Please don't judge....it's been 13 years since graduated RN and debating the NCLEX

APerry5675 · Mar 16, 2013

In the same boat! I am studying now for my boards however, it has been 16 years since I graduated RN school, I have continuously worked as an LPN. I take boards on the 28th of this month and I AM GOING TO PASS!!! This site has a lot of inspirational people in here. Many have done this and so can we!!! Good luck to you on getting this monkey off your back, I know it will feel great!!!

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helpmepass · Mar 16, 2013

APerry5675......have you taken them before????

NotMyProblem MSN, ASN, BSN, MSN, LPN, RN · Mar 16, 2013

I recommend the most current addition of Kaplan's Strategies, Practices, & Review. But I would definitely not rule out a refresher course of some sort. Things change in the medical/nursing world, as I'm sure you know. I used the Kaplan to pass my NCLEX on the first attempt but that was two months out of nursing school and a very proactive inquisition on every nursing site like this one that I could get my hands on. I would suggest a nurse re-entry program but I'm not sure that applies in your situation. Good luck studying and good luck on your NCLEX!

APerry5675 · Mar 17, 2013

Yes, like 3 times, but never really focused on it til now. I have been so overwhelmed because it seems so big to me. I am not a sit down and study reading material kind of learner. I have been using NCSBN, Saunders and ATI. Some advice I was given was to focus on no more than 2. I have several question apps on my phone which I find helpful. I do alot of reading rationales. My quizzes I do pretty good on, so I have been doing questions from several sites to make sure I am not just remembering. I feel the toughest part is building confidence because of past failure.

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helpmepass · Mar 17, 2013

I agree APerry...it seems so huge to me. I now have MAJOR anxiety about it. I hate the fact that once I hit 75 questions, that I have no idea when it will shut off. Freaks me out when another one pops up. I too am not a sit down and study person. The thing I don't like about ATI is that sometimes I have 2 answers and if I pick the right one the rationale explains it, but I would also like to know why the others aren't right, which they don't tell you. I have 3 kids ages 6 and 5 and just find it hard to fit studying in. How long have you been studying and for how long each day. I think I need to get in the mindset and just do it!!!!!!

julz68 · Mar 17, 2013

I agree APerry...it seems so huge to me. I now have MAJOR anxiety about it. I hate the fact that once I hit 75 questions that I have no idea when it will shut off. Freaks me out when another one pops up. I too am not a sit down and study person. The thing I don't like about ATI is that sometimes I have 2 answers and if I pick the right one the rationale explains it, but I would also like to know why the others aren't right, which they don't tell you. I have 3 kids ages 6 and 5 and just find it hard to fit studying in. How long have you been studying and for how long each day. I think I need to get in the mindset and just do it!!!!!![/quote']
My school did ATI tests every semester and also paid for an ATI live review after graduation. I personally did not like ATI because their rationales were so vague. I borrowed the Saunders book with the CD from a nurse I worked with and found that to be extremely helpful. I also did questions from the NCLEX RN 3500 free website. Both that and Saunders had much better rationales than ATI. Your score of 77% is encouraging tho. Good luck! Don't give up...you can do it!

BlueEyedGuy · Mar 17, 2013

I agree APerry...it seems so huge to me. I now have MAJOR anxiety about it. I hate the fact that once I hit 75 questions, that I have no idea when it will shut off. Freaks me out when another one pops up. I too am not a sit down and study person. The thing I don't like about ATI is that sometimes I have 2 answers and if I pick the right one the rationale explains it, but I would also like to know why the others aren't right, which they don't tell you. I have 3 kids ages 6 and 5 and just find it hard to fit studying in. How long have you been studying and for how long each day. I think I need to get in the mindset and just do it!!!!!!

ATI has this function, you just have to click the bubbles to the left of each answer.

77% of the Ati Comphrensive practice tests is pretty good. I got a 73% on the A one, and a 76% on the B one, and my predictor score was:

Adjusted Individual Total Score: 84.7%

Predicted Probability of Passing

NCLEX-RN® on the First Attempt: 99%

Percentile Rank - National: 98

The practice tests do seem to correlate with the predictor (my teacher used the practice tests as like mid-terms for our capstone class), and I think most people in my class actually did better on the predictor. I think you probably have a predicted probability of passing NCLEX in the mid-90's percentage-wise. That's just a guess though. For the actual predictor a 69.3% correlates with a 90% of passing nclex, and a 77% would be a 98% chance.

Here's part of the predictor scale:

" Adjusted Individual Score Predicted Probability of Passing NCLEX®

80.7% - 100.0% 99%

80.0% 98%

79.3% 98%

78.7% 98%

78.0% 98%

77.3% 97%

76.7% 97%

76.0% 97%

75.3% 96%

74.7% 96%

74.0% 95%

73.3% 95%

72.7% 94%

72.0% 94%

71.3% 93%

70.7% 92%

70.0% 91%

69.3% 90%

68.7% 89%

68.0% 88%

67.3% 87%

66.7% 86%

66.0% 84%

65.3% 82%

64.7% 81%

64.0% 79%

63.3% 77%

62.7% 75%

62.0% 73%

61.3% 70% ..."

St_Claire, ADN, RN · Mar 17, 2013

I think your difficulty will be answering questions by the book and not from actual experience. However, you will ace the meds.

Have you tried this site: http://nursing.slcc.edu/nclexrn3500/mainMenu.do. It's the only question bank I used to study. Do a few 75 question tests and see how you feel.

I think you should go for it. Don't beat yourself up about the previous exams.

Also, the Kaplan strategies book is okay but I found the strategies did not really apply to the test except for how to answer SATA (select all that apply) questions. Pick this book up from the library; the book is the same word for word, they only change the cover when they put out the new edition every year.

You can do this!! The raise in pay will easily pay for the exam. Keep us posted on your progress.

APerry5675 · Mar 17, 2013

Well I work full time and have 4 boys 13,12,11, & 4. I usually study in the evenings or weekends but with the phone apps I study anywhere. Saunders is a great book, so is the NCSBN. I think it's just a mind thing, you have to get the mindset that you CAN do it.

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helpmepass · Mar 17, 2013

Well if you work FT and have 4 boys and can do it, SO CAN I! You girls are getting me pumped. I am not going to set a time in my mind until I start doing some practice questions and get a feel for it. My 3 kids will all be in school all day this fall so there will be no excuse to finish up and get really confident by then. You girls are so encouraging!!!!! I really think I have test anxiety especially with the test set-up and my past failed attempts. A little ativan might help :)

APerry5675 · Mar 17, 2013

Awesome!!! That's the attitude!!! I started in October just a little, didn't study at all in November or December but have been at it regularly since January! I am a great nurse and I have never doubted that but going from the Real world to NCLEX world is hard for me but something just clicked and I started to get it. Now I am gonna need lots of prayers on the 28th. I can't wait to tell you I passed!

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