Studying for the NCLEX and working

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I graduated in May of last year. I took the test twice and shouldn't have. Too many issues in my life. Plus, I can admit, I was not prepared. I thought that nursing school alone prepares you for the NCLEX. Whereas some can just graduate and pass, I obviously cannot. So I reset and have been studying as I can for the last year.

I can't study every day, but I still study 5-6 days a week. I study for 2-3 hours before work, then study for about an hour after work. I have the time to study more, but by the time I get home, I don't have the energy or the attention to do so. I work 2nd shift, 3-11 as a cna. By the time I get home and wind down and get to bed, it's anywhere from 2-3am. Sometimes earlier, occasionally later. But rarely..

My main source of studying is Kaplan. I used to get anywhere from the 30's to an occasional 60-something. My grades have now evened out and typically stay mid 50's to mid 60's. I am about to register for my test and schedule. Hopefully I can test the first week of November.

Does anyone have any advice or further instructions or even encouragement they could give?

Thank you guys!

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I am in the same boat, combining the studying for the NCLEX with working is really though! The best advice I have received so far is to try to study effectively - Identify your weaknesses and work on improving them rather than trying to study for everything. Have you reviewed your previous 2 attempts? Or maybe practice exams to see what competencies and type of questions are most challenging for you?

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I am in the same boat; I only work now 3 days a week than 5 days a week. I work sometimes from 11 to 13 hours a day; I don't have energy to do anything but I usually take a nap then go out to library and study for 2-3 hours because I can't study at home.

My advise to work on your weakness.. I am reviewing contents from either " kaplan content book or I have notes from my friend she took from Mark Klimek class" then i do questions. Make sure to read rationals either in wrong and correct questions understand rationals do not memorize it!! Figure out good strategy to read and figure out the answers each time you do questions..

I am taking my exam third week of November too will be my fourth attempt.. stay motivated and don't let nothing stopping you!

Also try to register free 1 week u world and do their critical thinking questions their amazing for priority questions :)

Good luck!

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I have a friend that passed that let me borrow her Hurst content book. I actually took Hurst last year and didn't really like it. So I have stayed with Kaplan. I did, however, make it through the whole Hurst content book and am now roughly half way through the Kaplan content book. It can get kinda tedious because of all of the tables. It's hard for me to study tables for some reason. I have done all but about 500 qbank questions. When I take a new test, I utilize unused as well as previously incorrect questions. Not sure if that is why it is why it has taken me so long to make it through the qbank. I made it to qtrainer 4, but didn't score well. So I stepped back and studied more. I am about to start back over with q trainer 1 and see how it goes, even though I scored in the 50's before on the first 3.

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I have done Hurst program.. their contents is great but doesn't cover everything.. I went over their notes few times which is not bad.. you can't know everything.. practice questions.. write rationals go over your rationals.. study and review your weakness. you will be fine :)

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I am sort of in the same boat. I am in the process of looking for a job after two failed NCLEX attempts. I know I should spend all of my time studying instead of working, but I have bills to pay and even taking the NCLEX take quite a bit of money. My problem has always been trying to find a good balance between work and study. As for sources I have done the online Hurst review, I liked it and helped me understand some of the core content. But doing a lot of questions helps, and for that I like using UWorld. Good luck.

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I will be scheduling either later this week or the beginning of next. I will start the u world free week thing as soon as I schedule, as well as my study efforts will increase DRAMATICALLY. Could I pass the NCLEX as we speak? No way to know for sure, but I feel a lot more prepared than I was the last two times I took it, and I took 235 questions last time. So if I were close then, I could possibly pass it now. But, like all study courses want you to overkill it to make sure, that is what I'm gonna do. Ugh!

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Hello u sent me a private message but all nurses won't let me reply because I'm not an active member...but uworld is highly recommended. Very good it looks like the real test

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