Needing help..!!!

RN403, BSN, RN · Jul 24, 2014

Okay, please take a deep breathe, right now. Now, wipe the slate clean. It's time to develop new strategies for studying/test-taking.

First off, what did your CPR say your weak areas were in? Focus on the content of your weak areas. If you feel strong in something let it go. Once you recognize your weak areas either buy an NCLEX book that is just geared in on that or use the tools you already have and focus on the sections of your weak area.

When it comes to test-taking strategies there are many different sources out there that say many different things. But a lot of things remain the same such as remembering your ABCs, Maslow's, acute vs chronic, etc. With a lot of NCLEX questions you can knock off two right off the bat because they are simply not answering the question. Read the question once, and then read it again. Figure out what the question is asking you. Then look at the answers and work through each one at time...then go back to the stem of the question and determine if it is answering the question. If not, eliminate it and move on.

Remember, NCLEX is all about being a safe nurse. So try to pick the answer that would be safest for your patient without giving away your job as a nurse to anyone else or the physician! If there is something that you can do first as the nurse (that promotes safety) then choose that answer over calling the physician.

Those are just a few strategies/tips that you can use to answer NCLEX style questions. There are many threads here on AN that you can use to gather more tips/strategies such as:

https://allnurses.com/nclex-discussion-forum/nclex-strategies-tips-850502.html

Have you considered taking an NCLEX review course? At this point it might be worth the money to have a more structured way to study.

What types of questions do you feel you struggle with? Lacharity is a great book for PDA type questions!

Anyway, back to your original question. I think that content and questions are equally important. Make sure you know your content(focus on those weak areas). But, also answering as many questions as you can before your test date will help you become more comfortable with NCLEX style Qs. Maybe you can break your day up. Say 50 Qs in the AM, then study a little content, do some more questions later...etc...you get the picture. Remember to take breaks, too.

Oh, and please don't let your Kaplan scores discourage you. Scores do not mean very much as long as you understand the rationales behind your incorrect, and correct, answers. Reading rationales will help you learn your content as well which is a bonus.

Best of Luck to you. Stay positive and stay determined.

Sorry, I tend to ramble.

God'sdaughterRD · Jul 25, 2014

NO no this was NOT rambling! I really appreciate you comenting back! and I took the Kaplan review last MAy when I first got out of Nursing School. and around Dec. when I retook my exam I watch many of the Hurst Review vids. but I am going to take your advice try to focus on my weak points completing questions and content. Thank you very very much for responding!!! and the encouragement :) God bless