lol2: Definitely looked like a 1st!

I agree 100%. Most of us did this in my nursing class, as part of studying for each exam. And don't just answer the questions, but read the rationales as well. They help you understand why the answer is correct, and explains/breaks down the different topics in the chapter you are reviewing. Students used various books, but Saunders was always my favorite.

Yes, read all the rationales - even the incorrect ones! It will help build your knowledge base.

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Specializes in Rehab, critical care.

I guess it just depends on what kind of test taker you are. If you do well taking tests, then you probably don't need to prepare as much as someone who struggles in taking tests. Your performance in school is a pretty good indicator of how you will fare on the NCLEX (that doesn't mean that if you didn't do well in school, you can't pass; it just means that you will need to study more, and if you did do well in school, that doesn't mean don't study). If you are able to consistently get at least 80% of the questions correct when taking practice tests (multiple practice tests, not just 5 lol), then you are probably ready. Just make sure you read all rationales (right and wrong) like everyone has said. Find your weak points and study those...if you suck at peds, study peds, but don't waste your time studying psych if you have a strong knowledge base there and consistently do well getting those questions right, etc. Good luck! Just be confident when you go in there on test day; that is probably just as important as being prepared.

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Specializes in Oncology; medical specialty website.

I don't understand how any of the tests could have any meaning to someone in their first semester of nursing school.

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Since you are in your 1st semester, i would not study for NCLEX yet. Alot of the material in the NCLEX review books cover things that you will learn in the upcoming semesters! You may overwhelm yourself by doing this..ask your instructors if they have any NCLEX style questions you can look at on material you are learning now. Focus on school and you will be fine!! ( I took a Kaplan course after I graduated and it was great! I passed 1st try).

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