Scheduled to take the NCLEX for the 4th Time

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Hello everyone i am fairly new to this site but have been reading posts on here for a long time and i just wanted to know if anyone had any suggestions/ tips on good study habits to pass this test. I have taken it and failed it three times and have been in a very down and depressed state but i have took some time off and decided to jump back in and finally pass... =) I have numerous NCLEX books to refer too and have also taken a review class at Sycamore Learning Center that was not very beneficial.. the book i am currently using is Saunders Comprehensive Review and i plan on attending a review class next month ,but if anyone can give me more suggestions i would be forever grateful thanks

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I just want to say good luck!! I am so sorry that you are having a hard time but hopefully this time will be your ticket!!!:nurse:

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What did you not like about Sycamore? I love them. My coworker from Nigeria passed on his 6th attempt and suggested them. I just finished the august session and I feel more confident than my 3 previous exams.

I too used the Saunders book which is affective for practice questions.

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I believe that putting the dear Lord first is number one. Remember why you are doing this and Who has called you to it. It will happen in His time. Believe that it WILL happen. He loves you and don't you forget it. Next, I think approaching this test and study materials from all angles is essential. Know your content as best you can. I liked both Exam Cram and Saunders. They are polar opposites, but this is good. Exam Cram gives a good general overview of what you need to know, but for me this was not enough. I needed details! For this, I suggest Saunders. Very detailed, at times too much so, but that's OK. Saunder's is also great for pharm. You need a good go-to book and this one pretty much has it all. In addition, Saunder's is too easy. You need critical thinking questions which you will find at Kaplan Q-bank and Question Trainers (look for slideshare websites and cover up the answers as you go along---this way, it's free). Kaplan will challenge you with real NCLEX-style format. You need this, too! Even though you will probably hate it, it is essential, along with the other two. Next, DO review the Kaplan NCLEX test-taking strategies, which can be found in the latest edition of thier book which you can find in the library. In fact, I believe this should be NUMBER ONE on your list, after giving yourself and this test to the Lord. If you do these things, you will be well-prepared to accomplish the last essential---- be calm during your test and read each question and answer carefully! I really can't stress this enough. Don't get sidetracked by confusing questions and confusing answers. Remember that a certain number of questions don't even count! Refuse to be intimidated! Remember that the questions are only trying to discover where you're at and will adjust up or down accordingly. Adjusting down is not necessarily a bad thing, so embrace it! Keep it in the Lord's hands at all times. Reach out to Him during your test and when the questions are loading. God bless you, my friend! Let me know when you pass so I can rejoice with you! xo

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And P.S. When I say HIm, I am specifically referring to the Lord Jesus Christ.

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first off you need to stick to one NCLEX book for now and just have about 2 nursing books to refer to. Having too many NCLEX books becomes overwhelming and you then start to feel like you need to learn every single thing from all your NCLEX books. Take your time to go through the questions and go through all the questions you missed. Really really understand why you got it wrong and use your nursing books to find more information as most NCLEX books do not really go in depth.

I took Kaplan and I loved it. They not only taught me content but also strategies on how to read NCLEX questions. Remember NCLEX is not just content it is also testing your ability to look at an NCLEX questions and really digesting it and finding clues within the question. I didn't care to answer 10,000 questions. All that matter was doing at most 150 questions a day and really understanding each and every question. At the end of the day doing 10,000 questions and just understanding the basic of the question will not help you pass the test. I have seen many people complaining that they did over 10,000 questions and still failed. Understanding and being calm and relax is the key. You will get there. Believe in yourself. :D

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Specializes in Med Surg.

FYI: I used Kaplan 2010-2011 edition. My Saunders book is still in the cover....unopened. (Hint). But that's my opinion. Everybody's got one!:D

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THANKS to EVERYONE who took the time out of their day to give me helpful advice/tips i am greatly appreciaitve and will most definitely be taking these tips into consideration because I WILL PASS THIS TIME =)

@Claudiabrn: The instrutor at Sycamore was really nice and very knowledgeable but the style of teaching didnt work for me because we were told to be studying and reviewing on our own then we would come in we would just take tests on paper.It wasnt very in depth at all just kind of vague and some of us had conflicting answers and responses to some of the questions she gave us

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