Islaleigh

You will get there soon! And you'll look back at this moment and know that even though it was a rough bump in your career, you made it in the end! :) But as for your question, yes Kaplan does offer A LOT of practice questions, 6 question trainers I think, or maybe there are 5, that are basically the same length as the NCLEX, the same format/screen as what you would see on the NCLEX, and I personally think the questions are harder than the actually NCLEX ?s, which make you feel overprepared and ready to tackle the test! In addition there are 1000 extra practice ?s that just give you that extra preparedness. And after you answer the ?s, you can individually review each one to see why you got in wrong with a rationale, that also includes some content material with it. I thought it was really helpful and the reason why I was successful. I can't tell you anything about HURST since my school only used Kaplan so I apologize that I can't give you any advice on that. I would highly recommend Kaplan but if it is pricey than I would suggest you do what is best for you. Don't be discouraged, feel bad if you are the only person in the planet that failed but you are not :) it happens, as life is full of inconvenience, but with an optimistic attitude and confidence, you will definitely get there! :)

Hi Cara, I am so sorry about what happened, let me start off by saying YOU CAN DO IT! Even though it was devastating you get a second chance right? Just have the attitude that you will brush this off, pick up yourself, and try it again, because you are better than this test! I took my NCLEX a month after I graduated and fortunately passed with 75?s. My school provided a Kaplan week long prep class for me and my classmates and that really helped because they taught us HOW TO ANSWER the questions, the best strategies, how to decide and rationalize what the MOST CORRECT answer is. This is not a test about how much you know, its about your test taking skills. We were told that the passing score was 50%. 50%! Doesn't that take the pressure off a bit? :) Please do not buy a book to study the content, yes its important to know your normal lab values, ABCs, basics about the drug categories but thats about it! Its all about how you answer the questions and use your process of elimination. Once again I'm sorry about what happened, hopefully my advice helps, I HIGHLY recommend Kaplan, and you will pass!!! Trust me remember all those rough times during nursing school? You fought through them and made it right? Don't let them break you now when you are so close to getting your dream job! You will make it! :)

Thank you for your response and being honest, that is just what I needed to hear. I do admit that I did have problems, which is why I've accepted the condition of my termination. And I realize now my approach to orientation was not correct. I had imagined that the format would the same as the format of my nursing clinicals. And a big part of that was being naive. And no one had really told me what you just have. I take full responsibility, and will definitely take your advice and information about orientation being a probationary period that can be taken away just like that, its a one time chance. I know you mentioned how you approached orientation, is there anything else you did, study after work? what were your strategies and tools to being successful? in more detail, I really would like to hear your feedback. Once again thank you.

Hello to everyone! This is my first time posting to allnurses, I've been using this site since I started nursing school and has definitely helped me during times I felt I had no one to turn to, but I am now in need of advice! Here is my story... I graduated from the University of Kansas with my BSN in May! I graduated in May '14, passed boards in June '14, accepted a medsurg job in July '14...For the most part the good stuff just kept coming one after another! Fast forward 2 months, I was terminated from my first nursing job during orientation due to problems with time management, not seeming to be a "good fit" on the unit, struggling with a 6 patient assignment load, after 6 weeks of orientation. First of all, I was not aware of how serious my situation was until my manager met with me after my shift (at the end of my 6 week orientation, I work nights btw) to ask me how I felt I was doing on orientation (I did meet with the educator once a week), she then proceeded to discuss a situation that I had with a pt that ended up going to ICU 2 days ago. My preceptor was concerned that I had some issues handling the situation on my own, it was the first time I had a pt have a sudden decline in pt status, of course I needed her help, but apparently she told my NM that she was very very concerned after that incident. My NM then proceeded to quiz me on clinical scenarios to see how I would hypothetically react in those situations. Of course I gave my best answer but I didn't have the perfect answer that she was looking for, keep in mind I work nights and this was the morning of my 4th 12 hr shift in a row, I was not in the right mind, I was too exhausted and tired to be answering these questions to the best of my ability. If I was given the opportunity to meet with my manager at a more appropriate time that was not after my shift, I know I could have given a better answer. In conclusion she said she would extend orientation another week to see how I did, discreetly adding that the unit does have a budget so she would not extend my orientation on light terms. The following day on my day off, I get a call from her saying that she doesn't think that the unit is a good fit, that extending my orientation another week wouldn't make a difference, and that she would have to terminate my position. I was of course flustered and confused, and I replied in hesitancy but within good reason, and she replied by saying I couldn't answer her scenario questions appropriately, which were "classic NCLEX style questions" and that really concerned her and wouldn't think extending orientation could change that. In my mind I was thinking "First of all you asked me theses questions the morning after my 4th shift in a row, I have 2 months of nursing experience, have you ever been a new grad? Do you really expect me to know exactly what to do with what experience I have, knowing that new grads don't truly start to feel comfortable until 6 months into their first job? If so I don't want to work at this type of facility, and your expectations are unrealistic" I know it may sound like I am spiteful and complaining, this is of course all from my side of the story, but I don't think I was treated fairly at all. But in the end what happened happened, and I am ready to move on keeping in mind what they said I did struggle with. I do agree with all the things they said, I did have trouble with time management and managing a large patient load, but the terms of my termination was not done fairly I feel. At this point, I just ask for any advice on how to succeed as a new grad, your orientation stories, how you succeeded, what you wish you knew when you started, or anything else, or any comments you have. All I can say is I did not expect this coming out of school, I am still coping with it, I was absolutely devastated and depressed the following weeks after. I felt I had been thrown away, that it was all business and their decision was based on whether I was worth spending more money on...But I have had a good support system and I know I WILL GET THROUGH THIS. I still have my license and passion for nursing, all good things happen to those with patience and willingness to be better.