I looked through these discussion boards a lot while I was preparing for the NCLEX, and I told myself that I would come back to share my experience if i passed. I also wanted to share my experience because I got stressed out reading about others' preparation on this site because it seemed like everyone was doing so much more than I was.
BEFORE THE EXAM
I graduated from my accelerated BSN program in the middle of December. I moved back to my hometown and did not do anything nursing related until I bought the Kaplan Q bank (the Q bank ONLY, not the course) around 12/22. When I bought the Q bank, I did the NCLEX practice exam 1 and got 58%. I was discouraged with my score so I took a break until after the new year and did not do any questions or review.
After the new year, I really got down to business and started completing the Kaplan q bank, I did 75-150 questions a day until I completed the entire bank. My cumulative score for the bank was 62%. I then went back and did ONLY the questions that I got incorrect the first time around. Each day after I completed my questions, I would go back and review the rationales for ALL of the questions. I wrote down some of the rationales (the ones I had trouble remembering) into a notebook. It was really helpful to review the rationales because they sometimes contained information that did not have to do with the particular question asked, but would help me for other questions.
My scores on the Q bank questions ranged from 52%-77%. So if you are scoring low on the q bank questions, do not get discouraged!! I finished the entire q bank plus the ones I got wrong ~3 days before the exam. My practice NCLEX scores on kaplan were 58%, 54%, 90%, and 32%(all SATA questions). I also found the Question Trainers online (did not pay for them) and did QT 4,5, and 6. I do not know what my scores on them though because of the way the website was set up.
THE DAY BEFORE THE EXAM
The day before the exam, I babysat from 8-5:30. Throughout the day, I did 106 Lacharity questions that I found on quizlet. After I got off, I went to the bar with my friend for a couple of drinks. When I got home, I skimmed the 38 page study guide that's floating around on here and then went to bed.
EXAM DAY
I woke up at 6:30 am (test was at ? and had breakfast. I got my dad to drive me to the testing center so that I could review lab values and nutrition info (what foods are high in potassium, phosphorus, etc). I went into the testing center at 7:30 am and waited for my number to be called. I started the exam at around 8:05. I completed the entire process (exam instructions from the test center employee, pre test questions, test, post test survey) in 1 hour and 50 minutes.
I was nervous during the test, but not to the point where I was shaking or anything. I was able to focus on the questions. I had 22 SATA, 3 drag and drop, 5 medications, and no calculations. I wasn't sure on any of the medication questions, but I guess that I was able to make good guesses.
When I got home, I did the PVT and got the good pop up. I used a visa gift card that had $2 on it. The card you choose to enter has to VALID. It does not have to have $200 dollars on it, but the card number and expiration date has to be valid. After I got the good pop up the first time, I tried it again by changing the last number on my card. It said "invalid credit card number". When I entered it again using my real number, I got the good pop up once again.
Today when I woke up, I checked my state board website and I saw that I was officially an RN and I have never felt so relieved!
In case you didn't read my ramblings above, here is a summary of what I did to prepare:
The entire Kaplan q bank
Lacharity questions I found on quizlet
3 Question Trainer banks
38 page study guide that I found on this site
I studied for 3 weeks total. I hope that this helps anyone that is discouraged about their Kaplan Q bank scores or anyone that is only using the Q bank to study.
GOOD LUCK to those of you preparing to take the exam soon! Just believe in yourself, trust your knowledge, and do as many practice questions and you can get your hands on!
CONGRATS!!! I received my ATT this afternoon and scheduled my exam on Feb 10th!! I'm so excited and nervous at the same time. I'm mostly terrified of SATA and pharm. My school did ATI and I've been continuing to do the practice tests that they gave us (old and new). I average in the high 60s to low-mid 70s on most of them. But I got a 51.7% on my latest pharm ATI practice test.
What types (classification) of medications should I really focus on? There's no way I can study and remember ALL the meds and their side effects and contraindications.
Is there any other type of breakdown you can share? For example how much of peds, maternity, mental health, prioritization, pharm, etc? I'd really appreciate the help and any other advice you can give me.
Congrats!!! Thankyou for the tips! I'll try to get the review materials you had. I'll be taking my NCLEX this February 26,2015. I felt the same way you did.. I thought of re-scheduling the exam. But now all I have to do is just do my Best! Takecare and God Bless!:)
I take my NCLEX exactly 7 days from today.. I just did QTT 5 and got a 58.0% so I'm feeling bummed out... I was wondering if you guys have any advice?
I'm an LPN ( I took my NCLEX-PN 9/27/13) but I never got to work as one since I got into the LPN-RN program right away. So even thought I have taken an NCLEX before I am lacking the knowledge and experience some one my classmates have.
Anything helps... Please and Thank you
What 38 page review are you guys talking about?? I have one that a guy from Kaplan gave us when he came to my school to do the kaplan nclex-prep. But i just want to make sure it's the same one
I take my NCLEX exactly 7 days from today.. I just did QTT 5 and got a 58.0% so I'm feeling bummed out... I was wondering if you guys have any advice?
I'm an LPN ( I took my NCLEX-PN 9/27/13) but I never got to work as one since I got into the LPN-RN program right away. So even thought I have taken an NCLEX before I am lacking the knowledge and experience some one my classmates have.
Anything helps... Please and Thank you
What 38 page review are you guys talking about?? I have one that a guy from Kaplan gave us when he came to my school to do the kaplan nclex-prep. But i just want to make sure it's the same one
Hi, I just read this. Congrats on passing your nclex exam. I have a question for you? I just logged onto Pearson to schedule another exam. I did what you did and used a gift card credit card. It would not let me schedule the exam. Is that a good sign? You mentioned getting a pop-up and I wasn't sure if that's what you were referencing. Thanks for your help. As you can imagine I am freaking out!
Congrats!!! I passed in late Jan and, reading your recap, I remembered that I too wrote down rationales that I did not know in a notebook. Even looked up more on certain ones. That was my way of reviewing content.
jlynn_RN
99 Posts
CONGRATS!!! I received my ATT this afternoon and scheduled my exam on Feb 10th!! I'm so excited and nervous at the same time. I'm mostly terrified of SATA and pharm. My school did ATI and I've been continuing to do the practice tests that they gave us (old and new). I average in the high 60s to low-mid 70s on most of them. But I got a 51.7% on my latest pharm ATI practice test.
What types (classification) of medications should I really focus on? There's no way I can study and remember ALL the meds and their side effects and contraindications.
Is there any other type of breakdown you can share? For example how much of peds, maternity, mental health, prioritization, pharm, etc? I'd really appreciate the help and any other advice you can give me.
Thanks!