The Nclex is very very hard.

MissBrittanyRN · Sep 22, 2009

I do think that test taking skills are important. I feel that competent potential nurses do poorly on NCLEX because they have not been taught how to pass NCLEX, which is different than real nursing world. You need the knowledge base to start answering the questions, but when it comes down to choosing from more than one answer, Kaplan taught us how to approach NCLEX world, which although I benefited from it, I personally think it is a bit unfair. I think it's more important to know how to be a safe nurse as oppose to a good test taker.

As far as passing nursing school indicating that you should smoothly pass the test - I don't agree. My school had some stupid test questions. For our management rotation they did not ask questions about time management or prioritizing. They asked questions like: What is time? lol. The answer - "a non interval" something or another to do with life events...or something. Yea...ridiculous. And some nursing schools are easier to pass than others. My school had a 96% pass rate last year, 50 students or so. BUT they seem to weed out students based on how they thought they would do on NCLEX. I think some schools rather than pass you because they feel you have demonstrated that you can be a safe nurse, they pass you because they think you will pass NCLEX, and they like to brag about a high pass rate. A school could honestly report to their BON that they have a 99.5% pass rate, however if you only had 15 people sit for NCLEX, out of the 50 that started the nursing program....

I think that passing NCLEX strongly depends on if you have been trained to approach not just any test, but NCLEX.

Kitty Hawk, ADN, RN · Sep 22, 2009

I can only qualify my answer.

I never said the NCLEX wasn't hard per se, what I did say "for me" it was no different than nursing school exams I took which were HARD!

We only had one student in our class who consistently got A's and one of the things in her benefit is she didn't need to carry the co-reqs that many of us did. Even still every nursing exam was met with EXTREME anxiety and dread. I left many of those exams thinking it was a mind screw, much like leaving NCLEX left me. Like my school exams I'd leave not feeling horrendous about it, but not feeling like "that was easy". Same for the NCLEX. That does not mean I thought the NCLEX was easy. I sure as heck hope not as I put in 6 weeks of studying pretty much all day with over 4,000 q's total practice. It means I think I prepped myself well as well as yes, my school did a great job in testing us properly.

Because of the previous class the school's NCLEX pass rates dropped to the 60's percentage wise. That had zero to do with what the instructor's were trying to teach and everything to do with many in that class. Our class overall right now have been passing the boards, so the school's passing percentage should increase.

I know people that passed using just Saunder's flash cards. Another swore by going to the local libary website and locating nursing questons from that database. Yet another used just the incredibly easy book/disc. I do know of one girl that was planning to take the Kaplan course. I found Kaplan to be needlessly stressful and too much of a mind game. (the decision tree). But hey, if people work well with that sort of thing and that helps them succeed, great for them. There is no one correct way to approach this exam. I thought Rayfield's workbook albeit the fluffy name, was great prep and no, definately not easy. Another good one for me was Davis's exam book/questions.

Personally I think reading too much of this site can unecissarily freak people out. Especially asking others what kind of questions (format) should they expect and that certain types are high or low level. There should not be that kind of false information going around and psyching people out.

The NCLEX is hard yes, it should be, you're going to have people's lives in your hands they want to know you can reason thngs out and be a safe nurse. I simply disagreed from my standpoint that it was "very, very" hard and that nothing would have prepped me for it. My school did a nice job, I feel bad for those that may not have had the right training I can certainly see how the NCLEX would be that extreme of a difference for them.

nursing291 · Sep 23, 2009

I passed :)

teebest · Sep 23, 2009

The most important thing now is that u av passed it. congrats.

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Sep 23, 2009

I passed :)

:ancong!:

KAYBDT6, BSN, RN · Sep 23, 2009

:ancong!:

MissBrittanyRN · Sep 23, 2009

I take it you had access to quick results! Congrats to you! I hope you have a job lined up, and if you don't, best of luck.

nascentRN · Sep 24, 2009

I do think that test taking skills are important. I feel that competent potential nurses do poorly on NCLEX because they have not been taught how to pass NCLEX, which is different than real nursing world. You need the knowledge base to start answering the questions, but when it comes down to choosing from more than one answer, Kaplan taught us how to approach NCLEX world, which although I benefited from it, I personally think it is a bit unfair. I think it's more important to know how to be a safe nurse as oppose to a good test taker.

I think this idea about nclex vs real world is interesting. I can see how it seems unfair to people who have years of clinical experience that the Nclex is its own little universe with its own laws. Nurses with years of experience, as PNs for example, are essentially working backwards from practice to theory. Admittedly, this must be frustrating. It's kind of like some music theory professor telling a master of jazz improvisation how to play guitar, or telling jimi hendrix that purple haze was written in dorian mode and that some of the notes he's playing are out of key. However, It can't be any less difficult and frustrating an experience for nurses with less real world chops who must adapt from the nclex, nursing school world to the real world. Approaching the profession from both places has advantages and disadvantages. At the end of the day, however, I'm not sure the real world can be replicated on a test, anyway, or that it would be the most beneficial for the purposes of screening potential new nurses if it could. Understanding the core, textbook knowledge base, and applying this theory with critical thinking to a "perfect nclex hospital", is, it would seem to me, the logical first step that years of clinical experience in the real world is supposed to build on. But, obviously, nurses do not have to grow in this direction either, as people with years of practical experience prove every time they pass the Nclex-rn.

nascentRN · Sep 24, 2009

I passed :)

Way to Go! :up:

depress nurse · Sep 24, 2009

I'm w/ u nursing291 it's seems completely what we have been taught in nrsg school I guess the problem is poeple who are in that board are old nurses and lucky are they 'cause during their time they did it th old fashion way paper this one they're thinking safety? I knew a lot of old nurses in the field that are pretty scary that dont know what they are doing and yet who are we to questions or argue they need to do recall of old nurses in the field as I believe new nurses are more equipt to practice safe nursing realistically than in a computer based pratice yet - there's no way around it - you did all what you can we all can't memorize or know everything and I guess they know that yet we just have to face/do it w/ all out heart and what we learned and the rest leave it to God- don't torture yourself youve given your best shot and thats what matters - as what I'm going to do as well keep your head up high - we all pray for you and among us the rest who are taking it as well - best of luck!!!

depress nurse · Sep 24, 2009

just keep positive!!

donsterRN, ASN, BSN · Sep 24, 2009

I passed :)

How wonderful... many, many congratulations to you!!!

I know the anxiety and fear, and I know the relief!

Much good luck to you in your career!