Passed in 75. My 2 cents.

[INN_777, BSN, RN]

Hi all! As the tradition goes, after passing the NCLEX this past week I wanted to share my preparation and thoughts. Accelerated BSN grad here.

Preparation:

Our school used ATI throughout the program. We did a Predictor exam at the end - I got a 98% chance of passing (~77% raw score). They also gave us a 3 day ATI NCLEX prep "bootcamp". For some reason, I did not take ATI seriously as my perception was that it was very different from NCLEX. Wrong! Now having done the test, I think it actually helps a lot.

I used Kaplan online (On Demand) as my main prep. I did not listen to their content lectures - tried and didn't like them. I listened to all the Class lectures, did 100% of the qbank (~100 q per day) and all 7 trainers. I followed the plan that they recommended: Diagnostic, QT 1-4, Class lectures, Readiness, QT 4-5, then QBank and QT 6-7 closer to the exam as practice tests. Results below:

Diagnostic - 64%

Readiness - 63%

QT1 - 73%

QT2 - 59%

QT3 - 66%

QT4 - 64%

QT5 - 60%

QT6 - 66%

QT7 - 67%

Qbank average: 70%

I found Kaplan to be very helpful in getting used to answering questions and giving me a framework to think about them. It gave me a starting point and a thinking strategy on even the most complex ones. Like a safety blanket: when you see a crazy question, instead of going into panic mode, you start using the Kaplan strategiesJ And reviewing endless rationales I think gets you into the habit of thinking NCLEX-style. I didn't like the Kaplan content (other than question rationales), so I used other resources for some content review, such as the ATI nclex prep book, especially for pharm (very good pharm section there – succinct, accurate, not overwhelming, great!), some Hurst materials (I didn't do the course), online research, etc.

Day Before: I know most recommend not to study the day before, but I believe only you know yourself best. I have, as they say in business, a last in – first out inventory system” in my brain. I remember best what I look at last and reviewing right before the exam has always worked for me. So I used my day before to review some of the most critical (to me) info: labs, a few difficult for me pharm categories and fluids/electrolytes. But I didn't cram, spaced it way out, took time to hang out, watch TV, go for a walk and do other things to distract myself and manage anxiety.

35 page guide circulating on allnurses Helpful – read it!

The eternal Hurst vs Kaplan dilemma: Again, everybody asks this and I have labored with this decision too. But, again, only you know your own strengths and weaknesses. Hurst has awesome content, Kaplan has great practice and strategies. Both (in my humble) are much weaker at the other part. I realized that I most often know the general content of the question, narrow answers down to 2 and then have trouble picking the right one consistently. To me, this said I had more of a strategy than a content issue. So I went with Kaplan and was very happy with it. Of course you can do both (if time and funds allow) but you will likely not utilize each resource fully in that case – too much.

The exam: After taking the exam, I am really puzzled why so many say this exam looks like nothing else, that questions are weird etc. I thought it looked like everything. It was like Kaplan and like ATI and like my school NCLEX style exams. Both in format and in complexity. Not harder, not easier – very similar. So, in that regard, I thought both Kaplan and ATI were good prep. Kaplan better, in my experience, due to decision tree and good rationales.

SATA: Didn't count but felt like at least 50%. But do not fear, not all SATA are created equal. Some feel very doable, other - very difficult. It's a mix, just like with the multiple choice. I do think (just my theory) that they are mostly passing level questions, though. So, don't be frustrated if you get many, be happy (never thought I would say thatJ).

That's all, folks. Good luck!!! You CAN do it!

[dianah, ASN]

Big Congratulations to you for passing!

Thank you for sharing your study regime, and I wish you success in your career!

[mandafurr]

Congrats, RN! I thought it was hard not because of the questions types necessarily, but I had such obscure topics! Things I had never seen/talked about in all of my nursing school career. I do think your correct that the ATI helped a lot though, I found their questions to be the most similar. Congrats again! :)

[turtlesRcool]

I honestly think passing NCLEX is much more about what you learn in your program than what you study after you finish.

OP and I were in the same program (on different campuses), and what I'm seeing on my campus is that nearly everyone is passing in 75 questions. Some took additional prep courses, some had study plans they stuck to for several hours per day, and others did very little prep at all. And of the ones I know of, 12 have passed in 75, one passed in 78, there's one other pass who didn't announce his number of questions. I bring this up because if it were a few people getting only 75 questions, I'd chalk it up to excellent studying. But for nearly everyone to pass with the minimum number of questions, even those who didn't study much, I have to assume we were just well prepared by our program.

Those who used additional programs or question banks report that ATI (that we all had to do as part of the program) seemed to have questions that seemed most like the actual NCLEX questions. I did the required ATI, but no other program. I reviewed lab values and drug endings. Did some studying on cardiac (which I find to be the most complex) and endocrine (my weakest system). Mainly I took some ATI practice tests, but even then, I probably only did about 300 questions total. And I passed in 75 on the NCLEX. To be honest, I think we all could have passed without any additional study time, maybe not in 75 questions, but we could have passed.

I think the prep courses can be very beneficial for many people who need to work on basic strategy or to review areas they are truly weak in. But from my perspective, the review companies also make a lot of money by making the NCLEX seem harder than it is. Good students from strong programs pay hundreds of dollars for test prep they likely don't need. NCLEX is pass/fail, so unlike the SAT where scoring a few points higher can help, no one will ever know if you passed in 75 questions or 265.

[INN_777, BSN, RN]

Congrats, Turtles! Everyone from our campus has passed on 75 as well so far. I think it's a combination of the program giving us a solid base and a very very driven group of students.