Studying isn't going so well :(

[BNE103]

After just barely missing the mark on the Kaplan diagnostic NCLEX exam before graduating (very frustrating since I did well on all of the subject-based Kaplan exams we had to take throughout school), I took the 4-day long Kaplan NCLEX-RN review course.

Now I am scheduled to take the NCLEX in just 23 days and I am more or less scared out of my mind. I've been doing the question trainers and practice questions, but they haven't been going too well. Not awful, but it's definitely not improving. I sit down to take the practice questions and all of the rules just seem to get jumbled up in my head. I forget things, and right when I'm feeling bad about it, it gets worse when I get a random fact-based (bad!) question on a drug or procedure I don't remember.

What am I supposed to do?! Everyone says taking practice questions is the best way to prepare, but if I'm not improving I don't see how this is going to help. I'm just getting more and more frustrated every time I try to "study", which of course doesn't help either! And obviously a giant content review of everything we learned in nursing school is just not plausible.

Help me!!

[suri_wild]

I think it would probably be easier to review material individually...so look at what you are having the most trouble with first. Example: you missed 30 questions and 20 of them were related to infection control, 5 pediatric dosages, and 5 on care planning. Try reviewing the material you covered for infection control first. I'm not sure if this helps, but that is how a graduate from my school told my class to review. She said to go through our NCLEX review book and rip everything out by their topics and put them into folders, then as we review that material in class, do those practice questions then.

[irish_rainbow, BSN, MSN, DNP, NP]

Don't get so down about your scores on the practice tests. The practice questions are meant to help you learn what you don't have knowledge about. The test scores and reviews are deceiving at times, too. People pass diagnostic tests all of the time, but don't pass NCLEX the first time and vice versa.

Don't rely so much on what the scores are saying in terms of how you will do on NCLEX. Focus on what the scores are saying by reviewing content you missed or maybe you read the question incorrectly. The tests will help boost your confidence and reinforce knowledge you do have, as well as giving you hints as to knowledge you lack. There is a lot of nursing content and chances are there are tons of things you never covered in school.

It all comes down to you. So look at what you are missing on your practice questions and read the rationale. Say you miss a question about ACE inhibitors... well get your review book or nursing med-surg book and find ACE inhibitors in the index and read about it. Figure out how they work which will explain why they work. This is the best advice I can give you.

I am re-taking my exam Aug. 31st so I am in no way a professional NCLEX taker and scared to death of that stupid exam, but this is what I have read from a lot of users on here and is one of the few things that actually make me feel better about the exam.

[caliotter3]

Why don't you take one or two entire days and do nothing but practice relaxation exercises? Try to clear your mind for a restart. It isn't wasted time if it helps, and you will need the relaxation techniques on the day of the test.