Shastalee99

No, there is no tricks, clues or short-cuts for this exam. That's what I am trying to get out there. It does not matter what the last question is. It doesn't matter how many priority, communication, knowledge, renal, cardiac, maternity or any other quastion you get hit with or in what order or whatever. The only meaning for the numbers 75 and 265 are the least amount of questions or the most, that's it, nothing more. Good luck to you and best wishes. You're in my thoughts.

Hi New Grads! This post is to give my 2 cents on my experience with the NCLEX that would've been helpful to me when I was totally freaking out before, during and after the exam. A good friend of mine from school was sitting next to me in the other cubicle and finished at 75. So many people think if you get 75 you definately passed and 265 means you failed. That's not the case. It doesn't matter what number of questions your computer shuts off at. I was so upset when I get to number 76. I thought, "Great. What am I doing wrong?" Then I hit 150 and definately thought I blew it. I left the center and went straight to the bathroom to ball my eyes out. And as soon as I got into my car I continued to freak out and cry. For 2 days I began to make arrangements for a new job, a back up loan for income, and an application to retake the NCLEX-RN. Daily phonecalls from classmates asking, "Did you hear anything? I know so-and-so that failed at 130" and so on didn't help the anxiety. I was so stressed out I was sick when I sat for my board exam. I studied for 3 weeks on and off for my exam. I held a GN position on my med/surg floor for experience which really helped me when I was stuck on a couple questions. I suggest to keep in mind the difference between the real world and the NCLEX world to answer questions. I used 4 prep books, but the one that helped me was Kaplan. It helped me break down the question so I didn't jump to conclusions and pick the wrong answer. I used the little eraser board they provide you to eliminate 2 questions right off the bat and kept thinking, "I have all the time in the world with this patient and all the supplies are here. What is my immediate next move?" Hope this helps anyone with test anxiety. Wear comfy clothes, drink water, not coffee or you'll crash midway, and clear your head of everybody's comments and opinions. Believe me you'll be surprised at who fails and who passes when your classmates tell you. Worry about you and only you. You'll have enough time in your carreer in nursing to hear what others have to say about this one and that one, unfortunately! Good luck and God bless!

Hello Fellow Nurses, I graduated May 13th and start orientation (Med/Surg) on the 12th of June. Since I graduated, I took a break and caught up on things for my photography business I have on the side (in my spare time lol). New York State Dept. of Education cashed my first check for the boards so I know they'll send out the schedule for me to sit for them. Problem is, I don't know where to begin, how to get motivated or even get up sometimes. I hate to say it but I feel lost without nursing school now. I miss my classmates, I miss clinical. I felt so confident in clinical and had a good time. I'm afraid I won't measure up during orientation. I'm afraid I'll hate working nights (6:30p-7:30a) and won't get used to the hours especially when I sit for the boards. I'm afraid the nurses will treat me like fresh meat and have little clicks. I've heard so many horror stories from new grads. I thought this anxiety of failure would've been over when I graduated but it's still there. What if I fail the NCLEX? What if this, what if that? I was watching House the other night and thought to myself, "What if I screw up giving CPR to someone? Wait, how many rescue breaths to compressions?" I starting to freak out and the thought of studying maternity and endocrine make me want to channel surf rather than get the past 2 years of books out to study all over again. I'm hoping for some words of wisdom or encouragment. A kick in the rump may even do the trick. If anyone can empathize please reply. Thanks a bunch everyone! Take care.

Hey StudentNurse74, It's been a while since you posted this one but I came across it and wondered how you made out with your feelings of anxiety and being overwelmed with so much on your plate at that time. I'm in a similar situation so any words of encouragment would be helpful! Thanks a bunch.

Well said. :argue:

I have her now and she's awful. I get sick every noght before clinical and in the bathroom the following morning after. Nothing is good enough for her. And I work my butt off too. I'm sorry that happened to you. I don't know if we know eachother, but I wish you the best luck upon your return and you wiull return cause you'll kick a$$ this time. I have my notes typed if you want me to email them o you. I'll help you with skills too. It sounds like you're a good egg (lol) and I hate to see hard working students go through this crap. Email me anytime.

i'd understand your worry. i'm not sure you'll get this sine you posted a while ago. if you need any advice, feel free to im me. i'm in nur 4. i'll (hopefully) graduate this may. the poster that failed 3 was correct on their way of "weeding out" students so watch your back. mind your p's and q's and study every night. practice your skills and do not pay attention to what other people in class say about anything unless you trust their judgment and opinion. this school is excellent. but their way of making excellent nurses often make students resentful and physically ill with the stress that's put on us. i'm not crying a river or throwing a poor me party. it's proven that nccc is the best in western ny, but their idea of making good nurses is a walking contradiction and emotionally abusive. watch me fail now that i posted this...lol

They enjoy making a huge spectacle out of mistakes becuase it makes THEM feel better about themselves. They're brutal at our school. I can't wait 'til I'm out there and have a student to follow me. I'm going to help them as much as possible to ease their anxiety so they shake less...lol Instructors...they kill me. Really.

