I scheduled my NCLEX-RN for September 8th, and I'm halfway through my Kaplan book (plan to take all the tests), and I plan to look at Saunders and LaCharity book too... as well as ATI's if I have time.
We all just got our ATTs via email today so everyone for the most part scheduled their test date.
There are a few people that are taking it really soon, and they all said they haven't reviewed a thing. One is taking it on Monday and a couple other are going next Thursday. Have any of you who have taken it not studied for this exam and passed? I just feel scared to take this exam without preparing somewhat. I feel like I've forgotten all this pharm and procedures and stuff. So I need to study and do questions.
I will tell you what I would tell any of my friends, study and do questions.
You might be really smart, and know "everything", but the way the questions are worded and the way the answers are is very specific to the nclex.
The nclex does not compare to any other test you have taken before, at least for me, and i have a bachelors in another science field, from one of the top schools in my state, so I am telling you, those people who took it and passed without studying are VERY lucky.
Another thing you might want to think about, since you are in nursing, you do want to know what you are doing when you start working, and reviewing the things you learned in school is not going to hurt you, that includes medications and signs and symptoms of diseases that you WILL come across once you start working.
Personally, I want to know what I am doing, and what I am talking about when i am talking with my patients and when I studied for it, it refreshed my memory, and I understood things even better than before.
Also, I feel that, you can never know enough, so why not study for it? If not only because you will be better at understanding patho when you start working, but because your chances of passing the FIRST time wil be better.
The thought to me of having to go to take it a second time was devastating enough to really make me want to study and understand the material.
I know that when it comes to the day before, we are all like "i just want to get it over with!" but when you are sitting down taking it, and you realize how difficult it is, you might start to wish you had prepared better.
that's just what I think, and what I would tell my friends, because we have all gone through all the work that was involved in nursing school so why not push yourself a little more, you will get the benefits soon. Instead of "hoping" to pass, and then not passing, and then having to go through the whole preparation process, and having to go a second time, not only will it take you more time, but it will be (at least for me) mentally/emotionally difficult, dont you think?
Another thing, some people who say that they didn't really study, or didnt prepare and passed it, do you really know if they are telling you the truth? Some people use this as an excuse 'well I didn't pass, but I didn't really study" when they really should say "I didn't pass because I didnt study enough, I didn't prepare enough, etc"
I always tell my friends, dont worry too much about what other people are doing, do what you know is what YOU need to do, what do you need to do to make sure you have prepared enough for this test? I can tell you, you can never feel completely prepared for it cause it's difficult and it is just too much info, but I have seen that people who do over 3000 questions, and review their weak areas have passed.
So, I don't mean to be mean, or rude to anyone, I am just trying to tell you what I would tell any of my friends, do you want to pass? if the answer is yes, then prepare for it.
I only studied the Hurst book they gave us. And honestly during the Hurst review, I knew 95% of what they told us from school. The only other thing I did was practice questions from Hurst and the LaCharity book over the course of a week maybe? And last but not least, I looked over the infection control stuff posted on this site. Passed my first time in 75 questions back on July 6th. I know a few others from my class who did the same thing and passed in 75. Honestly the test wasn't bad AT ALL.
I certainly wouldn't recommend the "no studying" approach. I know two classmates that took it without studying and managed to pass, but I know many more who took the test cold and failed. So, someone that takes it without doing any organized preparation might get lucky and pass, but the odds are not in their favor. As for me, I took Kaplan, did over 7000 questions and reviewed daily for 2 months before I took it. Some may say that was overkill, but I wasn't about to take that test cold. Doing so is an incredible gamble in my opinion. I passed with 75 questions.
My friend passed using saunders Q&A using the tutor mode in the CD the book came in. Different strokes for different folks as they say. If any of your resources have a diagnostic test or anything like that maybe start doing that and see your weak areas, and mainly focus on them. I failed my first nclex test with 265 questions. I lacked both knowledge (only read saunders and skipped thru OB/peds/psych/meds for each topic chapters... bad move since my exam was like 75% peds & OB) and practice questions (my only practice questions are the one by the end of the chapter lol) But good luck to you, try to get some basic information, and definitely take your time reading the each questions.
