Slackers guide to passing the NCLEX

[williebert]

I passed the NCLEX my first time in 75 questions. I was not the best nursing student some A's, mostly B's and 1 C. I began consistently doing practice questions about a month before the exam and half-hearted at best, it wasn't until 6 days before the test that I kicked it into high gear.

I tried to do Suzanne's plan earlier in the summer which consisted of reading the whole Saunder's book and answering every question. Lets just say I burnt out at around chapter 14 (out of an 80 chapter text). Her plan is probably great and helps many people pass but it just wasn't for someone as ADD as me. '

I decided to sign up for the complete online course at Kaplan which gives you access to everything except the 10 class session. I didn't follow the syllabus or even read the whole Kaplan book; I started with the diagnostic test (which I got a 50% on) and then began doing at least 50-100 questions from the qbank every day (my cumulatively average was 66%). I liked the qbank because it explains the answer choices to you. MAKE SURE TO REVIEW YOUR TESTS!!! I did eventually do the question trainers but by the fourth one I realized it was a waste of time because the questions were so hard. Overall I probably did around 2000 review questions the whole summer.

However, in the final 6 days before the exam I began doing the content review from Kaplan, its an online lecture of nursing professors reviewing the content and highlighting the parts that NCLEX likes to test. I used it in the areas I was weak in and I skipped it in areas I was stronger in. Also Kaplan has a question review where there is a videotaped lecture of a professor going over NCLEX style questions and explaining how to answer the question and why each answer was right. Again, only really spend your time in areas you are weak in, don't review questions that you consistently get right. I did not follow the Kaplan strategy too intensely during the test, I honestly hardly thought about it while i was in the room.

This is what worked for me, it probably wont work for the majority of people, but I was the type of student that always waited to the last minute to get things done, so if you are like me this may help.

[Jerzy Girl]

I agree that Kaplan was the reason why I passed (along with my strong desire to pass) the NCLEX RN. I would do the Qbank questions and sometimes 25 at a time because I felt 50-100 at a time would burn me out. Once the test was complete, I'd go over each question and answer and figure out why I answered it wrong and find out why it was right. While I was taking the NCLEX, I felt like I was at home doing my normal daily testing. The Kaplan questions were short and not wordy, they are very similar to the NCLEX exam. I was a B-C plus student in nursing school and when I left the exam, I knew I passed and I felt the test was not hard at all....... I never felt this way while testing in nursing school! I passed the exam with 75 ques.

My ATI predictor in school said I had a 50% chance of passing. Kaplan course completion was a requirement in order to graduate.....its pricey but worth it. Hope this helps.

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

Everyone has their own way of studying and glad you found your way. Congratulations and good luck

[Lunah, MSN, RN]

Overall I probably did around 2000 review questions the whole summer.

I did a lot of review questions, too. I think that was key in passing for me -- plus I tend to retain information, which is nice!! :wink2:

Congrats again!! Slacker or not, it still spells RN!