jacq929

I believe Kaplan offers a money-back guarentee if you do not pass. You can use that money to purchase the Hurst Review. What scores did you get on Q-bank? I believe you should be aiming for score no less than 65% and above 69%. I also believe Kaplan offers one-on-one tutors. My Kaplan instructor for the live-classroom option was amazing and gave me a lot of confidence.

You gotta pick yourself up, girl. (hug):hug: It sounds like you had a lot of stuff to focus on--could it be possible to over-study or have too many study options? I know of people who did very well in nursing school and failed the NCLEX. I do not think you should compare yourself to anyone else--it doesn't do any one any good. Timing is everything and maybe for reasons bigger than you're aware of, it's just not time for you to have this in your life. Sometimes it's those struggles in life that help us learn more about ourselves and life. This is what I did. I purchased Kaplan (the live classroom section--the one with a teacher and you go to class for 4 days). I think it is much better than the online portions bc you can interact with a teacher who can give you more tips/strategies/answer questions than pre-recorded sessions. Kaplan has a blue book that I read cover-to-cover before I went into class. This way I was prepared to learn testing strategies and not focused on learning knowledge/information (which should be already under my belt bc of nursing school). Then I went home and did 3 tests of 75 questions per day and reviewed ALL rationales for EVERY question right or wrong. I learned so much content that was not covered in nursing school and solidified knowledge that I already had. Anything that I didn't know I would wright it on a post-it and stick it to the walls in my home--grouping like topics. I did every single Q-bank question and the multiple-answer questions. I did NOT look at anything else. I didn't even review tables/lectures/books from nursing school. It's soooo much information, you'll never have enough time to really learn it all. I focused on getting scores on Q-banks tests between 65-80%. There were a few tests that I didn't make those scores, but I reviewed the rationales. It took a lot of time doing those Q-bank questions and the other tests (no social life or any life other than Kaplan), but it was worth it. When I was done with all the questions, I reviewed those post-its for a few days before the exam. And the day before the exam I only looked at the post-its one time in the afternoon, and tried to relax the rest of the day. You have to go in with confidence and believe in yourself. If you go in this next time feeling defeated, you are only hurting yourself. Be your biggest supporter and fan. You had your time to be upset, now you need to do what it takes to pass this test--and dwelling on failing isn't gonna put your mind/heart in the right place. The last thing that I did right from the beginning was tell myself constantly all day long, every day was "I WILL pass the NCLEX the first time with 75 questions." (but you can say THIS time and believe it when you tell yourself.) I made a Kaplan hand-out if you want it (it goes with the live classroom section). I can email it to you in a pdf file. You'll do great this next time and it will make you a better nurse. :w00t:

thanks for the reply's. it was all nice to read and reassuring :)

@ macgirl: how/where did you get a hospital job in 2 weeks? i've been applying and unable to find new grad positions. hospitals hire with experience only it seems. what was your area of choice? thanks :)

I also did Kaplan, but the classroom section. Time went by so quickly those 4 days, it was way more interactive and I feel like you may get extra info/hints from a real, live teacher as opposed to pre-recorded sessions. My instructor was so good and I left feeling very confident. I did every question in the Q-bank + the mutiple answer questions. I also read that book from cover-to-cover. I did not want to retake the NCLEX, and figured I put in my time beforehand. And I agree, read every rationale (whether you got it right or wrong). I learned so much information that wasn't taught in nursing school. Good luck--you'll do great

I did the Kaplan program and highly recommend it!!! Infact, I believe my entire class did Kaplan and we all passed (and I even think a lot of us passed with 75 questions). I would just focus on getting through nursing school--it's hard enough. Work on getting a strong foundation of skills and knowledge, then when you graduate sign up for Kaplan and start studying then. Answering questions will be hard without knowing the concepts. What you could do in the meantime is start saving money for Kaplan and NCLEX. They're both several hundred dollars--wish I would have know that when I first started. Good luck, enjoy your student experience!!

I'm a new grad and know for sure I want to be a hospice nurse. Everywhere I apply (online, that is) all the hospice jobs require 1-2 years of acute care experience. So I start looking/applying for jobs at the hospitals and they too only hire nurses with 1-2 years of acute care experience. Not too sure what to do, and thinking now I just want any J-O-B. I currently live in Colorado, but willing/able to relocate. Should I volunteer at a hospice center and is that even possible? Should I just get any RN job (and where are they if that's the case)? Can anyone help with networking possibilities on here? Advice would be sooo appreciated :heartbeat Thank you!!!!