Studying for NCLEX

PSUNURS05 · Jul 6, 2005

I studied for 2 months for my exam (took it yesterday...shut off at 80)...I moved into my apartment 3 days before I took this test...there was one question on the exam that I knew only from studying NCLEX questions and not from school....I took a review course..don't know if it helped...I would say if studying for 8 hours a day until you take the test makes YOU comfortable then do it......I was told that the review courses were a waste of $$$, but I didn't want to not do it, take my exam and think "what if"....I can't tell you if studying 8 hours a day from now until you take your exam will be enough...you do what you feel you need to do in order to walk into that test knowing that you did all that you could do to prepare for it......

best of luck

Thressa · Jul 6, 2005

:chuckle I think its a great idea...I took the week off before my test...studied about 8 hours a day and I feel it really helped me....everyone is different...a friend of mine stidied for 3 days and passed...hers and mine NCLEX shutt off at 75 qyestions....I studied from a variety of NCLEX books but thought Saunders was the best..........GOOD LUCCCCK TO YOU :biere:

:plonker2: THRESSA

I take the NCLEX soon and have taken the week off of work prior to study for the NCLEX. Is one week with intense studying enough?? I planned on studying 8 hours (or more if needed) each day until I take it. I'm just worried that won't be enough! Any thoughts???Thanks!

Thressa · Jul 6, 2005

BOY MY SPELLINZG REALLY SUCKED IN THAT LAST THREAD>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>SORRY

:chuckle I think its a great idea...I took the week off before my test...studied about 8 hours a day and I feel it really helped me....everyone is different...a friend of mine stidied for 3 days and passed...hers and mine NCLEX shutt off at 75 qyestions....I studied from a variety of NCLEX books but thought Saunders was the best..........GOOD LUCCCCK TO YOU :biere:
:plonker2: THRESSA

raindrop · Jul 7, 2005

BOY MY SPELLINZG REALLY SUCKED IN THAT LAST THREAD>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>SORRY

I take mine on Monday, 7/11. I am going to start my studying tomorrow, for approx 5 hours a day. I'm going to try to do 300 q's a day. I know people that study months for it and pass/don't pass, and I know people that study just a few days before and either pass/don't pass. We'll see.

For those of you that took it already, do you think it's best to practice as many Q's as possible from the start, or take a couple days to do a big review...and then hit the Q's?

pie123 · Jul 7, 2005

I take mine on Monday, 7/11. I am going to start my studying tomorrow, for approx 5 hours a day. I'm going to try to do 300 q's a day. I know people that study months for it and pass/don't pass, and I know people that study just a few days before and either pass/don't pass. We'll see.
For those of you that took it already, do you think it's best to practice as many Q's as possible from the start, or take a couple days to do a big review...and then hit the Q's?

I did both review & questions. I mainly did review of content for things that I was not good at: Addison's disease, Pheochromocytoma, Diabetes (notice everything is Endocrine :)). I know that some people study for like 3 months for NCLEX. Honestly, I don't think I could go that long. I think I would forget what I studied in the beginning, plus, it would just get OLD...FAST! Maybe the longest for me would be like 1 1/2 to 2 months. But the last 2 weeks, my anxiety starts setting in, so I probably wouldn't be too productive during that time. Also, some people can do like 500 questions/day. I'm not sure that I could do that either. I couldn't retain that much info. in one sitting! 200/day plus reviewing notes from them would probably be the max for me. Good luck.

livtek · Jul 7, 2005

STUDY IS THE KEY!! all of my friends which took the boards said that the knowledge is the 1st thing for you to pass, the next thing is critical thinking and test taking strategies. Just think for a second '' how you can know what is the answer to question if you don't know what they are asking for?"

My exam is in August 2005. I study know my 4 month, I finnished my school 8 years ago because so long (in my country Slovakia), in my mother language not english( I speak english only for 4 years now). All the terminology and health care in US is new for me and different, but diseases process is the same.

I do the Q&A on Saunders and 3500 cd like 75-100 a day, than I listen to Feuer on CD, she is really helpful for me and I review books series from MARY ANN HOGAN from Pearson.

But I think for american graduates should be enough to prepare for 3 weeks max. In my country they give you only one week to prepare. You should be fine if you go over the content and do some questions, just with balance because

I got friend she studied only Q&A 300 a day and she didn't pass!!

infullbloom1 · Jul 7, 2005

Thanks for everyones input! I study with Saunders and it has helped me alot so far! I just graduated so I need a little break before I dive back into the book. If I dont take a break, I'll be too burned out to absorb anything!

bucky72 · Jul 7, 2005

I take the NCLEX soon and have taken the week off of work prior to study for the NCLEX. Is one week with intense studying enough?? I planned on studying 8 hours (or more if needed) each day until I take it. I'm just worried that won't be enough! Any thoughts???Thanks!

Hi!

When I booked my exam, it gave me 2 weeks to study. Every spare minute of the day I just kept practising and practising, one day doing 1000+ questions!

I really crammed it in cos because I am an English nurse and was terrified the American nursing system was so different to mine! I sat the NCLEX RN on Monday 4th July, and, I have to admit the worse day of my life, every question that came up I just didnt understand! Was convinced I had failed and all my hard work had gone to waste, but I found out yesterday I had passed, 1st time!!! So all I can say is practice is the key, even if you dont know the answer, all the nclex books prepare you on how to approach it!

Eight hours a day does sound quite harsh but it is whatever you are comfortable with!

So, good luck, practise, practise, practise and stay calm! :rotfl:

Thressa · Jul 7, 2005

I think studying as many questions and rationals is best...what you find out you don't know look up in your text books....it really does help...most of the basic stuff yoiu allready know....now practice test taking skills...critical thinking...and like I said if a questions comes up you know nothing about then look it up...don't spend hours researching it either...look it up and you'll remember...it at least I sure did............I learned alot from the questions and rationals.................the more you study the better off your gonna be...and will have more confidence.....which you need plenty of...believe in yourself that helps the most. GOOD LUCK TO YOU and any one else taking the test...I hope my advice helps someone..........................later THRESSA

I take mine on Monday, 7/11. I am going to start my studying tomorrow, for approx 5 hours a day. I'm going to try to do 300 q's a day. I know people that study months for it and pass/don't pass, and I know people that study just a few days before and either pass/don't pass. We'll see.
For those of you that took it already, do you think it's best to practice as many Q's as possible from the start, or take a couple days to do a big review...and then hit the Q's?