Passed NCLEX-RN with 75Q. Tips and encouragement inside!

thesimplenurse · Jun 15, 2016

Hi all,

First, if you're studying or taking the NCLEX soon - BREATHE. You will be fine. It is NOT the end of the world. It is a TEST to assess MINIMUM competency - you've graduated nursing school right? Yes. Be proud of your accomplishment.

My take on finishing with 75 questions: Either you met their requirements or you did quite terribly.. but if the average passing rate for your state/province is above 80-85% passing rate - seriously guys, the odds are in YOUR favor. Relax!

Yes, it does sound intimidating. Trust me - I've been there. I've had my share of panic attacks, cry spells and so forth.

And if you've taken your NCLEX and you're waiting for results... BREATHE! You've done all that you could, studied in the best of your abilities, now let it go. Why waste the precious hours worrying and fretting? Go out and have fun!

TIPS FOR EFFECTIVE STUDYING

1. Have a structured scheduled. For myself, it made me feel better to write topics I want to review and cross it off my list.

2. Eat, exercise, sleep (yes, shocking isn't it?)

3. Take one day off a week. I regularly practiced a "Sabbath" day, meaning I studied for 6 days and took a day off without touching the books

3. Practice, practice, practice questions - how you can retain information the best!

4. Do not live in a cave - be there for friends, families, relatives, pets! My loved ones were a huge source of comfort during my studies

5. Work-life balance - I am blessed to have had my partner support me during my studies (making food for me all the time and not pressured me to find a job right away and just focus on studying) but I know many of you have families or are married. It really helps to just set aside 3-4 hours a day, even if it's just practice questions! Do not cram 6-8 hours a day (unless this is routine to you) - take mental and physical breaks!

6. Don't forget the topics they didn't highlight in nursing school! It's a broad exam. (aka don't focus too much on insulin, chest tubes, trach care... you might get questions about deodorants and hot chocolate, no kidding)

RESOURCES I USED

1. Saunders. Read it front to back. In hindsight, I found the pre-post procedures sections most helpful and just reading under the "Green triangle pyramid". Very resourceful for diagnosis and medications, more reliable than google.

2. UWorld - Nearly 1,900 questions. It is brutal. I mean, BRUTAL. But the rationales are INCREDIBLE! I swear by this and got my friends to go on board with me. Try the trial questions on their website! I fell in love with the clear cut rationales, professional pictures and overall NCLEX-like layout. Very easy to navigate and you can access it on your phone as an app too! My average: 40-50's first month then up to 60-80's.

3. Hurst - Good for those who want to touch up on content. I found their resource documents to be more beneficial than the videos - sums up immunizations, infectious disease, growth and development, and all that sorts into a document for you! Question bank was decent size (750 Q although I only did 250 of them) My average: 61 and 68%.

MY NCLEX EXPERIENCE

It was challenging no doubt. I had quite a bit of pediatrics, maternity, mental health, SATA, infectious diseases, and safety/infection control (all my least favorite topics). So my advice is when you study is to focus on EVERYTHING! Do not spend weeks on cardiac/endocrine/respiratory questions... just understand the basics, and move on.

Yes, NCLEX will feel like a random test and you begin to doubt everything you reviewed because the questions sound easy or straight forward and you read the answers and you're like "Whaaaaaaat in the world?" Remember, some of the questions are experimental! I felt like I was guessing every other question - this is a normal reaction.

I felt like crying midway and I was in shock after the exam... after much prayer, I decided.. let it go! I went to watch a movie, eat and had a good night's sleep. I studied for 2.5 months studiously taking a day off each week. All in all, prayer before hitting my studies was ultimately what got me through my studies. Believe in faith that you will pass :) !!

GOOD LUCK ALL!