vpoonia

Sakshi. Don't lose heart. Nobody is EVER a failure....and same goes for you. You were intelligent enough to make it through the gruelling nursing school, this is just the last hurdle you need to clear. There is a certain strategy and mindset that you will need to create in order to clear the NCLEX. Memorizing answers (like one did in nursing school) or looking too far into the question will always get you in trouble. I will elaborate a little more later (but let me put this out here before I forget - I have had a few posts and replies on this forum somewhere. I am not sure how to access them, but see if you can pull them up - but there is a lot of important info i put up in there when I was still fresh out of NCLEX testing). Regardless, first and foremost, you have to get the mindset of an ER nurse...BASICALLY, what is the problem NOW...not 10 minutes from now, not an hour from now, not 3 days from now...but RIGHT NOW. What can YOU, within the scope of your practice, do to get the situation under control RIGHT NOW...so, the problem has now been identified, and you have available choices. DO NOT...i repeat, DO NOT do ANYTHING where you have to either delay care (by contacting the physician, etc etc) or walking out of the room. There is always something you can do RIGHT NOW. Now that you have your choices narrowed down, think about what is going to kill your patient the fastest. Any of those choices - throw them out. With the remaining solutions at hand...what can you do RIGHT NOW to help this patient? Lets do an example (my words)....3 year old child, anxious, wheezing audibly, clammy, oxygen sat 91%, oxygen already going in via nasal cannula at 2 LPM, tachycardic at 168, extremities pale and cold to touch....no prior medical history...whatcha gonna do? - (a) put patient in tripod position (b) call physician to get an order for albuterol © place patient on heart monitor (d) place respiratory code cart outside the room (e) place the patient in parents lap and place on Non rebreather mask. Sorry, not exactly NCLEX style question, but will help all of us gauge what and how you are thinking. As for prep courses, the endocrine portion of Hurst was especially helpful to me. I kept relying a lot on it despite other strategies i learned while preparing. I also did Kaplan. It taught me to dissect the question and figure out what they wanted to know...and also to gauge how i was doing on the test in real time....when i had to buckle down and think...and when i had the option to relax and play around a little. Needless to say, was out with 76 questions. I am not sure how much help i will be. Been out of NCLEX mode for approx 2 years now, but if needed, would be happy to provide some support. GOOD LUCK Vikram ([email protected]) _________________________________________________________________

Hi. The NET test was given - i believe- until 2009, and was nothing more than math and english. It has been phased out now and you will have to take the TEAS test, which in itself is gruelling. It has all that, and sections of basic sciences as well. I personally think it is 100 times more difficult than the NET. They do have study guides from what i have learned . Good Luck.

Hello, and congrats to those who passed the exam. I have a question for all of those who passed....If you did Kaplan...what was your average....I've been doing Kaplan for a while and my scores are not that promising. I'm so scare and will be taking my test soon. Any recommendation? Thanks a bunch! Hi, I averaged all the way between 40 - 60%, and passed with flying colors with 75 questions. What you need to learn is not to -for a lack of better word - freak out when you see the question and be able to use the decision tree and knowledge. Doing kaplan put me a lot at ease and there were absolutely no surprises. In fact, i was able to track my progress based on the type of questions i was getting, and when i saw myself slip a little, I would spend more time on questions to do my best to get them right. Just keep your calm. Kaplan is a tremendous resource. Even the screen on the nclex exam looks like the one on Kaplan Q trainers. No surprises at all. o nce again....Keep calm.

As for the answer to your questions....Here is my rationale: Answer 1 - D - (why??) - because, if you DON'T teach the client correct use of insulin, they may take too much - and then bottom out - and run into a coma...which negates ALL other interventions given, because now the client is dead - or severely disabled. Answer 2 - A & C - (why??) - Because case management helps manage the condition of the client by bringing together all aspects of care needed to successfully attain the results (my own understanding of the definition -please dont chew me on that). Based on this analogy, A seems like a correct choice. Now, C pretty much states the same thing as A when rephrased, so I would pick that too. Please let me know if these rationales helped. email is [email protected] I would appreciate your input. Also, please please remember -- that NCLEX is about application of knowledge, and not just what the book says in concrete words. There are thousands of books out there, with thousands of different opinions. Attain the base knowledge, and THINK about what is being asked. Reason with yourself if what you are answering makes sense....(just the way i tried to explain for ques 1), and you will find your efforts being much better guided. Once again, if any of you out here need a perspective, feel free to ask away, and i will do my best to give you the rationale in understandable terms. You have the email listed above (but no spamming, or 100 question lists - THOSE will go straight to the iggy list-only human myself.

