Passing NCLEX (tried twice no luck)

Published

I've tried taking the NCLEX RN twice now this summer and no luck. I've completed the Kaplan course and graduated in May, 2009. I get just under 100 questions. I've also read and gone through the entire Saunders book(all 1200 pages and did well on the comprehensive test). With Kaplan I did the entire classroom, all the question trainers, plus I did all the questions in the QBank. I'm a student who has a learning disability, but passed my LPN boards and graduated with a 3.2 grade point average.

I'm willing to listen to any suggestions!

Please help.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in L & D, Med-Surge, Dialysis.

NCLEX ABCDZ STRATEGY

A. Spend 1/3 of your time reviewing content you don't understand

B. Spend 2/3 of your time answering test question

C. Used most comfortable NCLEX review book for content.

D. Begin with the area that is most difficult for you or area that are least familiar

E. Use a good nursing reference manual or internet to find information

F. Define the disease in terms of pathophysiological process and understand the disease process.

G. Identify the early and late symptoms of disease

H. Identify most important or life-threatening complication associated with the disease.

I. Define the medical treatment.

J. Identify nursing intervention associate with early and late symptom of disease process

K. Identify what to teach patient and family to prevent in other to adapt to disease process.

L. list the area you need to review.

M. Answering question in a test mode will improve your test taking skills

N. Each time you answer question, check the number of question you answered correctly that will motivate you to read and study more next time.

O. Keep track of your score to see how you're improving in all area of your content.

P. If you answer less than 65% correctly, these is a WARNING SIGNAL!! Spend lots of time reviewing content and stop doing question on the weakest area

Q. If you answer 65-75% correctly your performance is improving and success is certain. Continue working with the content until your score is above 75%

R. Every wrong answer, identify why you answered it wrongly.

S. Practice 75- 85 question to known how you'll be prepared for NCLEX Exam and see how many you answered correctly

T. Do understand the question first, formulate your answer of hand and compare with the option given to see how close your answer!!

U. Anticipate Test question will increase in difficulty when you get the first question right!!

V. Do not panic if someone finishes before you!!

W. Do not CRAM CRAM!!

X. Remember that you have learned a great amount of nursing knowledge and the exam is only designed to determine whether you're able to practice safely @ entry level

Y. Keep a positive attitude and Pray!!

Z. Wish you all best of LUCK

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospice, Geriatrics, Wounds.

We are required to buy the ATI testing books, DVD's and tests (they add the cost to the tutition). I think in the LPN program I got about 9 books and probably 5-6 DVD's. The good thing about ATI is that they have NCLEX type tests that you can take online and it a great predictor of your NCLEX passing. Our school has been using it for awhile now. I have never heard of the Kaplan program. If you want, check it out. You could even buy the books and DVD sets on E-bay (I have seen then there cheaper). It is a great review!! Then you could go to the website and just pay to take the different tests. For example, there is a test in each subject (Mental Health, OB, Med Surg, Children's Health, Nutrition, Pharmacology, Fundamentals and Leadership & Management. They also have an end exam, that is the one that is supposed to predict how you will do on the boards. It is called the Comprehensive Predictor.

The RN Review package includes 8 review modules (books, I think) & 9 online practice assessments. Unfortunately the cost is $249. If you had the money, it is a great investment. I use my ATI books all of the time. And after graduating LPN I visited the site often to do CE's. I am now in the LPN to RN program and I have gotten most of the RN collection.

The site is www.ATItesting.com

You go under students.

Don't give up. I too, had a high GPA. But I learned very quickly that a high GPA is nice, but it doesn't mean you are a GOOD CRITICAL THINKER. AND THAT IS WHAT NURSING IS ALL ABOUT. If you can't critically think and prioritize, you have a first hard year as a nurse (which I did).

I wish you the best of luck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Moved to the NCLEX forum

plenty of help and support here. Good luck

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have taken the NCLEX RN exam 3 times and wondering if should just give up. I have test anxiety really bad. I am currently an LPN for almost 18 years, and didn't have any prob with that exam, but it was written on paper not on a computer. I'm not a afraid of computers, but i just need some direction here on what I should do. I do want to be an RN, but its frustrating and costly too.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I have taken the NCLEX RN exam 3 times and wondering if should just give up. I have test anxiety really bad. I am currently an LPN for almost 18 years, and didn't have any prob with that exam, but it was written on paper not on a computer. I'm not a afraid of computers, but i just need some direction here on what I should do. I do want to be an RN, but its frustrating and costly too.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
I have taken the NCLEX RN exam 3 times and wondering if should just give up. I have test anxiety really bad. I am currently an LPN for almost 18 years, and didn't have any prob with that exam, but it was written on paper not on a computer. I'm not a afraid of computers, but i just need some direction here on what I should do. I do want to be an RN, but its frustrating and costly too.

It would be a shame to give up on something you have worked hard for and have graduated from nursing school.

I would give yourself a short break from studying, do nothing rest relax and forget about it :)

Once you feel ready look at a study plan. Stick to the study plan and practice questions read the rationale.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

thanks for the info and I think what I'm going to do is just go thru as many questions as possible. I forgot to tell you it has been 4 years since I've taking the exam, so I'm trying to see if there is a not so expensive review class. I was told by my nursing instructor at the college I went to that there will be a review NCLEX review course coming up and since I was a student there and haven't passed the exam yet, it is free. So I think I will check into that. Any other suggestions would be helpful too... thanks again

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I too go through thoughts of giving up. It has been over 2 years since I graduated school, and I REALLY struggle with how to proceed. I have taken boards three times, and signed up through a different state for the fourth time (I am in FL) and then when it came close, I choked and cancelled it... Granted I just had a baby, BUT, still. I really don't know how to proceed. I just don't even feel like a nurse anymore... So here I am again, I took the NCLEX last fall, so it's almost a year since then... I have taken Kaplan twice, Hurst review once, have spent THOUSANDS since school has ended for reviews etc... And now I'm just lost. What does one person DO with a nursing degree, and yet no nursing license? It is a strange state of affairs for sure...

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I know what you mean, where to start again. I am just going to start doing as many questions as possible, then take a review cousre at the college I graduated at, which the course is free. I have been an LPN for 18 years, but still want to get my RN license. good luck to you If you need any other help or advice just ask.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Oncology.

I didn't go to a review class so I don't know how they work or what they teach. But I would think that you would really need to review some content. I know others have posted that Saunders is good for content, but I did not like the abbreviated form. I cannot learn with "bullets" of important facts. I have to read in sentence form. So, I just put aside all of the review books and went back to my med-surg books and reviewed body systems and disease processes. I did maybe 200 review questions from NCLEX 4000 and took the test and passed. Sometimes we get so caught up in review books and classes that teach strategy that we forget we must know content. I wish you luck and PLEASE don't give up. You can do this!!!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion