Should I take NClex, HELP!!

ragingmomster, BSN, MSN, RN · Jan 2, 2005

Hey everyone... I am scheduled to take the NCLEX on Wednesday... I graduated on Dec 20th from Northeastern's direct entry program in Boston, MA. I am having a ton of anxiety about this test. I already have a job lined up, but I am scared to take the test b/c I dont want to risk failing and having to wait the 3 months to retake it. I just took Mosby's CAT test online and it said I have a 92% chance of passing the NCLEX. I felt like I was guessing alot though. Should I take the test??? Or should I study more and maybe take a class? I have just been doing questions in the Kaplan book and looking over the Mosby review book. Please give me some advice, I'm wicked unsure of what to do right now!!!
Thanks,
Brian

Brian,

Good Luck.

What kind of prep did you get before you finished school?

I am up here on the North Shore and we got tested at the end of every semester to see where we stood in relation to NCLEX passing.

Our NCLEX review class professor encouraged us to buy a review book with a cd-rom. Then use the comprehensive review. Then start taking practice tests from the CD-ROM. She asked us to do 2000 to 3000 questions before taking the boards and make sure we are scoring 75+ consistently before even scheduling our test.

Off I go to do another 100 questions. 900 down and 2100 to go.

Leda · Jan 2, 2005

Brian:

Take a deep breath and relax. As an experienced NCLEX coach/tutor I am more concerned about your anxiety than your academic readiness. What you refer to as guessing, may well be correctly using critical thinking to arrive at the best answer. NCLEX questions are written in a way that measure higher level thinking (critical thinking/application and analysis based on your nursing knowledge). You aren't going to achieve an assessment from Mosby that you have a 92% chance of passing NCLEX based on just your guessing.

That being said, you may want to have another assessment of your NCLEX preparedness. I would suggest that you take another test, preferrably on CD to evaluate your status. There are numerous review books with CDs, that are avialable for purchase, or perhaps a classmate would loan you one.

There in no agreement on how high you should score on the practice tests. The important considerations are, that you have a history of strong academic knowledge and test taking success, that you consistently apply critical thinking skills to the answering of each question, and that your critical thinking skills/answers are based on sound nursing knowledge. Equally improtant is your confidence level. Lack of confidence and test-anxiety can seriously hamper your success.

It sounds like you are in a good position to pass NCLEX, but you need something to boost your confidence. Try some additional practice test, then reevaluate your confidence level.

Best of luck.

chris_at_lucas_RN, RN · Jan 2, 2005

Even though you only have three days or so before you test, you might want to buy the Mosby CAT online review. You can easily ram through two or three of the practice tests (you have unlimited uses for 30 days, but for $40 including tax, it's still a good deal if you get more confident).

My experience was that the Mosby CAT was identical to the NCLEX (not the same items, exactly the same otherwise, though).

I got more confidence from it.

Personally, anxiety is my biggest enemy.

If the assess test said 92% probability of passing, you probably will pass. I know, it's that tiny percentage that worries you.

You won't know til you do it. Most people do pass.

Let us know how it goes.

Take care! And Good Luck! (And calm down, and breathe!)