Passed NCLEX-RN 1/2/14

[salanester]

I've been lurking around the forums for a long time and decided to finally sign up and share my experience since I was always seeing what others said on here.

I graduated December of 2012 from nursing school (ASN), but had to take a math class in order to complete the degree. I finished that in May of 2013 and through a comedy of errors finally got my ATT from the CA board this past November and scheduled the test. So, that is a full year between any nursing class and taking the exam. I have been a LVN since 2002, but working in psych. I didn't know much more about med/surg nursing than a day one new student.

I have to have the disclaimer that I'm not someone who gets nervous or freaks out over tests. I've always had the opinion that you prepare the best you can and it is what it is.

Like most I kept looking and trying to find what I should study and like me you will find a hundred recommendations...too many. I say pick a book or two and just concentrate on that. I had the newest Lippincott Q/A book and the small Kaplan book. I started 30 days prior and just did as many questions as I could every day. I didn't even keep track of what I missed as I believed the important part of the process is just reading the rationales. I was reminded of and learned a ton from that Lippincott book. I also had the Exam Cram RN book, but didn't use it.

The exam itself is so different for everyone that finding out the content from a thousand people won't do you much good. You really have to study a bit of everything. I didn't get one question involving knowing a lab value or any hotspot/audio questions. I did get a lot and I mean a lot of SATA questions. It shut off at 75.

My point...relax and study the best you can. If you spend even 5 minutes of time trying to find out what others had on their test I think it is time wasted that you could have used doing a couple more practice questions. I know that we are all different in how we handle and prepare for things, but take a step back and relax a little. Don't worry if so and so cut off at 75 or went to 265......prepare the best you can for what may come at you. With that...good luck to everyone preparing!

[trymybest]

This is great. And helps me a lot. I want to test in 28 days. How many hours a day did u study for. Because I am going to 2 review classes it will take up a lot if my time because I also work full time I'm wondering if this would be possible. Thank you

[salanester]

I think that is fine, but only you know yourself and how much time you need for sure. You would probably have the same doubts if you took the test in 28, 48, 68 days. I did at least a 100 questions, but remember to emphasize learning material from the rationales and not just speeding through them to meet a daily quota. I worked full time and have a 2 year old who doesn't understand the concept of 'daddy is studying' yet. I had to tell him it meant me being able to buy more toys for him if he gave me some quiet time…lol.

I get the need for a schedule and people wanting to formulate an exact plan of attack. If testing is a stressor for you don't add more quotas and deadlines you won't always meet that add more stress. Study the best you can!

[LegsMcgeeRN]

I've been lurking around the forums for a long time and decided to finally sign up and share my experience since I was always seeing what others said on here.

I graduated December of 2012 from nursing school (ASN), but had to take a math class in order to complete the degree. I finished that in May of 2013 and through a comedy of errors finally got my ATT from the CA board this past November and scheduled the test. So, that is a full year between any nursing class and taking the exam. I have been a LVN since 2002, but working in psych. I didn't know much more about med/surg nursing than a day one new student.

I have to have the disclaimer that I'm not someone who gets nervous or freaks out over tests. I've always had the opinion that you prepare the best you can and it is what it is.

Like most I kept looking and trying to find what I should study and like me you will find a hundred recommendations…too many. I say pick a book or two and just concentrate on that. I had the newest Lippincott Q/A book and the small Kaplan book. I started 30 days prior and just did as many questions as I could every day. I didn't even keep track of what I missed as I believed the important part of the process is just reading the rationales. I was reminded of and learned a ton from that Lippincott book. I also had the Exam Cram RN book, but didn't use it.

The exam itself is so different for everyone that finding out the content from a thousand people won't do you much good. You really have to study a bit of everything. I didn't get one question involving knowing a lab value or any hotspot/audio questions. I did get a lot and I mean a lot of SATA questions. It shut off at 75.

My point…relax and study the best you can. If you spend even 5 minutes of time trying to find out what others had on their test I think it is time wasted that you could have used doing a couple more practice questions. I know that we are all different in how we handle and prepare for things, but take a step back and relax a little. Don't worry if so and so cut off at 75 or went to 265……prepare the best you can for what may come at you. With that…good luck to everyone preparing!

CONGRATS!!! Did you go into the exam knowing everything or were there areas you were lets say 85% confident in? I plan to take mine the first week of February.