Pass California NCLEX-RN in 60 Questions

[2mint]

THE CALIFORNIA MINI-SERIES, PART 1: MATERIALS USED

Hello guys, I'm looking to doing a three-part mini-series on prepping for the NCLEX-RN on the CHEAP. There are lots of passing NCLEX posts, but none actually touch on the actual exam experience, which is the purpose for this mini-series.

Part 1: Materials; Part 2: Exam Play-by-Play; Part 3: Big Tips

STUDY TIME

Two months, Average of 2 hours per day

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCE

Took five months off to relax after graduation; apparently "you'll forget what you learned" was n/a.

MATERIALS USED

1) Saunders Comprehensive 5th ed, CD Questions

-A good Amzn user review comparing 5th and 6th ed.

-Reading was too daunting so I did only CD questions (about 25% completed prior to NCLEX)

-Less difficult than Q-Trainers, but challenging enough to build confidence

-Adequate rationales and strategies

2) ATI Practice Questions (our Nrsg program uses ATI—ahem...a ripoff...)

-Only did 3 targeted system practice tests

-I felt like it was too content heavy, rationales too sporifice, and Saunders strategies were mostly n/a.

-I ditched it because it was destroying my confidence level (averaged low 60s)

3) Kaplan Q-Trainers

-All QT's found freely via google

-Slightly harder than Saunders' with slightly better rationales

-I did only QT 1, 2, and 3 simply because I found out about it too late in my studies

-Similar to actual NCLEX questions in terms of answer choices

4) Nursinglab.com

-Free NCLEX-RN questions and reviews--what a GREAT resource!

-I reviewed all the Nursing Bullets—surprising not boring

-I did only 3 exams simply because I found out about it too late in my studies

5) The 35-page NCLEX notes floating around here.

6) Allnursingnotes, Medcram, Empowern (utube channels): watched nearly all videos

*Note: try to watch them at 1.5 speed—could possibly help you think faster as a result

NCLEX-RN STATS

-First time; Passed in 75 questions; Took an hour and a half

-20 SATAs

-Sizable delegation and lots of priority questions

-CA license (December) posted 1 and a half day later :)

-Not as difficult as I thought it would be

PERSONAL STATS

-An all-around 'A' student prior to nursing

-4.0 nursing pre-reqs

-3.0 nursing (in my book, that's a high-C)

-Scored a lowly mid-60's on ATI Predictor Exam a week before Finals

If a high-C nursing student who scored miserably on the ATI Predictor Exam could pass the NCLEX-RN in 75 questions first time around, you all could too.

I actually wrote down my experience after getting home, so if anyone would like to see Part 2: Exam Play-by-Play, please let me know.

Merry Christmas!!!

[Lujie_lily]

A little update: Still looking into NCLEX policy to whether I should post Part 2 or not.

However, here's a quick tip for the SATA questions:

1- It's best to be relaxed during the exam, likewise, the same principle applies when doing practice tests.

2- Doing a series of SATAs is very draining, yet you won't get more than three or four straight SATAs nor see that many SATAs on the NCLEX (context: passing in 75 questions).

3- Therefore, doing SATAs to the point of understanding of how to answer them (i.e. treating them as T/F questions) will be adequate.

Pro Tip:

When you see a special SATA, go ahead and put on a big grin

(Those who passed in 75 likely know what I'm referring to; those who expect to pass in 75 will know it when they see it).

I am new here. What does SATA stand for?

Thank you!

[CiaMia, BSN, MSN, DNP, RN, APRN, NP]

I am new here. What does SATA stand for?

Thank you!

Select All That Apply :)

[LDAthleteNurse, BSN, RN]

Thanks for this jewel! I take my NCLEX in 10 days and I'm so nervous.

[Nurse Leigh]

Who keeps track of questions in such detail? Please explain what a "3rd SATA in Triple-SATA-Set-1" and "2nd SATA in Triple-SATA-Set-2"

I agree. And why title this "California"- the NCLEX is a national exam. And I'm still confused with the whole "special SATA" thing.

I too passed in 75 questions on my first and only attempt. I did not keep track of all the type of questions I had. Didn't need more to worry about.

I passed largely because I attended a school with a good nursing program. I tested shortly after graduating and used a few NCLEX books and ATI but no classes.

I guess I just don't understand these posts about exactly what people did to pass when really, there is no magic plan to pass - the vast majority of American educated graduates pass on the first attempt. Attending a good school with good pass rates is a huge part of it.

[2mint]

Who keeps track of questions in such detail? Please explain what a "3rd SATA in Triple-SATA-Set-1" and "2nd SATA in Triple-SATA-Set-2"

As mentioned at the end of Part 1: I wrote this after I got home, primarily to re-assure myself that I did passed the exam and as I'm also a bike rider, it is just an over-all good habit (i.e. during a close-call when riding, riders generally recount the event so as prevent future similar events).

Triple SATAs = three straight SATAs; noticed I mentioned more than one Triple SATAs in Part 2.

Also, another reason for keep track of my performance will be included in Part 3.

[Nurse Leigh]

So you think getting three SATAs in a row has some special meaning? If so, no idea how you got that idea.

[LDAthleteNurse, BSN, RN]

2mint, keep it up! You're giving great pointers. Thanks alot.

[2mint]

Posting test question details violates the confidentiality agreement signed with NCSBN

Typing test question information/details/specifics = reconstructing exam questions and is specifically prohibited....

Everything has already been typed out. I only decided to break it up to 3 parts because it was too long. I had to take out specific NCLEX questions and went with the general "ID an NSAID"--well the question did ask about NSAID, just that term 'NSAID' or its un-abbreviated terms was not in the question.

I thought about it 4 or 5 five times before deciding to post PART 2, the one that has the most chances of violating NCLEX agreement if I didn't tread carefully.

This special SATA will be in Part 3...I can almost guarantee that you won't be disappointed.

[2mint]

....And why title this "California"...

...there is no magic plan to pass....

Completely agree...and also mentioned in Part 1, no mucho dinero need be expended...basically just Saunders, Nursinglab, and free videos.

I'm in CA, took it in CA, but the reason for the title was because I replied to two posts with CA in their titles...

[2mint]

Thanks for this jewel! I take my NCLEX in 10 days and I'm so nervous.

Cool. Hopefully Part 2 could quell your anxiety to some extent...but Part 3 is where I drew my confidence from.

[KinshasaS RN]

Where is part 3?

[RunnerRN2015, ASN, RN]

My plan was:

1) Do well in school.

2) Use whatever free resources I could get at school, online, and from classmates.

3) Don't freak out about NCLEX.

4) Take NCLEX ASAP after graduating. I took it 3 weeks after graduation.

5) Pass in 75 questions.

My very basic plan worked. I have no idea how many SATA I had nor do I care. IT MEANS NOTHING. There are above the line SATAs and below the line SATAs. You can pass with 20 SATAs and you can pass with NO SATAs.