Passed NCLEX w/75 q thx to Kaplan!

[FLgrl79]

Hi guys,

Just a few days ago I was surfing this area looking for reassurance that I would do fine with the NCLEX :) I took the NCLEX last Friday and successfully passed with 75 questions!

I HIGHLY recommend Kaplan Qbank because their question format almost mirrors the actual NCLEX. I personally think the Kaplan questions are actually tougher than the actual NCLEX. By completing all 1,300 Qbank questions and reading every rationale for the wrong answers, I felt I was really prepared to answer NCLEX questions. I went through the actual NCLEX questions feeling prepared and at ease because I did a bunch of similar questions with Kaplan.

Second, don't be discouraged by your overall test score. I had a 60% overall score and my Qbank scores first ranged from 47 to mid 50's to a few high 60's and 70's. I also did the sample tests and my scores were all over the place there too.

Don't be discouraged if you do really well on one exam and bomb the next one. READ THE RATIONALES AND UNDERSTAND WHY YOU GET THE ANSWERS WRONG!

Please, don't focus on the scores. Take your time reading the question, understanding what it's asking you and read through all answers carefully. Really learn to apply your critical thinking skills when answering the questions because that's what NCLEX is all about.

Other things I used:

Saunders NCLEX review book: I focused on pre-op/post-op positioning of patients and made sure I understood positions after GI, neuro, cardiac, NG tubes and what to do when a vent fails. I also reviewed endocrine conditions and what S&S to look for. Learn the S&S of alcohol/drug withdrawals. I reviewed warning signs of labor and what care to provide the newborn. Make sure you understand basic developmental stages.

Don't study 2 year's worth of material, but focus on what could go wrong with common conditions (S&S to look for) and the required nursing interventions.

Their questions are not great, but I focused on rationales.

LaCharity Prioritization, Delegation, and Assignment: I focused on emergency & infection control. The book really helps you prioritize care & answer those "what you do first".

Really review infection control and learn what requires airborne, droplet and contact precautions. Those will be on NCLEX!

Don't kill yourself trying to know every drug! Focus on the drug groups (learn to identify prefix/suffix that are common to drugs) and what are the common SE and adverse effects of the drugs (incl. patient teaching).

Don't forget those lab values either!

Day before the test: I finished all my Qbank questions the day before and lightly reviewed flashcards I made for drugs. I stopped reviewing around 4 pm (I was probably brain dead before that lol) and made sure to get enough rest (Ha! that will never happen btw lol.. good luck if you get 4 hours of sleep!)

Test day: I ate a good breakfast, I prayed and listened to Katie Perry's "Roar" and I felt very at ease

During the test I seriously felt I was answering Kaplan questions. I had about 10 or so SATA questions, no drug calculations, and a lot of "who do you see first, what's your first action". Again, Kaplan prepared me very well.

I got serious with my studying about 2 weeks before my testing date. I took days off and on study days I tried to answer at least 50 or 75 q. About 4 days into the NCLEX I did about 125 or so per day. You really don't want to study longer than that.

Good luck everyone and have faith in your education and really focus on practice questions and reading rationales. Know WHY you got the question wrong. Good luck!

[OUxPhys, BSN, RN]

Thanks for the input! I did Kaplan as well. I did all Qbank questions and the trainers. I made sure to go over all the rationales and sometimes I did qbank questions from the incorrect bank only. I studied for about 3 weeks, nothing but Kaplan questions and some light content review.

I take my exam tomorrow so hopefully I do well :)

[SopranoKris, MSN, RN, NP]

I agree. I felt Kaplan was harder than NCLEX. Remediating the rationales are the key to succeeding.

Congrats on passing NCLEX!!!