NCLEX: Tips & My Experience

[drbdnp, DNP, APRN, NP]

I'm writing this because everyone else's posts on this website truly inspired me to voice my thoughts and my experience regarding NCLEX prep/testing. First of all I'd like to say thank you to everyone who has shared their experience with NCLEX, study tools, etc. It really helped me and calmed me down throughout the process. I studied with two tools in a time span of 14 days: UWorld and Mark Klimek's NCLEX Review. I did all of the practice questions on UWorld within an average of 54% in the 48^th percentile with completing all 2000+ questions. I would read the rationale and review the one's I wasn't sure of. Do NOT freak out if your average is low! Read every rationale and truly understand it! The average and percentage means nothing, I promise! UWorld was nice because it lays out the exact format of the NCLEX. It was comforting to see that I had already seen the layout of the screen.

I also attended Mark Klimek's 3 day NCLEX Review and OMG - that man is the NCLEX guru, seriously. Every graduate nurse should attend his review. He not only boosts your confidence but he teaches you the principles of how to answer the questions. It is so much easier to learn a principle than remember a list. He only holds in person live reviews, so you cannot purchase books or audio online, etc. But it is worth your time and money to attend and learn from him. I studied Mark's yellow and blue book religiously for two weeks straight and completed the UWorld practice questions. The day before the exam, I rested and did something I enjoyed. Don't stress yourself out the day before the exam!

After the two weeks of preparation, I was able to pass NCLEX the first time with 75 questions in just an hour!!! I had 18 SATA and a math question. People really put so much emphasis on boards and try to instill fear in people. Please don't freak yourself out. You are good enough, you are smart enough and you WILL be a nurse! I said that to myself at least 100 times a day while studying for the boards and praying too, of course. I wish all of you luck!!!

[Lovens9]

Congratulation !!! Love your story and thank you for sharing

[2016srnfcc]

Is the blue book and yellow book different? If so how? I currently only have access to the yellow book and lectures.

[drbdnp, DNP, APRN, NP]

Thank you so much & you're welcome!

[drbdnp, DNP, APRN, NP]

Yes they are different. The yellow book is the lecture he reviews throughout the 3 day course. The blue book is full of miscellaneous topics that are good to know. It is set up in flash card form. For example, a topic in the blue book could range anywhere from nutrition to placenta previa.

[2016srnfcc]

is there an audio for the blue book? thanks alot i will try to look for these resources.

[drbdnp, DNP, APRN, NP]

Unfortunately, I don't think there's an audio for the blue book. You're welcome! Best of luck :)

[Epire026]

Do you know if mark klimek lectures have drastically changed over the years? I have notes from a few years back and wondering if he teaches really differently now.

[dorkypanda]

I have heard that there has been a new change in regards to SATA. can you explain what the changes are? is it true that it could be one answer is correct or all choices could be correct? how does it work now? thanks

[2016srnfcc]

yes it is true. So it works like any other SATA however instead of being at least 2 correct answers, there are only one. I dont understand the reason for this transition. I wonder by doing this, will the SATA be easier? Or are they just doing this to make the boards more difficult?

[Willa3003]

Thank you so much for sharing! I'm kinda dreading my NCLEX as of now and it's truly encouraging to hear what you had to say. It think it is overdramaticized..or that's what I'm hoping. Lol find out Monday. Also congrats on passing yours! Especially in such a short period of time!