Please Help

Published

Hi,

Hi im Izzy, I just received my eligibility, and I don't know when I will going to take the NCLEX , I just finished my Kaplan review and I am not sure if I will take the exam this march or next month, since they will change the questions starting April 1. I want to continue reviewing while I am still undecided since I don't feel I am ready to take NCLEX because my Kaplan scores were not that really good, my Qbank is just in the 50's and my Question Trainer 7 is barely 60. What do you think?

Is it ok that after Kaplan I use Saunder's book (q&a) not the cd? ANd if it's ok, how do you answer it? is it like answer the questions and cover the rationale or answer then rationale, I am just curious since I am used to answer questions directly in the computer and now I am doing the book. Any suggestion will be really appreciated.

By the way, which is better to use after Kaplan, the Prioritization, delegation and assignment by Lacharity or Saunders book not the cd?

Thank you so much.... please help me, :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

You sound too indecisive. Just prepare. Your resources are to be used, not made the center of indecision. If you haven't been doing questions, from any source, you need to get started. Good luck.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Telehealth, Hospice and Palliative Care.

I know you don't feel ready, but you will NEVER feel ready. You can do this. My QBank/Question Trainer scores were very similar to yours, and I passed with the minimum number of questions.

I really think you should take it in March before they change the test. Get a good night's sleep. Get there early. When you feel your attention start to wander during the test, stop and excuse yourself to go run up an down the hall, get a drink, go to the bathroom, etc.

Good luck!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg.

I am not sure where you live, but if you haven't scheduled yet to take it, there's a good chance you won't get in before April 1st anyway. That's awfully close.

When I did practice tests, I never scored that well. I did my NCLEX in about 30 minutes, with 75 questions. I don't think lower scores on practice tests are indicative of doing poorly on the actual test.

Just study with whatever resources that are available to you. Any help is better than no help.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

no book or CD has a magic potion. I say stick with Kaplan. If you have already used up your time with them ask for extension.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

ya stop freaking out. dont get me wrong NCLEX was the most stressful day of my life. but i did all of kaplan Q bank and at the end had an average of 60% (some were below 50 some were high 60s occasional 70s but not many at all... majorities were in the 50s and 60s). You wont ever really feel ready but kaplan helped as far as how the test is set up and learning how to answer questions even when you dont know the topic. Kaplan is really all that i did, and i read the topics that i felt i needed brushing up on from the kaplan book. Youl be fine i passed with 75questions. good luck, stay calm and know that you were well educated and have the ability to pass this exam.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

thank you for all you your advise. :) i really appreciate it. cherrybreeze is right april is so close so i dont want to schedule this march. Thank you for all of your advise I really appreciate it. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, PICU, School Nursing, Case Mgt.

I am of the opinion that if you really learned the info in school, then cramming isn't needed and in some cases leads to indecision.

I did not study for the NCLEX at all, other than brushing up on normal values of vs, common labs etc., I figured that if I did not know it after 2 years I wasn't going to learn it in 2 weeks or 2 months...

I was the last year to take the hand written NCLEX-it was 2 days of 8 hours each, in 4 parts and over 500 questions. It was only held at certain locations in the state and at specific times of the year. Two friends and I traveled 300 miles from hometown to take the test. Got a motel the night before. We made a pact that we would not discuss the test before taking it!

I know I will get flack from this but I don't think that the current version is difficult enough.

Sorry, but I don't feel that 75 questions gives a very accurate indication of whether or not one is prepared for nursing or not. This is a profession where peoples lives are at stake and nurses need to be able to think on their feet, not panic and use sound judgement.

Just can't see how 75 questions can predict that...

That being said:

My advice to anyone taking the boards is-tell yourself "I made it through school, so I KNOW this stuff!"-on the night before, relax-do something fun, eat well, no alcohol or other recreational chemicals, get sleep, wake up early and eat a good breakfast, arrive early. While driving there listen to relaxing music-or no music...deep breath and again----YOU KNOW THIS STUFF....if you didn't you would not have passed nursing school!

Good Luck!

s

Up Vote Up Vote ×

SWS Rn: thank you for spending your time to answer my thread. I really appreciate it. :) It helped me alot you are right. :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU, PICU, School Nursing, Case Mgt.

My pleasure.

I can not stress enough to "pysch" yourself up and not "work" yourself up!

You made it through clinicals, classes, quizzes, projects and skill tests. You passed.

Do not let the NCLEX become bigger than it really is in your mind...It is only another test.

Think of it as you and another nurse asking each other questions, or playing a nursing game on the computer.

Scan thru your review books, but do not try to memorize them.

And do not read more into the exam questions then is necessary.

Also, remember that usually your first impression of the answer is correct.

Go GET 'EM !

Let us know how you do!

s

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Internal Medicine/Telemetry.

Hello! I decided to join after a long two years passing and just reading all the posts and treads on the site. I graduated in December and took the nclex pn today. i reviewed the kaplan 2010 and Saunders 4th ed, and nursing made easy by sylvia rayfield......and WOW boards was nothing like the books. i felt extremely anxious and felt like i was going to cry or vomit in the end. my test shut off at 91 questions with A LOT of drug questions. after reading some posts on here last night about the Pearson trick, i came home a few hours later and tried it. the pop up came on and did not let me re register so i feel a lot better that i prob did pass. all i can say to you is to review your labs, abnormal findings, infection control, which patient to see first, and def the drug side effects of lots of drugs for any and all diseases/conditions. again, the test is nothing like you"ve seen before and most ppl say they walked out feeling like they failed but later found out they had passed. i also didn't do too well on the practice test in the books. i do however like the ATI study books. i wish i would of concentrated more in those. i found a lot of answers in there once i got home from boards. GOOD LUCK! I'll post my results when they come in. i live in new Orleans and most say they received theirs in the mail in 3 days.:nurse:

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I took LPN boards then a few years later the RN boards and did not study even one minuter for either of them and passed. If you made it through the program, you will pass!

Now, at the present time, I am waiting to take my nurse practitioner boards and I am studying like a mad woman. It's just a whole different world and studying is a must for this one!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion