Retake NCLEX RN

cyram81APRN, MSN · Apr 21, 2011

@cyram-What are you doing diff. Or what are you using to help u study?
2010icurn...Please any help would be appreciated.

My situation is that I "was" a fallen Christian, not to force you into anything you don't have to. But I changed my studying planning to think of God for a minute everyday when I was up and say a short prayer. Thanking him for everything that was good or bad in my life because it my challenges that he was giving me.

But anywho study plan: wake up at 730 say a prayer in a very quiet environment, eat a high protein carb, start looking over the information that needs to be read thoroughly and then lunch time, the half of the day I either study for an hour or so that just needs reviewing like flashcards and then go outside to breath.

I have saunders 4th ed, exam cram (both question book and content book), lacharity. First time around I didn't have Lacharity or exam cram content book. Exam cram are really helping me to understand the content after I read the Saunders chapter correlating to the information in exam cram. Also LaCharity is helping with PDA (priority, delagation and assessment).

Also I said a prayer to:

https://allnurses.com/nclex-discussion-forum/prayer-works-before-291885.html

But I am catholic so I say the rosary, novenas, anything I can get my hands on. I have been in prayer mode since I failed first time on Jan 27th 2011, now I am going to face the beast in 6 days! I feel calm every time I feel scared or nervous. My anxiety level has decreased a lot.

I also have been walking my dogs more often (a golden and a brittany). I have been doing the wii fit. Do what makes you happy and calm. It will make you feel good. :)

sorry for long post.

2010icuRN · Apr 21, 2011

Sorry Leo!! I am just seeing your message and I don't see how to send a private message so here is my blurb. You learned a lot of content in nursing school and my personal opinion is you can't study enough "content" type questions to pass the NCLEX. I say that because of the people that I spoke with about the test, the majority of them had diseases, meds, and procedures that they had never heard of. With that being said, I think the best way to study for NCLEX is by learning test taking strategies. The Kaplan review book has a very good systematic approach to answering different types of questions. Another aspect of the exam that isn't really emphasized in school (at lease not in my program) is prioritization. The Prioritization, Delegation, and Assignment (PDA) book by Linda LaCharity is very helpful in this area. I liked this book because it goes over the those areas while reviewing content as well. There is a chapter on pain and all major body systems. I had the Saunders NCLEX Review (big blue book) and Lippincott NCLEX Review and a Lippincott Alternate questions book. I also took the Hurst review. I would not recommend the Hurst review though because it was a content based review (again my opinion). I loved Marlene's personality and the way she taught and I would have loved to have her as a professor but the review only added about 1 or 2 things that I found helpful on NCLEX. If I knew then what I know now I would do the Kaplan book first then the PDA book and Saunders OR Lippincott questions based on the subject area. I would stop studing 2 days before the test. Use the day before the test to chill out and go into the test knowing that I did all I could do to be successful. I wouldn't take a review but if I had to choose, I would take the Kaplan over the Hurst. Also, if your school used ERI or ATI or some other testing company, use their online test bank after you have done the review areas. I used practice tests to look at the questions I missed to see...did I read the question correctly, did I answer the question asked, etc. I hope this helps you out. I took the test about 5 weeks after I graduated but I only had a few weeks to study because it was over Christmas break. YOU CAN DO IT!!! :jester:

I am here if you need anything else and I will try to check this more often!!

uaefan · Apr 22, 2011

Hi leo,

You may want to take a look at my post "long time lurker...first time poster." I went the 265 way and went through my depressed period. The key is to pick yourself up and don't for one second think you can't pass NCLEX. A positive attitude is key to passing. Let me know what I can help you with. All the best!

cyram81APRN, MSN · Apr 22, 2011

2010icuRN is right, we all know the content from our nursing school. it's just the difficulty of applying it critically and that's kind of the reason the next two days I will just take tests about 250 each one in the AM and one in the PM to let me mind know that I will sit however long it takes to pass the test and Uaefan is right about positive attitude. I went into there all positive, but once I saw a question I didn't know, I panicked and then everything went downhill from there.

Do your best and DO NOT give up!! We can make it to the goal which is to pass the NCLEX! ^_^

I forgot to mention in my previous post that my school is all for ATI, so I somehow was entitled to a free review from the program. So ask your school if there is a review at the school you can attend.