Took it on the 30th and results were posted on the Jan 2nd! Guess there weren't many testers during the Holiday week.
To prepare I took the advise of my coworkers. Many used different methods but the one consistent recommendation was "Do lot's of practice questions." About 70% highly recommended Kaplan but I decided to use that if I failed the 1st attempt.
I also didn't get in on Suzanne's plan. My ADD prevented proper preparation for that. I was using the Saunders book but then dropped in favor of the CD. The trouble with the Saunders CD is that it has a very fragile database that corrupted when I was about a 1/4 of the way through, so I can't recommend it based on that.
I read the small Kaplan book and NCLEX-RN for Dummies, both were good for strategies. I also found NCLEX-RN questions and answers made incredible easy 4th edition very helpful. I loved the immediate feedback and rationales. I checked it out from the local Library and liked the book so much I bought a copy. I also found Exam Cram especially helpful. The best part of that CD was that it kept hammering your week points until they became you strong points. That database was bullet proof and the simulated NCLEX can boost confidence. The disadvantage is that it can become too rote and impair critical thought needed to pass the real thing. Which is why I wouldn't use it alone. Another great tool is the NCSBN site. I signed up for that twice during my studies. It's a great value.
For study on the go I used the Saunders flash cards and a flash card program called Mental Case (Mac). Mental case allowed me to make flash cards targeting weak areas with graphics that I could use anywhere on the iPhone. I also made mp3's on the iPhone to listen to on the commute to work.
Hope some of you find these tips useful in your preparation.
Fail, fail, pass!!! The third times a charm in my case! Just got my results about 5 minutes ago. It's 4:30am and i'm wide awake, i woke my wife up and neither us can go to sleep. So glad it's it's over and so glad it's beggining!!!
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Fail, fail, pass!!! The third times a charm in my case! Just got my results about 5 minutes ago. It's 4:30am and i'm wide awake, i woke my wife up and neither us can go to sleep. So glad it's it's over and so glad it's beggining!!!
Ahhh...i am totally with you guys!! Just found out this morning at 7am that I passed!!! I took mine on the 31st....and found my name on the website today, the 6th!:wink2:
Ahhh...i am totally with you guys!! Just found out this morning at 7am that I passed!!! I took mine on the 31st....and found my name on the website today, the 6th!:wink2:
Fail, fail, pass!!! The third times a charm in my case! Just got my results about 5 minutes ago. It's 4:30am and i'm wide awake, i woke my wife up and neither us can go to sleep. So glad it's it's over and so glad it's beggining!!!
Congratulations...I sure pray that I join your bliss soon~ Still waiting on my results from my 4th attempt~ God Bless~
stacyd90019
15 Posts
Fail, fail, pass!!! The third times a charm in my case! Just got my results about 5 minutes ago. It's 4:30am and i'm wide awake, i woke my wife up and neither us can go to sleep. So glad it's it's over and so glad it's beggining!!!