Passed on my 4th TRY! Thank YOU G-d!

[Fiori1020]

Good Morning to all future nurses!

With G-d's help and guidance I have passed my NclexRN on the 4th try FINALLY being sick with a bad cold (a week and half before the exam), pregnant and unprepared BUT my anxiety level was under control this time more than the other few times (which is my serious problem thus making me fail by OVERthinking the questions!) DO NOT EVER give up on your goals, aim forward and at the right point in time you will succeed and achieve!

Initially I took Kaplan TWICE with the Qbank questions, using their very useful strategies, failed due to my anxiety with 109 questions. Second time I had the max questions 265 (6 drained hours didnt take breaks!) I rushed BIG TIME to answer all for some odd reason, third time I ran out of time failed again BUT used different strategies to study on my own ISOLATED from family, friends, my kids USED FEUER REVIEW audio lectures HIGHLY recommend! I made NOTES while listening to the lectures and focused on my weak points going back to Saunders content to brush up a bit and Mosby/NCLEX 3500/Lippincott CDs answering MORE MORE AND MORE QUESTIONS practice makes it really very perfect ( i even got the same question exactly as I saw it on Mosby disc about PPE and infection control). AND LOTS OF PRAYER THE NIGHT AND MORNING OF THE EXAM! Fourth time I stayed there for 2 hrs (thinking if the computer will stretch this exam longer than 75 Qs ill simply pass out) I was quick on answering my questions NOT thinking twice about it, whether i know or not, nclex for the most part is black & white, no ifs and or buts while reading the answer choices...or else i have a very bad habit of changing my answers!!!. I got home, did the PVT got a good pop up and still awaiting to check my license # on DOP.

Compared to the first few times of taking the NCLEX, this time I was certainly LESS prepared, More confident, LESS anxious (thinking whatever ill either pass or fail ITS JUST A TEST simply DO YOUR BEST!) I had many infection control questions (used those mnemonics posted on this site, AMAZING JOB), pediatric developmental stages, common meds, psych disorders, safe and effective care, lots of prioritization, management of care...NOTHING YOU CANT HANDLE! YOU CAN DO IT...dont give up, study, answer many practice questions from any book you can get a hold on, pray and THINK POSITIVE! BEST TO ALL the future nurses! I am here for any advice!

[emz28]

congrats! what other mnemonics you can share? im new to this site... any more advice? i will be taking the test next week... congrats again...

[Fiori1020]

congrats! what other mnemonics you can share? im new to this site... any more advice? i will be taking the test next week... congrats again...

Best of luck to you, do many practice questions and make sure to read the rationales for ALL the answer choices, the right AND the wrong ones to gain knowledge. Brush up on your content if you feel the need to review some topics and do questions pertaining to those topics (i.e. Saunders Comprehensive has questions at the end of each chapter). Use those mnemonics for infection control, modes of transmission...NCLEX wants to make sure you wont start another epidemic, know your lab values, know your electrolyte values (what does it mean when its lower than normal or higher than normal, which manifestations occur and possible causes, management)--> for example, potassium 3.5-5.0meq, possible cause of hyperkalemia is cell destruction, acidosis and what the clinical picture (how do you see the patient present himself) seizures and/or EKG changes, cardiac arrhythmias, neuromuscular irritability. Know the common meds and their side effects (i used memory aids prefixes, roots, suffixes to memorize common ones), drug calculations is a must (break your math anxiety if you got one, practice makes perfect), know the ECG cardiac rhythms/appearance and management ( i had a question), different therapeutic diets, burns, 5 rights of delegation, cranial nerves ( i had a question).

Try to relax the day before the exam, get yourself together, make sure to have breakfast :), think positive and believe in yourself, trust in G-d. You have studied hard enough, you can and will do it...Best of luck!

Memory Aid for some drugs (Prentice Hall)

-ase, -plase - thrombolytic agent (-ase usually indicates enzyme) ex: alteplase, streptokinase, reteplase

- azole - antifungal antimicrobial ex: fluconazole, clotrimazole, miconazole

cef-, ceph- cephalosporin, antibiotic: check allergy to this class and penicillins ex: cephalexin, cefazolin

-cillin - penicillin, check allergy ex: amoxicillin, penicillin

-dipine - calcium channel blocker, antianginal, antihypertesive ex: amlodipine, nifedipine, nicardipine

- olol, -lol - beta adrenergic blocker, antianginal and/or antihypertensive ex: propranolol, atenolol, labetolol

nitr- - nitrate, vasodilator, antianginal ex: nitroglycerin, isosorbide dinitrate

-parin -anticoagulant, heparin

-phylline -Xanthine type of bronchodilator ex: aminophylline, theophylline

-prazole - GI proton pump inhibitor, antiulcer ex: omeprazole, lansoprazole

-pril - Angiotensin converting enzyme(ACE) inhibitor ex: captopril, enalapril, lisinopril

antihypertensive

-sone, -lone, pred- corticosteroid ex: prednisone, betamethasone,

dexamethasone

-statin lipid lowering agent ex:pravastatin, simvastatin

-vir antiviral, antiinfective ex: acyclovir, cidofovir

-zepam, -zolam benzodiazepine, antianxiety, sedative/hypnotic ex: diazepam, lorazepam, midazolam

-know the medication administration rights as well...know the therapeutic drug levels (i.e. digoxin 0.5-2.0)

Neurovascular Status: checking the 6Ps

Pain, Pallor, Polar, paresthesia, paralysis and pulse...

GOOD LUCK!

[Fiori1020]

You can get A LOT more INFO when you click at the very top thread of this forum called ANYONE FOR RANDOM FACT THROWING, great review...if you need further clarification on any topics, make sure to fall back on your study books. Be well!

[emz28]

thank you so much... that's a big help... :)

[caliotter3]

:ancong!:

[iAmRN424]

:ancong!: WELL DONE! :)