All of you bring up very valid and interesting points. With the job market saturating with graduate nurses, that are unable to find jobs for the longest time, the situation will only go further south, which is "exactly" (and I emphasize-exactly, with a capital E) where the hospital administrators want the situation to be. Apply the same economics principles to this situation - and what you get is abundant supply, low demand - which will make the prices (or salaries) go down. When there is a solid competition for each job opening, those graduate nurses, that have no other choice BUT to take a lower paying job in order to feed their families or gain experience will flock to the door. Sad reality is, I can't get hired even after stating that I am willing to work for the minimum wage as a licensed RN on my applications. But here is where the profession is headed. Like it or not, all kidding and empathy aside, a decline in salaries is right around the corner. It will be pitiful watching one graduate nurse undercut and sell their own colleague / coursemate in the name of self preservation, while the big hospitals wave the wand of experience.

Floridamama. You definitely want NLN accreditation for any nursing school you want to attend. In fact, that is the first question you should ask. Regional accreditation is okay, and it will get you the ability to practice in the state of FL. But if you ever decide to further your education and get a BSN, any decent well established college will ask for NLN accreditation. So, it really is up to you. I applied to both herzing and keiser, and got accepted at both. I dont know if it was me, but i sort of had it handed to me on a silver platter - as i created a great impression on my counsellor as well as the then director of the program - which was also mostly due to me being the highest scoring student on the NET (nursing entrance test - that was required then). Keiser, sort of gave the run around - but transition was very smooth. Program wise...i attended the first semester at their melbourne campus (oldest program and first to be accredidated) and needless to say, they are thorough and brutal. If you are not cut out for it, you ll be out within the first semester. You make great friends with those in your class and everyone helps everyone else out once you start warming up to each other. Great family atmosphere.

Guys, you will all be fine, and will ace the NCLEX. Just you watch. Study the drugs by exception and interaction. I have a pharm study guide in a pdf format. just email me and quote this post. [email protected] Got something for you to answer: Digoxin and Lasix together: what to look out for? tetracyclines in children: what to look out for? Acyclovir: major side effect? digoxin and propranolol: side effect? acute asthma episode: albuterol or proventil? lantus: q?h: Best of luck to all of you.

Did the OB section from NCSBN.....and RARELY went wrong on another OB question ever again -- on three other online preps that i used - ATI, Hurst AND Kaplan.

I did both and this is what i found: KAPLAN: great question prep. Very similar in wording, difficulty level and content to real NCLEX. Didn't have many surprises. so so on content prep. Unless you are willing to sit a countless hours listening to online lectures and reading their book (very suggestable though). Even the screen on their question trainer is set to look like the one on the actual NCLEX, which makes one feel more at ease. HURST: great content review in terms that are understandable. Gives you the WHY of the process and intervention - that will help you narrow down the choices drastically. I utilized both the resources and was successful. So much so, that i double bound the Hurst book and put it in my study. It is THAT informative.

I would give it betwen 4-6 weeks after kaplan class is over, to be able to assimilate the information, and have enough time to enough questions on Kaplan and also understand the rationales on the questions without having to rush. Getting fired up and going in with all guns blazing might not work out well and the delay from failure can not only be demoralizing but also devastating to any other plans you have. Take your time, prepare until you feel confident. Just making sure that you read the "confident" part, because nobody ever feels "prepared" for the NCLEX. I didn't atleast, but i sure did feel confident, and it was like playing a game in there. In fact, i was having so much fun with the exam, that when it shut off at 75, I was very disappointed in it.....and THEN the reality set in...75 questions...either failed miserably or aced it. Needless to say, PVT an hour later confirmed the latter. In fact, i even worked that morning before taking the test in the afternoon. Not gloating or anything. Please dont interpret me wrong. But know what you know, and know it well.

majority of pharm questions you will get on the NCLEX, there is a good chance you probably would never even have heard of that drug. So, the best way to learn the drug is by the class, its ending (OLS, OLOLS), AND the chemical name (or whatever it is called)... NCSBN 's online learning is fairly cheap and lists a separate pharm section with all the drugs that they particularly love, and what you are expected to know about them. As for the pharm difficulty level on NCLEX, most of the questions ask for the most basic side effects, provided you can identify the class. For each drug in that class, also keep a close eye on which side effect or feature sets it apart. (for example, doxycycline/tetracycline and children) Most importantly, notice what foods and other drugs it may interact and cause a safety issue (for example, digoxin and lasix) and why. basically, try to know the class first, then study by exception. It will keep you sane. The ATI coursebook on Pharm is quite nifty for this purpose. Also, Email me at [email protected] I might have some notes if you need them.

I sincerely hope as well that you are successful this time. However, God forbid, IF you happen to go to 265, doesn't matter what you ve done in the past questions....on question #264, do me a favor, take a five minute break, wash your face, freshen up, eat a snack, come back, and spend the remainder of your time pondering on that question. Do everything in your power to get it right. Because, if it is a level 2 question, and you answer it correctly, you PASSED, regardless of what or how you did on the other 264. QUESTION 265 WILL MAKE OR BREAK YOU, provided it is a level 2 question, which means that you are above the passing standard at that time. I read this on the NCSBN student preparation site before they updated. However, do your own research as well before taking my word for it.

did around a 1000-1500. Passed with 75. BUT learned the content in and out, its application, and prioritization strategies. All three are interlinked more than you can imagine.

the questions that you took have been purged from your particular account. You will never see the same question again. Sorry to hear that you have to take on the beast again, but unless you quit divulging on what you did in the past, you will be seriously undermining your learning the second time around.

Your follow up would be to make sure whatever you tried to prevent (given in the question) has actually been prevented....so, you ve got to look for the particular s/sx/labs / reports of a successful intervention on the particular condition. Confused? Yea, me too.

Are you kidding me? ATI and NCLEX? Ha! WORLD of difference. however, ATI is a good gauge of content knowledge. Do the Kaplan to learn to apply it properly, and you will be a happy camper. Best of luck!

Exactly how the education THEN (competitive, empathetic) compares to education NOW (normalized, pathetic).

please dont lose heart. you have a lot more fight left in you, and next time you will be taking it to the nclex lady (marlene's favorite). if you still have access to hurst, keep it. hurst is excellent for content. i would also try to sign up with kaplan. its a little pricey, but gives a very good preparation on questions, which are very similar in difficulty and content areas as the nclex. if you utilized both the resources (hurst teaching you the why, and kaplan teaching you application), you should be good as gold. my wife and i were also not successful on first try, but we used the above two resources the second time around and came out of the test very confident. i think hurst and kaplan together should have you shining like gold. and the next time you are taking the test, it will be "ha! is that all you got? huh?" best of luck. feel free to ask any questions if you need to. [email protected]

