NCLEX worries.....

HeartJulz · Jan 28, 2008

I graduated LVN school not RN, but I can give advice based on what I think would be best.. and I think getting your NCLEX done w. in the first 2 mths MAX after school is best. I graduated in Nov. and I have been having to review like mad before even focusing a lot on questions. I have forgotten a lot... I mean, its weird cause I know its stored in my brain but reviewing makes it fresher... save yourself all of this time! And think of NCLEX staring on a graph in the middle... that is your starting point, once you get answers correct it either moves up from that line if correct or down below that line ... basically what youre doing is getting 50% of the questions asked-correct. You want to stay above that line and where you answer incorrect you will get another question to that until you get it correct. So right now where you are weaker, work on those areas and the areas you pass do not worry about those because the computer reacts to YOU-- YOU are in the computers hands so to speak... good luck .. wish I were already @ RN level... my studies are that at RN... but I have yet another 8mths plus 3 science pre reqs to go ....!!!!

racing-mom4, BSN, RN · Jan 28, 2008

HI, I just took my state boards jan23rd and am still on a high from passing....I graduated in December and had said I was going to take them ASAP. I paid the 200.00 to Pearson Vue day after my finals and bought a 50.00 money order to send in to the state and then panic set in and I never mailed--I used all sorts of excuses to "I dont have a stamp" "I dont want it to get lost in the Christmas card shuffel" "I need to go Christmas shopping". Finaly December 27th I mailed it in. Imagine my horror when on Jan 1st I got an email with my Authorization to Test. I logged on and picked the 1st avail day. Jan 23rd.

I started studying on Jan 3rd and did thousands and thousands of test questions till about 5 days prior to the test.

I am a big believer in getting it done soon. Dont put it off--even though it is tempting.... I would love to know the stats of the pass/fail rate for those who test sooner vs later.

Another reason to sign up to test soon is I just missed the mad rush. I was able to get a spot about 3 weeks out, friends of mine I graduated with who waited to send their money in till after the 1st of the year are having to take time slots at end of Feb and march.

Think how nice it will feel having your RN and making RN wages while all your school mates are still sitting at home sweating about taking the boards....

Good luck---find some good disks now. Borrow some from friends now to see what ones you like and dont like and then buy them on half.com so you can have them ready.

FYI the Davis disk--once loaded on your computer is always there. ONe person in my class bought it and we all downloaded it. I think that was my favorite disk, I even loaded it on the computer at the hosp I work at so during slow times I could knock out some questions.

labrador4122, RN · Jan 28, 2008

I was just wondering if you guys could help me. I graduate nursing school (RN) this May and I dont know when to take my NCLEX. I kind of want to do it ASAP but then I dont want to fail it. I have book after book that I use to study with and take tests with. And I also do exams on a site called www.eriworld.com. I do pretty well in regards to the national average score but I fall short compared to my school average (not by much). But they print out a detailed summary and some areas are pretty good and others are really bad. I guess I can describe it as me passing the sections of the tests but yet failing a portion of the section. My question is even if I pass a section but yet fail a portion of that section do you think I would fail the NCLEX?
I am kind of confused on the NCLEX and how you get "graded" on it. My original plan was to take the NCLEX 1-3 months after graduation so that I could get through some good study time. I just dont know what to do. Thanks for your responses!

We did do ERI at our school that did not count towards our passing classes.

But ERI is nothing like the real nclex. In fact, in the middle of school they said that they were taking ERI out and making us take HESI.. wich they did towards the end of our school, and HESI was a lot harder.

You should take a review course, then 4 weeks later take the test. That gives you 5 - 6 weeks of intense studying.

labrador4122, RN · Jan 28, 2008

HI, I just took my state boards jan23rd and am still on a high from passing....I graduated in December and had said I was going to take them ASAP. I paid the 200.00 to Pearson Vue day after my finals and bought a 50.00 money order to send in to the state and then panic set in and I never mailed--I used all sorts of excuses to "I dont have a stamp" "I dont want it to get lost in the Christmas card shuffel" "I need to go Christmas shopping". Finaly December 27th I mailed it in. Imagine my horror when on Jan 1st I got an email with my Authorization to Test. I logged on and picked the 1st avail day. Jan 23rd.
I started studying on Jan 3rd and did thousands and thousands of test questions till about 5 days prior to the test.
I am a big believer in getting it done soon. Dont put it off--even though it is tempting.... I would love to know the stats of the pass/fail rate for those who test sooner vs later.
Another reason to sign up to test soon is I just missed the mad rush. I was able to get a spot about 3 weeks out, friends of mine I graduated with who waited to send their money in till after the 1st of the year are having to take time slots at end of Feb and march.
Think how nice it will feel having your RN and making RN wages while all your school mates are still sitting at home sweating about taking the boards....
Good luck---find some good disks now. Borrow some from friends now to see what ones you like and dont like and then buy them on half.com so you can have them ready.
FYI the Davis disk--once loaded on your computer is always there. ONe person in my class bought it and we all downloaded it. I think that was my favorite disk, I even loaded it on the computer at the hosp I work at so during slow times I could knock out some questions.

OMG only $50 to the state!? that' is awesome!

I am so jealous!!

here in FL, I paid $190 and a month later they jacked up the price to $205 not to mention the $200 for pearson

ann945n, RN · Jan 28, 2008

In my opinion take it as early as you can. I really think you can not prepair for this test well, you either know it or you dont. I also think doing too many practice books can 'mess you up'. I would only review lab values, med categories etc. As well Saunders is a great book for good test taking skills, they explain why an answer is right and why the others are wrong. Good test taking skills, at this point, is what will get you through the test

just my opinion though

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Jan 28, 2008

I teach NCLEX-RN review courses and my experience has been that you cannot predict whether or not a student will pass NCLEX based on school grades/tests. I recommend a review course or at least much practice with testing. The content you know. It is the language of the test that stumps a lot of people. Learning test taking strategies will help you gain confidence. Also, look at this site for REAL answers to your other questions. www.ncsbn.org or www.learningext.com.

SDS_RN, RN · Jan 28, 2008

I graduated in 06' and I took my boards about 1mo. after graduation. I would get it done as soon as you can. I remember the instructors telling us that the longer we waited the more infomation we would lose. It's still really fresh in your mind after school so don't put it off. We did what was called ATI testing at the school I went to and they were geared towards NCLEX questions so I used the ATI website and my several NCLEX books and CD's to study. I liked my NCLEX CD's the best because they covered everything I had learned during school. Focus on your weak areas. Good luck to you.

SDS_RN, RN · Jan 28, 2008

I agree with classicdame as well my school offered a test taking video and how to break down and understand the questions being asked. That was also beneficial for me.

CABG patch kid, BSN, RN · Jan 28, 2008

I agree with everyone here and I do remember reading that people who take the test either 4 months post-grad have a greater chance of failing. An NCLEX review course is SOOOOO great if you can get to one. Just the way the questions are posed is so different than anything else you've ever seen, it will really help you to understand how to approach this test. Don't spread yourself too thin and do too many review things, just do a class and a questions if nothing else. Focus on your weak areas and do a very generalized overview of other stuff.

Know the WHY and rationales behind things so you understand it, don't just memorize facts. Know Patho, if you know that you can probably find your way out of a hard place. Don't expect yourself to be an expert in anything, just know and understand a little about a lot if that makes sense :)

Good luck in your studies

JenRN577 · Jan 28, 2008

In AZ, you have to pay $263 to the state, plus the $200 to pearson!!!