2ND ATTEMPT--OFFICIALLY A NURSE AS OF MAY 9th 2014

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Hello, I know that some of you guys are worried about the "big bad NCLEX" as I was too. I use to be on this forum everyday looking for help and strategies. I feel like I can be a HUGE help to those who are planning for their first time, took the test more then once, or do not have a plan yet on how to prep for this test yet. I recently found out that I pass my exam on May 9th and decided to help others out abit. I took my Nclex for the first time on March 17th, 2014. I didn't let ANYONE know and when I said ANYONE I meant it. I studied using kaplan I did every question in Kaplan and maybe 2 or 3 category video before I got tired and bored of it. I also had the course too on January 1st 2014 which last from January1st-January 5th, and you wondered why I took the class way too early right ? I didn't really know much about how Kaplan work and wanted to get that out the way before starting my bachelors degree courses which started January 6th. My Kaplan scores were the following at that time:

dx 49%

readiness 58%

q 1 60 q2 58 q3 60 q4 54 q5 66 q6 64 q7 58

and guess what ? On march 17th 2014 I failed my exam with 75 questions. I tried the trick right after and went straight to the cc page was crying and my friends try to convince me that the "trick" isn't accurate. However, I knew so 100% so I wasn't crying for too long. Got the quick results which told me I failed so I wasn't too surprised. It only made me come back stronger.

2nd attempt- My plan was to just buy study books and take questions until I got sick of them. I purchased the lipincott 2013-2014 I believe and the Kaplan strategies book. I also borrowed the Kaplan content book from my friend. Quickly, I changed my mind and instead of getting my money back from Kaplan I decided to do it again. ( I DIDNT DOUBT KAPLAN JUST BECAUSE I FAILED FROM IT. I DIDNT PREP USING THE PAPER THAT THE NCLEX GIVE U WHEN U FAIL & I ALSO DID NOT USE THE LIPINCOTT BOOK THAT I PURCHASED & I TOLD ANYONE THAT ASK EXACTLY WHEN I PLAN TO TAKE MY TEST).

This time I prep myself very well. I had one composition notebook for content and one for straight rationales. I did two weeks with straight content. I went through each content videos in Kaplan except pysch (because that was my strongest in nursing school) and after I did the video, for example (basic care and comfort videos) I would do questions on that category in the Kaplan strategies book. I didn't use the Kaplan online review questions yet at this point. In about two weeks I had a pretty strong grip on the content. I started using Kaplan online review questions my q trainers were the following:

Dx 68

readiness 66

q 1 71 q2 74 q3 70 q 4 69 q5 77 q6 78 (Never did q7). Instead of doing q trainer 7 i did the Kaplan strategies book 265 question located at the end of the book and scored a 74 (my reason for doing this book instead of q 7 is because these questions were 265 of brand new questions I never seen before)

when I review i reviewed ALL rationales. I also kept my two compositions notebook and my Kaplan content book next to me. If my question was about diabetes. I wrote down what I didn't know in my rationales composition book and I would go back to my content composition notebook about diabetes and reviewed it.That was my way to keep recalling my notes. Instead of reading so much notes at once and reading over them at night. After a while, I didn't have to do it so much because I can literally recall what I wrote down already. This method was use to keep my mind fresh on content as well. Because of this method , I was able to eliminate wrong choices. If I got a question wrong it was ONLY because I didn't know it at all. At this time was when I started using different strategies. If I got a "which would u see first" Question I would write down on paper:

topic: eliminate stable (priorityquestion)

1.

2.

3.

4.

If the question asked about LPN OR NA I wrote

topic: LPN (stable with expected outcomes)or NA (standard unchanging)

1.

2.

3.

4.

