Taking NCLEX in 5 Days

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Specializes in Med-Surg/Tele, New to SICU.

Hi, everyone!

I've been seriously studying for the NCLEX for about a little over a month now. I've been using UWorld and notes I took from Saunders, UWorld rationales, and ATI (I had to have the program for nursing school). My test date is this Friday and I am beyond nervous. I've been maintaining my quiz scores in the mid- to high-60's and am in the 84th percentile. I just took the one practice assessment my package came with and got in the 57th percentile with a "high" chance of passing. Though I've been maintaining my scores in the 60s (which I heard is where I want to be at), I'm scared that I won't be able to finish my Q Bank as I still have about 1400 left. The reason for this is because I'm constantly torn between content review and doing/going over practice questions + rationales. Should I focus more on content review, or should I just continue to do practice questions + rationales? Also, is the NCLEX vague to the point where it's easy to overthink or is it pretty straight forward? Is what I'm doing okay? I'm so nervous. Anything helps!

Thanks in advance!

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If your doing UWorld practice test with all random questions, then I wouldn’t force myself to finish the bank. About half way through the 2,200 question bank, a lot of info begins to repeat. The repetition of information helps with retention. Brush up on the nursing process, and the commonly seen conditions that you encountered in clinicals and expect to see IRL. The first few NCLEX questions might throw you a bit because you are used to your study guide questions. Do a personal inventory, if your pathophysiology and clinical judgement is strong, then just keep doing practice tests and polish your test taking skills. If you were constantly struggling with connecting the dots in clinicals, then do content review. Remember NCLEX has a 90ish% first time pass rate.

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Specializes in Med-Surg/Tele, New to SICU.
19 hours ago, Increasinglyindemand said:

If your doing UWorld practice test with all random questions, then I wouldn’t force myself to finish the bank. About half way through the 2,200 question bank, a lot of info begins to repeat. The repetition of information helps with retention. Brush up on the nursing process, and the commonly seen conditions that you encountered in clinicals and expect to see IRL. The first few NCLEX questions might throw you a bit because you are used to your study guide questions. Do a personal inventory, if your pathophysiology and clinical judgement is strong, then just keep doing practice tests and polish your test taking skills. If you were constantly struggling with connecting the dots in clinicals, then do content review. Remember NCLEX has a 90ish% first time pass rate.

Thanks for the advice! I'm just brushing up on content right now and will be doing some practice Q's after I read! My biggest fear is not knowing how vague the NCLEX questions are going to be. I tend to overthink my answers a lot.

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NCLEX questions are more concise, but you’ll have enough info to suss out the correct answer with your nurse’s intuition. Good luck, you’ll finish in 60 and get a positive PVT by the time you get home.

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Sonida, it sounds like you are on the right track. To me the questions were somewhat vague but you will definitely be able to figure out what the questions are asking. You got this. Good luck on your exam?

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Specializes in Med-Surg/Tele, New to SICU.
1 hour ago, Stevo40 said:

Sonida, it sounds like you are on the right track. To me the questions were somewhat vague but you will definitely be able to figure out what the questions are asking. You got this. Good luck on your exam?

Thank you so much! I can't even sleep right now because I take it tomorrow. Thank you for your input! I'm really anxious to see how the questions will be but hopefully you are right in that I'll be able to figure out them out.

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Keep us posted. Im sure you will rock it out?

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Specializes in Med-Surg/Tele, New to SICU.

Hi friends,

Just wanted to update you. I took the NCLEX this past Friday and I walked out of the test center absolutely feeling miserable, despite how hard and how much effort I put into studying while working 3 jobs. I've never felt so defeated when taking a test. Everyone I've talked to said that it shouldn't be too hard, but literally 90% of my test were minuscule and trivial topics, which is unheard of to many people! I got a LOT of pharm questions asking about medications most of my peers and I have not heard of. This made me feel like I was failing, but my friends speculated that I was probably doing well. I had around 8-10 SATA, 2 drag and drops, 1 exhibit, and 1 med dosage question, from what I can remember. I remember feeling horrible for not getting a lot of SATA (I know I shouldn't be). Anyway, the test cut off at 60 questions, and I KNEW I had failed. I ran out thinking about how else I was going to improve my studying. I waited 2 hours to do the Pearson Vue Trick with one of my best friends... and I got the good pop up!

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Congratulations! Good luck in your new job.

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CONGRATS, Sonida???

I knew you could do it???

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Specializes in Med-Surg/Tele, New to SICU.

Thank you all so much! Your words mean so much!

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