Study method NCLEX 2014

Hello everyone!

I have been reading this site for years and wanted to thank everyone for their help in my preparation for the NCLEX. I would like to share my experience and preparation in hopes that it will help someone as well.

A little history of me. I graduated May 3, 2014 with my BSN with a overall 3.21 GPA, but during school I did TERRIBLE on the ATI tests we took each semester. Only passed 3 with a Level 2. I cried so many times thinking I wasn't going to pass the NCLEX 2 years even before I took the exam. I made a 93% on my predictor test from ATI and Kaplan. I registered for the NCLEX June 17, 2014 at 2:00pm. My computer shut off at 152 questions. I found out I was a registered nurse June 19, 2014. (YAY!!!!) So many people asked me, "How many questions did you get?" Here is my response to this: It does NOT matter how many questions you get; it matters that you PASS. I think it's wonderful some only had 75 questions, but we both still sign RN by our names :) The amount of questions does NOT determine how good of a nurse you're going to be. It determines if you're a SAFE nurse.

Here is what I did to prepare.

My Study Method

Kaplan- I took the Kaplan 4 day course. I suggest Kaplan because it's HARDER than the NCLEX. My last three questions were very SIMILAR to Kaplan. Differently worded question and answers, but the same content area. I love Kaplan and SWEAR by them. Best 500 dollars spent and would do it again. I completed 91% of the Kaplan qbank with all 7 question trainers completed.

Saunders- I used Saunders because it was a nice refresher. Great review of 4 years of material. I completed 44 chapters in Saunders (questions only, not the content reading)

LaCharity - This was excellent practice for prioritization and delegation questions. I completed 13 chapters in LaCharity

NCLEX is a test questions, therefore you should practice QUESTIONS. I thought it was crazy at first, but it really does work! Not much content review for me.

After the 4 day Kaplan course, I gave myself 3 days to relax. After those 3 days I did 120-250 questions EVERY SINGLE day in the morning up until the day before my exams. Then after my questions I would go to my waitress job at night. I went back and forth between these three study tools for 6 weeks. Don't worry about the test scores, but read every RATIONAL and understand why you got it wrong. If I didn't understand or remember the subject, I went back to my Med-Surg books. (the only ones I actually kept and bought). All together I did about 3,500 questions to prepare.

The day before the test I did NO questions. I went to the mall with my friends and got a massage. RELAX the day before. On test day I said a prayer when I woke up, before I touched the computer, and many times during the test. It helped decrease my test anxiety. I also took BREAKS! (4 total) I also arrived 45 minutes early and they let me take my exam right then and there! I suggest bringing your cell phone inside BEFORE you take your exam or don't bring it at all. They put it in a sealed bag for you. Do not touch it during the exam. You will be accused of cheating.

Opinion

The NCLEX was not as bad as I thought it would be. Using Kaplan made me very prepared. Don't give up on your dream! I really hope this helps. Best of wishes to everyone!