PASSED the NCLEX-RN! :)

Published

Specializes in Pediatric Cardiac ICU.

Hello all! I took the NCLEX-RN on Saturday 2/14/15 and I just found out this morning that I passed! The computer shut off at 156 I believe and took me just over 2hrs with no breaks. I had a ton of alternate format questions like SATA, drag and drop, and others. I just thought I'd give some advice from a different perspective. I didn't just graduate nursing school. I graduated in April 2013 and between life and my husband being in the military, I had to put my career on hold. We were finally in a place that I could take the next step towards my career. I'll admit, I was really nervous about taking the nclex with how long it's been since I graduated. I felt as if I was completely going against the odds and I prepared myself for the fact that I may fail because of how long I waited to take it.

I received my ATT on January 15th and I scheduled my exam for February 15th. I had been studying off and on for a month before I got my ATT but I didn't really start hard core studying until my exam my scheduled. I honestly studied every single day, but had to work around my work schedule which was tough but I just committed to studying anytime I wasn't working. I thought about taking a review course because I thought it might help my odds but in the end it was just too expensive. These are the items I used to study:

--Saunders Comp Review for the NCLEX-RN Examination 6th edition (used the online resources too)

--Strategies for Test Success (saunders 3rd edition)

--NCLEX-RN Content Review Guide Kaplan (Kindle version, FREE on Amazon, used on my mac)

--Nclex Mastery App for iPhone (paid for the full version)

--35 page review that I found on this site!

As far as my study strategy goes, I was more concerned with content because I needed a serious refresher. I'd say the first few weeks I focused mainly on that and then the last week or so I did a lot of questions using the Saunders online resources through Evolve and going over everything once more including meds more in depth.

When going over content, I used my study strategies that I had in nursing school. For me it helps to read over the material and then write it down on a notepad in my own words. It allows me to write the most important things and it just helps info stick better for me (I went through two basic sized notebooks).

I wouldn't suggest waiting to take your exam but if life happens and you don't have another option, just know that it is still possible to take the exam after being out of school for a good bit. I highly recommend all the study materials I used. Saunders was a great, easy read and covered all the important stuff. I registered my book on the Elsevier Evolve website and had access to a ton of study questions which were so helpful. The test taking strategy book was super helpful in recognizing wrong answers and I definitely used those skills on the NCLEX. The Kaplan content review I read through (didn't take notes) but i liked how they set up the medication chapter (I did take notes, they grouped meds into their classifications). One thing I found surprising and sucky was that the Nclex did not have both names of the drugs, they only had the generic name. You really need to focus on those and recognize prefixes, suffixes, and root words to decide classifications of meds because the brand name is not there to help you out.

Well now that I've written my own book (lol), I hope that this is helpful to some and is encouraging at the same time. As long as you work hard, nothing is impossible! Good luck everyone!! :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Congrats to you!!!!! Inspiring!!! i just passed PN!!! Next stop is RN for me!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatric Cardiac ICU.

Thank you! Congrats to you as well, and good luck in your nursing journey :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Congratulations!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Congratulations!!!! How did you prepare for the SATA? Those are my weakness.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Congrats!! Quick question, did you read the entire Saunders 6th edition review book?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Congratulations!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatric Cardiac ICU.

As far as the SATA questions, those were my weakness too! I would either pick an extra answer or leave out one answer but either way I'd get everyone right but one answer in a question which was so frustrating!! The best thing I learned for answering those is what I learned in that strategies book. You have to read each answer and relate it back to the question and ask yourself "does this apply?" or "is this true?". Looking at it in a true or false way helps. Doing practice questions in that format also helps because you can see how questions are answered, and ALWAYS read the rationales!

Yes I did go through the whole Saunders 6th edition book. I know its a huge book but I just paced myself and did a chapter every day or two days. I really wanted to focus on content so that was the best route for me. People just getting out of school will probably focus more on test taking strategies and doing a ton of practice questions, and maybe that 35 page review the day before the exam as a quick refresher. Hope this helps! :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Management, Med/Surg, Clinical Trainer.

Congrats!!!! and good luck on the Nursing road.

Do you have a job lined up?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

congratulatioms.!!! where can i get the 35 page review?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatric Cardiac ICU.

Thanks everyone and no I don't have a job lined up but I've started to apply so hopefully soon! And here is the review!! https://allnurses.com/attachment.php?...7=&d=1310076980

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Pediatric Cardiac ICU.

Google "nclex cram sheet" too it should say Learning shark next to the link, that's helpful to read right before the exam too!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion