GN4now

You have to buy the question trainer, it is not part of a CD-Rom

I found this site a few weeks before I took my NCLEX and it provided me with so much insight into the NCLEX that I didn't have. My nursing class wasn't the type that kept in touch but yet I was given so much support and help from strangers. I am hoping that maybe I can help someone else with my insight. I took the NCLEX on Wedensday and passed with 75 questions. I thought it was so easy that I must have failed. In hindsight I think I made the test out to be so much harder than it was. I was a good student but went through one of those 1 year programs for people that already had a degree. I looked at other nursing students and thought they knew so much more than me. I took the Kaplan course (it was paid by hospital) and to be honest did not use any of the strategies. My questions could not be ABC'd or Maslow or even assess before implement. I had questions were you had to pick between 2 airway patients. But Kaplan's Q Trainer Tests and Q Bank helped me sooooo much that I can't imagine having passed without it! And as for scores I GOT AROUND 60's with all!! Even the font is the same as the NCLEX! Anyway, I did buy Saunders and it did a great job of preparing me in areas that I was weak in or that I needed to brush up on. However, I found their questions to be very knowledge based and lacked the critical thinking aspect of the NCLEX. I found what worked for me and other people have found what worked for them because many people on this site liked Saunders. Using both, you can't go wrong. I also prayed alot and the reason I mention it is because no matter how self assured you are you need God to really help you quiet yourself and put things in perspective. Like I said, I made the test out to be so much harder than it really was. The best advice is to put it into perspective: you passed nursing school and both A and C students have passed this. They are testing how you will be at the job and they don't expect you to know everything that is why you don't need to ace it!!! I was tested on stuff that I never heard of and when I looked it up at home I got it right because I reasoned it out and that is the key, don't rush just take your time and think it out....it is in there...have faith in yourself! That is my advice to future RN's...good luck to you all! Kelly RN

1. How many questions did you take on NCLEX? 75 2. What study materials did you use? Did you take a test review course? Took Kaplan but never used assess vs implement or Maslow or ABC's (questions weren't like that). 100% Kaplan's Q Bank and Q Trainer Tests were great...made the NCLEX easy. Also get Saunders as a study aide. DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE POWER OF PRAYER, God can't make you know the information but you will need God to give you the serenity to approach the test calmly and give you the confidence in yourself! 3. Did your SON offer any testing (ERI, ATI, HESI)? ATI (horrible) 4. How long did you wait for results of the test, or are you still waiting? Took Wed at 12:00, called BON Thursday 12:00 (passed), on website Friday morning. For Pennsylvania. 5. What were your thoughts coming out of the test (total disbelief, certainty you had failed, confident you had passed)? I thought it was easy, thought it would be alot worse and I don't know how it would have been if I didn't do Kaplan's questions. 6. Was this your first attempt at NCLEX? Yes thankfully!

KAPLAN Q BANK!!! Same format of questions (even same font) as NCLEX. Don't pay for the classes just do the Qbank and Trainer Tests. Took NCLEX shut off at 75 and I it made the NCLEX easy (so easy I thought I must have failed). Also had Suanders for back up info when I needed additional study.

You didn't post how close you have come in the past but if you are certain that it is anxiety than I don't think any kind of course is going to help. You are never going to feel confident becasuse you know it all... because you never will. If anxiety truly is the issue than you might want to put the same amount of dedication into relaxation techniques. It is harder said than done but you must put this in persepctive. Hope it helps...remember the psychological part of NCLEX is just as important as the knowledge.

...I used to think that the people who posted about waiting 48 hours were so lucky that it was behind them but now I know the pure agony of it all. I took it today and got 75 and I know I know getting 75 is a good sign, I have read the posts but I am freaking out . I did 75 questions in 2 hours. Had a few precautions, a lot of priority, NO DELEGATION, quite a few meds (of course that I didn't know), 3-4 select all (yikes again). I am worried because all along I was like this is a breeze I know it will turn off at 75...but now I am second guessing answers and looking things up. Some things I can not even find in books, rare procedures that are 1 paragraph with no triangle in Saunders. I will admit the questions were similar to Kaplan. Didn't someone post that if you come out feeling like you failed you passed and vice versa? At first I thought I did great and that scares me too! :smackingf

I just got back from NCLEX. I am not sure what to think, at first I was like "I am going to turn off at 75...I know this stuff...this isn't as bad as I thought" But now I am wondering if maybe I just bombed the whole thing, second guessing on alot of questions. Got a few infection control, lots of priority, can't remember any delegation though (bad sign?) but all in all it took me 2 hours to do 75 questions. All my prayers were answered because I did have a sense of calm over me which I prayed so hard for! Now is the hard part we have heard so much about...

RN wannabe you have read my mind, I test tommorrow at 12:30 and I can honestly past for soemone who is bipolar:uhoh3: !!! It really is the faith I have in myself and God that will get me through this and whatever the future holds. Good Luck tomorrow...keep us posted!

Anyone taking the NCLEX tommorrow (28th)? I was so confident up until today, now I am in full panic. Asking myself lab values and forgetting stuff that I know that I knew:uhoh3: I am trying to practice breathing but I am just so psyched up that I don't know what to expect (that is the hardest part). We have all put so much into our careers as nurses and I hate that it comes down to just this one day! ...I think I'll go get Imodium...just in case...:icon_roll

CONGRATS!!! It is a feeling I am only dreaming of. Good luck to you in your nursing career. PA seems backed up...yikes...I hope I don't have to wait 9 days...I would drive to Harrisburg by then!!!

A little over a year ago I was debating wheher or not a should give nursing school a second chance. I prayed a novena and a week later I was accepted into an accelerated program. Now 1 year later I am praying another novena to help me pass the NCLEX. (June 28th). Funny how things work. My faith in God and my faith in myself will help me be a great nurse...no matter how many times I have to take the NCLEX!

I was so sick that I was shaking when I went online. No joke...but I actually looked at my Chinese horoscope and numerology when scheduling mine:lol2: I scheduled mine 2 weeks after I graduated in May because I knew if I didn't bite the bullet it would just get harder. So I thought that 6 weeks would be a good time and that is what I did...lucky too because not many slots were available with good times. It is never going to feel like the right time but sometimes it is better to know when the big day will be so that you can study accordingly...but the again I am a planner! GO FOR IT!

Good Luck, let us know how you do! I hope you are successful:)

I don't think it is anything to worry about, Kaplan is jsut another study tool that happens to be used alot. I think the tips exclusive to Kaplan can be found in other study guides. I did use Kaplan and although I am not sure the strategy helped me that much what I have gotten from it is the availability of challenging questions and forced study time. As long as you have kept up your review and questions I am sure you'll do fine!

I think you did it perfectly. Suanders does a great job preparing you for the knowledge that you need to know. Personally I think Kaplan does the best job of taking it to the next level and helping you understand how to use that knowledge. I know Suzanne's plan isn't a supporter of Kaplan but many posts have said that the questions were similar to NCLEX and most people tend to say that the questions are a bit more challenging. Good luck to you...how can we say one works better than another, the more opportunities we have to learn the better, right? I have done both and what one lacks the other is strong in.