2010icuRN

Sorry Leo!! I am just seeing your message and I don't see how to send a private message so here is my blurb. You learned a lot of content in nursing school and my personal opinion is you can't study enough "content" type questions to pass the NCLEX. I say that because of the people that I spoke with about the test, the majority of them had diseases, meds, and procedures that they had never heard of. With that being said, I think the best way to study for NCLEX is by learning test taking strategies. The Kaplan review book has a very good systematic approach to answering different types of questions. Another aspect of the exam that isn't really emphasized in school (at lease not in my program) is prioritization. The Prioritization, Delegation, and Assignment (PDA) book by Linda LaCharity is very helpful in this area. I liked this book because it goes over the those areas while reviewing content as well. There is a chapter on pain and all major body systems. I had the Saunders NCLEX Review (big blue book) and Lippincott NCLEX Review and a Lippincott Alternate questions book. I also took the Hurst review. I would not recommend the Hurst review though because it was a content based review (again my opinion). I loved Marlene's personality and the way she taught and I would have loved to have her as a professor but the review only added about 1 or 2 things that I found helpful on NCLEX. If I knew then what I know now I would do the Kaplan book first then the PDA book and Saunders OR Lippincott questions based on the subject area. I would stop studing 2 days before the test. Use the day before the test to chill out and go into the test knowing that I did all I could do to be successful. I wouldn't take a review but if I had to choose, I would take the Kaplan over the Hurst. Also, if your school used ERI or ATI or some other testing company, use their online test bank after you have done the review areas. I used practice tests to look at the questions I missed to see...did I read the question correctly, did I answer the question asked, etc. I hope this helps you out. I took the test about 5 weeks after I graduated but I only had a few weeks to study because it was over Christmas break. YOU CAN DO IT!!! I am here if you need anything else and I will try to check this more often!!

So sorry to hear that. I don't know what you did to prepare the first time and I am sure you have a lot of people around you telling you what to do now but if you would like some help, let me know and I would be more than happy to share.

First, I would like to say don't be too hard on yourself! After taking the NCLEX, I had the worst feeling in the world! Unfortunately, waiting for the results is the worst part of the experience. Second, I know of people in my class that took all 265 questions and still passed the exam. I also have a classmate that used all her exam time and passed. The moral of this story is don't beat yourself up...take the next two days and completely distract yourself until your results are available. Wishing you much luck!!

I found the GA response to be somewhat slow. I just kept checking the website to ensure they received all of my documents. It took nearly a month after my application before I received my ATT. You won't get your ATT (the number you need to schedule the NCLEX) to be able to sit for the NCLEX until the GA BON has ALL of the required documents. If you need to send a letter and disposition of your case, go ahead and do that so any questions they have can be addressed. I would also make a visit to the registrar's office to get an official copy of your transcript stating you have graduated and send it to them yourself.

Congrats to you!!