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.

I haven't taken the NCLEX yet (June 28th) but I will certainly give feedback after I have seen the beast. However, my opinion up until now is that they are entirely 2 different approaches. I am using both. As you can see from many posts the scores on Kaplan questions are lower because they are harder questions (supposedly more NCLEX style) and in my opinion the Saunders is great for reviewing the fundamental knowledge from school. So if you need to brush up or review get out the saunders and take their questions to help assess your knowledge but then do the Kaplan questions to see if you can apply it. Example Saunders question will ask you to identify that dyspnea or orthopnea is a dign of CHF but Kaplan will ask you a question about a CHF patient and the answer is asking where they sleep at night (because you need to recognize that if they have trouble breathing they may not be comfortable laying flat at night and may be sleeping in the recliner)...hope that helps!

I really liked the Q bank, although you may see some repeats there are not alot. What I really liked is that you can pick your topic, the number of questions, a mode that offers instant rationales and there is an option to test only the questions you answered wrong. Definitely worth the money

You are reading my mind. I took Kaplan's diagnostic and got a passing although it was just above borderline, and got higher into passing with the readiness. I thought the diagnostic was easier, but I find that I only use Kaplan's strategies on a very few questions. From what I heard Kapan's tests are harder and supposedly tests 5-6-7 are the better indicators. I did worse (55 avg) on the first 4 and better (61 avg) on 5-6-7...go figure! I take my nclex on wed and I will definitely follow up but I have to say that I have come to terms with the fact that these scores are only a guideline:idea: . I find that I missed a word or clue that would have helped if I had read the question more slowly so I think the ability to get yourself in the zone is just as important as any score! Keep praying...

Thank you so much for sharing your experience because it is so helpful to future NCLEX takers. Tips about priority and delegation are wonderful but knowing to expect that you might feel like a failure is the best advice because it allows us all to mentally prepare! Thank you for taking the time...GN4now

Hey RN wannabe, I am in the same boat (june 28th), I want to use my time wisely but it seems like a lot of people say that the stuff you are tested on was from left field! I am doing questions (Kaplan because I have heard they are the harder ones) and crossing my fingers for not having any select all that apply! I am also focusing alot on Priority, Delegation and Infection control since they seem to be higher level...but hopefully I will make it to that point

Hi NCLEX passers...any suggestions you would make to a GN taking NCLEX next week Any topics you wish you had focused more on knowing what you know now? Thanks...

I haven't taken the boards yet but I know you are not allowed to post questions, only general topics:nono: