Passed NCLEX-RN!!! Study Tips!

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Hey everyone! I took the NCLEX-RN exam on 10/14/14 for the third time and passed. I know this is kind of long but i hope it helps someone. I would refer to this forum throughout my studying and i always told myself i would come back and share my study tips. I was devastated the first two times when I found out that I did not pass. My first exam I got all 265 questions and left the testing center in tears and knew right away I didn't pass. My second exam I got 105 questions and felt ok about it but still had some doubts because i didn't get really difficult questions or a lot of SATA. My third exam I got 103 questions, 22 SATA, 1 EKG, and 1 picture multiple choice question. It comforted me that I got more SATA this time but i was still worried. The first two times I never really had a study plan. I did maybe 200 questions before my first test and then maybe 500 before the second test. I never thought it would take me 3 times to pass the NCLEX. I always had a hard time in nursing school with testing and I have grown up with ADD and always struggled with the challenges that came with it. So when I got the third chance to take the test I was determined to not loose hope.

I finally broke down and decided to buy the online Kaplan course and hoped that would help. I also printed out a blank calendar and wrote down what studying i did everyday so I could keep track of how many questions I was doing. I made it a goal of mine to complete 3000 questions before my exam date. I also printed off a NCLEX review packet that is 35 pages that i found on one of the threads on all nurses, it has good mnemonics on it and review content so i made flash cards of the ones i thought would help me. I completed the kaplan diagnostic test, question trainers 1-7, and the readiness test. I also completed 71% of the test bank with a cumulative of 61%. I also wrote down every rational for the questions that i did to help me remember what I was studying. Some of the kaplan rationals will give you a quick break down of the topic which was a nice quick review. I watched the kaplan strategy seminar and test taking workshop and thought those helped but didn't watch any of the lecture videos. My kaplan question trainer scores were:

Diagnostic Test: 59.4%

T1: 61.3%

T2: 61.8%

T3: 72%

T4: 58.6%

T5: 58%

T6: 62%

T7: 60%

Readiness Exam: 63% which translates to a 96% pass rate.

I also purchased the 3 week NCSBN review course, but did that like a week before my exam so i didn't have time to go through every module but i did the required ones.

The day before the test I had to travel to the testing center that was a couple hours away so I invited a friend from nursing school to come with me to help ease my anxiety. A lot of people say to not study the day before or the day of the test but to help me calm down i found that doing some questions made me feel better. So the day before the test i did 50 questions in the morning before we left, had my friend help me study my flash cards while i drove, and then did 90 questions after dinner. For these questions i didn't have time to right down all of the rationals but i read through them. Then the morning of the test i did 25 questions from the kaplan q bank to get me warmed up. I didn't complete 3000 questions but i was close with 2884. I meditated and prayed the night before the test and also the morning before the test. I was scheduled to test at 10:15 am and got to the testing center at 9:45 am. Checked in and got to my computer and said a prayer before i started. I felt that because i did kaplan i was familiar with a lot of the content in the questions. I got a lot of priority, infection control, only a couple meds, and some education questions. I got to question 60 and decided to take a break, i had brought a snack and some green tea with me and took about 5 minutes and decided to go back in. When the test kept going after 75 questions i got a little bit worried but took a few deep breaths and kept going. It shut off at 103 and i was still kind of worried because of my past experiences. I got home that night and cried, i think it was because all of the adrenaline had worn off and i was feeling the stress of the exam. On 10/16/14 i was able to buy the quick results and couldn't get myself to do it so my friend that went with me to the test came over and did it for me and she screamed you passed and i was so relieved!

Throughout my studying I wanted to really become centered and focused. I deleted my facebook, instagram, and twitter account, and told my friends that i needed some space so that i could focus more. I practiced meditation and yoga, took a daily vitamin, flaxseed with fish oil (there is research that shows that flaxseed and omega 3 oils can improve memory), and also used lavender (to help relive anxiety) and rosemary (which has also proved to improve memory and increase concentration) essentials oils.

Thanx for letting me share and I hope my story and study tips help others preparing for this exam! :)

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Congrats :)

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"Throughout my studying I wanted to really become centered and focused. I deleted my facebook, instagram, and twitter account, and told my friends that i needed some space so that i could focus more. I practiced meditation and yoga, took a daily vitamin, flaxseed with fish oil (there is research that shows that flaxseed and omega 3 oils can improve memory), and also used lavender (to help relive anxiety) and rosemary (which has also proved to improve memory and increase concentration) essentials oils."

It sounds funny but I too started taking my vitamins in the mornings and a glass of milk with carnations vanilla flavor! Then I would do 100 questions and after going over the test I would have my oatmeal with raisins and no milk. But it helped me relax and then I would read or review content.

The other thing is that I had a Saunders lab sheet that I added more labs to it and I take it every time I had to use the little-boys-room for #2! And I had no problems with lab values. Repetition is the name of the game for labs, pharma, and content; so if you have your foundations solid; you will be in a better position to answering those passing level questions in nclex.

Thanks once again for a great article.

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Thanks for sharing your success story and CONGRATULATIONS for finally passing the NCLEX! :up: I'm about to take my exam too but I do not have a scheduled test date yet (my exam applications are in process). So while waiting for my eligibility and ATT, I'm taking my time to study as much as I can. I'm also taking Kaplan NCLEX RN review course and I felt really bad with my test scores:bluecry1: (my diagnostic and practice exams were in 40s% :cry:) Now I feel very anxious if I'll pass the exam or not :coldfeet: I'm hoping for the best... ...and yes, I also deleted all my social network accounts too so I can concentrate in studying :dead: God bless you in your job hunt soon!:up:

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Specializes in OR Nurse.

Congrats :) Im taking my soo for my 3rd time.

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses

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Nursegirl2014

Was the "NCLEX review packet that is 35 pages that i found on one of the threads on all nurses" a link or was it where someone typed out all the information ?

Thanks

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