Nurses who took the NCLEX, share some tips, please!

[Nurseadam]

I'm taking the Nclex this thursday and would like you guys to give me tips. What I mean by tips is what have you done differently if you went back to answer the questions and took that test even though you passed?

What other tips about SATA/prioritization & delegation/Meds.......ect would you like to share ?

I need all the help I can get, thanks !!!!! :)

[purplechicxiii, BSN, RN]

I'm a fast test taker and this made me fail my 1st try. Will be retaking it on march 9 and I'm practicing well not to rush in answering questions.Breathe in and breathe out.Take your time to answer each question. Treat every question as if they're all counted. You will never know if a certain question is just a pretest item.If you are getting freaked out, take the break and do some walking, try to eat something light. - I failed to do this too.We can do this! Good luck to everyone! :)

[leebrenda]

I also failed on the first try and now feel like I have no chance since my nerves continue to get the best of me. I totally went blank after 20 questions because I was clicking my neck due to nerves and the women there stood behind me watching me and made me even more nervous. What a nightmare.....I have test anxiety to begin with and to have that added to it made it impossible for me. I don't know if the thought of doing it again will make me stronger or freak me out. Zanax is looking better all the time

[leebrenda]

Still studying for the nclex boards and I continue to get half right and half wrong. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what to do from here ?

[auntlala]

You will walk out thinking you failed no matter what. Just go in relaxed, take some deep breaths - and pretend it's just another nursing exam.

This is so true. I cried all the way home. I wish I had not started to feel panic when I went beyond the 75 questions. I felt like I kept getting the same question and lots of SATA questions. I got all 265 questions and felt sure I failed but I passed. Keep calm and read the questions carefully and don't rush. I took my time...5 hours. I am glad I did :) and a lot of praying. Best wishes!

[Kiwi82, BSN, RN]

When I sat down to take the test, I kept tally on how many of each kind of question I got. Maybe some people wouldn't suggest this, but it helped me keep my cool when I felt myself starting to freak out. I knew exactly how often I was getting the SATA questions; I knew I was passing and it boosted my confidence. I was relaxed the entire time because I knew how well I was doing. I got all kinds of questions:

SATAs: 9, 20, 22, 27, 33, 39, 44, 56, 66, 72, 78... Total 11 out of 92 questions

2 drug calc (both peds)

6 med questions

Several Prioritizing/Delegation

Several "client understand" or "needs further teaching"

3 image questions

1 exhibit question

4 infection control

What were your image and exhibit questions about?

Btw congrats on passing...I hope I have the same outcome!!!! So nervoussss

[Kiwi82, BSN, RN]

leebrenda,

Take some. It will help you out. I'm studying for mine too and I'm nervous as hell. Have you tried reading the rationales?