Taking NCLEX soon during COVID.

[Jess811]

Hi all!!

I take my NCLEX-RN in 4 days, and for some reason just realized they completely changed the amount of questions for the exam(those who don’t know it’s now minimum 60, max 130). Apparently I’ve been under a rock, cause how the heck didn’t I know that LOL.... ANYWAY....

I just wanted to hear what others thought about the NCLEX during the pandemic, and if they passed?!?! Also, if you used Kaplan what were your Qbank scores and CAT exam results?!?

Trying not to freak out. Law of attraction will work its magic, positive vibes LOL!

I am using Kaplan(scored green on my second CAT exam and taking my third tomorrow), as well as watching Youtube Simple Nursing videos, I also did a Bustza review course last year in Ohio and I’ve been going through that binder. Tons of practice questions scoring in the 50s and 60s with 75 question exams on Kaplan. I am doing very well with SATA questions, Kaplan really helped me dissect the question and fully understand it. Rationales are great. I tried UWorld last year but didn’t like it that much.

My exam was originally March 23 but it was canceled due to COVID, and I rescheduled it again for April 30 and it was canceled again. So finally I am taking it this week, four days from now. Ugh. Trying not to lose my cool. ?

Any advice from anyone is welcome. Will keep you guys updated on results, after I take it. ? fingers crossed I pass this time!!

The first time I took it in October, I barely studied and didn’t take it as serious as I should have and I shut off at 126 questions. I barley even remember the exam.... Yikes LOL. Nursing school fried my brain so I think I was just very overwhelmed and forgot everything when I was taking the test.

Good luck to anyone taking it soon, too!! Fingers crossed we all pass! ?

[Jess811]

@H to the R dizzle I am scoring in the 50s & 60s on Kaplan Qbank exams of 75 questions. Kaplan also has 3 practice CAT exams that mimic the NCLEX and 2/3 I scored in the green zone which means ready to take it but I got the max 265 each time. And with the new rules because of COVID I’m not sure how that’ll affect me when I take the NCLEX. ? Not sure if it’s a good thing there are less questions or if it’s a bad thing.... I took it before but honestly can’t even remember that whole entire day!! I know I did have a lot of SATA so maybe I was close to passing the first time?! Who knows. ?

So I’ll keep you updated when I take the exam this week, with what helped me and what didn’t!! Don’t freak out. We got this. ?

[Connor327, ASN, RN]

35 minutes ago, Jesswizzz said:

@Connor327 WOW!! that’s incredible! CONGRATS to you, such an amazing accomplishment ???? thank you for advice!! I will definitely let ya know how I do. Super nervous, but trying to stay calm LOL!!

Glad to help, you so got this!!

[angelsare44]

I took my exam Saturday after getting my authorization to test on Thursday....this was not on purpose. I found out today that I passed! Originally I intended to schedule my NCLEX for early July in order to get done in time for my ED fellowship program to start at the end of the month. Because if COVID, like you experienced the scheduling is super weird and all my local testing centers were booked until October except one time slot 2 days later on 6/6. I had done ATI in my program and had been taking 50-100 practice questions a day and didn't plan to "seriously" study until I was scheduled. Well let me tell you I was freaked when my only option was to wait until October or give it a shot two days later. I spent a day and a half doing about 4 hours of review questions and that's all I had time for. I went in for the exam and was certain I bombed it because every question seemed so hard. Computer shut off at minimum 60 and I amazingly passed. The test at 60 questions minimum is no different than it used to be because the 15 they took out were the questions that were being tested for use and didn't count. Honestly I think that if you do as many review questions as you can, that's hugely helpful. And really pay attention to your ABC's because I didn't know all the content on the exam but was able to answer correctly by considering the PRIORITY action for the patient. My instructor said they're not trying to test what you know, they're trying to test what you do with what you know. And don't get discouraged it panicked!! I felt like I was absolutely bombing the test and wanted to throw in the towel thinking I was so unprepared and silly for thinking I could pass with two days notice. But I did! And you'll do great, just remember to breathe and trust your nursing instincts!!

[Jess811]

14 hours ago, angelsare44 said:

I took my exam Saturday after getting my authorization to test on Thursday....this was not on purpose. I found out today that I passed! Originally I intended to schedule my NCLEX for early July in order to get done in time for my ED fellowship program to start at the end of the month. Because if COVID, like you experienced the scheduling is super weird and all my local testing centers were booked until October except one time slot 2 days later on 6/6. I had done ATI in my program and had been taking 50-100 practice questions a day and didn't plan to "seriously" study until I was scheduled. Well let me tell you I was freaked when my only option was to wait until October or give it a shot two days later. I spent a day and a half doing about 4 hours of review questions and that's all I had time for. I went in for the exam and was certain I bombed it because every question seemed so hard. Computer shut off at minimum 60 and I amazingly passed. The test at 60 questions minimum is no different than it used to be because the 15 they took out were the questions that were being tested for use and didn't count. Honestly I think that if you do as many review questions as you can, that's hugely helpful. And really pay attention to your ABC's because I didn't know all the content on the exam but was able to answer correctly by considering the PRIORITY action for the patient. My instructor said they're not trying to test what you know, they're trying to test what you do with what you know. And don't get discouraged it panicked!! I felt like I was absolutely bombing the test and wanted to throw in the towel thinking I was so unprepared and silly for thinking I could pass with two days notice. But I did! And you'll do great, just remember to breathe and trust your nursing instincts!!

