Hi Everyone - ok, I know there are many NCLEX test questions out there so I apologize for repeating this if I did.
I am scheduled to take the NCLEX on Jan 19th - I just registered last Friday. I have been doing 75 questions per day and plan to up it to 100 per day at least. I am also doing a 4 day review next week.
I am starting to wonder if I should put it off a week to study even more. I've heard to take it sooner the better, but I am started to get anxious that I might need more time. I have been averaging 80% on the questions I have been doing. I have been studying flash cards and I have the Saunders NCLEX book.
Do I really need to do 10,000 questions to prepare?
I did the ATI practice exam at school (without any studying) and got a 79% with a 97% probability of passing on the 1st attempt.
My husband, who knows me so well, said not to change the date.
I start my new grad program Feb 8th and want to make sure I pass before I start my job.
PS - because of this thread I just went and did 50 questions, yes...at midnight. I got a 50% dead on and a 70% (2 tests of 25). But here's the deal, every time I get one wrong, I learn something. And I'll be darned if I get it wrong again. I've learned so much about Reye's Syndrome, Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, Menses, and every other thing to do with house plants, rodent poop and litterboxes there is to know! I have been steadily increasing all of my scores, focusing on my weak points, reviewing Kaplan lectures and Saunders and it's all starting to come together for me. Hang in there!
I did indeed pass! I didn't study. Because that's the way I roll. I can overstudy, and then I overthink the question. If I know too many details, I start having a mental debate, and it all goes down hill from there. My University used ATI, so I did all of those practice tests and predictors, but I hadn't thought about nursing in 2 weeks when I took the test.....
I did a one year post-bac intensive program, and my NCLEX date was 2 weeks after graduation.
I thought the test was impossible, but apparently, (I've been told), this means it was because I was so far above the minimum passing level that I got super hard, random questions.
I was never tested on maternity, so I figured that meant I had miserably failed another category. I had exactly 2 peds questions. All the meds on my test were things I'd never heard of.
That's so ridiculous. How can they accurately determine your critical thinking like that? That's so weird. I have also heard that when it gets to that super hard level, you're doing something right. If you start getting, "The nurse knows that a major complication for a primagravida 3 hours postpartum is which of the following:" you know you need to step it up, haha.
Hi Everyone! Thank you so much for all of your input, thoughts, etc.
Yesterday I completed day 1 of a 4 day Drexel review. It is good. Is the afternoon I started to panic - actually had a mild panic attack - but I have come down from that and am now back to my focus of studying. Still getting at least 75% on my practice questions - which Drexel says is a good indicator that you are ready to take the test.
So, I will keep you all posted on my progress. Again, thank you for your continued support. Even one encouraging reply really helps me stay on track!
Have been studying hard for the past 2 weeks, completed the 4 day drexel review class - found it very helpful. Have been doing 150-200 questions per day - studying a total of about 3-4 hours per day.
I woke up this morning and I am SO burned out. I am so sick of studying and just want to get this test over with.
I feel completely saturated and just don't want to study anymore.
Any suggestions to get over this hump?
BTW, the LaCharity book on Prioritization, Delegation, etc. is GREAT!
Good Luck JMoney! I am taking NCLEX on the 16th! I am so nervous.
I have been incorporating reward time after my study time as a way to keep from getting burned out from studying! Last night I went and saw Riverdance. I also go to the movies, get my nails done, etc... Try doing something you like after you study.
Let us know how you do and I will do the same!! Just keep thinking positive! WE WILL PASS!!!
Hi JMoney: You are getting good % for your practice test, keep it up. I would suggest that you take today off and just relax. I know how important the studying is, I have been there done that. I did that and it helped me. The other thing I would suggest is try to practice 265 q's, because you might get that and if you do this now it will be helpful. I did Exam Cram CD and that was helpful. I do agree with you that LaCharity book is very helpful. Also know your Isolation Precautions. I had a lots of them on my test. I also had lots of SATA's and few SATA's on Hypo/Hyper Thyroidisms, so know sign/symptoms. Good Luck, stay positive and You can do this, If I can do it, You can certainly do it.
Good luck on taking your test. I know how you feel in some ways. I take my Nclex on the 27th but I'm doing a 5 day review with Helen Feur in NYC and then on the sunday after they have a whole day for pharmacology and I'm doing that as well. I hope this helps along with my studying. I'm using Saunders Comp review 4th edition and kaplan most used meds. I also have Kaplan Qbank to practice with and before next week I will have the Lacharity book for prioritization done. I've taken this test a couple times and when I say there's alot of prioritization there really is!!! Meds, prioritization and infection control are your main categories. Math is an easy level question remember that, and just try to know how to calculate with drip rate because under anxiety you tend to forget these things. Deep breaths during the test will help to get oxygen to your brain, relax! Don't let time get the best of you, one time I took the nclex I ran out of time and then the next time I took it I was trying to be faster which wasn't a good idea. Just focus on questions and not the time of quantity of questions that you have done. Ear plugs is a must!! You may think that you'll handle the noise but when the next person besides you is typing nonstop it ruins your concentration. I am going to be an RN because I need this, I've been through alot with this testing process and I'm not giving up. I can't be negative and I can't let this test take over me. I'm sure we all will become RN's. I hope that your testing experience is a good one and that you walk out an RN!
Well, less than 2 days til the NCLEX. I have taken 2 100 pt practice tests this morning (got 78% on each) and am about to take another one. A little nervous, but not too bad.
danegerous, BSN, RN
1 Article; 152 Posts
PS - because of this thread I just went and did 50 questions, yes...at midnight. I got a 50% dead on and a 70% (2 tests of 25). But here's the deal, every time I get one wrong, I learn something. And I'll be darned if I get it wrong again. I've learned so much about Reye's Syndrome, Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome, Menses, and every other thing to do with house plants, rodent poop and litterboxes there is to know! I have been steadily increasing all of my scores, focusing on my weak points, reviewing Kaplan lectures and Saunders and it's all starting to come together for me. Hang in there!