NCLEXRN After 12 Years

[AspiringRNmama]

I graduated 12 years ago and have never practiced being a nurse. I've forgotten every single thing I've learned from school and I do not know where to start. Now that I am a parent, I decided to try to take on the boards. This will be my first try. I just purchased simple nursing and I also have UWorld. Can anyone please give me tips, other review programs that worked for you after being out of school for so long and then passing the test or if you've used simple nursing, how's your experience? Should I add another resource to what I already have? I also see picmonics as an option to add. Thank you so much!

[Sissy Wood]

I TOOK RN BOARDS YESTERDAY 1/30/2024, AFTER NOT WORKING AS A NURSE SINCE 2014! I DID NOT TAKE A CLASS ROOM REFRESHER AND DID FINE. THO I DID STUDY STUDY STUDY!  JUST REMIND YOURSELF THE BOARDS IS EQUIVALENT TO A NURSE OUT OF SCHOOL FOR 2 WEEKS! EMAIL ME IF YOU WANT TO SHARE [email protected]

I browsed and researched the top 10, recommended NCLEX Prep/Review online courses. I needed things to be condensed, and narrowed down to importance and significance for the nursing boards. (I didn't need to repeat nursing classes! Some sites just had too much there, and I didn't need all that.)  

At the completion of my research, I selected 3 resources.

#1 It was to my advantage, to select "Simple Nursing" as my main resource to prep for the RN NCLEX test. We all have different ways to study effectively, and Nurse Mike was "my cup of tea!" I appreciated Simple Nursing's printable Study Guides and video library. But overall, it was, the helpful hints and RN NCLEX prep, that won me over! That is what I needed most!
Here are a few "Simple Nursing videos" on you tube that were my favorite!
https://youtu.be/E_AGtmBG2hQ?si=C13lRo0ulKyDx1Hj
https://youtu.be/SyeZHtma3Us?si=XkLb-yIiTUroGLQK
https://youtu.be/EQ4E86mmcLU?si=-mIPEIN9fxXPzzau

#2 I did obtain Mark K lectures, aka Mark Klimek, free study guide and lectures. It was nice, but somewhat outdated. Simple Nursing had all the same content, so it was review for me. And, be careful out there, many free resources are out of date! One website I went to online had a drug that was banned in the US!

#3 I found some free you tube videos on drugs that I liked. "Pixorize" If you try to find them, be careful, there are a few other names out there that are similar, but not the same.

Just remember, we all got this! Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but you got this! Never put it down, never turn around! Keeping moving forward! You can't loose if you never quit!

[Ruth Ibarra]

klone said:

Honestly, I would take a refresher course. Even if you can pass the boards, 12 years out of school and self-admittedly having forgotten every single thing you've learned, you would not be a safe entry-level nurse.

Do you know for sure that your state will allow you to sit for the exam after 12 years?

 

Derek Voce said:

Happy new year!

Any updates in your situation? In a similar dilemma as well, here in California. 

Yes I'm in the same boat. Went to school 10 years ago in CA and thinking about taking NCLEX than a refresher course after.

[Julia Liou, RN]

Congratulations for pursuing nursing! That's amazing! If you need some good free resources, feel free to check out AllNurses free NCLEX prep resources: Best Free Online Next-Gen NCLEX-RN Study Guide - Nursing Resources (allnurses.com)

I also used Mark Klimek's NCLEX review to help study, as I am an oral learner he really helped me understand how to answer the NCLEX questions by giving examples of how our thought process should work when answering the questions. Best of luck!

[Tacocat, ASN, RN]

Sissy Wood said:

I TOOK RN BOARDS YESTERDAY 1/30/2024, AFTER NOT WORKING AS A NURSE SINCE 2014!

You took the boards...did you pass?