Hello Everyone, I am taking the NCLEX tomorrow & I am a nervous wreck! I started browsing sites to try and find some helpful tips from others of what they did they day before and came across these..I found them to be helpful so I hope it's helpful for anyone reading as well!!!! Good Luck!
Make sure you get plenty of sleep leading up to the exam.
THE NIGHT BEFORE
Your priority should be to get to bed early and get a good night's rest. Alcohol will not enhance your performance in the exam and you have worked too hard to get this far to make the day more difficult than it needs to be. Also watch out for excessive caffeine intake, as this may make it difficult to settle down and concentrate during the exam.
DRESS FOR SUCCESS
Dress in layers for maximum comfort. The exam center is air-conditioned and you may feel too warm or too cool at times during the exam. Also take some high-energy natural sugar food such as apples, bananas, nuts or trail mix and a bottle of water for the 10-minute mandatory break, which you will have to take after 2 hours of testing.
TAKE YOUR TIME
Once in front of the computer, take time to read the introductory screens. A scratch card will be provided, so you can make notes to yourself on key points to remember and you can also do math calculations as needed. There is also a drop down calculator as part of the exam.
READ CAREFULLY
Once you begin the test questions, be sure to read each question carefully and read all the answer choices before you make a selection. Don't allow the level of anxiety to cause you to rush to finish. You have 6 hours to answer as many questions as necessary. There is no problem if you are the last one in the test center; this is not a race.
LAST QUESTION OF 265
If you sit for the total possible questions of 265, you must pay careful attention to the last question. If you pass the last question you will pass the whole exam, if you fail the last question. This is because at 264 questions without the computer shutting down you still have not shown your ability enough for your exam to be over and so the outcome is based on the last question! Tough but true.
ONE AT A TIME
Expect to feel like you are only getting half the questions correct. Even if you are performing far above the passing level, remember that the NCLEX test is designed to challenge to your test knowledge, so you should expect to only get about half of them right. Just keep going and concentrate on one question at a time. Focus on what is on the screen and you'll be much more likely to give an accurate answer.
CONFIDENCE IS THE KEY
Be confident in the time and preparation you have invested in preparing for the exam. You have done well to get to this stage. Remind yourself of all you can achieve; a positive attitude is crucial to a successful exam outcome!
Also remember
Read the questions and every option thoroughly and carefully! Ask yourself, what is the question really asking?
Pay attention to KEY words (example: Early, late, never, best, immediately, initial).
Use Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Theory guide you in prioritizing (example: Physiological needs come first).
Use ABCs to prioritize(Airway, Breathing, Circulation)
Use the Nursing Process to prioritize (Assessment, Analysis, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation)
Always focus on the client's feelings FIRST! If an answer reflects the client's feelings, select that answer!
Know the six rights of Medication Administration (Right client, dosage, route, time, drug, documentation).
You are always taking care of a patient.
NCLEX is not the "real world".
Don't pass the buck - this is a nursing exam and therefore it is testing the RN's knowledge, not the role or responsibilities of other health professionals.
Take care of the patient first and then the equipment.
Memorize lab values.
Communicate therapeutically.
Learn your positions and how to answer positioning questions - are you trying to PREVENT or PROMOTE something
Don't ever delegate assessment, teaching, or evaluation to anyone else - these are the RN's responsibility
That is so crazy!!! I took Kaplan as a review course and the course instructor along with the Barabra Irwin the director say that although select all apply type of questions are on the exam that are not in abundance....I pray I don't get many they are not my strong point! :/
It is odd to hear everyone say to not study the night before. I wish I could relax, but I have studied until the very last minute for all of my exams through my undergrad. Since that has been my routine, I am going to stick to it for NCLEX.
Specializes in Med-Surg, Outpatient Surgery, Nurse Informatics.
tokyoROSE said:
It is odd to hear everyone say to not study the night before. I wish I could relax, but I have studied until the very last minute for all of my exams through my undergrad. Since that has been my routine, I am going to stick to it for NCLEX.
You can do whatever that's most comfortable for you. I think that's the best key of being prepared for this exam. ?
Specializes in Med-Surg, Outpatient Surgery, Nurse Informatics.
86711lh said:
That is so crazy! I took Kaplan as a review course and the course instructor along with the Barabra Irwin the director say that although select all apply type of questions are on the exam that are not in abundance....I pray I don't get many they are not my strong point! ?
I super hate SATA questions too. But based on experience and as what most people are saying, the more you get these type of questions, it's more likely you're passing. Remember, these kinds of questions are application/analysis types - which should be the bulk of your NCLEX exam. If you're getting much easier questions, it means you're failing.
Specializes in Med-Surg, Outpatient Surgery, Nurse Informatics.
foreverLaur said:
Why can't the RNs delegate teaching to LPNs? LPNs do a lot of patient teaching and it is OK per my board of nursing and several others I have seen.
I always think of: "DON'T DELEGATE WHAT YOU CAN EAT."
E-valuate
A-ssessment
T-eaching
-- Got it from a study guide shared here. And I believe this, especially INITIAL TEACHING. But if it's Reinforcing teaching for an LPN, that'll be fine. ?
Hope things went well today! I tested this morning and my computer shut off a 75, PVT gives me the good pop-up. So relieved! I went for a run yesterday then treated myself to a manicure and pedicure. I think not studying and 'trying to relax' is key. What you don't know before the exam, you probably aren't going to know. NCLEX is unlike Nursing School tests in the sense that the peeking over your notes before the test more than likely won't help you.
There's a book that people recommend called Prioritization, Delegation, and Assignment by LaCharity. I ended up purchasing the book through Google books because I couldn't find it locally and didn't have time to wait. I will admit, I think I did the first five chapters and that was it. I did all my studying with Kaplan and felt like the LaCharity contradicted things that I had learned in Kaplan, so I decided to stick to just one source.
86711lh
1 Article; 40 Posts
That is so crazy!!! I took Kaplan as a review course and the course instructor along with the Barabra Irwin the director say that although select all apply type of questions are on the exam that are not in abundance....I pray I don't get many they are not my strong point! :/