new to this site: advice needed

healthcarestudent · May 18, 2011

I am currently studying also to take the boards. A friend of mine used the kaplan review and studied for 3 weeks straight before taking the boards. According to her, she studied 8-10 hours a day for 3 weeks straight and passed the boards. You have to be really dedicated IMO if you want to go that route. Different people have different ways they study and prepare for a major exam. Find the one that suits you and utilize it fully... Best of Luck

suchababe · May 18, 2011

Thanks for the response healthcarestudent! :)

passredskins1 · May 18, 2011

every one is different...some people work better under pressure situations while others need longer time to retain the info..... For me studying 8 hrs a day wont cut it but studying 3 to 4 hrs a day is better.....also study the most difficult topics when u are MOST ALERT......thats how u retain info.....dont do more than 150 questions a day...keep it simple for your brain

caliotter3 · May 18, 2011

There are people who prepare for three weeks and pass, but most people give themselves more time. Good luck.

suchababe · May 18, 2011

every one is different...some people work better under pressure situations while others need longer time to retain the info..... For me studying 8 hrs a day wont cut it but studying 3 to 4 hrs a day is better.....also study the most difficult topics when u are MOST ALERT......thats how u retain info.....dont do more than 150 questions a day...keep it simple for your brain

hello! thanks for the response. have u took the exam yet? what areas should i put more focus on? like if its endocrine, infection control, etc. :)

passredskins1 · May 18, 2011

hello! thanks for the response. have u took the exam yet? what areas should i put more focus on? like if its endocrine, infection control, etc. :)

yes...i passed nclex rn the second time with 75 questions on april 26...took my first exam in oct 2010.....if u have the lachirty book....do those questions there as it helps you understand delegation, prioritization and management questions...understand infection ctrl, know how to analyze "which patient is the least stable?" questions and learn how to pick the least stable patient when nclex gives u 4 diseases to choose from....... Know thy lab values.... Know thy lab values.... If u got 2 mons b4 your exam....print out the detailed test plan of the nclex and it will give u an idea of what to look for..... I had 3 sata questions which seemed easy the second time...2 drugs i have never heard off but i found a way to pick the most serious side effects...just study....keep doing questions and read EVERY rationale....you will be fine

suchababe · May 18, 2011

i just finished my test 2 in kaplan qtrainer and my score freakin low! its only 49 %! my test 1 score was 45%.. i think, i cant do it in 3 week's time.. u think i might need to reschedule my exam?

passredskins1 · May 18, 2011

i also used kaplan trainers....i always say dont pay attention to scores but 49 is tooooo low...if u feel in your heart u have to reschedule...then reschedule and try to take this nclex ONLY ONCE....try to analyze where u went wrong...content? Not analyzing the questions? Where u tired? Try to take your questions trainers and qbank questions under testing conditions ... And i will tell u...kaplan was the best resource for me...it helped me prepare for the clex very well...use the kaplan decison tree on every question.

suchababe · May 18, 2011

i also used kaplan trainers....i always say dont pay attention to scores but 49 is tooooo low...if u feel in your heart u have to reschedule...then reschedule and try to take this nclex ONLY ONCE....try to analyze where u went wrong...content? Not analyzing the questions? Where u tired? Try to take your questions trainers and qbank questions under testing conditions ... And i will tell u...kaplan was the best resource for me...it helped me prepare for the clex very well...use the kaplan decison tree on every question.

im sure that i lack of test taking strategies. but im afraid i also lack content knowledge, i hope not..

what did you use for your content review?

passredskins1 · May 19, 2011

for content review...nclex 3500/4000 was fine or saunders questions.....by doing questions and reading EVERY rationale right or wrong...i expanded on my content rather than reading a big old comprehensive book whic can get overwhelming...and if a topic looked interesting ..i will open up a comprehensive book to read more about that topic...(i saw a link for 3500 posted on here) and i feel if u have finished nursing school and actually studied for exams (not late night cramming..lol) u have the content locked in there....doing questions will bring it out...i also kept that big kaplan blue book with me...didint read it all but used it from time to time.... Work on test taking strategies b/c u can never know all the content..........