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I graduated in May and took my nclex in sept., and passed the first time with 252 questions. Idk if i would recommend waiting that long, I think concepts would have come easier if I took it closer to graduating. If i redid it, I would have taken it at the beginning of july or end of june. I started studying 3 weeks before my test. I only used the 3 week ncsbn.com review coorifice. It costs $60, I think. I did all their questions, probably about 1400 worth. I read all the rationales and wrote index cards for them whether i got it right or wrong, and i researched what I was confused on. My ncsbn quiz grades ranged from 50%-75%. This made me nervous, but I think their questions are harder then the nclex. Five of my friends from school also used ncsbn, passed the first try, and got 50's to 70's on their quizes too. I always procrastinate, and I didn't sleep the night before my exam, cramming in medication, lab, and maternity review. I do feel, however, that 3 weeks is enough time for studying, kaplan actually recommends 3 weeks. I ended up having to stay up the night before, because I spent several hours on youtube and facebook, instead of focusing and studying for the full 3 weeks. Every nursing school test, I procrastinated and didn't sleep the night before, so i thought it wouldn't make a difference for the nclex, not true. Not getting sleep without a doubt effected me. I was beyond fatigued, it took me five hours and twenty mins to get through the exam, with only one 10min bathroom break. No sleep is definitely one of the reasons it took me 252 questions to pass. Also, I had a headache afterword from staring at the computer screen. During the exam, i asked if they could turn the brightness down, but they said not when the exam is in progress. So if you want to not have a super bright screen and headache, ask before you start the test; idk, though, if all the testing centers are the same. In studying, I feel that I didn't study enough easy questions, that is where i got stuck on my nclex. It took me sooooooo long to get pass the easy questions, I kept getting them wrong. It's almost like the ncsbn website only has hard questions and didn't review easy ones. By easy ones I mean precautions for different diseases and what RN does first. I had so many of those, I decided I was going to fail half way through, as I wasn't getting any hard questions. Finally, when I reached 200 questions, my questions started getting harder. They were definitely not impossibly hard though, like everyone was making them out to be. Here is some extra review I used: Kaplan's decision tree: http://www.kaptest.com/studenthome/syllabus/assignment/Classroom_Posters-1-5-Complete-8x11.pdf I used this review sheet from a fellow allnurses person. I didn't read the whole packet, I think it would be helpful though. I actually just read and understood the maternity section. That's the only maternity I studied for the test, apparently it's enough to pass. I am going to attach the review. I made sure to know this food/vitamin sheet that I'll attach below. I couldn't find a review sheet that focused on medications, so i used a bunch of sources to form my own med. review. It is basically all I memorized for the test, with exception of med.question rationales from ncsbn. I will attach that too. One of my friends who passed used saunders review book and ncsbn. She said that saunders has a lot of easy questions, so that might be helpful if you feel you might get stuck like I did. Anyway, I wish everyone the best of luck on their nclex and their future RN careers. And don't let people psych you out General Review NCLEX.doc Food Diets NCLEX.doc Medications.doc

