NLN-RN Pre-entrance exam...Did I get a good study guide??

Missloli · Oct 9, 2010

hi!
i just took the nln rn pre-entrance exam today and i am exhausted emotionally! i have been studying the book from the national league of nursing (bought used from amazon) and thought i was prepared. i recently finished chemistry, a&p i and ii and microbiology so thought i would be ok there. i was more concerned about the math and concentrated on studying that part of the book the most. anyway....in my opinion, the exam was really very difficult. the english vocab and reading comprehension was challenging but i don't think that is something you can study for....your vocabulary is cumulative and i don't think you can cram for that. i found the practice tests in the book were challenging as well....but i did not think the vocabulary on today's exam reflected any (well...a few maybe) of what was in the book, so don't waste too much time 'studying' for the vocabulary. i was glad i had practiced so much of the math in the book, but i think i could have beefed up practicing and done better. lots of conversions, tons of fractions, percentages, some graphs, a few square roots, a few linear equations, etc. now....for the science section....lordy, lordy, lordy......i felt betrayed by the book! the science section in today's exam did not reflect what i studied from the book! there were numerous questions pertaining to electricty (huh?)and physics which i had no idea about......i felt lost, frustrated and frankly stupid (which is a self-defeating label i have been struggling to avoid!).....overall i think i did ok but unless the curve is big, not sure i passed the science section. i had two columns of questions still to do in the science section when the proctor announced the 15 minute countdown to deadline . i then hurried through and guessed at most. sigh....i feel frustrated that these questions do not reflect what i know about the health sciences and really do not pertain to what one needs to know to be a successful nurse...it showed what i didn't know instead of what i do know...oh well....i will not beat myself up over it. my advice to those preparing to take it....beef up on boyle's law, chemistry terms and conversions, basic functions of the organs, blood pathway of the heart; practice, ohms, basic principles of physics and then practice, practice the math problems over and over in the book...specifically the fractions %s...and relax on the english and reading comprehension...there seemed to be plenty of time to complete that portion. you are not allowed a calculator or any food or drink, so bring some change in case there is a snack machine around for your two 5 minute breaks. i did suck on a cough drops which were in my coat pocket and the proctor did not say anything about that. i left with a low blood sugar and stress headache and have been working on re-encouraging my self for the remainder of the day. bottom line is don't take this test lightly. they really are trying to take the cream of the crop and are making us work for the privelage of getting accepted into a nursing program. good luck! :) nevergiveup

you could not have explained my sentiments better.. everything you said was/is exactly how i'm feeling. i'm curious as to what your scores were/ if you got in the program. thanks for sharing your story i appreciate it.

-la

aspiring_nursing · Nov 16, 2010

how r we supposed to do the math? do we get a calculator?

shannondingee81 · Nov 16, 2010

I am taking online classes, but I need some help with something... Right now I am pretty stuck...

I have a friend who recently got hacked and all of their computers (they were network sharing on windows 7) were raped. I don't know a lot about what virus software works best and what firewalls are best, but I found out that a lot of times if you have high speed internet your cable company may provide free softwars so you don't have to shell out that 80 bucks, and I found a free firewall here: http://www.zonealarm.com/security/en-us/zonealarm-data-lock.htm. It is called zonealarm and it sounds good, but does anyone else here know anything about it? When it comes to trying new things, I like to hear some feedback first.

What I have read is that it is easier to use than the winxp firewall.

I want to get back to my classes, but I am so nervous...

SierraMoon, ADN, BSN, RN · Nov 16, 2010

how r we supposed to do the math? do we get a calculator?

Sadly, no calculator. Practice without it and work on your speed. It's not fun but it's the only way.

Streamline2010 · Nov 17, 2010

What Never Give Up said is pretty true about that test. It is a test that tests college-prep track kind of knowledge, so you get the various questions in math, chem, physics, basic human structures, etc. I didn't find the English grammar vocabulary and etc. anything but easy. I'm always puzzled by people finding that difficult. But, I read a lot, and I read technical material and science books and textbooks more than anything else. The amusing part is that the scenarios for all of the language tests were mainly scenes from health care settings, lol. The math was easy, too, and they wore me out with repeats of ration and conversions, same darn thing over and over. If you don't know how to do it once, then you don't know how to do it 20x either. That may account for why the scores are at one extreme or the other.

