IdcFinch

Hi guys. This is my first topic on allnurses. I noticed a lot of people scan over all of the NCLEX success stories in order to try to glean some little nugget that will push them over the passing line when they take their own. You see other people posting about how they've purchased every NCLEX trainer known to man and run through hundreds of questions per day, for months. Still other people are re-reading their entire set of nursing books looking for the magic "click" that happens when you KNOW you're ready to take it. I've recently passed the NCLEX myself. My exam shut off at the 75 question mark. Personally, I never felt like I was ready to take this test. But also, I never felt like I -wasn't- ready. I walked away from the test a little mad because the palm reader guy was rude, but I didn't walk away with a sinking feeling like I'd just completely bombed it. Some thoughts: -When I received my ATT, I immediately scheduled my NCLEX. I figured I would get it done while the horrors of nursing school were still fresh in my mind. I suggest you do the same, as soon as you can. The date was 2 or 3 weeks after graduation due to earlier test dates being booked up. I would have scheduled the day after if I could have though. -Don't buy every NCLEX trainer you can find. It's a pick-your-poison thing. NCLEX trainer books and programs are big money business, so these people will put out questions as FAST as they can so they can be the biggest NCLEX company out there, with little regard for quality. Case in point being the Lippincott book, which I happened to purchase and tried to use. Fifty dollars down the drain. There were a lot of typos, in every other question. Most of the questions were vague and you would have never guessed the answer was even related to the question. Other questions were so simple you'd probably never see it on the NCLEX. And this book boasts over 4000 questions! It was crap. I did a good 200 of them and couldn't take it anymore. -If you have the ATI program from school, USE THAT. That was the closest thing to NCLEX I could find. Do NOT dump hundreds of dollars on some question banks or in-person review unless you have the money to burn. ATI works great, it gives you a VERY accurate replica of the NCLEX, and you've already paid for it! Schools are using it for a reason. It's great. -Don't burn yourself out on these questions. Everyone's needs are different, but my total was approximately 400-500 questions and I felt that was overdoing it. I took a week off of questions before NCLEX, and did a warmup set on the ATI site on the day of the test. Approximately 30 questions, to get my mind in the mode. Everyone is different, but I think a lot of people overdo it. -NCLEX questions are simpler than you think. They aren't very wordy and they are pretty much straight to the point. -If you're on the right track, you're probably getting a lot of SATA questions and critical thinking questions. -Know your infection control. Also, I never tried the pearson vue trick so I can't testify to that. I will say that studying with some booze works for me though Hope this helps. Good luck on yours.

Hi guys! I'm an outgoing student of the CSN nursing program (May 2013). My experience was fantastic and I have to say that every teacher I've had during my time has been amazing. I heard horror stories about the staff as I was coming in, but it's just people trying to scare you. The instructors are top quality and they want to see you succeed. Many also have a great sense of humor! I hope you all get in and don't stress if you have 28 points and above. On a side note, I never took a single toolbox class, so I can't vouch for it. But it's possible to make it through without spending the extra money.

I'm a working paramedic and just about to finish up nursing school in May. I'd have to say that I never experienced the pre-clinical "jitters" or anxiety attacks that alot of the other students seem to have had. I've had enough patient contact and patient assessment experience to allow me to breeze through clinicals. It also helped that I knew some of the nurse instructors from my time in the field! As for theory material, man it's a whole different ballgame. You're in for alot of study time and sleepless nights. I personally cannot get by without studying my ass off. Some people don't even crack the book. I have to bury my nose in it for hours a day. I guess it depends on how easily you grasp the lecture material. Alot of the test questions are ABC's, but alot are pretty obscure reasoning and you need to (from my experience) understand how your teacher is thinking when he or she writes the test. I guess the take-away is don't go into nursing school thinking your **** is above everyone elses because you're a paramedic. The instructors don't care and you might even **** someone off. Tread softly and stay humble man. And study!!!