Taking NCLEX Jan 19th!

fiveofpeep · Dec 29, 2009

I heard that you can take it as late as 2 days before you start your new grad program and still get the results in time. I dont know how that varies according to your state though, so your best bet may be to call the new grad program coordinator and see how late he/she thinks you can test or if you can start with an IP, just in case.

I think it sounds like you are prepared enough. Maybe for these last two weeks you can up the ante and do more than just 100 qs/a day. Do what works for you.

I test Jan 11 so good luck to the both of us :)

StudyinginCT · Dec 29, 2009

I took mine today. There is no way to study for that thing. I also did the ATI through school, scored very well - 83% raw score with 99% chance of passing on the first try. Did a million saunders questions as well. There was so much RANDOM CRAP on the exam. Random meds I've never even heard of with no common suffixes to determine med class. It wasn't the topics so much as the choices they gave you to answer the questions. Tons of "select all that apply" type questions (which I HATE), tons of "The nurse knows teaching has been effective when the client states _________ (select all that apply)" UGH!

I doubt my performance would have improved greatly if I had spent 3 months of taking questions. I knew about 2 things on the whole test. Everything else was an educated GUESS. The ATI questions were similar in format, but much easier. I found that you could at least apply knowledge on ATI questions. On NCLEX, I seriously had no idea on so many.

Test shut off @ 75 for me, so I either totally bombed it or completely passed. Time will tell. Don't move your date. Just get it over with.

JP425 · Dec 29, 2009

I would like to say, Don't change your date and the person above, whatever she said it is so true. I gave my test two weeks ago and I had same situation. I did have lots of SATA and lots of isolation questions. I would suggest that you start practicing more than 75 q's. You need to be prepared for 265 q's just incase. It's hard to concentrate if you are not use to. And another suggestion is use the earplugs, also write down your labs on the board that they give you. That really helped me. Good Luck, you are doing good in your questions.

Good Luck to all who is taking test next month and in next couple of days.

AugustBoy · Dec 30, 2009

I would say don't move the date. They way you are telling us, seems like you are a smart one and can pull it off. I would only change one thing and that is the number of questions you are doing every day. Start doing 150 questions a day and last week of the exam do at least 2 tests of 265 questions. The score should be close to 60% and better. Thats what I did and passed with 77 questions. So lister to your hubby and DO NOT MOVE THE DATE, KNOCK THIS MONKEY OFF OF YOUR BACK. Good luck.

Learz13 · Dec 30, 2009

you are way MORE than ready to pass, do not put it off, all of those scores are definitely better than people usually get who pass. you just have to remember to relax! you would passs it today if you took it right now, so dont worry so much or you will psych yourself out. i studied a total of 7 days and took it 7 months after i graduated, and i just passed so you will be fine.

JMoney · Dec 30, 2009

Hi Everyone - thank you for your great advice. I have upped the # of questions I am doing per day to 150. It's just frustrating b/c sometimes I do really well on the practice questions and sometimes I totally suck (mental health).

I want to get it over with but am so fearful of not passing. If I don't pass, then I lose the job that I have secured (new grad program) which starts in February. That would be devastating.

I feel so lame about this. My gut says keep the 19th and get it over with. My fear/monkey mind/anxiety says put if off a week to study even more. But, I ask myself, will that really make a difference?

Ugh, I am so lame!!!!!!!!

Learz13 · Dec 30, 2009

stick with the date. you are going to pass, and the thing you need to concentrate on MORE than studying if releiving stress and anxiety so that you can take the test completely focused. you are going to pass, i understand how nerve wrecking it can be to be faced with a possible job loss if you fail, but you have to believe in your abilities! i dont think theres any way you are going to fail with the types of scores you've been getting, so stop worrying!

RNAchot83 · Dec 30, 2009

I'm taking mine on January 20th and am sooo nervous!!!! I took the Kaplan course a week ago. Finished Qtrainers 1-3 and am leaving the rest for closer to the test date as they told us the last trainers will be significantly harder.

I am also using Saunders and have found that the content is very useful as a backup while listening to the Kaplan content online. Also, I have reviewed the prirotization, delegation, and assignment book which is a MUST...we never had these questions in school so I really LOVE this book! Also using REA flashcards...

But now i'm beginning to think that i'm OVER studying..if thats possible? In the beginning I did really well on the Kaplan qbanks and now all of a sudden i'm getting scores below 50!! I feel like i'm overthinking...

A friend of mine just took her test today...and told me there was no real way of studying for this. You either know the answers or you don't. She said Kaplan didn't help her but there were alot of priority questions. I donno, we'll find out on Monday how she does! But its a bit discouraging... any tips? Am I doing the right thing by studying with all this material?

JMoney · Dec 30, 2009

RN2B123 - you sound a lot like me. Also, I'm sure, like you, my anxiety is causing me to not do so well on my practice questions. It is possible to overstudy. Maybe take a day or two off, clear your mind, and start to study again. I believe you are doing the right thing - if my opinion counts at all.

You talked about "the prirotization, delegation, and assignment book which is a MUST...we never had these questions in school so I really LOVE this book!" What book? Kaplan?

JMoney · Dec 30, 2009

Learz13 - you are right - thanks! :)

daryl stephens · Dec 30, 2009

Just a suggestion. I used saunders and mosby's But , I found what helped me the most was a prep test called MEDS 2000 it has 1000 questions 10 test -100 questions. From Med-Surg to Pharmacology. In addition, a lot of the questions was on the NCLEX give it a try! Good Luck!!