I posted my study guides here earlier, but I didn't use any NLN things. I had the McGraw hill book that is "generic" to all nursing preadmission tests, the HESI pre-admission test study guide, and I Googled TEAYS test and that gave me some web site with pages of sample TEAYS questions. I had a general Biology Cliff's Notes book about 1" thick.

janachi · Feb 7, 2011

This testing is crazy. I have taken it twice already and getting ready to take it for the third and last time. The math and science were good for both times but English portion has proved to be a problem for me. Its a second language and just getting to get a higher score seems to be impossible. I am a GPA 4 at my college but they say they do not consider the GPA during selection, its just a tie breaker on the composite percentile. I find this to be unfair. The English (words used in the test)its not even something you can used when holding a normal conversation. Most of those words one will need a dictionary to know the meaning. I wish some of these colleges can be considerate in making their choices and use the right criteria. One can score high on that exam only and have a GPA of 2.5 and one can have a GPA of 4 and a percentile score of 86 and cant be admitted into the spring quarter of 2011. This is so unfair. colleges please be considerate.

janachi · Feb 7, 2011

Hi, do you mind sharing your study guide. I am one of those battling to get high score on the English. I am cool with science and math. Am about to take the exam for the 3rd time. This March. My last composite percentile was 86.

chicagoing, ADN, RN · Feb 7, 2011

This testing is crazy. I have taken it twice already and getting ready to take it for the third and last time. The math and science were good for both times but English portion has proved to be a problem for me. Its a second language and just getting to get a higher score seems to be impossibln the composite percentile. I find this to be unfair. The English (words used in the test)its not even something you can used when holding a normal conversation. Most of those words one will need a dictionary to know the meaning. I wish some of these colleges can be considerate in making their choices and use the right criteria. One can score high on that exam only and have a GPA of 2.5 and one can have a GPA of 4 and a percentile score of 86 and cant be admitted into the spring quarter of 2011. This is so unfair. colleges please be considerate.

Is it possible for you to apply to programs that do not weigh the exam score so highly and give more weight to pre- and co-requisite GPA? Why not apply to these other programs?

aspiring_nursing · Feb 10, 2011

Vocab-I have been studying the GRE Flas cards. they are really helpful. I do five words a day and use number2.com quizes.

I have been studying for 3 months on and off and have missed out on all the sciences. lol. have focused on english. I have the nln test from the website. on sale at barnes and noble-how should i study this book? sit and read for a couple of hours? how the the physics i am so scared about that-was there a lot of physics on the exam? Its been five yrs after high school and i was A in math and not i cant add or subtract without calc. Can you believe the HESI allowed calcs! anyway please suggest on how to study. I have a month left. Can a month be enough to study? To those that have retaken the NLN didnt you have to wait some time in between the test? Please let me know in case I may have to retake.

PedsHopeful · Jul 18, 2011

I am scheduled to take this test for the first time on Sept 24th. I was curious if anyone has taken it lately has any advice, any info on their experience and how they did. Any tips you can give would be helpful, I heard they updated the test. Thanks!! :yeah:

heidilavonne · Jul 27, 2011

Hello, I just took this test tonight. Let me tell you, I've been crying like a baby since I left the building. I too, feel a little betrayed by the NLN study guide, as I feel the material didn't pertain in either the math nor the science sections. I studied my butt off the past couple months, went & took a math class to brush up (since it's been 10 years since highschool), & I even took a physics class. I finished both courses just a couple months ago so, trust me, it's fresh in my mind. I've never taken physics, which is why I took that class. There's ALOT of physics on this test. The time limit really got me. I should mention, this is the SECOND time I'm taking the NLN. The first time I was in the 76%tile; this time, who knows. I nearly broke down crying mid-test tonight. Some advice: study roots, prefixes, & suffix's. It'll help cancel out some answers. For math: Print out worksheets from different levels of math & PRACTICE & DRILL your butt off. For science: focus on basics of A&P, acids/bases, reactions, electricity, waves, primary consumer/secondary consumer, GRAPHS (all kinds), WAVES, etc. That's what I saw most of. Trust me, don't just count on this book. Go to websites and quiz the crap out of yourself. The website I used that helped me: softschools.com; it has tons of quizzes. Also, physics4kids.com, chem4kids.com, biology4kids.com, etc is great for easy explanations! All that I've ever wanted to be in my life was a nurse. I've seen people get into the program b/c of a 99%tile but, they were NOT comforting, respectful, loving, caring people when they were in my CNA class w/ me. They wouldn't touch poop, blood, puss, urine, etc, yet, there they are, in the program. I find it very unfair, & not very smart of the schools to except just based on an exam score that is made mostly up of information that doesn't pertain to nursing. It's unfortunate. I wish all of us who care enough & have wanted this enough (for the right reasons), to look up all this info on this allnurses site, the best of luck. We deserve it! Breathe, be confident & know that you CAN do it. Take care :)

Hospice Nurse LPN, BSN, RN · Jul 27, 2011

Thanks for the info!