Testing in 2 weeks ~ all advice for preparation appreciated!

Nursing Students NCLEX

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Hi All,

My (possibly) future job as an RN resident requires I be licensed as an RN by Jan 21st. So I am scheduled for the NLCEX on Jan. 15th!! :scrying: However I graduated mid-late December and I had to move back home, across the country which took up a week and a half. Given the holidays, I didn't get started on studying till Dec. 26th. As an RN BSN student I excelled in nursing school, but at this point I have forgotten some of the key med/surg I and Fundamentals basics. And OB & Peds developmental stages is a weak point of mine. I did score 92% and 95% on two exit HESI exams I took. So I feel at this point, the NCLEX could go either way for me.

I am wondering with the following resources, if anyone has advice or a good study plan. Right now I'm getting really panicked and overwhelmed by everything. I have

-Kaplan On Demand: (I have completed QT 1 with 67%, 2 Q Bank tests with 64, and 70, and Diagnostic Test with 70%). However I admit I did look a couple things up cause Kaplan emailed me and said with my short amount of time to prepare, its okay to just look it up.

-Saunders Yellow Book - Comprehensive Review: I know I need to review much of this book, its just so overwhelming. I took a 100 question test on the Saunders CD and scored 81. I have reviewed the first 8 chapters.

-LaCharity Priortization, Delegation etc: Did a Chapter out of there and did very well.

-Davis NCLEX RN Success: Its a great book but its enormous and I don't know if I have time for it.

So I'm trying to calm down and set a good study plan in the time I have left. It's very hard to focus cause I'm used to studying in my own place, with peace and quiet but my family is disruptive. Does anyone have any advice on how best to use my time in these remaining 2 weeks? If anyone is in a similar situation, I would love to support each other in these last few weeks. Thanks all in advance for your advice! wave.gif.f76ccbc7287c56e63c3d7e6d800ab6c

Maria L, BSN said:
Ugh...I have to vent a bit. Just took a Q Bank test and got 58% on it ...my Q Bank average is now down to 66%. And I have yet to do QT 7 cause I am so nervous. My nerves are really getting to me cause I have a dream job on the line (I have to pass the 1st time to keep it) and I just broke down and started weeping in front of my family. I feel so bad with only 4 days to go - still 17 chapters of Saunders to review, plus working on the La Charity book. My stomach is in knots and my heart is heavy. Any thoughts or advice...I wish I had way to magically know this will all turn out okay. :(

I am the same way with the hotspot questions. From EVERYONE I have talked to they say the test is almost impossible to study for and I totally agree!! I have tried to retake some of the kaplan questions that I didn't know the first time around and guess what, I still got a lot of them wrong. I just figure if I don't know it, I'm not going to know it. You sound like a very intelligent, critical thinking person. Remember statistics are on our side and we've prepared to the best of our ability!! To be honest I am glad I am taking it sooner than later because I originally had picked a test date in February which made me even MORE anxious and I was glad I could change it to one closer. You'll do amazing! Stress and anxiety are enemy #1.

1 Votes
Specializes in Critical Care.
Dubs2012 said:
I know exactly how your feeling I have broken down and starting crying the other day because of all the pressure with making family proud and a job on the line but then... I prayed! And it really does help my anxiety has simmered down so much over the past few days and I know whatever He has in store for us will be for our best interest.. I believe that you will be great! We have only 4 days left yes but don't over work your mind to a point where it will be fried on Tuesday! I've been doing the Qbank as well last night I got a 60% on one and you know at this point I'm okay with that lol remember that passing line and what Kaplan says about it is how I look at it lol but I know we don't want to just be the minimum. Take a little break and then get back to study YOU CAN DO THIS! ;)

Thank you! ? I really appreciate that I have you and this board to give me the pep talk I need and understand where I'm coming from. Today I'm wrapping up Saunders, already did some La Charity. Tomorrow I'm going to simulate the NCLEX lol and take the QT 7 at 8 am tomorrow.

