any nclex takers in october-share study tips

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hi everyone

i m taking the exam in oct. oct first week to be exact. anyone taking in oct can share their tips and study plans. lets support each other

I took the NCLEX on Oct 21 and found out that I passed the following Friday with great relief. I thought I would share my story with you all because this website was a big part of my success.

First, during nursing school I would say the speed at which I felt I was going was 75 mph and in reality I needed to go 55 mph so when I graduated I decided to study for as long as I wanted to. Yes there's the statistics that say to take the test within one month of graduating because you have a higher chance of passing BUT the way I did it proved that it doesn't matter. Basically, I graduated in May and if I took the boards in July I would of failed, no doubt!!!

I was very disciplined and studied every day for a period of time. You decide what period of time works best but you must study. Not just about the test questions, go into this test knowing as much about it as possible.

I did Kaplan and found it useful because it gets you thinking way differently than nursing school ever did, at least for me. By the time I was done with Qbank my main goal with the questions were: using the knowledge (if possible about the content) BUT mostly strategizing for the answer. I also used Saunders Comprehensive and would do the same thing when I answered the questions. What I loved about Saunders was how everything was broken up into the different topics. Very helpful. This book rocks and was very reflective on the boards because of the content and "test-taking" chapter. So, after kaplan because I had much time to study I did Suzanne's plan. But only finished part way.

I also used Prioritization, Delegation and Assignment. Get this BOOOOKKKK!!!! If you end up on the boards with these type of questions you are in the home run. In the Saunders book along with Kaplan they explain the 4 tiers that we need to go through (knowledge, comprehension, and the top two something about analysis/application.) Please get this information and know it thoroughly!!!! Also, in Saunders after answering every question it will identify what type of question it is. Meaning under "Level of Cognitive Ability" it will say comprehension or blah blah blah. The prioritizing book is all analysis/application type questions and in order to stay "above the line" with NCLEX you have to answer these type of questions.

I not only got ready mentally ready for this test but also emotionally and physically ready. I do a type of therapy called co-counseling and it doesn't matter what you do, I am just stressing the need to allow yourself to have someone you can go to. My friends helped me relieve test anxiety, stress about everything, and mostly the feelings that came up if I didn't pass the first time. That was huge for me!! I also got in shape physically. I lost 9 pounds when I sat at Pearsons. I got all my anger out when I would run and kept telling myself I passed.

I also had a friend (who passed the NCLEX during the summer) who sat with me while I did the questions at home. She would sit next to me while I did questions and I wanted her to hear how I rationalized my answers before I picked the answer. She was very good at this and at the end of summer during our sessions she saw my growth and said I was ready for the NCLEX.

Lastly, I didn't tell people when I was taking the test. I didn't want the stress. I passed the NCLEX because I did it my way and was diligent about my studies. My test was fair. I saw a lot of things that I didn't know about at the beginning of my studies but conquered at the end of my studies. It doesn't mean I answered it correctly either. As you know, if you have passed, you don't get anything in writing as to how you did. They key during my test was I didn't freak out because I had worked so hard during my studies, so the freaking part was washed away during my co-couseling and my brain was focused on what would be the best answer. By the way, Pearson will give you a dry eraser board to write down things. I spent the first few minutes writing lab values, and the pneumonics for infection control and some other things. I then used it to write down the drugs (during the test) they would give me in case I would see it again or the ending of the name would trigger a memory for me. I would also jot down the topic incase I would see it again.

This thread has a lot of people who are similar: visual learners and those that need pnuemonics to remember things. Infection control was key for me on this thread. By the way, it took me 4 and half months. A lot of you do not need this time. It's a personal journey. I just didn't want any surprises.

Peace,

Piscesmama

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Hi,

I'm more of a reader than a poster and I'm also fairly new to the site, but... I took my NCLEX on the 29th of October, and you guys can also add me to the list of new RNs!!!!:nurse::yeah:

I did about 1000 Kaplan questions in preparation, in addition to reading the Kaplan book, which I found to be very helpful and the questions to be very close in format to the NCLEX (at least in my opinion). I also found that the NCLEX-RN was a lot easier for me the NCLEX-PN was 4 years ago, which seemed to cause me much more anxiety because I really thought I failed this time(go figure). I passed with 75 questions (thank God, I started having palpitations at 73) and not one math question, and no SATA.

Anyway, congratulations to all the October RNs:yeah::yeah::yeah::yeah:

caramel660

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Congrats

I took the NCLEX on Oct 21 and found out that I passed the following Friday with great relief. I thought I would share my story with you all because this website was a big part of my success.

First, during nursing school I would say the speed at which I felt I was going was 75 mph and in reality I needed to go 55 mph so when I graduated I decided to study for as long as I wanted to. Yes there's the statistics that say to take the test within one month of graduating because you have a higher chance of passing BUT the way I did it proved that it doesn't matter. Basically, I graduated in May and if I took the boards in July I would of failed, no doubt!!!

I was very disciplined and studied every day for a period of time. You decide what period of time works best but you must study. Not just about the test questions, go into this test knowing as much about it as possible.

I did Kaplan and found it useful because it gets you thinking way differently than nursing school ever did, at least for me. By the time I was done with Qbank my main goal with the questions were: using the knowledge (if possible about the content) BUT mostly strategizing for the answer. I also used Saunders Comprehensive and would do the same thing when I answered the questions. What I loved about Saunders was how everything was broken up into the different topics. Very helpful. This book rocks and was very reflective on the boards because of the content and "test-taking" chapter. So, after kaplan because I had much time to study I did Suzanne's plan. But only finished part way.

I also used Prioritization, Delegation and Assignment. Get this BOOOOKKKK!!!! If you end up on the boards with these type of questions you are in the home run. In the Saunders book along with Kaplan they explain the 4 tiers that we need to go through (knowledge, comprehension, and the top two something about analysis/application.) Please get this information and know it thoroughly!!!! Also, in Saunders after answering every question it will identify what type of question it is. Meaning under "Level of Cognitive Ability" it will say comprehension or blah blah blah. The prioritizing book is all analysis/application type questions and in order to stay "above the line" with NCLEX you have to answer these type of questions.

I not only got ready mentally ready for this test but also emotionally and physically ready. I do a type of therapy called co-counseling and it doesn't matter what you do, I am just stressing the need to allow yourself to have someone you can go to. My friends helped me relieve test anxiety, stress about everything, and mostly the feelings that came up if I didn't pass the first time. That was huge for me!! I also got in shape physically. I lost 9 pounds when I sat at Pearsons. I got all my anger out when I would run and kept telling myself I passed.

I also had a friend (who passed the NCLEX during the summer) who sat with me while I did the questions at home. She would sit next to me while I did questions and I wanted her to hear how I rationalized my answers before I picked the answer. She was very good at this and at the end of summer during our sessions she saw my growth and said I was ready for the NCLEX.

Lastly, I didn't tell people when I was taking the test. I didn't want the stress. I passed the NCLEX because I did it my way and was diligent about my studies. My test was fair. I saw a lot of things that I didn't know about at the beginning of my studies but conquered at the end of my studies. It doesn't mean I answered it correctly either. As you know, if you have passed, you don't get anything in writing as to how you did. They key during my test was I didn't freak out because I had worked so hard during my studies, so the freaking part was washed away during my co-couseling and my brain was focused on what would be the best answer. By the way, Pearson will give you a dry eraser board to write down things. I spent the first few minutes writing lab values, and the pneumonics for infection control and some other things. I then used it to write down the drugs (during the test) they would give me in case I would see it again or the ending of the name would trigger a memory for me. I would also jot down the topic incase I would see it again.

This thread has a lot of people who are similar: visual learners and those that need pnuemonics to remember things. Infection control was key for me on this thread. By the way, it took me 4 and half months. A lot of you do not need this time. It's a personal journey. I just didn't want any surprises.