Oh my gosh, that’s so scary LOL but holy moly that’s awesome! CONGRATS on passing!!! No way would I have had the balls to take it two days after I got my ATT! LOL. Woohoo!! ?????

Thank you for the advice and I will definitely pay attention to ABCs!! I’ve been doing so many practice questions that I’m starting to really understand what the questions are asking & what the answers are. Some are tricky, that’s for sure! But the more practice questions the better, I definitely agree!

What practice questions did you use? CONGRATS again! ❤️

[angelsare44]

33 minutes ago, Jesswizzz said:

Oh my gosh, that’s so scary LOL but holy moly that’s awesome! CONGRATS on passing! No way would I have had the balls to take it two days after I got my ATT! LOL. Woohoo!! ?????

Thank you for the advice and I will definitely pay attention to ABCs!! I’ve been doing so many practice questions that I’m starting to really understand what the questions are asking & what the answers are. Some are tricky, that’s for sure! But the more practice questions the better, I definitely agree!

What practice questions did you use? CONGRATS again! ❤️

Thank you! I honestly regretted registering that early as soon as I did it thinking there was no possible way I would pass. But other than money and a little pride I didn't have much to lose! I used ATI and a little bit of I think Nurselabs questions and then just brushed up on labs and pharm the morning of. Honestly I didn't study nearly as much as I thought I should and then only had the two days to really study hard but I'm so grateful it worked out! You're so right, once you understand what the questions are really asking and how to prioritize, you can answer most questions even if you're unfamiliar with content!

[Jess811]

So I just took my exam. It shut off at 60 questions in an hour and 10 minutes. Right away I got that email that says I just took the NCLEX. And I did the PVT and got the good pop up. Fingers crossed I Passed ! ??

I had 15 SATA. Lots of priority questions, lots of questions with ABC’s. I also had a lot of questions about the stages infants and toddlers go through. Meaning when they start walking, at what certain ages should you expect certain things to happen or things that they do. Stuff like that. I did not feel confident on like any of my answers, which I know is normal. I did not get any math. No drag and drop. overall it was not too tooooo terrible, but I did feel like a lot of the questions were you know it or you don’t. I only had like two medications as well.

I do think Kaplan is way more like the NCLEX RN UWorld. When I did questions on UWorld recently I felt like they were too easy, but Kaplan‘s are way harder and it prepares you more. That’s in my own personal opinion. Kaplan prepares you for more select all that apply questions and it gets you thinking more than UWorld does.

anyway! Fingers crossed that I pass guys! ????

[Connor327, ASN, RN]

That is awesome!! I haven't heard the PVT being inaccurate with the good popup, only the bad. Definitely hoping for good results in two days!!

[H to the R dizzle]

That’s the part m weak on I need to learn that table on children and dvelopemtns

[H to the R dizzle]

14 hours ago, Jess811 said:

So I just took my exam. It shut off at 60 questions in an hour and 10 minutes. Right away I got that email that says I just took the NCLEX. And I did the PVT and got the good pop up. Fingers crossed I Passed ! ??

I had 15 SATA. Lots of priority questions, lots of questions with ABC’s. I also had a lot of questions about the stages infants and toddlers go through. Meaning when they start walking, at what certain ages should you expect certain things to happen or things that they do. Stuff like that. I did not feel confident on like any of my answers, which I know is normal. I did not get any math. No drag and drop. overall it was not too tooooo terrible, but I did feel like a lot of the questions were you know it or you don’t. I only had like two medications as well.

I do think Kaplan is way more like the NCLEX RN UWorld. When I did questions on UWorld recently I felt like they were too easy, but Kaplan‘s are way harder and it prepares you more. That’s in my own personal opinion. Kaplan prepares you for more select all that apply questions and it gets you thinking more than UWorld does.

anyway! Fingers crossed that I pass guys! ????

Is the UWorld developmental milestones enough to study for infant and toddler? Like when do they walk and what they do

[Jess811]

UPDATE: I passed!! Got my email with my license this morning guys. I’m sobbing tears of joy! ?

@Connor327 THANK YOU!!! I did it! We both did! ?? Woo! LOL.

@H to the R dizzle U world is good for milestones for sure! I just thought Kaplan had a lot harder questions that were super similar to NCLEX. You will most definitely pass with either! Just Take a deep breath through each question and carefully read. And if you feel like you don’t know anything the whole time, that’s not a bad thing. Cause I didn’t either LOL! Also, for vaccines, watch registerednursern on Youtube. I memorized every single vaccine and it helped!! Simple nursing on Youtube for medications.

[AspiringRN, CNA, LPN]

Congratulations!

[H to the R dizzle]

4 hours ago, Jess811 said:

UPDATE: I passed!! Got my email with my license this morning guys. I’m sobbing tears of joy! ?

@Connor327 THANK YOU! I did it! We both did! ?? Woo! LOL.

@H to the R dizzle U world is good for milestones for sure! I just thought Kaplan had a lot harder questions that were super similar to NCLEX. You will most definitely pass with either! Just Take a deep breath through each question and carefully read. And if you feel like you don’t know anything the whole time, that’s not a bad thing. Cause I didn’t either LOL! Also, for vaccines, watch registerednursern on Youtube. I memorized every single vaccine and it helped!! Simple nursing on Youtube for medications.

CONGRATS! Can u post the link here I can’t find it, I have stuff memorized on UWorld for vaccines and r u talking about adult and child ?8