been out of rn school for a year and a half...help!!

[ktimp]

Hi friends!! So I have been out of nursing school for about a year and a half... I have taken the NCLEX two times. I have done the Hurst review, Kaplan and Mark Klimek reviews. I just don't even know where to begin with studying to take this test again. The first two times that I took it I had a job lined up and I think that that added a lot of extra pressure, not to mention I was planning a large wedding at the time too. I am married now and I have a stable job that doesn't depend on me passing the NCLEX also so I do feel a little more at ease. I just want this to be the last time I take this test. I was hoping someone else in the same boat who passed after a few years of graduating nursing school could give me some insight as to where to even begin. Where I work now is an extremely specialized field and I feel so out of the loop when it comes to general nursing care.

I'd also like to add my initial scores -

The first time I took the test was about a month or so after graduating. I got around 88 questions and I barely had any select all that apply questions. I came home and did the Pearson trick, and my payment went through so I was devastated. I got back up on my feet and I did the Hurst review and Kaplan's course.. I took the exam again for a second time and got 75 questions. I literally had at least 27 select all that apply questions so I was under the impression that I passed.. wrong I don't know what I'm doing wrong or why I'm letting this test get the best of me every time.

Thank you :)

[ireyes98]

Being out of school for that long you might benefit from taking review course that covers the basics all over again. Other than that, I would say to focus on familiarizing yourself with nursing style test questions. That helped me out the most. Nursing books usually have websites with free resources such as chapter tests. There's an endless amount of information for nurses to know, but you have an entire career/lifetime to build on that, focus on the basics and the test questions. I made a drug study guide that can help you on for pharmacology. It contains drug classes, drugs associated with the classes (generic and brand name because NCLEX only uses generic names), and all of the information school, clinicals, and the NCLEX required me to know such as MOA's, vitals, labs, common/severe side effects and nursing considerations to watch for. Check it out, its free, it's on the app stores or through our website nclexessentials.barcalabs.com. Good luck. I just passed my nclex this august and this guide is all I studied to prep for pharm. Good luck, third times the charm.

[Extra Pickles]

maybe a live review course would be helpful? Someone to go over what to expect on the exam, cover the overview, so you know where your strengths and weakness are at this time? Or even a tutor, someone who can work with you on what you need to do to pass.

You already figured out that SATA questions are just questions, lots or few don't mean anything. Good luck next time!

[ktimp]

I have been going through my Hurst review again and I purchased uworld which has done wonders. I feel like I've learned the most from that as far as actually answering the questions, which is hopefully a good sign. Thanks so much for the advice :) I am definitely going to look at the guide you recommended!!!!!!

[ktimp]

I just remember all the rumors about this test when I first started studying. Everyone kept saying: if you get a lot of SATA questions you're doing really well, or if you get a lot of math questions you're not.. things like that. So obviously I believed everything anyone told me haha but now I know better and to just go in and take this test and not think anything of the NCLEX rumors haha :)