Taking NCLEX in Mid January or Early February, need advice on study habbits

sfroebel · Nov 27, 2010

I am graduating from the LVN-RN transition program on the 10th of December! I feel the same way as you! We have a comprehensive HESI this Thursday and I am freaking out! THe first HESI I took, I think I overdid myself on the studying part, and then my nerves got me. The rest of them I did ok on. It's just a lot of information! I plan on doing NCLEX 4000 practice ?s, NCLEX Exam Cram and another book (not sure which one yet). I have been reading on here and come recommend studying so many hours and questions a day.... I am with you, I plan on studying hard core too, but it's just a lot!!!

gobananas15 · Nov 28, 2010

I am joining in because I am mostly in the same boat as you. I graduate on the 16th, so I will prob be taking the NCLEX around the same time as you and I am wondering what are the current trends for the best approach to studying!! I have saunders, hesi review, nclex 4000 software and hope that is enough because I can not afford a review course!

What I plan to do is once I get my letter and everything, I am going to look at my calendar and plan my test so that I can have a good solid month to study (after accounting for times/days when I know I will not be able to study due to work or vacation, etc). Then I think I will start out with studying minimum of 2 hours a day. Then if that feels like its not enough then just increase the amount of time. I don't want to schedule it longer than a month because I don't want this to drag on. Just remember...we have been in school for TWO years....we KNOW this stuff or else we would not have made it to the hesi and nclex stages, right?? Its just a matter of getting the info we need out of our brains in an organized and calm matter :nuke:

In regards to the hesi, I took it in october and i passed by 8 points. My friend did not pass the first time. What she did is every single day until the retake she met up with a group of others who did not pass and they did practice questions every single day. For a few hours. I think that is the best way to prepare for the HESI. Did you take practice hesi's in your classes? We did, so a helpful thing to do is to log into your evolve account and look at your past hesi scores. You can look through your stats and see which topics you missed the most questions that way you know which topics you should brush up on. Also, use all the cd's from the practice books that you do have. Don't forget the practice comprehensive tests. I have heard that that making 60-70s on the practice tests means you are in good shape? (don't hold me to that though, just heard that from others). I didn't do a comprehensive one before taking hesi so I can't compare.

BreeeRN · Nov 28, 2010

Took Nclex and passed the first time I took Hurst review and it helped me alot but if you can't afford it Get a study book and Cd and do question and review the rational if you already know all the patho then its just critical thinking and knowing what to do You gotta prepare yourself to get in the right thinking of how will you not kill your patients and to know what your looking for to be able to do that. Know you Lab norms and what they mean if they are abnormal and what you need to do. There are many post you can read that will help you, really suggest Random Fact Thread thats the only other thing I used beside Hurst. IT makes you think. I could go on and on but just prepare yourself and you will be fine Best wishes!

2011LPNJ29 · Nov 28, 2010

Don't forget lacharity too.Goodluck!

sfroebel · Nov 28, 2010

I have Lacharity and I have been reviewing that too!

caliotter3 · Nov 28, 2010

Nobody here can tell you what you need to do to pass the test. Only you can gauge your readiness and prepare accordingly. Do some self evaluation, come up with a plan, then follow your plan. Sounds as if you are off to a good start. Don't worry about not being able to afford a review course. Most people pass NCLEX without one.

sheila0313 · Dec 1, 2010

I'm taking my test Jan 27,2011. I'm now reviewing Saunders, Saunders questions and answer, Incredibly Made Easy, Kaplan, and Feuer nursing audio. What I do is I review my topic out of the Saunders for instances, let's say I'm reviewing Peds and Ob out of Saunders, I review it then I pop in Saunders exam disc, then I test my self on Peds and Ob. I do the 100 questions test everyday for a week just on Peds and Ob. Then on the weekends I do questions out of Saunders question and answers book and Incredibly Made Easy. Then the next week I move on to something else like psych and I study the same way. I think this way is good for me to break everything up, each week I'm reviewing and testing myself on different topics out of the nclex book. Also get some nursing audio you can listen to while you're driving, cleaning, cooking, working if you can. I uploaded the audio on my cellphone and I plug the earphones in and I just listen. Don't over study, just review the material and test yourself. Pray, fast and sow a seed. We can do it, I hope this helped you. Blessings! :yeah: :nurse: