ready and focused

NurseThis21, BSN, RN · Aug 13, 2009

hi there!

i wrote this down for another person on this site. hopefully, it will assist you in preparing for your test!

:pntrghi:1. create a study plan for yourself. from what i've seen with my friends who needed to retake the test, it's not necessary to bring out the big books again and start over at chapter 1. instead, focus on the big topics and this year, the big nclex topics are: infection control, delegation, prioritization, & pharmacology. find some good books that will help you absorb that particular content such as lacharity, saunders 4th ed., exam cram, and hurst/lippincott. cdc.gov is a great source for the infection control info as well.

:pntrghi:2. act as if you've never taken the test before. the testing centers all have a history of what was on our tests and this is to prevent repeat questions for those who might have to retake it. so don't focus on the questions you saw on your first test; more than likely you won't see them again! use your study plan to guide you and help you focus on what you need to understand.

:pntrghi:3. test yourself daily (i.e. practice at least 75-100 questions). this will get you back into testing mode and will help you understand how to answer nclex style questions. exam cram and saunders have great cds that will keep you on the right track. also, i'm not sure if you have this nclex 3500 link, but here it is and actually it helps out a lot of people when they're learning how to decipher a hesi or nclex style question...and it's free! woot!

http://198.146.4.5/nclexrn3500/mainm...75ce2004385fcf

:pntrghi:4. don't worry about what people will think. i know that nursing school teaches us how to compare ourselves to others and always think about what everyone thinks (competition sucks sometimes!), but honestly, this test is about you. it is so individualized that you don't have any room to sit and think about how well everyone else is doing and the same isn't happening for you at the moment. think about yourself first and focus on what needs to be done. if it helps to not tell anyone your next test date then fine, keep it that way and this will take some of the pressure off of you. dedicate yourself to your preparation; i don't care what anyone else says, this test is a life-changing experience and can make or break a person. i hope it makes you want to conquer it!

:pntrghi:5. stay positive and keep your head up! need i say more!?

good luck with studying! :up:

nursethis21, bsn, rn :nurse:

uic alumna

2bNurse4life4ever · Aug 13, 2009

hey all,
i just took my nclex in june and failed...so i took a month off, went on vacation...and now i'm back to getting ready to sit down and study for the nclex again...i feel refreshed and ready...any tips or advise on how to prepare this time around?
thanks

Hi, dont lose heart. You should read my post on "i passed my nclex rn on the second try. Please read to find out how! " It will also help you, and if you have any further questions, you can always ask. :) Good luck!!!!