I used so many review sheets from allnurses people, so I feel obligated to share one of mine on medications. I passed the nclex the first time just two weeks ago. I basically only knew what I have written here on meds with just a few extras. Good luck to all who are taking the nclex, don't let people psych you out, it's not too bad Sympathetic Nervous System "Fight or Flight" Adrenergic effect Secretes Epinephrine Effects: Vasoconstriction Increase HR, BP Increase blood flow to muscles Lungs dilate Constipation Pupils dilate Dry mouth Urinary retention Increase blood glucose Parasympathetic Nervous System "Rest and Digest" Cholinergic effect Secretes Acetylcholine Effects: Vasodilation Decrease HR, BP Decrease blood flow to muscles Lung Constriction Stimulate digestion Constrict pupils Increase salivation Stimulate urination * Many medications cause desired actions as well as side effects in direct correlation with how the sympathetic or parasympathetic nervous system functions. Example: nasal decongestants cause vasoconstriction as a desired effect, thus decreasing congestion. By simply knowing that this medication causes vasoconstriction, you can assume other actions and side effects, just apply what you now know about the sympathetic ns. If something causes vasoconstriction it will also cause lung dilation, increase hr, urinary retention, etc. And the common s/e of nasal decongestants are urinary retention, increase HR BP, and pupil dilation. COMMON MED. "ENDINGS" WITH EXAMPLES ACE Inhibitor="pril"=lisinopril ARB="sartan"=losartan Calcium channel blockers="dipine"=almlodopine Also, cardizem and verapamil Beta blocker="olol"=BB1(metoprolol) BB2(propanolol) Alpha adrenergic blocker="zosin"=doxazosin. Also, Tamsulosin(Flomax) Cholesterol lowering med.="statin"=simvostatin Bronchiodilator="erol"=albuterol Xanathines="phylline"=theophylline Anti cholinergic bronchio dilator= "tropium"=tiotropium(spiriva) Glucocorticoid="sone"=cortisone Leukotrine blocker=lukast=Montelukast(singulair) Antihistamine="ine"=cetrizine(zyrtec) Nasal decongestant="zoline"=oxymetazoline(afrin) loop diuretic="ide"=bumetanide(bumex) Thiazine diuretic="thiazide"=hydrochlorothiazide 5-alpha reductase inhibitor="asteride"=finasteride(proscar) Benzo.="zepine" and "pam"= lorazapam Antifungal="azole"=fluconazole(diflucan) Antiviral="clovir"=acyclovir Migraine med.="triptan"=almotriptan SSRI= "ine" and "pram"=fluoxetine(prozac) Proton pump inhibitor="prazole"=omeprazole(prilosec) Antidysrhythmics that increase heart rate (IDEAL) 1. Isuprel 2. Dopamine 3. Epinephrine 4. Atropine 5. Levophed Antidysrhythmics that decrease heart rate 1. Amiodorone 2. Lidocaine 3. Cardizem 4. Nitrates 5. Isosorbide 6. Adenosine Toxicity Dilantin 10-20 therapeutic range slurred speech, rash, gingival hyperplasia Digoxin 0.5-1.1 therapeutic range halo, diplopia Lithium >2 toxicity polyuria, polydipsia, decrease hr, hyponatremia Phenobarbital >50 toxicity Ataxia, slurred speech. COMMON MED. ANTIDOTES Digoxin=Digibind Coumadin=vitamin K Benzo./Barbit.=fluzaemil(romazicon) Mg Sulfate=calcium gluconate heparin=protamine sulfate tylenol=mucomyst opiate= narcan potassium=insulin, kayexalate, or dialysis TNKase=amnioproic acid beta blocker=glucoagon dopamine=phentolamine most cholinergic meds.=atropine Randoms -Tuberculosis drugs: Rifampin, isoniazid, pyrazinimide, ethambutol, cycloserine, streptomycin TB drugs are hepatotoxic and neurotoxic. Rifampin turns bodily fluids orange -Steroids cause: hyperglycemia, immunosupression, adrenal insufficiency, and osteoporosis. -Potassium sparing diuretics: Spiralactone(aldactone), triamterene(dyrenium), amiloride(midamor). -Osmotic diuretic = mannitol, given to decrease intracrannial pressure -Urinary tract infection analgesic, phenazopyridine(pyridium) turns your urine orange -5 alpha reductase inhibitors convert testostorone to androgen to decrease benign prostatic hyperplasia symptoms. Women (especially pregnant) and children should not touch this med. -Alpha Adrenergic Blockers Decrease BP Commonly used in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) -Seizure meds.= phentoin(dilantin), phenobarbital, diazepam(valium) -Fungal medications are hepatotoxic, -All antidepressants except for MAOI block reuptake of serotonin. -Foods high in tyramine are fermented and aged. -MAOI= phenelzine(nardil), tranylcypromine(paranate), isocarboxazide(marplan) -Positive inotropes = increase heart contractility= Digoxin -Negative inotropes= decrease heart contractility= Calcium channel blockers -Nitrates are used for angina -Beta blocker Beta 1="1 heart" = metoprolol and atenolol Beta 2= "2 lungs" = propanolol and carvedilol (Coreg) *beta2 contraindicated in asthma, copd, etc. pt. due to risk for bronchoconstriction.Beta 1 drugs should be prescribed. BB suppresses clinical indicators of hypoglycemia -Mydriotic eyedrops. dilates pupil, example atropine -Miotic eyedrops. given for glaucoma, to decrease pressure by constricting the pupil -Parkinsons meds., increase dopamine and decrease acetylcholine. Examples: levadopa and Requip.Levadopa may cause harmless side effect, darkening of saliva and urine. -Xanathines, inhibit the release of inflammatory mediators during anaphylaxis

Figured it out thank you. I had to type my middle name into the board of nursing website. Anyway, yay have my numbers now

That's so terrible. Immigration laws in this country are ridiculous and outdated. I saw a shirt recently that said "America, fighting immigration since 1742." The united states is solidly made up of and built by immigrants, it's unfortunate that the government and ignorant citizens don't embrace this. It seems as if marrying someone would solve this for you; but I am sure that is not what you have planned for your life. And it is also probably not easily successfully portrayed to the government when it's a marriage solely to gain citizenship. If things do work out for you, I am sure you will be able to work confidently and successfully as a nurse despite graduating 2 years ago. I feel like nursing is more practice then an expanse of knowledge from school. I just recently graduated, I feel like I know nothing. Canada is getting the nclex exam, i think next year. Would it be a possibility to go to canada as you could have a valid nursing license there? I don't know their immigration laws but perhaps they are more lax. I myself would prefer to work for the canadian healthcare system. I wish there was more I could say. I truly wish you the most luck. Also, do you live on long island? Your profile says valley stream. Small world if so; I grew up in Babylon on long island.

I took and passed my nclex on september 6, but the Massachusetts board of nursing website still doesn't have my license number. Do you guys know how long it typically takes to get your number in Massachusetts?