Published Feb 11, 2015
SongofaNurse
50 Posts
I said after I passed my NCLEX!! I would post my journey..
Well, I graduated in December. We took the Hurst Review and the ATI Live Review before graduation. I started to really study after new years. First, I made notecards with all my lab values and the endings of all the medications *its a strategy used with ATI Live Review* I made sure I knew these. I went back over all the Hurst Review again with the 14 day activation that they let you use to listen to the medsurg topics again. I would do about two sections a day! After I would listen, I would do the sections in Lacharity. I did have the Lippincott Q&A book, but I found this book to be good, but it is detailed so I focused more on Lacharity and knowing my content.
I scheduled my exam where I would have 30 days to prepare. So, It was crunch time. I followed my regimen of answering questions while doing the topics. I have a dry erase board that I use to basically teach myself the information over again. After, I went through all the Lacharity first chapters and Hurst. I looked at the RN plan that they give and made sure I knew about TPN, Central Lines, Giving blood, Infection Control, Canes & Walkers (for some reason I hate this portion) I would write what I am supposed to do with these on the dry erase board. Hurst has an great infection control section to me *then they have a quiz yourself sheet* alongside ATI
Okay so, I did all this studying and closer to the test date-- I started to freak out.. I started doing questions more and more questions, and at the beginning of studying I would get questions right.. BUT closer to my test date I started to miss them bc I was anxious! I believe being anxious can hurt you so I said no more questions and rationales! Sooo I found this Quizlet (the app) with the user Ammyntran and I went back over my Hurst with these notecards! Honestly, if I found these notecards I would have incorporated them sooner. I just read content and did notecards.
Sorry for this long post.. BUT okay on test day.. I felt a real calm! I had prayed & my church prayed for me. I had an energy drink before I came and a protein bar & entered the testing site. I took two breaks during my exam.. I had to splash water on my face at one break and pray!! My test went by 75 and I started to freak out but then I told myself YOU ARE STILL IN THE GAME! Keep going! You got this! God has you! You will be a RN tomorrow. So I started to answer my questions and the first scheduled break came and it was my second break lol I went to my locker to eat a piece of chocolate and drink some water! I came back and said you got this!! When I came back I did about 5 more questions then I prayed again.. 3 more questions went by! Blue screen.
Anywhos long story short!!YOU can do it!! I believe if you have a strong content base.. You really can answer those questions!! Bc the NCLEX pulls from everywhere & without HURST.. I could not have done it & those quizlet notecards!! I was able to recognize what to do because I was educated on content and Lacharity made me realize priority and to notice problems! Passed at 110! :)
Oh and I did have Kaplan Question Trainers! I only did 2 & 6 because I was pressed for time. On 2, I received a 77% and on 6 I stopped keeping score. I guess these helped but Lacharity helped really.
caitsy
6 Posts
Congratulations!! I'm starting to get so nervous about taking mine and it's so nice to read posts from people who succeeded. Congrats again and I hope you're celebrating! :)
I am!! Yesterday, I caught up on well needed slp!! Good luck on yours!!! It is such a relief !
RNsRWe, ASN, RN
3 Articles; 10,428 Posts
Congratulations, and welcome to the fold
Thankyou!! ðŸ˜ðŸ˜
THEBIGFISH
Songofa Nurse, I have to take the conversation here as All Nurses will only allow me to PM like once and then it gives me a message that I dont have enough quality topics to PM. Anyway, I haven't heard anything about the program in that regard.