NLEX-RN out of school for 3 years -need program to teach me the material

Naldzzz · Sep 10, 2015

Try Saunders!! I graduated 3 years ago and i just took the nclex last week & passed! :)

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Sep 10, 2015

I'm not sure how to direct you on this. You failed twice with the minimum number of questions, indicating you did VERY poorly....and this was when the info was fresh in your mind, having recently graduated. You already know you didn't get much out of school (what kind of program was this that didn't teach you how to pass the NCLEX?) so you know you need to work from the ground up.

Review courses are just that: refreshing knowledge you should already have down....tweaking your approach to answering questions to apply critical thinking/application skills. But you're talking about needing to essentially repeat nursing school, and I'm not so sure that's a bad idea: if you didn't learn what you need to know in order to pass the exam (IOW, what you need to know to begin as an entry-level, minimum competency nurse), it seems like it's time to go back to school.

There are programs like Saunders, Hurst that focus heavily on content, getting the basics down. I would think if you do really well with THOSE review programs, then you could move on to something like Kaplan that focuses on application of knowledge. THEN, after doing well....you'd be ready for NCLEX.

If you find that self-study isn't working, find a live review course. But if you cannot do very well on the content-based review courses.....you will need to strongly revisit the idea of repeating school.

Good luck...it's not going to be easy!

WorldTravelingYogi · Sep 10, 2015

Try Saunders!! I graduated 3 years ago and i just took the nclex last week & passed! :)

So you picked up Saunders recently and only used that? Just curious if you had been studying a bit over the past 3 years or if you worked in healthcare? Or did you take a complete break for 2.5 years and pick up Saunders and pass?

WorldTravelingYogi · Sep 10, 2015

I'm not sure how to direct you on this. You failed twice with the minimum number of questions, indicating you did VERY poorly....and this was when the info was fresh in your mind, having recently graduated. You already know you didn't get much out of school (what kind of program was this that didn't teach you how to pass the NCLEX?) so you know you need to work from the ground up.
Review courses are just that: refreshing knowledge you should already have down....tweaking your approach to answering questions to apply critical thinking/application skills. But you're talking about needing to essentially repeat nursing school, and I'm not so sure that's a bad idea: if you didn't learn what you need to know in order to pass the exam (IOW, what you need to know to begin as an entry-level, minimum competency nurse), it seems like it's time to go back to school.
There are programs like Saunders, Hurst that focus heavily on content, getting the basics down. I would think if you do really well with THOSE review programs, then you could move on to something like Kaplan that focuses on application of knowledge. THEN, after doing well....you'd be ready for NCLEX.
If you find that self-study isn't working, find a live review course. But if you cannot do very well on the content-based review courses.....you will need to strongly revisit the idea of repeating school.
Good luck...it's not going to be easy!

I did Hurst but it dumbs down the content. It is not for me. Plus it is still a review. I need something more complex than this.

I used my entire inheritance to go through school the first time. Taking a year or two off from working to repeat school is not an option. I can schedule study hours around my work hours but there is no way I can quit working to study full time in a classroom. Let alone trying to deal with getting accepted which will take at least two years and come up with the money for the program. There is no way.

And I know did did very poorly. I picked a terrible school. I am not a good self studier and this program was basically that but I am ready and willing to do what it takes to pass. I have no idea how they were and still are accredited. And I know I need to work from the ground up. I am hoping that I don't need to pull out every single one of my text books and that I could get a book or two books and go through them with a fine tooth comb.

I wish there was something similar to Saunders but twice as much content. Also I don't need their questions because the Kaplan ones were much better and there are so many more of them and after a while you pretty much know the answer to the Saunders questions.

Saunders may be the answer just wondering what other people who were out of school for a while did.

melai12 · Sep 10, 2015

Hi! I graduated BsN in my country in 2009! So its been 6 years now. I took nclex RN in 2011 failed in 265 questions using saunders and lipincott alone. When i tried to reapply for the exam again after 2 mos, cali BON denied my application. I decided then to apply for Nclex Pn instead, the process took almost 1 year and decided to take the exam in 2013 feb pass with 85! And started working as an LVN.

Aug 28 2015 i took NCLEX RN again and pass with 75 questions.!

melai12 · Sep 10, 2015

For my 2nd RN exam:

I only have 2 mos of studying but those 2 mos i was working FULL time at the same time. Its hard but i am motivated to pass it!

I used hurst review and saunders for the content. Uworld for the content as well and analysis base as well i really love uworld, the best rationales ever! I learned so much!

I did some kaplan also those questions trainers online.

Ive been out of school for 6 years since i graduated.. And just studying 2 mos everytime i am taking a test..

Pls try uworld along with saunders you will be amaze on what you can learn from them. Study with motivation, focus, you know what you want pursue it. Dont forget to pray and ask God his guidance. Dont anything else bothers you. Just stay focus on your goal. Best of luck!

hopefulxx, BSN, RN · Sep 11, 2015

I just took the course called Ready to Pass, it was in Long Island and they offer online courses and I believe they offer courses in Queens. Please look into it! It was my savior! I took the nclex 5x before I passed and this course helped me tremendously I recommend it to anyone who asks now! Go to readytopass.com and see what they have to offer that fits your schedule and time frame! Good luck :)

WorldTravelingYogi · Sep 11, 2015

Thanks everyone. I'll definitely look into Ready to Pass. It looks like it is 36 hours of instruction. I was hoping for something a lot longer but I am going to keep looking. I am just glad people are giving me ideas. Thanks again.

WorldTravelingYogi · Sep 11, 2015

duplicate

canigraduate · Sep 11, 2015

My suggestions:

1) Go on YouTube or iTunes U and look for free nursing course lectures. They are there. I use them to review from time to time.

2) Suck it up and go back to a good school. Start saving now, get a job that you can work part time while in school, and max out the scholarships and grants that are available to you. Look for a job in a hospital with tuition reimbursement, even if it's housekeeping. If you are lucky, you will only have to save up enough money for one semester and keep recycling it when you get reimbursed.

3) Don't put all your hopes on one review. Do multiple reviews. I doubt there will be a single resource that will give you everything you need. Do LaCharity's delegation book, then do Saunders, then do Hurst, then do however many it takes to get you to pass. Check into ATI. Go online and look for actual classes since you aren't motivated on your own.

4) Look for refresher courses with clinical hours. That will help you a lot. I precepted a refresher nurse once. It's doable.

5) Don't feel like you have to rush to get the reviews/classes/whatever done. It's been three years, another two isn't going to make a whole lot of difference.

2013rn2BScorpio · Sep 11, 2015

Try Rachell Allen. They have have 10 & 25 day reviews