Peace,

Piscesmama

Up Vote Up Vote ×

:yeah:Congrats

Hi,

I'm more of a reader than a poster and I'm also fairly new to the site, but... I took my NCLEX on the 29th of October, and you guys can also add me to the list of new RNs!!!!:nurse::yeah:

I did about 1000 Kaplan questions in preparation, in addition to reading the Kaplan book, which I found to be very helpful and the questions to be very close in format to the NCLEX (at least in my opinion). I also found that the NCLEX-RN was a lot easier for me the NCLEX-PN was 4 years ago, which seemed to cause me much more anxiety because I really thought I failed this time(go figure). I passed with 75 questions (thank God, I started having palpitations at 73) and not one math question, and no SATA.

Anyway, congratulations to all the October RNs:yeah::yeah::yeah::yeah:

caramel660

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ok....so i took the nclex on thurs. and i just got on the computer to get my quick results from pearson website....and under status it says pass....so i'm thinking ....i passed!!! ....wow! i'm still in a state of shock!!! ....glad i can put my notes/books/flashcards/cds/etc. away!!! good luck to everyone!!! :yeah:

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:ancong!: OCTOBER RN's LPN's!! Now we can :onbch: God bless everyone!:nurse:

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congrats

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Specializes in Neurology and Med/Surg.
oh my God!!! THankyou Lord. TOday 5:47 am saturday. I saw on california board site I PASSED!!!! I almost can't believe it!!!! God is so good!!! 242 to 245 question for 4 hours. God is so good he won't really put something in your plate if he knows you can't make it! I passed for the first take! Thank you I really don't want to go thru that process again. Thank you everyone!! Now I can really say im an US-RN:nurse:

WOOHOO!!!! I knew you did it too hun! When you messaged me that you had priority questions towards the end I just knew! YAY!!! I tried to message you back but my kiddos were distracting me:p

YAYAYAYAY WTG!!!!

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october test takers update:

nebin - oct 2 - rn (congrats!!)

it's alisa - lpn (congrats!!)

cmille10 - oct 3 - rn (congrats!!)

christav - oct 3 - rn (congrats!!)

tay245 - oct 6 - rn (congrats!!)

nurse_aholic -

cna1998 - lpn (congrats!!)

zolveria -

khine2mn80 - oct 9 - rn (congrats!!)

mr.j - oct 9 - rn (congrats!!)

iloveclay - oct 10 - rn (congrats!!)

supadrea - oct 14 - rn (congrats!!)

ellanocum -

getmore -

coffeelover73 -

bubbly30 -

serena211 - rn (congrats!!)

mikhy -

mardibc - rn (congrats!!)

avomejet -

soonmomtobe -

shinyblackcar - rn (congrats!!)

piscesmama - rn (congrats!!)

hugmebaby_72 -

caramel660 - rn (congrats!!)

babygirl1470 - lpn (congrats!!)

brantaf - rn (congrats!!)

bettyboo706 -

richo_006 - rn (congrats!!)

lovendove - rn (congrats!!)

zoobyli - rn (congrats!!)

ejonesrn08- rn (congrats!!)

texaschic888 - rn (congrats!!)

cloudstrife1ph -

jazzysmika -

chacha17 -

mslusara -

missea39 -

tlk84 -

rose2gard -

rmartinez91-

ebhhunney -

zaylee's friend

akantner

for those who are still waiting, let's hang in there.:wink2: keep the faith!!!

congratulations to all who made it :nurse::up:and for those who are not successful, never give up!!!:nono:

congratulations texaschic888, caramel660 & piscesmama!!!

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WOOHOO!!!! I knew you did it too hun! When you messaged me that you had priority questions towards the end I just knew! YAY!!! I tried to message you back but my kiddos were distracting me:p

YAYAYAYAY WTG!!!!

THank you so much LOVENDOVE!!! Im happy both of us that took that day passed! I just felt soo relieved! Thank God its over. God bless to us :-)

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Specializes in pediatrics, oncology.

Just wanted to say CONGRATS to everyone and good luck to those still waiting. You are all awesome and have been such a huge support. :)

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congratulations caramel!!!!

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