TIPS/Info for passing NCLEX

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Hi,

To everyone who passed recent nclex-rn, can you please share what helped you best (cd's, printed materials, etc..) ? Where to focus? and how did you study/prepare?

thanks... this will help a lot of us who are scheduled to take the exams soon

I took my RN-NCLEX exam last Wednesday and i finished at 175 questions. I used Saunders for my review and i find it very helpful. Most questions that i encountered are on Nursing management, Delegations, TB, Endocrine, Risk factors, Safety, and i have 2 questions that select that all applies. I hope i make it this time. Please pray for me. Thanks.

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Specializes in IMCU/PCU.

This was posted along time ago, but all of these still hold true. What helped me the most was the National Council on State Boards of Nursing has a very effective review. You can sign up for 3 weeks, like 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 15 weeks and you pay for what you sign up for. It is available 24/7/365. I found the review very helpful and found the tests to be exactly like the NCLEX. And while like everyone here after those two days and finding out was wonderful....I CANNOT over state that I give props to those nurses that had TWO DAY paper tests and had to wait 6 weeks to find out. I'd been in the Looney Bin by then!

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I graduated in June and didn't take my boards until the first week of this month (had to get the folks moved here from Chicago first). I didn't do as much studying over the summer as I would have liked, but I did put in about 40 hours of study time during the 2 weeks prior to my testing date. I used the Kaplan NCLEX-RN book and CD to practice; learning how to take questions apart and rephrase them helped me immensely on test day!!

As for tips on taking boards:

1. If you live farther than a 2 hour drive from the testing site, and your test appointment is in the morning you might consider traveling the day before and getting a motel room. It is difficult (if not downright dangerous) to travel a long distance prior to taking a test of that magnitude.

2. Try to spend the evening before the test relaxing/doing something fun. It doesn't make sense to spend time just before the test trying to cram more information into your head.

3. Make sure that you eat something before you go in to test...your brain can't function properly without fuel!! (Try to avoid extra caffeine and sugar)

4. Make sure that you are adequately hydrated (see above).

5. Try to arrive about 30 minutes ahead of your scheduled testing time; that way you'll have a few extra minutes to take a bathroom break,etc....there's nothing worse than arriving feeling rushed!!

6. Take the time before the test begins to adjust your chair. People tend to concentrate better when they are comfortable.

7. If the noise generated by other people tends to bother you, you might consider using earplugs during the test (some facilities even provide them free of charge).

8. Give every question on the exam your FULL attention; you never know which one will put you "over the top".

9. During the test, if you find yourself feeling overly anxious, restless, or just plain tired, take a break...if the testing facility doesn't allow "random" breaks you can still sit quietly, close your eyes, and focus on your breathing.

I hope that you will find this info helpful. Good luck to all of you who are about to take your boards. Remember that if you've made it through the nursing program, you ARE capable of getting over this last hurdle!!!

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soliciting post removed.

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Hello everyone. Am new to this site. I accidentally got here while thinking and surfing the web that maybe I should focus back on my nursing career:nuke: .I am an RN too but I havent been practicing my career since graduation in 1990. Right now I am in the land down under for a short holiday and realized that i should go back to my nursing career. When I return to our dear country, I am planning to work hard and review for my CGFNS and NCLEX exams though I am a bit late to realize what I really love doing.

I like what you guys are doing. Things start popping back up into my mind when I started reading the threads.

Thanks very much!

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Specializes in LTAC, Homehealth, Hospice Case Manager.

i think what worked best for me on nclex wasn't all the "strategies" i'd heard of (couldn't remember any come test time!), but just simply remembering the normals then going backwards...here's what i mean:

i know that the kidneys help control fluid volume by excretion or retention. under normal circumstances the kidneys will exctrete fluid if there's an excess & they will retain fluid if there's a deficit. however, if for whatever reason (renal failure due to disease process, drug tox, etc...) the kidneys don't excrete excess, then it backs up into the vascular system. now i have electrolyte problems like hyponatremia (decreased loc, flaccid) & hyperkalemia (arrhythmias, possibly lethal). i also know that when the vascular system gets too full i will have an increased bp because the heart now has to work harder to move the extra volume. when the vasular space can no longer hold the added volume, it will begin to seep into the tissues...now i'm looking at generalized edema (anasarca). if the kidneys excrete too much fluid, then i'm looking at vascular collapse (decreased bp, poor skin turgor, maybe siezures due to hypernatremia & muscle weakness or cramps due to hypokalemia) & shock (cool/clammy). i know that if i'm dealing with a kidney problem i'm also dealing with fluid & electrolyte problems.

another example...i know that the left ventricle is fed oxygenated blood from the lungs & normally pumps it out into the body. if the pump fails, this blood will back up into the lungs...then my patient will be dyspneic, diaphoretic, anxious & cough up pink frothy sputum.

these are just a couple of examples of how i trained my thoughts for nclex. i really believe a good foundation in content is the key to passing. i'm not the worlds best writter, but maybe somebody can understand what i'm trying to say & it will help. good luck to all!!! :)

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Specializes in Ophthalmology ASC.

that is a great post! hlfpnt,very helpful thanks! I test on the 11th and I am all questioned out just now trying to soak up any extra hints i can thanks again.:)

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Specializes in LTAC, Homehealth, Hospice Case Manager.

You're welcome, Tabbycoley, all my best to you!

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Specializes in LTAC, Homehealth, Hospice Case Manager.
How are the Nclex tests? Are they mulitple choice ?

It can be multiple choice, select all that apply, place items in the correct order, fill in the blank, or a graph where you have to pick the correct one (like ekg strip) or show the correct body area.

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Specializes in MED-SURG , I.C.U, TELEMETRY.

so saunders is indeed helpful?

btw my reviewer has these 'feuer' cds, will that help even if its not the latest?

and is there any such cds wherein you have the same program like the nclex exam, or just ordinary practice questions?

tnx

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I've been using a Kaplan book intermitently during my nursing courses, and had taken the NCLEX LPN so I am familiar with the test. Howver, I really am just not in the mood for studying anything anymore. I'm thinking of not really studying at all for the NCLEX and winging it. Anyone ever done this and passed the thing?

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Hello everybody! Im new here. I started Suzanne's firts tip already and it was effective! Im halfway now with Saunders.

Good day!

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