Seriously worried about the NLN PAX RN exam...

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So I have been studying the official NLN PAX review book for a little while, and I was feeling pretty confident about my ability to memorize and re-learn the science material.... until I started doing the review questions at the end of the book. While some of the questions are really simple and straightforward, others seem to be testing on topics, concepts, diagrams, etc. that weren't even explained or mentioned in the book. Is the NLN review book not intended to be a thorough, "one-stop-shop" studying resource for this exam? Should I quickly begin studying deeper and more thorough resources, such as bio and chemistry textbooks? Thanks....

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I am nervous about it also!! Only need a 55% but it is still nerve racking. I would for sure look at chem and bio deeper, I had chem and bio last semester and still need to refresh before the exam.

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I am nervous about it also!! Only need a 55% but it is still nerve racking. I would for sure look at chem and bio deeper, I had chem and bio last semester and still need to refresh before the exam.
Well, the problem seems to be that the NLN book doesn't provide a deep/thorough-enough review of those subjects to ensure that a test-taker who uses that book as their primary review resource earns a high grade.... even though it's the "official" review book for their own exam.
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I would look up chem concepts online, and bio. I have looked over the review guides, and would have not understands any of them if I never took chem or bio. I know many say you either know it or you don't for these exams, doing just a study guide may not always be the best.

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Well, I took the NLN PAX RN yesterday, and I did surprisingly well (147 raw score -- 98th percentile). I was only a question or two away from earning a score that would've ranked in the 99th percentile. :-( I have to say, though, that if it hadn't been for what I previously learned while earning my B.S. in Biology, my score would have likely been MUCH lower. IMO, the NLN study guide is almost worthless; there were a number of questions on the science section that weren't even touched-on in the review book. Definitely study a resource that gives a more in-depth review of physics (and to a lesser extent, chemistry) than the NLN book. For example, I received a question on analyzing/determining pH, and yet the NLN book makes NO mention whatsoever of pH (if I remember correctly). However, I still ended up with a 99th percentile score on the Science section, so I guess everything worked out in the end. Good luck to you...

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Specializes in CVICU.

Man I just ordered this book too!!

Has anyone compared how this book is related to the exam and how the teas book is related to that exam?

I took the teas and did really well however my home college only accepts the nln.

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Man I just ordered this book too!! Has anyone compared how this book is related to the exam and how the teas book is related to that exam? I took the teas and did really well however my home college only accepts the nln.
Don't get me wrong -- for the most part, the book will *probably* be all you need to study in order to earn a fairly high percentile ranking (e.g., 93rd percentile and better), but it just irks me that NLN's test writers have the nerve to supply the exam with questions that have absolutely NO frame of reference in their own "official" study guide. I guess they're just trying to prevent a huge glut of test-takers from earning 99th percentile scores...
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