iamleeann

Very little of what I studied was actually on the test...I read the Kaplan book, did the Hurst Live Review, I got about 1/2 way through the Saunders book, and I signed up for an online program called RN Quiz. What really helped me was the reasoning of the answers to the questions that were in Kaplan & Saunders. It made me realize that I had to think differently about the way I answered the questions (this is one thing I think the Hurst Live Review lacks). That is just my opinion though.

Did you get an email confirmation of the change from Pearson Vue? When I changed my date, I was sent an email of the change to the email address registered with the account. It would look almost exact to the email that you got when you registered for the exam the first time. If you have that email, I'd call Pearson Vue. If not, then it may be likely that you did not complete the change request in its entirety.

I believe that anything written prior to the start of the actual exam is considered brain dumping (that includes the informative session at the beginning).

I make sure that I think through the questions and at the testing center, I utilized the white board & marker that is given. If I knew the answer, I chose it. If I was unsure, I would write down 1, 2, 3, 4 on the board and I would go through each answer and if I knew it was wrong, I would cross it off. I can't tell you how long each question took studying but for the actual NCLEX, I took 120-130 or so questions (I actually had in my mind that I was going to get the full 265 so I wasn't really paying too much attention to the question number) in 2.5 hours.

I took the Hurst Live Review and I don't think it did me any favors. It wasn't a bad review, it just wasn't right for me. A few of my classmates loved the Hurst Review and I think it just depends on the person and learning style. The Kaplan book was more my style and I wish I would have went to a live review with them but I didn't want to travel. I am all for purchasing things that may help (I purchased 3 pharmacology apps, a number of books to include Kaplan/Saunders/Lacharity, the online RN Quiz program, and took the Hurst Live Review). You never really know how YOU will like it until you try it out. Good luck!

I have a 4 year old, work M-F 8-5, and I'm halfway through a twin pregnancy. My child likes to watch a movie prior to going to bed so I would turn on a movie and use that time to go through study material (Kaplan and Saunders books mostly). I got in about 1-1.5 hours a night on weekdays and probably the same, maybe more on weekends. There are plenty of other things that I wanted to be doing but I had set goals of getting through the books based on my test day (yesterday). I didn't get through the entire Saunders book. Working full-time and going to school on nights and weekends was definitely harder on me but it was the only way we could financially afford it. I don't know what the job market is like where you live but I don't know anyone from my class that is turning away offers. I believe only 4 have secured positions and the rest are still looking.

If it were me, I would take the job if they are still extending the offer and continue to study for the exam. I worked full-time throughout nursing school and when studying for the nclex. You just have to plan your time.

After reading the last couple pages of comments, I should note that not everyone that has a degree holds debt. I have always been money saavy and I worked my way through school in order to pay for it. That is right - paid cash! Truth be told, my options were limited and I felt that I had to work so that I wouldn't incur debt. Sure I missed out on a lot of things but my priorities were and are different. The reason that I cannot quit my current job because I make very good money. The fact remains that my job is just not secure. I pay each semester of the nursing program in cash. Well, I pay with a credit card and then turn around and pay the credit card off. When I graduate in May, I won't owe anyone a dime!

I am currently in an ADN program (last semester). I'm out of district but I pay for nursing school by working. Don't really have a choice because I refuse to get a loan. My schedule is hectic and tiresome - I work all week, take night and weekend classes, and then tend to a young child and husband somewhere in between. It isn't easy but I've lasted this long.... I am also in my thirties and this will be a career change. I have a master's in an architecture field. Never started off with nursing because it wasn't something I wanted to do. My employer is dealing with budget cut issues and I'm sad to say I'm worried about losing my job, house, and our comfort of living. Thus far, I have not been cut but I want to be proactive, so if I had to go back to school, I wanted it to be for something that is needed and will be needed in the future. That is how I got into nursing. I had no intention of ever going back to school but with my current situation, I almost don't have a choice. I have a friend that was "let go" from her employer over a year ago and hasn't been able to find a job that pays the bills. Her husband lost his job shortly thereafter and they are currently going through foreclosure. It is a terrible situation for them and I want to avoid that.

There are clinicals 4th semester but we don't have any labs. All skills were taught and learned during semesters 1-3. Jmon, I'm positive you will get accepted with that score.

And if you wonder why I live far away and chose this program, it was so I could work because giving up my job wasn't really an option for us.

No problem, here are the answers, hope it helps. There are currently 22 students in our class. We typically study by ourselves (a couple of us live out of the area and I am one of them - I live almost 2 hours away, so I typically only come in on mandatory dates). The nursing department professors do hold reviews at the end of the semester. We do have to submit to a background check through BON and we use the Certified Profile for our healthcare records (although we did have some issues with the system not uploading or rejecting documents). The program is an associates (ADN). If you have the opportunity to go for a BSN, I would go the BSN route. Quest is a second degree program, so you must have a degree in another discipline in order to be considered for the program. The program is funded by a grant and it has produced nurses that work in the field. We are the 4th class to go through the program, so it is a realistic program. It also scored highly on the grantor evaluation (yes, I looked it up). You can work at least 32 hours each week. I work 40+ hours and have a family. There are several people that work more than me and are still able to keep up with the program. I'm not going to lie, it isn't easy and it can be frustrating. After the first semester, I told my husband I needed to either go part-time or quit my job because it was a lot and it was hard to keep up but I didn't quit and kept trekking on. We were told that this campus usually stays to sites on the I-59 and I-45 corridors - which has been true during our time in the program.

I'm currently in the Quest program. The website doesn't give the best information or much at all but the program works like this: you will go summer, fall, spring, summer. You will have assignments and tests throughout each semester - just like a regular class. You can get assignments done ahead of time, but you really can't work at your own pace, sort of speak. You usually get 2 weeks for a module - it is closed, and the next module is opened up. The class stays on a schedule, just as any other class would, your learning is just online. You basically have to teach yourself nursing concepts from the book. Then you go to lab for skills and clinical is to apply and work on those skills. I don't want to deter you, but it can be frustrating and the support you will get is limited. If you want to complain, just know and remember that you signed up for an online nursing program. The faculty and staff will remind you of that. For the first 3 semesters, you will have a clinical every week and labs (labs during the first semester are generally every other week and then for the next 2 semesters, you will have to go about 6-7 times total during the semester. Many of us in the program work. It is possible to work full-time but it isn't easy. There is a lot of information in such a short period of time. You have to be ready to change your schedule at the drop of a hat but I heard this is characteristic of most nursing programs, so just make sure your employer will let you off with short notice. It isn't a bad program and I'll be the first to tell you that I would choose this program again because they do try and work around your schedule (they just can't work around everyone's schedule). Most of the professors are very good and will help in any way they can. Hope that helps.

Sorry to hear about your back natalie15. I purchased the 9th edition to Wong's. I believe the 9th version just made its appearance, so maybe they didn't have the ISBN at the time of the booklist. The 9th edition is what the bookstore has listed as the required book.

My name is Lee Ann Roman. Thank you!