Need NCLEX help desperately

Be_Moore · Jul 10, 2009

NCLEX-RN is not a test of nursing knowledge as much as it is a test of patient safety. Pick the answer that is safest for the patient and you can't go wrong. The best part of the NCLEX is that it scales with difficulty, and the "harder" questions are actually easier. The "low end" questions are specific knowledge...lab values, drug interactions, etc. The "most difficult" questions are prioritizing and delegating...which tend to be the easiest (to me!) because rather than having to memorize specific details you can just apply generalized knowledge and problem solving skills.

But you're definitely right...even if you memorized Saunders vs. not your score would probably not be significantly different. Which is why I studied for about 1hr per day for 2 weeks and gave up. Just trust your gut instincts, go with patient safety, and DON'T THINK TOO HARD. You can rationalize every answer on the NCLEX. So don't rationalize.

shoegalRN, RN · Jul 10, 2009

I agree with the above poster.

If I could give you any advice, it's to focus on infection control, medications by classifications, delegation, lab values, and priortization. NCLEX wants to know if you will be a safe practicing nurse, so remember patient safety is FIRST. Also, using Marlow's Hirachcy of needs helped me alot. You want to address phyiscal needs FIRST before you talk about how they feel emotionally about whatever situation is going on.

I prepared with Kaplan and it helped me alot! I found NCLEX to be very similiar to Kaplan and even some of the same types of questions I had on Kaplan were on NCLEX.

I didnt do a ton of studying content. I did questions everyday. By the time it was over, I had done about 3000 questions, because I completed all of the questions in Kaplan, then moved on to Medspub and Saunders. If I got something wrong, I wrote it down and made sure I understood the rationale.

And remember, when you are trying to see which patient first, it's always the unstable patient. When you are delegating to a float from another floor, give them the most stable patient with the most stable outcome.

Don't read too much into the questions.

xos4eva · Jul 10, 2009

A comprehensive review which I found to be awesome was Fuer's Nursing Review, if you read the course content while listening to the Cd's its awesome and it gives you the need to know information for the exam. I also did about 100 questions a day, I studied for about a month and a half before taking the exam. The most important thing is to know how you test and what will work best for you. Some people took Kaplan and liked it I personally don't think that would have worked well for me.

Good luck.

Ericka

Silverdragon102, BSN · Jul 10, 2009

Moved to the NCLEX forum

I would say the key is practise questions and read the rationale. Make sure you understand what is being asked and know how to prioritise and ABC's and Maslow etc

Good luck

txspadequeenRN, BSN, RN · Jul 10, 2009

this test brings all of the nursing knowledge in to answer each question. you are not going to be able to know everything about nursing just as you are not going to know the answers to all these questions. this test looks more a nursing as a whole so you need to be prepared for that.

some tips i have learned the hard way ...

you must must know the format of this test, how it is scored and the types of questions you may be asked. research this and know it or you will be facing some extreme anxiety when these types of questions hit and you are not prepared.

know that if you pass 75 questions that you can still pass...you can pass with 265 questions (like i did) ...it is very important that you know this ...i failed the first time because my anxiety level was so high....when i passed 75 questions i vomited on myself and had diarrhea the rest of the test because i was so upset...my general consensus was if you passed the 75 question mark you failed....not so and the next time i took it i made it too 265 but slapped myself back into reality at the 75 question mark....

know that the rn is in charge of all teaching . so if you have a delegation question...you cannot delegate teaching.

this test does center around safety a lot so when these questions come up ...keep your nclex patient safe from harm.

stop and really look at these math questions.....most of them require converting from mg to gm ..if you don't pay attention this can waste time and really increase your frustration level.

this really got me since i have spent all my adult life as a lvn....the rn can only delegate the patient care of a stable patient with a predicable outcome to a lvn.

with assessment questions look at and follow the abc's....

i found that if there was 4 questions i could automatically get rid of 2 and then had to assess the last 2 and break them down ....

develop yourself a positive mantra...mine was "i am the rn"... think like a rn and you will be one....

i had a list of tips i pulled from all different directions....i will post more when i can remember more....

TinaWright · Jul 10, 2009

My first piece of advice is - calm down. If you have done well in your program and are taking review tests, reading the rationales and understanding prioritizing you will pass. I used Saunder's NCLEX-RN review book mostly. It is a great book and has a CD-ROM with thousands of questions on it. I did not take Kaplan because I felt I would pass without it. But if you feel like you need more security - take it! There is no shame in over preparing if it makes you feel better. Good luck and take the test as soon as possible. The longer you wait the more nervous you get about it (especially when everyone you graduated with has taken and passed it).

IcanHealYou · Jul 10, 2009

Thank you very much everyone. This advice is very helpful.