Liquor. Lots and lots of liquor. And maybe a punching bag. Lol

hi everyone, i just picked up my pt data sheet for clinical wednesday. needless to say, i'm beginning to freak out. my instructor is tough and makes me shake when performing skills in her presence. real world nursing is completely different than lab practice so a little help would be exteremely appreciated! i also have to complete a theoretical care plan on this pt. anyone that is familiar with these knows they are lengthy, time consuming and subject to many red marks. the last one took me 16 hours the day before clinical. dx: crf, chf, 2/17 mrsa-sputum age: 83 male dnr nka diet: novasure renal @ 45cc/hr what's this for? can't find it in my med book 300cc flush via g tube q6h hold fluids 30min prior & during chest p.t. is this d/t fluid accumulation that can interfere with the test? #6 shiley fenestrated uncuffed trach o2 c collar: there are 2 different inner cannulas, both nondisposable. one is fenstrated, one is unfenestrated. please suction c nonfenestrated huh? i'm having a brain fart here... clean both c peroxide and keep in bag @ bedside vest/wrist restraints/4 sr restraints foley prn atropine sl rx: ferrous sulfate, epogen, nephrovite, provachol, niaspan, nitropatch, lantus & reg c sliding scale any help would be great. i don't know why she makes me so nervous. she can tell too and that only makes it more difficult to perform my skills with success.

My mother's was 10. Yep, 10. It was scary. One minute she was talking and the next she was stirring dishwashing gloves in a soup pot like it was soup. I noticed it and thought she was hypoglycemic. She started tremoring and her mucsles got rigid and tightened intermitantly. It was so scary. I'll never forget it. The ambulance came after I called 911 and was put on hold 2x. (!) and couldn't get a vein. I was freaking out. I told them wear to go and he got all offended like I'm a moronic bystander. Finally after 20 more minutes he got it. My mom passed away 2 days later. This was last summer. Since then, I get nervous arounf pts c DM. I know I need to get over it, but if I didn't see the signs inmy ownmother, maybe I'm not safe enough for a pt c DM right now. I'm still in school, graduating in May God willing. I'll get past it eventually though.

Thank you so much. If you have any others, let me know. I search for hours for helpful sites that posters save.

Dear Papaw, How do you manage to be so comical and happy? Does this happen upon graduation into the real world? If so I can't wait to be there. I try to be excited and happy, but it seems that bothers other people so I mainly keep to myself and my pts. :)

Hi everyone, how your week going? I have a mean clinical instructor who is evaluating my chest assessment next week. I learned it 1st semester but for some reason I'm totally freaking out about this e-val with her. I never finish my paperwork on time, therefor I get a "U" on my tools. If I don't improve I fail the semester. Basically I have difficulty auscultating one breath sound from another. I understand vesicular is nl, but so is tracheal and bronchial. So which one should I write down? If I place my scope in all areas like I'm supposed to, wouldn't I hear all three sounds if my pt. were nl? I don't get why it's one or the other. And if they have adventitous BS, determining if they're gurgles or rales is hard for me. They sound similar. What I hear isn't what other students hear and that makes me second guess myself from the beginning. Also the percussion has always thrown me, even with abdominal assmnts. Honestly I don't get much from that part of the assessment. The 3 remaining parts (IPA) are what help me assess. I tap on my clavacle and do not hear "resonance" I hear a thump. No matter where I percuss I hear the same thing. I'm sure I sound like a total retard to you guys because I should know such an easy form of assessment, being the basics. But being my 3rd semester and graduating next May, I'm so scared I'm not going to do well enough for my clinical instructors to pass me. My paperwork is aweful! It takes me forever to complete thanks to the Excel unit care plan format. I'm perfectly fine when I'm at work or no where near my instructors. They make me so nervous and they like it. Please send me a private message (PM) if anyone has some time to guide me in the right direction. Take care! :rotfl: