nmaracle3834

I took the NClex 3 times years ago and gave up. Decided to give it another try and failed. I did take the Kaplan course and I did use the pointers the teacher gave us and part of the tree. I passed on my 5th try which was a month after my Kaplan course. It helps with test taking strategies, but you have to know your content otherwise it won't work. I learned a few things and I liked the class even though it was long.

Yes I have taken the Nclex on June 10th and passed. I took it 4x before, decided to dish out the money for the Kaplan review in early may, gave myself a month to put together notes and took the test. Passed on my 5th try. Kaplan put things into perspective for me about test taking. That's what I was lacking. I knew the content, but didn't realize what nclex was asking until after the review. I truly believe I would have passed this thing a long time ago if I would have done the review to begin with. That's just my personal experience on what I was lacking.

That's what I did. I got those last two questions and I was stoked. When it shut off, I called my mom "I passed". She asked me how I knew and I told her. Then I'm driving home and thought, crap, what if I was too excited and didn't click the right answers. I doubted myself. I guess I clicked on the right ones because I passed.

Our Kaplan teacher yelled at us in class. After telling us to read the question, take it at face value and answer it. After the 100th question, someone blurted out "what if...." and she said "where does that say that in the question?, it doesn't... you are reading in to it" I did that when I took the nclex. Then the other mistake was I was using what I knew from work. Nclex is what the book would say, not real world. I liked the class it helped me.

Kaplan does give a money back guarantee or you can sit for another class. I don't think they offer it more than once because they figure they can give you the tools to take the test, but if you don't know your content it's not going to help you if you sit there and take the course 50x. They don't want to waste their time or yours. They teach you test taking not content.

It's hard to tell... everyone learns differently. I made notes from my old nursing books, books from the library and my nclex review and rationales book. I focused on information from all resoursces and compiled notes from all the books on Addisons, Cushings, all the stuff I felt I was weak in or bored from learning back in school. Step back, try and remember things you may not be a 100% familiar with and start there.

Kaplan is a bit more expensive.... but you get 3 months of online help; and 4 days in the classroom. Depending where you are and their rules, Kaplan has a money back guarantee but you have to look at the small print to see if you qualify. You can either get your money back or take their class again. I didn't have to do either. The class is a test taking class so it's more strategy.... if you're looking for content review... this is not for you. They expect you to know the content.

I was told to do about 100 with rationales a day and get in a minimum of 2,000 in before the test. I didn't do that. I started, but one question would say this, then I had a similar question and thought I knew the answer and it was wrong. It was just all confusing. I made a binder full of notes using those test books, nursing books and books used in the library on stuff that I was weak in. That seemed to help. Everyone has different study habits. I also took the Kaplan class review.

It's hard to determine if you have passed or failed by number of questions. If you continue on past 75, the computer is still giving you a chance. I knew I passed after 83 only because question 82 and question 83 I knew the answers to and was 150% sure. I didn't think it would cut me off on right answers unless it was sure that i passed. Although the whole ride home I doubted myself because I was in such shock wondering if I actually clicked on the right answer because it was all such a blur.

I made a 3 ring binder study guide for myself. I used my old nursing books, books from the library and the nclex study guide that has chapters, questions and a disc. I took all the topics I felt I was weak in, looked it up in all the books I had and put them in notes. Each provided different information that I compiled. Once you know your content forward and backward, questions should be easy to answer. I also made a list of lab values, ABG chart, immunization chart, cheat sheet for like med conversions and notes on test taking strategies. That seemed to help me. You have to do what best suits you. Everyone is different when learning.

I graduated in 1997 and failed the test 3x after graduation. Did refreshers, every book I could get a hold of and nothing. Back then I failed with 75 questions twice and 265 once. I gave up, took a step back and walked away. Used my medical assisting degree working at a doctors office. Come to find out, they were weeding out MA's and wanting only nurses. I had 12 months to do what I needed to do. I put in all my paperwork last fall, got my ATT in November and checked Pearson Vue for available dates. Chose Feb 10th. Got a hold of books, study guides anything and everything I could get a hold of went on February 10th, walked out sobbing uncontrollably. My mom went for moral support, but she tried to cheer me up. Two days later, found out I failed for the 4th time. Talked with the dr that I worked for and she said not to worry, just to keep trying. She wasn't going to let them replace me so long as I showed that I was actively working on getting my license. Did not tell the office manager that I failed, didn't need any reminders or pressure. She did ask and I told her I would do it in June because I was looking at some courses. I signed up for the Kaplan review in May. Before the class started, I pulled out my old nursing books, started taking notes on my weekest subjects (and most boring to me) which was endocrinology, psych, and even one that I didn't use much maternity/peds which I was not recently exposed to. Went to all the classes faithfully, took notes and asked questions. I talked to the teacher there and I said I think I have test anxiety and I always pick the wrong answer. She said if you don't know content, you are in the wrong class. Realized towards the end that it wasn't the content, it was how I was reading and answering the questions. She made it make sense. I took what i learned, went back to my notes, books and made a study binder of all the stuff I needed to brush up on and even stuff that I remembered from the test that I wasn't familiar with like traction, all the values for ABG's, etc. Set up my appt for June 10th. Studied daily and refreshed my notes. Each time I got a different book and it had something different on Addisons that wasn't in my other books, I added it to my notes. So all my notes weren't from one book. Studied to the very minute I got out of my car and walked in those doors. Then I realized I made my appt for the 10th. 10 didn't seem lucky last time. Went in Sat down, first thing I did is used my dry erase board and wrote down every little tidbit I thought I needed like the ABG values, 1000mcg=1mg values stuff that I would probably freak out about and totally leave my brain. Did my test, had question 75 with the dumbest medication question, I could not figure out if I sat there all 6 hours. I just said ok, typed in a number, hit next and expected it to shut off, it didn't. Then I panicked that it's giving me a chance to redeem myself. I raised my hand and asked to go to the bathroom. Went out, walked the hallway, took some deep breaths, drank some water and calmed myself down. Went back in and acted if #76 was question #1...totally disregard the others and acted like I was just starting the test over. Shut off at 83 on a question that I was 150% sure on. Walked out of there confident like never before. Drove all the way home and then doubted myself. Two days later, my name, number and expiration date was on the bon. I have weird study habits, I am very OCD and organized. Sometimes that helps, but it hurts also. I wasn't happy about spending 500 on Kaplan, but I think it made a difference. I don't know if it's for everybody, it depends on what you're looking for. They teach test taking techniques, not content.

I think you really need to focus on areas that you're not confident in and bump up your daily questions. It took me 5x to pass the dumb thing. Good luck

Either way, the envelopes come pretty quick. I took test #4 on a Tues, got my brown envelope on Friday. #5 was taken on a Wednesday, got my certificate on Monday. Hard to tell....depends maybe on your state.

You can go to KaplanNursing.com and look for review courses in your area. They are 499.00 I googled nursing review on line and came across another one a community college was giving for 350.00 but it was 6 weeks later than the Kaplan. I wanted to get it done and I wasn't familiar with the one at the college.

I don't know if they really do know. I watched the monitors as I was fingerprinted in and out of the room and he has pictures of all the people from a top view making sure no one is cheating. I didn' see anything else but camera shots of people in their pods. When I took it the 4th time, I had a bad feeling and I said "see you back in 2 months" and he said "nah". I failed. I passed on my 5th time though.