mcasborn

I got a call yesterday for an interview for Friday (tomorrow). My choices for departments are ED and CCU. Wish me luck!!!

NursingBro I did NCLEX-RN Review - On Demand which is pretty much like doing the classroom review, but the review is just videos online vs a live classroom or in person. It seems that NCLEX-PN doesn't have an On Demand. If you don't feel that you need the classroom review, then just go for the Qbank + Review book. I really felt that doing qbank questions helped prepare me for the real test and any questions you get wrong, just refer back to the book given or online.

Hello Fellow Nurses or soon to be nurses. I took the NCLEX Oct 19, 2012 and as of Oct 22, 2012, I can now call myself an RN. I used Kaplan to prepare for the monstrous test. Any who, I wanted to post my test score because prior to taking my test, I liked to see others' progress in relation to my own so I hope this helps you as you continue to study. People say don't focus on scores, but try to learn from your mistakes. However, scores mean a deal to me and probably to others too. So scores as follows: Kaplan On Demand Diagnostic Test- 56 Qtrainer 1- 87 Qtrainer2- 79 Qtrainer3- 56 Qtrainer4- 63 Qtrainer5- 61 Qtrainer6- 65 Qtrainer7- 66 Qbank average- 66% with unused + incorrect and 100% complete Sample1- 52 Sample3-67 Readiness- 59 I also used Kaplan's strategy book which I found very helpful. To me, the book went further than just using the decision tree and taught me how to answer questions depending on the style of the question. I also had Kaplan audio on my cell phone and would listen to this on the way to work. Many times I would listen to topics, pause, and say aloud to myself what I remembered. I do feel content is important, but also knowing how to answer the question is just as important. Typically, if you see the words only, all, entire, always, or every, these words found in an answer choice are most likely to be false. Read each question thoroughly; all 4 answers can be plausible in different scenarios so make sure you read the stem carefully. Concentrate on one item at a time and do not stop trying. Talk to yourself (probably silently), and think to yourself "what does this mean?" Run through each rationale and reword difficult questions. Read all options before you select the correct answer because you will not know the correct answer until read them. Eliminate the options that are obviously wrong and then select only from the remaining options. Relate each option to the stem. Don't forget to use your priority setting- ABC's and Maslows. I did anywhere from 150-400 question a day 4-6 days a week for about 1-2 months. I would not say practice makes perfect, but it sure does make you better at answering questions. Really hope this is helpful and Good luck to you all.

I agree with doing questions and reading rationales. Any questions you get wrong, look up info on that topic whether its google or in your Kaplan book. After awhile, you get better with those topics when questions are asked. Also, the more questions you do, the better you get with answering them. Or at least thats how I felt.

When I took my test, I checked the Ca Board of Nursing website everyday. Since I took test on a Friday, my name appeared on Tuesday. So I would check that and the NCSBN. Congrats!

Oh, I would also like to mention that I have Kaplan audio on my iPhone so when I drove places I would listen to that. I think it's a shorter than the content videos but still just enough info for me to know. What I would do is listen to a clip, then I would pause it, repeat out loud what I remembered and then either do this again or move onto the next topic depending upon how much I could retain. I do miss the weather in PR. I used to camp at the beach with other classmates. We would bring our books, study, relax, etc. it's not realistic to go for a night swim in Ca, would probably get pneumonia. Lol. I would wake up, go for a morning swim and then pick mangos from a tree for breakfast. Really did feel like I was on a vacation during nursing school. Lol

I went to Universidad Adventista de Las Antillas which is located in Mayagüez, PR. That's about 2-3 hrs from San Juan depending on the traffic. My readiness score was for this recent test that I just passed. As far as the decision tree, I honestly didn't find it helpful at all and barely, or not at all, used this to make my answer choices (unless I subconsciously do it). It was more of, I looked for incorrect statements- including words: only, never, always, all, entire, (these words are normally associated with a wrong answer). I also used ABC's and just remembered rationales from previous topics if that topic appeared on my test. I don't know, but the strategy book just helped break down the answer choices and how to pick the correct answer based on the type of question. I guess it's the same as what Kaplan online teaches but I guess I grasped the concept better from the book. Whatever works is what matters

Hey, I too went to school in Puerto Rico due to no waiting list and the weather (however all my classes were in Spanish and I speak English)..lol, but when it came to taking the nclex, I failed the boards of Ca. I took Kaplan and my readiness test score was a 59 and my overall qbank was 66 (I did 50 questions timed with unused and incorrect until 100% complete). I ended up buying Kaplan Strategy book which is extremely helpful (bought 3 weeks prior to testing). I would recommend going to A bookstore and browsing through it and see if it looks helpful. The moment I read through the first few pages about strategies, I knew I had to buy it. So I took my test Oct 19 and got the good pop up with the PV trick. Don't give up. You don't have to be extremely brilliant nor know all the content. I have friends who I believe are smarter than me but haven't been able to master this test after multiple tries. It will happen though. Positive thinking and the strategy book is what I suggest. Good luck to you fellow nurse!

Hey Nurse omonhpy, Congrats to you too!

I agree, never give up. I did postpone the test several times and almost postponed this last time. Life kept happening and felt the added stress would cause failure. Despite having 3 deaths within a two week period prior to the test, found the strength to pull it together. As for the fee's, I had to pay $150 to reapply to the state along with $200 Pearson Vue testing fee. $350 is the total you have to pay in Ca to retake the test. Sucks but have to pass one day and would continue to pay it until that happens; and in my case, Oct 19, 2012 marks the day I became a nurse. Yay!

Mommylove2000, I did retake the nclex and the trick does work on retakes. I studied with other students who had previously failed and they took the exam again a few months ago, they all got the good pop up as where before, it went straight to the credit card info page. Hope this helps!

Thanks..So Happy I'm a nurse

I was scheduled for the NCLEX-RN today in California. I had 75 questions, at least 20 SATA, a few exhibits, a couple drag & drop/ordered response as well as graphic alternate questions. I did not have any math which I was kind of bummed since that is my strong point; but hey I passed according to Pearson Vue Trick because I have taken the NCLEX before and never got the message. Instead I was prompted to make a payment to register for the test again. So seeing the message was good thing for me. I am so relieved that this obstacle is over and on to the next which is looking for a job; preferably an RN New Grad Program/Internship. I am celebrating and Thanking God for this moment. In preparing for the test, I used Kaplan on Demand as well as the Kaplan NCLEX-RN Strategies book. Love that book, strategies, strategies, strategies are so helpful. Will go into details about studying at a later time; once the official results come in!!

Wow..Best study guide ever. This condenses all the info from the books I have and wish I would have had this sooner since my test is this week.