Question for nurses who passed NCLEX using Saunders!

Cece02 · Dec 30, 2009

Thank you so much, that's what I was asking when I posted the question for tips for studying for the NCLEX. As I said, before: there is so much too study & if someone who has been there can help eliminate some of the stress it is appreciated. I will try it tonight and see how it helps.

I am breaking it down as follows

a. Prioritizing and Delagation

b. Maslow & Erickson

C. Legal Aspects

D. Lab values

C. Child New Born, stages of Labor

D. Mental Health

as yourself, I am not focusing on alot of meds:Cardiac Meds, Mental health meds,etc - certain meds are in my memory bank -but; I will make that my last area to focus on.

I did not even think of infection control, but I will now.

Learz13 · Dec 30, 2009

i did not have one single question that had anything to do with any legal aspect/issue, so you might want to cut that out of studying, all you need to know is that only doctors can write prescriptions and orders.

paacollins · Dec 30, 2009

I had tons of infection control questions and priority questions. I had a lot of questions that asked "your patient has such and such do you a.gown and glove, b.gown, glove, mask,etc. They were not easy cut and dried questions at all. I felt like I guessed at a lot of them but I must have guessed correctly because I passed. Now that people have posted that NCLEX only expects you to get 50% correct, I know why some of them didnt seem to have ANY correct answers.

paacollins · Dec 30, 2009

one more thing to add, the MOST important thing to remember is that the test is designed so that you will ONLY get about 50% right no matter how well or poorly you do. Which basically translates to, each question you see, you are going to be able to "probably" eliminate 2 answers that dont seem right, and then guess between the other 2 for the rest of the questions. there was only 1 single question on the entire exam that i felt i definitely knew the answer too, and according to everyone else i know that passed, they felt the same way. Everyone says there was only about 1-3 questions that they felt sure of, and the rest were guesses. Don't let this freak you out while you are taking the test! you are going to have to guess for almost all of the questions! what is important is being able to eliminate the wrong answers so that you increase your chance of guessing right.

Ditto for me. I felt I guessed at most of them and very few did I think "oh I know this." Most of them were "what the heck?" lol I wonder if some of the questions had no truly correct answer. I read somewhere that some NCLEX questions will not give you the ABSOLUTELY best answer but they give you the second best answer as the one you should chose. It was truly the strangest test I've ever taken.

Cece02 · Dec 30, 2009

Will do, thanks. When it came to areas mentioned previously, would you add transfers and possible fractures...

Learz13 · Dec 30, 2009

sorry one last thing, i dont think you're going to possibly get anything that has to do with theories of development such as erickson or piaget ... whatever, i didnt and i dont know anyone else who did, so i would skip that too. you dont need to know theory things such as stages of labor either, they won't ask you that, they might ask you something along about identifying symptoms of preeclampsia for example, but anything thats theory such as stages of labor or erickson will not be tested. When they ask you questions its pretty much ALWAYS going to be about what to do (intervention) if you see certain symptoms, what certain symptoms are indicitive of, "which of the following if ESSENTIAL to follow up on", or "which of the following prescriptions by the physician would need clarification", where would you place this patient, which patient would you give to the aide.. etc etc, you get the idea, its going to be about in the moment, on the floor stuff .....also it might help to know a FEW MAJOR drugs in each other category for the last one.... other than that, you should be golden.

Cece02 · Dec 30, 2009

Okay! - I'm on it: all the feed back is excellent. I will start on infection control tonight.

Old and New · Dec 30, 2009

I recently took the Hurst Review and they explained that the NCLEX test merely determines if you have a basic understanding of the nursing principles. They are looking for average performance of a brand new nurse. It sounds to me like you're safe, even though you're probably not satisfied, lol. I have yet to get an NCLEX date, so I may be back here asking questions in a month or so.

Cece02 · Dec 30, 2009

Not a problem, if I can help- just drop me a message ("do unto others as you would want them to do to you!") My problem with the NCLEX is the fear of the unknown: it's just so much information and so little time. I don't want to leave any stone unturned. That's why I ask question regarding the test

gmh_usa · Dec 30, 2009

Hi! I Take my NCLEX Dec 29th, and I'm using Saunders to study. I am consistently getting 70% of the questions right on the quiz and assessment CD practice questions and I am wondering how I figure out what that means in terms of passing. What percentage were other people getting right in Saunders before passing (or failing) the NCLEX? I'm trying to get an idea of how close or far away I am from an acceptable passing level because I have NO clue what 70% of Saunders questions means in terms of passing NCLEX... Thank you! I really appreciate any help or insight you might be able to give me!

I passed the NCLEX-RN exam last Nov 30, 2009 in San Francisco. I also used the Saunders Reviewer 4th Edition and likewise maintained an average of 70-84% on its CD and with Lippincott CD. While such average may indicate a good chance on passing the actual NCLEX-RN exam, I believe it would really depend on how well you answer during the actual test. I suggest you arrived at the testing center early and have ample time to relax and condition your mind. Always remember the ABC when answering. Critical thinking is very important so relax and have self-confidence. You'll make it. Where are you taking the exam? You can email me. Good luck! :yeah:

cutegrltoyaRN · Dec 31, 2009

Wow thanks to all of you replying to this post! I was just poking around and saw this post and that is exactly how i am preparing! I have the Sanders Comp 4th edition. It's good to know your tips I have my ATT so I have not set a date yet but must take it before 1/21/10 so I will definately utilize your tips thanks again guys! :yeah:

Grapenut · Dec 31, 2009

I used Saunders exclusively, was doing about 70% correct which had me worried, but passed the NCLEX at 75 questions. The thing that sticks out in my mind about my exam was that I had several triage questions -- you have these patients, these situations, how do you prioritize them, who do you go to first. Remember your ABC priorities and what you can and can't delegate to someone else. I got quite a few lab value questions also. And like others, I didn't leave the NCLEX feeling like I had passed because I guessed at a great majority of questions. I think they are testing your judgment in accordance with the nursing process. So keep studying and don't let it freak you out. Stay calm and think through the questions and answers. You'll be fine.