Success With Saunders (plus Venting)

NurseNicoleRN · Aug 18, 2005

I'D LIKE TO ASK THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE PASSED THE NLCEX-RN BOARD (CONGRATS ) ABOUT THE EFFECTIVE WAY OF USING THE SAUNDERS REVIEW FOR THE NLCEX-EXAM CD. I JUST BOUGHT THE THIRD EDITION OF THE BOOK WITH THE CD HOPING THAT THIS WILL AID IN ME PASSING THE BOARD FOR THE SECOND TIME. THERE'S 3 STUDY MODES TO CHOOSE FROM ( STUDY MODE, QUIZ MODE, AND EXAM MODE), WHICH OF THESE MODES DID YOU USE PRIMARILY OR EXCLUSIVELY USE WHEN YOU WERE REVIEWING FOR THE EXAM? HOW MANY QUASTIONS WERE YOU PRACTICING ON EACH DAY AND HOW DID YOU SPACE IT OUT? I REALLY NEED HELP.
:offtopic: ON THE VENTING SIDE.....HONESTLY SPEAKING, AFTER THE HORRIBLE LETTER OF FAILURE I'VE RECEIVED FROM THE CABON ( IT'S BEEN A WEEK NOW AND I'M STILL DEPRRESSED ), I JUST CAN'T GET MYSELF BACK TO MOTIVATION. I SIT INFRONT OF MY COMPUTER TELLING MYSLEF I HAVE TO GET BACK TO STUDYING BUT I'M JUST NOT MOTIVATED ENOUGH. I FEEL LIKE I'VE WASTED 2 MONTHS OF MY TIME STUDYING FOR THE NCLEX-RN AND NONE OF IT PAID OFF. I'M SO FRUSTRATED THAT I EVEN HAD TO SACRIFICE SO MUCH OF MY TIME AWAY FROM MY FAMILY JUST TO REMAIN FOCUSED. THEN I GET THIS LETTER STATING THAT I FAILED. I HAVE SO MANY "WHAT IF'S " GOING ON IN MY HEAD....WHAT IF I FAIL AGAIN, WHAT IF I'M NOT STUDYING ENOUGH, WHAT IF I'M MISSING OUT ON SEEING MY KIDS GROW...WHAT IF NURSING IS NOT REALLY FOR ME?.....I'M SO DISTRAUGHT RIGHT NOW SO MANY BOOKS, CD'S, REVIEW CLASSES ETC. TO CHOOSE FROM BUT WHICH ONE REALLY IS THE BEST ONE TO PREPARE YOU FOR THE BIG EXAM?? ALL PROMISE GUARANTEE TO PASS....IS THIS REALLY WHAT NCLEX PEOPLE BASE OUR NURSING JUDGEMENT AND SKILLS? WE ALL KNOW THAT IN THE REAL WORLD IT IS NOT REALLY WHAT NCLEX IS BEING APPLIED IT'S THE EXPERIENCE. I KNOW SOME OF YOU MAY THINK THAT I'M TALKING NO SENSE. BUT THIS IS HOW I FEEL AT THE MOMENT. I HAVE SO MUCH FRUSTRATION AND DISBELIEF. PLEASE HELP ME..........

I know how you feel but try to tell yourself that u have another chance and the upper hand because u know what to expect now youve seen the testing center and the test and you know what they will want from you question topic wise obviosly ull have different questions but the same format. i mostly used test mode and quiz mode. test mode is good because in one sitting you do 100 questions....but sometimes i can sit for an hour or two so i would do 5 of the 10 question quizes and break and then 5 more.....i finally used study mode at teh end and i actually liked it better because after u answer it gives you and answer and rationale right away and u can do 4000 wuestions and stop and start when ever u like...the only bad part is the study mode doesnt give u a score or print out on your strengths and weakness......i would when u pick categories on the disk only click application and analysis because the comprhension wuestions are too easy and its most application and analysis on nclex anyway....hope this helps....good luck keep ure chin up

Tony35NYC · Aug 19, 2005

I'm sorry that you didn't pass. In your post you compared real-world nursing to NCLEX nursing. This may very well be what didn't work for you. Study the Kaplan strategies and use them to do as many Saunders questions as possible.

suzanne4, RN · Aug 19, 2005

Slow down and take a deep breath. It is nothing to beat yourself up over.

Start with the quiz mode and see how you are doing on the questions....if you getting thru thejm with answers correct, then great. If not, do the reivew section first.............you should be doing at least 100 questions per day with a review of the rationale behind each and every answer, correct, as well as why the incorrect answers were not selected.

Saunders' excels with this, that is why they are the only one that I recommend.

jwrightstone · Aug 19, 2005

Slow down and take a deep breath. It is nothing to beat yourself up over.
Start with the quiz mode and see how you are doing on the questions....if you getting thru thejm with answers correct, then great. If not, do the reivew section first.............you should be doing at least 100 questions per day with a review of the rationale behind each and every answer, correct, as well as why the incorrect answers were not selected.
Saunders' excels with this, that is why they are the only one that I recommend.

I am so sorry this has nothing to do with this thread but I am unsure where I can find general infomation about this site. Can anyone tell me what it means when someone sends a response that simply says "bump" Thank you so much for your help

nursebear168 · Aug 19, 2005

Hello! Mye614,

Besides Saunders, I found the kaplan book and the ncsbn review are really helpful.

check them out.

Tony35NYC · Aug 19, 2005

I am so sorry this has nothing to do with this thread but I am unsure where I can find general infomation about this site. Can anyone tell me what it means when someone sends a response that simply says "bump" Thank you so much for your help

"Bump" means that the person didn't have the answer you were asking for, but he/she thinks your question is interesting and 'bumped' it back up to the top of the thread. This is so someone who has the answer to whatever you were asking about will see it the second time around and respond.

suzanne4, RN · Aug 19, 2005

I am so sorry this has nothing to do with this thread but I am unsure where I can find general infomation about this site. Can anyone tell me what it means when someone sends a response that simply says "bump" Thank you so much for your help

At the top of the forum there are instructions on how to use this site.

"Bump" is actually not a legal thing to do here. It just takes that thread back to the top of the list, especially if it is a few pages back or a few days old. It brings it back to everyone's attention.

Fun2, BSN, RN · Aug 21, 2005

Good luck to you. I'm sorry that it hasn't gone well for you yet, but it will.

You probably won't pass if you don't get back in the studying mode, so jump right back into it! :)

Take the great advice you see here, and study, study, study. Also...a positive attitude can do wonders...maybe not miracles, but wonders. If you have a attitude that you are going to fail, than your chances of failing probably will increase.

Study, think positive, and get pass your NCLEX!!! Good luck! :)

DKM_RN · Aug 21, 2005

I used the exam mode and after I was finished, I went back over all the questions and made sure I understood the rationales, no matter if I got the question right or wrong.

registered user · Aug 26, 2005

Hello! Mye614,
Besides Saunders, I found the kaplan book and the ncsbn review are really helpful.
check them out.

Hi it struk me when i read this note. i'm studying both the saunders and kaplan but still confused as to which one to concentrate mostly coz the kaplan although good, has few details, and saunders's like all the details in the world. :confused:it'll take another month to finish everything in saunders.or should i concentrate more on questions? any ideas?which one's the ncsbn review by the way?

nursemomruns · Aug 26, 2005

Hello! Mye614,
Besides Saunders, I found the kaplan book and the ncsbn review are really helpful.
check them out.

It is also a good idea to get the detailed test plan from NCSBN. You can use that as a study guide and NCSBN has the most up to date test plan. It changes every 3 years. The test plan only costs 10 dollars.