the NCLEX is a beast, especially when it comes to those mind boggling SATA's. No, seriously. On my second shot at the exam, i had a SATA that had only ONE choice that made sense. not kidding....only ONE!! so, how do i know i got it right...because the next question was a priority one again, which i would not have had if i did not get the SATA right. Anyhow, the moral of the story is that you absolutely have to know the content. No if's and but's about it. You have to know it, there is no escaping the fact. So, the question is....what does one do now? Before going further, let me tell you a little about me. I came out of the Nursing program with honors, along with my wife who was also in the same course at the same time (and no, it is not fun....not supportive either, because now you have two crabby nursing students under the same roof...along with a 11 y.o. kid who is just learning to mouth off). ATI predictors placed us both at higher 90's success on first try (98% me, 94 for wife). But guess what....i failed with 186 questions while my wife failed with 75. Both came out of the test baffled and were so disgusted that we were ready to throw up.... So, the game plan began. Despite being exceptional students, application was the weak point, because they can ask you about anything and everything. And knowledge/content level questions are lower level..but you still have know them to be able to spring off to higher level priority type questions. What does one do now?? What worked for both of us was to understand the content - why something is happening - why are the particular s/sx showing up -- why are you implementing a certain intervention -- why are you watching for what you are watching for -- basically, you need to ask the "WHY" on anything and everything you see. For example -- WHY would you restrict protein in someone with a kidney failure. Once you can successfully answer those WHY's (asking which was a taboo in nursing school -- or you'd be out for disrupting class or for insubordination), you have it made -- only partially...but you have it made. It will help you answer those SATA's by method of elimination which are higher level questions. Next, you need to learn how to prioritize. From experience, you and I both know that choices are too narrow on the exam, which is where you need to learn the following: a. assessment over implementation (assess first unless already assessed in question) b. ABC c. Acute over chronic (even on ABC) d. Maslow (safety over anything else). standalone Pain (eg on a surgical site) is never a priority , and if you have a priority question...dont you dare select pain until you have exhausted all other choices (which is where knowing your new best friend -WHY comes in again). Next part is practice questions. Try and find something that will give you immediate feedback with the rationale...otherwise the tendency is to memorize it at the end when you see them all bunched up. Understand as you go, and apply the WHY principle along with prioritizing. HOWEVER, everyone learns differently. These were just my two cents just in case someone might benefit from it. It helped me and my wife pass the second time around with 75 questions each, and believe it or not, we both came out smiling and confident...unlike many many others (or even our very first time) who are ready to have an emotional breakdown. Nothing to gloat about (which i am not...i was in the same shoes, with double the depression under same roof), but just telling you that confidence in yourself is the key, which will only come form knowledge acquisition and its correct application within a correct scenario. So, i guess something must surely have worked. Give it a few hours and try it out on one small topic in any prep book you have not used before. See if you answer the questions any better. If you do, then please please let me know at [email protected]. I would really appreciate your feedback before i misinform any more students.

the question is what resource are you utilizing to prepare right now to prepare for NCLEX while taking classes? Because for the NCLEX, you need to go way beyond knowing just the content on your fingertips, because the test is more application unlike what you have been used to in college level questions testing your knowledge.

Don't give up hope. Not passing the boards sure is demoralizing, but don't let it get to you. And most importantly, when you are studying again, DO NOT look back on the test you just took to identify important questions / material. Now, for the upcoming test. You sure have a lot riding on it, but my best advise to you would be not to rush into the second test until you feel thorough with the content. Yes, you can memorize the content, but majority of it will spill right back out. My wife and I took the same RN course at the same time, along with having hectic full time jobs and a 8 year old son, that left personal study time to a bare minimum. We both failed the first time we took the NCLEX. The study strategy we used for the second time was to set up a time frame to learn the content (lets say..2 months). In this time, we looked over the content again, and tried to understand the "WHY" of any action / intervention / process and implications. That really helped clear out the content part. The next 1 month, we did questions up the ying yang, and refered back to the content if we needed to. All this only helped narrow down the two best choices, which is 50% of the battle. Since you are taking Kaplan, use the strategies they teach you to answer the questions (implementation vs assessment//ABC//acute vs. chronic//Maslow)-EXACTLY in this order (and I quote from taking my NCLEX, since the choices were so narrow), which will help you get more higher level questions correct. Needless to say, we both got spat out after 75 questions, and came out of the test very very confident KNOWING that we passed (not many people come out like that), and we did. So, take your time. Understand the content, not only for the exam, but also for your future practice. Stay calm. Understand the content. Practice priority questions (If you still have access to Kaplan, do them in tutorial mode as you get the results immediately). understand the content. Then go take the test, and tell the NCLEX lady -"Ha! is that all you got?".

My pet peeve - take a 50-100 question test approximately 1.5 hours before you are to leave for the testing center. It will get your brain to get in the testing mode and start oozing all that material, and by the time you get to taking the test, the information is flowing freely - and then look at the question on the screen and tell that NCLEX lady - "is that all you got?". All kidding aside, it works to keep the confidence up and not get flustered. Also --- very important---take a 5 minute break when you feel information overload. And also, dont dwell over the questions you got previously because you can't do anything about it now.