If it asked any other multiple choice questions I wrote the stem of what the question is asking me and wrote 1. 2. 3. 4. & eliminated from there. I did the true and false method for the SATA questions. (because of my rationales and my content review) I was able to eliminate and keep answers which 9/10 always worked in my favor. LITERALLY whatever I didn't know was what I got wrong! As far as medications. I studied them by classifications and when I came across a med while reviewing rationales I would just read the whole classification of that med and the side effect. Eventually medications became one of my strongest categories. I scheduled my Kaplan course two weeks before my test. I like it this way because the course doesn't teach u the content it just teach u strategies and give u alittle bit of information. I was able to finish all my content, qtrainers 1-5, q banks, and the chapter questions in the Kaplan strategies book before my actually kaplan class. The only thing I had left was q trainer 6 the kAplan strategy book (265). My first time around, when I took my class on January 1st, I was lost on questions that they were reviewing it was like I couldn't apply strategies without acknowledging content). Basically I took the class before I touch the online sources they have. I feel like it is best for you to utilize Kaplan online resources before taking the class!!! Also, I did NOT have a set schedule because I am taking bachelors courses but I still made sure I review questions and sometimes it was 50, 75, 100 I didn't care as long as I understood the rationales behind them. Even with my higher test scores I was still nervous because I didn't study as hard as I did last time, but every time I made a attempt to open my book the day before my test, I couldn't I was just so over it. DONT WORRY ABOUT YOUR SCORES ON KAPLAN EVEN THOUGH MY SCORES ON KAPLAN WERENT LOW THE FIRST TIME AROUND I STILL FAILED. YOU LEARN FROM YOUR WRONG ANSWERS AS LONG AS YOU UNDERSTAND THE RATIONALES AND YOUR INFORMATION YOU WILL BE FINE . YOU LEARN FROM YOUR RATIONALES AND THATS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART!!!

Now, as for my test... I scheduled it at 8am, why? Because I didn't like how I felt at my last test which was at 2pm, I usually wake up early so I was soooo nervous at that time. This time at 8 am I was able to wake up and just go right in. On my way to the test the only thing I reviewed was my EKG strips which was stapled on index cards. I prayed sooooo many times for God to guide me through my test

During my test I had covered the timer and the number at the top. I had countless numbers of SATA. I Remember after my first question I had 4 SATA in a row. 1 EKG strip, No med math, two medication questions,

a couple of maternity and a couple of pysch, leadership questions, like two room placement questions, 2 drag and drop, and 4 who do u see first questions at the end which was my favorite. I did the same thing I stated earlier (topic: 1. 2. 3. 4. And evaluated each one. use my own strategies and did not use the decision tree. I went through 4 dry erase boards but before then I told the lady that I would ask for a lot of them because that's how I usually study at home. I was offered a break before my 75 which was strange but I didn't take it then I looked at the timer and I was on question 75! I prayed before answering my last question because It was hard and I knew if it stopped me this time I wanted to pass and if it not I knew I would still be in the game somehow. Then I answered it when I click next my screen went blank.

I walked out the test much more confident then before. Kaplan is what you make out of it honestly. I could've bashed Kaplan simply because I "failed on my first attempt" But I didn't I believe that Kaplan prepared me very well. At the end of it all, I felt like yes the test is strategies but also content. If your not able to understand what the question is asking you nor any content your more likely to get it wrong. That was my mistake the first time around. I am happy to say I am officially a Registered Nurse as of MAY 9th, 2014. I wish everyone goodluck in your studies. Please let me know if you have any questions. Links to the books I used are below.

Kaplan strategies book:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1618653792?pc_redir=1399586720&robot_redir=1

Kaplan content book:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00CLV3V16?pc_redir=1399611947&robot_redir=1

You can get the book on your phone or on the computer for free but I like to write in mine

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Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.

- Michael Jordan

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Congrats to you my dear RN!!!!! And thank you for sharing, it's a great motivation

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You are very welcome ! Yes exciting good luck on your studies

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Thanks for the advice and congrats nurse.

I used the Kaplan Stalrategies book for PN and did the questions in the back of the book and Lippincotts as well and other content and passed my first try. When I am done my RN I plan on doing Kaplans q trainers as well this post was very informal.

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Thank you so much . Yes if thats what work for you then do it again ! Goodluck !!!!

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Congratulations and thank you for sharing your experience with me.

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You are very welcome :yes:

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EbonyRN, congrats congrats congrats......welcome to the RN nursing community. I agree with what you said, the NCLEX exam is strategies and content.

If you know your content extremely well, understand what the question is asking you and manage your anxiety, a Graduate Nurse would be able to pass.

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Definitely !!!! Thankyou I'm beyond happy!!!

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Specializes in Psychiatri.

Congrats!

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THANKYOUU

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