Passed NCLEX!! Tips, Practice Scores, HESI

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Hello all!

I took the NCLEX-RN and passed!!! Here is the overview on the study materials I used and why, how I studied, practice scores comparison, and a little more! (This is a long post!!! FYI)

So, I graduated from front range community college on December 12th 2015, and took the NCLEX on January 13th. I passed the NCLEX with 75 questions and finished my test in 44 minutes. I waited a month to take the NCLEX because I wanted to enjoy the holidays with family and wanted to feel as prepared as I could be before taking the test. I took the live Hurst review December 16th, 17th, and 18th. For a week, I just reviewed Hurst and made sure I knew the book from beginning to end and without a doubt or hesitation! Then, the next week, I studied Hurst for 2 hours each day, and did at least 150 questions from Kaplan and Saunders CD. I reviewed all rationales, and looked up topics and answers I didn't understand or remember. The last week, I did one Hurst test every day, and 200 questions a day.

Here is what I used to study:

Hurst review, Kaplan q-bank, Saunders CD

Hurst review- I highly recommend Hurst!! I went to the 3 day live review, and it helped me tremendously with content. If you need help with content, Hurst simplifies everything and breaks it down so easy to remember and understand. It is pricey, but is very well worth the money if you struggle with basic content! The live review also is very interactive which is good for those who need to focus! It you sign up for Hurst you get a book, that you bring to the review, and fill out blanks as the instructor speaks, don't worry if you miss a blank because you get access for a limited time online to the exact lectures that you can watch over and over! Also you get 6 practice tests each 125 questions. Without Hurst I know I wouldn't have passed because no matter what anyone says

YOU NEED TO KNOW CONTENT FOR NCLEX!!!!

Yes, critical thinking is important, but what good does it do, if you don't know the root of the question? You are just guessing!

Kaplan q-bank- I signed up for the monthly kaplan qbank, I think it costs around $30 per month. This was amazing! I had access to over 1500 questions that were similar to the NCLEX questions. This is a good study source for a few reasons. One reason is it is accessed through the computer, which is just like the NCLEX, and you have to finish the test before you can review the rationales. This was beneficial to me because I actually was practicing exactly how the NCLEX test was going to be like, so it reduced my stress and anxiety and going into the NCLEX, I felt like I was just taking a practice Kaplan test. Kaplan is nice because you can choose the different categories (ex. Infection control, psychosocial) and choose how many questions you want on each test. Also, during the tests, you can't go back to a previous question, just like the NCLEX, and you can choose whether or not you want the test to be timed. Kaplan was the best study material for being the most realistic to the actual NCLEX.

Saunders CD- I purchased the Saunders book in the beginning of nursing school and have used it throughout nursing school. This is a good resource I used when I didn't know the topic of the question. Also, the questions I got wrong on any practice exam, I referred to this book. The CD is amazing as well, I did all of the SATA questions and focused on the categories of analyzing and application questions because those questions are considered passing!

A little about myself. I was an average student who got mainly B's. I worked my butt off, but content was something I really struggled with because I was a pro brain learner and dumper” Our school had to take the HESI exams. On our exit HESI exam, they really stressed the importance of the test and how it would be a good predictor of if we were going to pass the NCLEX. They said we needed a score of an 850 or higher to be considering at a passing level for NCLEX. I scored a 765 and only one person in my class scored an 850. Ironically, everyone (26 students) in our class passed the NCLEX on the first try! We had a 100% rate at FRCC December class of 2015. However, after the HESI test, I personally, felt so miserable and felt like I was going to fail the NCLEX, due to my score. HESI seemed to be more content based, and I never did well on them because I barley remembered the content I learned from semesters ago. For Hurst, they recommend an 85/125 on their practice tests. I never once scored that, my tests I got 69,70,79,68,82,80/125.

My Kaplan test I scored 60% to 65%, never once got above a 70%

Saunders CD I scored around 70% to 80%

My point is, scores do not matter!!! Understanding and figuring out why you got a question wrong is the key! I spent so many hours crying because I did so bad on a test and felt stupid and worthless. I know it is hard, but focusing on your scores will only give you false feelings!

I took my NCLEX in Pueblo, CO. I wanted to take it somewhere far away from any of my classmates and wanted to be alone. I drove down the day before and stayed in a hotel. I suggest you give yourself a break and do not study the day before, however I didn't do that. I was so nervous I did about 200 questions, which was pointless because I wasn't even focused. That night I went to bed at 9pm but didn't sleep at all throughout the night because I was too anxious. I woke up at 6am, ate breakfast, and headed to the testing center. I got to the testing center at 6:45am. When I went in, I didn't bring my phone or study material. I only brought a box of snacks and my ID (They give you a locker for your stuff) since I got there early, I started my test at 7:30 and finished at 8:14am. I literally prayed throughout my whole test. I wasn't shocked when my computer shut off at 75 questions, for some reason I had a feeling that was going to happen. I left feeling like I failed because it seemed almost too easy. I was afraid I failed because I thought I got content questions” because the questions were a lot easier compared to Kaplan and Hurst tests. I did the pearson vue trick, entered in my credit card info (except I used a fake expiration date) and pressed submit, I got the good pop up which stated our records indicate…” 48 hours later I paid for quick results and found out I did pass!!! Wahoo!!

So guys that's my long story! If I can pass, (being an average student and not so good test taker) you can too!!!

Do as many questions as you can!!! Review the rationales, understand the rationales, and be confident and PRAY!!!

If you guys have any questions, let me know!!!

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

CONGRATULATIONS! Happy for you.

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CONGRATULATIONS! Happy for you.

Thank you!!!

😀🎉

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.

Welcome to allnurses.com

Thread moved to NCLEX forum.

CONGRATULATIONS!

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Congratulations!!! How many questions did you do total before you took your exam?

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Hey guys!!!

For those that Private messaged me, I can't reply í ½í¸” because I am a new member, but I can respond to the comments!

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Hey!

I did around 3000 questions, by the end of studying I felt like the questions were all blending in together !

I started studying 6 months before my exam. I forgot to mention I used the NCLEX mastery app on my phone! It was amazing and I did questions all the time while being stuck in traffic!!

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Congratulations!!! How many questions did you do total before you took your exam?

Hi!!

I did around 3000 questions!

I forgot to mention the NCLEX mastery app I used on my phone! It was so convenient and I used it all the time while stuck in traffic!

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Congratulations

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