I barely studied. I pretty much just crammed my lab values and took about 2 hours to quickly skim over the Evolve/Reach book. I passed with 75 questions. Just to let you know, no matter how well you do, you'll feel like you did poorly. That's just how the test is designed, but don't jump to any conclusions until you get your notice.
And please, don't call me a liar because it's the truth. Some nursing schools are tougher than others and do a better job of preparing their students. The one I attended has a first time passing rate of over 97% on the NCLEX. Only about half who try graduate.
Specializes in Corrections, Education, Med/Surg, AGNP-HIV.
Just took it two weeks ago. Passed 75 questions. felt unsure. Luckily AZ post results within 24 hours so no long torturous wait. Did not study alot. 50 - 100 questions a day for a week prior. Use latest Kaplan book, Saunder too much not really helpful. Alot of it should be from memory what you learned in school and using your critical thinking skills. As said in posts above you know how much you need to study and some schools have great NCLEX passing rates and do a better job of sharing their knowledge than others. Don't overstudy and overthink it. read each question make sure you understand what it is asking, the answer is there.
I didn't study all that much, and passed with 75 question. My school started us from the first exam with NCLEX style questions and we were required to do a proctered ATI exam each term.
I did take the Hurst review, and did about 20 questions a day and stopped studying about a week and half before the exam.
Study and put some effort into it if you want a better chance of passing. There are those who took in, understood, and retained the material better than others during school who have no need to prepare, but they are few and far between. Most of us need to study to some extent. Good luck.
RN-Ella
15 Posts
I will tell you what I would tell any of my friends, study and do questions.
You might be really smart, and know "everything", but the way the questions are worded and the way the answers are is very specific to the nclex.
The nclex does not compare to any other test you have taken before, at least for me, and i have a bachelors in another science field, from one of the top schools in my state, so I am telling you, those people who took it and passed without studying are VERY lucky.
Another thing you might want to think about, since you are in nursing, you do want to know what you are doing when you start working, and reviewing the things you learned in school is not going to hurt you, that includes medications and signs and symptoms of diseases that you WILL come across once you start working.
Personally, I want to know what I am doing, and what I am talking about when i am talking with my patients and when I studied for it, it refreshed my memory, and I understood things even better than before.
Also, I feel that, you can never know enough, so why not study for it? If not only because you will be better at understanding patho when you start working, but because your chances of passing the FIRST time wil be better.
The thought to me of having to go to take it a second time was devastating enough to really make me want to study and understand the material.
I know that when it comes to the day before, we are all like "i just want to get it over with!" but when you are sitting down taking it, and you realize how difficult it is, you might start to wish you had prepared better.
that's just what I think, and what I would tell my friends, because we have all gone through all the work that was involved in nursing school so why not push yourself a little more, you will get the benefits soon. Instead of "hoping" to pass, and then not passing, and then having to go through the whole preparation process, and having to go a second time, not only will it take you more time, but it will be (at least for me) mentally/emotionally difficult, dont you think?
Another thing, some people who say that they didn't really study, or didnt prepare and passed it, do you really know if they are telling you the truth? Some people use this as an excuse 'well I didn't pass, but I didn't really study" when they really should say "I didn't pass because I didnt study enough, I didn't prepare enough, etc"
I always tell my friends, dont worry too much about what other people are doing, do what you know is what YOU need to do, what do you need to do to make sure you have prepared enough for this test? I can tell you, you can never feel completely prepared for it cause it's difficult and it is just too much info, but I have seen that people who do over 3000 questions, and review their weak areas have passed.
So, I don't mean to be mean, or rude to anyone, I am just trying to tell you what I would tell any of my friends, do you want to pass? if the answer is yes, then prepare for it.