1 Votes
Specializes in Critical Care.

Okay so just to follow up - I took QT 7 and got 80% and got 82% on my readiness test and 87% on the practice test for Kaplan that evaluates prioritizing who you would see first. I finished all the actual chapters in the LaCharity book and finished nearly all of the Saunders comprehensive review book. Tonight is the night before my exam, so I am going to review my notes, rewrite the labs (get them good & firm in my head), and review chest tubes and ET tubes a bit. Then to bed, because I know I have prepared as much as I could have - in four years of nursing school and in these 2.5 weeks. I have prayed deeply for this and tomorrow I will try to keep my composure, and by the grace of God, I will be an RN tomorrow evening. Thank you all for your advice ... I look forward to letting you know how it goes. :)

1 Votes
Specializes in Psych.

I wish you all the best. You can do this. Tomorrow you will be an RN ;). My graduation is in June and I'm already thinking about the NCLEX lol....Good luck

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Can someone tell me where to find the study guide that's been mentioned by many people on this site please

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\ said:
Okay so just to follow up - I took QT 7 and got 80% and got 82% on my readiness test and 87% on the practice test for Kaplan that evaluates prioritizing who you would see first. I finished all the actual chapters in the LaCharity book and finished nearly all of the Saunders comprehensive review book. Tonight is the night before my exam, so I am going to review my notes, rewrite the labs (get them good & firm in my head), and review chest tubes and ET tubes a bit. Then to bed, because I know I have prepared as much as I could have - in four years of nursing school and in these 2.5 weeks. I have prayed deeply for this and tomorrow I will try to keep my composure, and by the grace of God, I will be an RN tomorrow evening. Thank you all for your advice ... I look forward to letting you know how it goes. ?

Good luck! I know you'll do great! ?

1 Votes
Specializes in Dialysis.

How did you do?

1 Votes
Specializes in ICU.

Hope yall did great today! Got my official results today, I'm a RN!

1 Votes
Specializes in Critical Care.

Well today I took my NCLEX. I have to say I was extremely nervous going in - literally shaking in the bathroom before I went into the exam. I looked at myself in the mirror though, and said you will be an RN today. I started the test and the first 3 questions were okay, I felt like Kaplan prepared me very well and Saunders was good review. However then it became very difficult. I tried hard not to panic but I honestly didn't feel good about any answer I gave. It ended up taking me 3 hours for the 75 questions. By the 75th question I was praying it would shut off simply because the testing experience was making me so sick with stress, that my heart was pounding through my chest lol and I knew I wouldn't have enough time for the full 265 with the time it was taking me. I pressed next, and thank God, the blue screen came up! When I left, the emotion got to me and I called my good friend (who had already taken it and passed) crying, feeling I had failed. She checked the Pearson Vue pop up then and there for me and got the good pop up. When I called the state, they told me they couldn't officially tell me my results, but that "my license would be available by the end of the week" - in time for my job, which is starting on Monday! They also gave me a license number so I could look up the status on state website (it now says pending). My stats (for anyone who cares to know) are: 75 questions, 3 hours, multiple SATA, no OB, no Peds, 2 rhythm questions with pictures of the rhythm, many diet questions, many psych questions, many nursing management and delegation to off-the floor RN-type questions (La Charity PDA book prepared me well for these - highly recommended!), no med calc, 3 or 4 meds, few prioritization questions, one cranial nerve question (looked it up & I see I got it right!) and 2 put the procedure in order questions. It was certainly the most challenging exam of my nursing career, and I am so glad its over. If anyone would like any further advice or thoughts let me know :)

1 Votes
Specializes in Critical Care.

Also wanted to say, thank you all so, so much for your best wishes and support! ? I forgot to mention, I had quite a few infectious disease questions r/t isolation, and the study guide here on allnurses really helped with that. I will attach it below for anyone who wants it. MyChickenHezTB (Airborne precaution) and SPIDERMAN (Droplet precaution) really helped me! ?

NCLEX-Study-Guide.pdf

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Yes maria any advice u have let me know because I am dying to pass I am tired of taking this exam. I want to be finish with this exam for good forver and have RN behind my name and get a good job. I want to make my mom proud. She is waiting for good news for a long time.

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\ said:
also wanted to say, thank you all so, so much for your best wishes and support! ? I forgot to mention, I had quite a few infectious disease questions r/t isolation, and the study guide here on allnurses really helped with that. I will attach it below for anyone who wants it. Mychickenheztb (airborne precaution) and spiderman (droplet precaution) really helped me! ?

Congratulations! You did it ??????

1 Votes
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