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Hi. Thank you in advance for everyone who reads this post and replies with suggestions and/or advice. I just took my NCLEX exam the other day. I was as mentally ready as I thought I could ever be. Been working on a unit and studying from multiple prep CD's and reading Saunders 3rd edition. I was focusing mostly on the rationalle of what I got right as well as what I got wrong. I wanted to make sure I understood the logic behind each scenario.

Here is my situation: I got 264 questions and time ran out. I did take my time with each and every question to make sure I didn't miss a key word. My results came back as failed. This is my first time ever taking the test. I had my lab values down pat, was comfortable with ABG's, the drug questions that I got, TONS of prioritizing, and I even got "what I thought to be experimental" questions. There were some really off the wall (what I thought of as "different" questions)!

I love this web site I think its the best on the internet and I really enjoy reading through the posts. I am hoping someone out there can explain to me what I did or didn't do. I am a very optomistic person, but I must be honest I am really upset with myself now because I didn't pass. I have to pick myself up, get right back in the game, and do this all over again.

Any suggestions, advice, from anyone out there please take a moment to guide me in the right direction. I was born to nurse and I don't want to let this minor bump in the road be a set back.

PS I would love to find out more specifics on "Suzanne's Plan". I need it now more than ever!!!!

Thanks a trillion!!

Jules

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Specializes in Peds - playing with the kids.

hi,

well, you have a great attitude in not letting this setback destroy you.

i'm sure someone with some great ideas will post, just wanted to wish you luck on your next go around.

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I used Nclex books throughout my entire nursing program as a means to study. I actually loved them. Much better than reading textbooks. Anyways, I used Saunders and a kaplan cd and I passed nclex in 75 questions. Something you said struck me....you might have been spending TOO MUCH time on questions. When you know the answer just pick it. Don't over analyze. The ones you don't know, take your best guess and move on and forget about it. Because you will get questions that you do know. Anyways, when can you retake it?

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when you run out of time dont you fail???

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Thank you so much for the replies. I think you are right. I just calculated and I spent about 1 minute and 36 seconds on average per question.

I even wrote out my norms on the dry erase board to "see it on paper" to check as I got about 10 ABG questions. I was grateful for those since I was comofortable with them. Just FYI for those who haven't tested: learn the in's and out's of ABG's not just "the initial intervention" as you will NOT see the obvious answer. You will definately need some HUGE critical thinking skills. The med questions that every was scaring me about were actually not bad. I am thankful for clinical experience on those (repitition really helped me out there)!

I am kicking myself for not going to the LAST question of 265 because then the computer would have graded me on a whole. Being that it shut off at 264 they only judge the last 60 questions. This info comes from the test site pamphlet. Six hours is a LONG time to sit at a computer testing. Not looking for excuses, but wondering a little what would have been different (if anything)?

Please keep good thoughts for me as well as other GREAT people who are in my situation!

Still looking for advice!! Thank you!

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Hi I am sorry that you didint pass this time. I didnt pass on my first try either. I took mine on tuesday and found out this morning that I passed with 75 questions. I used saunders for the content but didnt do the questions on the cd because there is no time limit. Maybe you need a cd that has a time limit. Also I used kaplan online course, their Q bank is excellent and has a time limit. I hope this helps.

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Assuming you are on the fence with the questions and the computer can't determine if you are pass or fail................you can actually run out of time and they judge you on the last 60 questions. This is from my understanding of the testing pamphlet. Please correct me anyone if i am wrong.

:idea:

Please keep the post's coming. This is really helping by reading replies!!! Very therapeutic =)-

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fero,

I am using kaplan q bank right now and i was just wondering if the questions are anything like the boards?

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fero,

I am using kaplan q bank right now and i was just wondering if the questions are anything like the boards?

I think Kaplan questions are harder.They want to make you think on each of them, which is good. This is just my opinion.

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when you run out of time dont you fail???

Not at all.

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Thank you so much for the replies. I think you are right. I just calculated and I spent about 1 minute and 36 seconds on average per question.

I even wrote out my norms on the dry erase board to "see it on paper" to check as I got about 10 ABG questions. I was grateful for those since I was comofortable with them. Just FYI for those who haven't tested: learn the in's and out's of ABG's not just "the initial intervention" as you will NOT see the obvious answer. You will definately need some HUGE critical thinking skills. The med questions that every was scaring me about were actually not bad. I am thankful for clinical experience on those (repitition really helped me out there)!

I am kicking myself for not going to the LAST question of 265 because then the computer would have graded me on a whole. Being that it shut off at 264 they only judge the last 60 questions. This info comes from the test site pamphlet. Six hours is a LONG time to sit at a computer testing. Not looking for excuses, but wondering a little what would have been different (if anything)?

Please keep good thoughts for me as well as other GREAT people who are in my situation!

Still looking for advice!! Thank you!

You can contact me thru the private message system that we have here. You can just click on my user name and you will see send a private message on the right had side, just click on that.

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