Hi all,
I want to say thank you to all who participate in the NCLEX discussions as it helped me a lot in preparing for my first attempt to take NCLEX.
Took my exam in Sydney, Australia on aug 27 at 9am. Finished at around 11.30am. Lots of SATA, I felt it was a bit diffiucult. But took my time with each question using learned strategies. Computer shut down at around 79-80 questions after about 2 hours 15 min. And I had been stressing about the result and checking for it... Until 2am aug 30 when I finally was able to purchase the quick result. And thank you Lord, it was a pass! (Although Florida BON stated that my 'license data' was 'complete' when I checked the day after the exam, I still was not sure because it didnt say 'pass'. Until I got the quick result from pearson vue).
I graduated in 1995 - 19 years ago. I migrated to Australia 12 years ago and has been working as an RN here.
I was very weak in all subject areas.
This is what I did...
got my ATT 3 months ago. Started serious studying then doing 2-3 hours after work (4 days a week). 3-6 hours everyday for the 3 days off work. Took 2 1/2 weeks leave from work just before my exam date - spent 6-8 hours a day.
During this time, no going out, less time in grocery shopping (did internet grocery with delivery). No attending office get together. No celebrating my birthday with friends (even if they wanted to - told them we could do it after my exam). I declined invites from other people. I told them I was studying for NCLEX. Cut down facebooking up to about 98%. And my friends, family, workmates, and boss have been most understanding and have been anticipating the result of the exam.
Hurst review for core content. About $400 if I remember correctly. Watched it over, and over, and over.... again. It was good for my confidence, to actually have them map out how things relate to one another. I did the whole course but did not read most of their pdf files that come with the course. I loved the videos though.
First part of NCSBN learning extension and its practice questions. I only purchased $50 worth so I run out of time before finishing the whole course.
PDA La Charity. Was so good with sample questions. They were a bit more challenging sample questions. Good for practice. And what can be delegated, it's good to read the whole book.
Latest kaplan book. Good practice questions.... But especially it taugt me HOW to answer each question. Which I think was a key in taking the exam. It also has lots of practice questions which were challenging.
simplenursing.com I paid for a lifetime membership months ago. Fun to watch and helps me to understand things in a more simple way. The only problem is the accuracy. Therefore I studied other materials first, I only watched simplenursing.com videos just to help me understand the layout of things which I already learned about from somewhere else. It still helped simplify things in my head.
i bought other books but didn't really spend much time with them. I was not very impressed with Lippincott, there is also the alternate-format question book which I found has non-challenging questions. And also bought drugs for nclex - but I found it was not easy to study - i read the words but hard for my brain to retain. I bought Saunders book (which I read about 5 chapters only), and Saunders questions which I did about a third, I found the questions easy and not very challenging to the critical thinking aspect.
try memorizing the values of important fluid and electrolytes and bloods, good for the confidence.
Also watched some of professor finck's lectures on anatomy and physiology on you tube. He is quite a good lecturer. Also purchased and listened to anatomy and physiology vango notes audio from itunes. Just helps with undertanding the basics. I initially thought that if I understood what and how 'normal' works, then it becomes easy to recognize the abnormal.
i read lots and lots of forum discussions and tips from others in taking the exam. And the failed attempts and lesson learned by others. Which also helped me plan on how to tackle my own nclex experience from the start.
And lastly during the 2 1/2 weeks studying, I used 'mind mapping' (just google it). It helped so much for my brain to actually enjoy studying, and 'seeing' concepts better.
I didnt do much of maternity, pediatrics, and drugs. Only did some of it but not really enough.
When I took te NCLEX I thought the questions where not the same as what I studied. And I felt bombarded with SATA.
But I think what helped me most is the combination of core content (using hurst, and all other materials I studied (+ audio-visual on youtube), and add the mind mapping- almost everything), tips from the forum, lots of hours spent studying, and kaplan's strategies on HOW TO answer questions. And following a way/formula on how to tackle each question.
and during the exam, i tried to apply what i have learned andr took my time with each question. With the goal of passing at 75 questions (i did 79-80 questions, in 2 hours).
And prayers...
Goodluck to all...
