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

Specializes in OR,Hemodialysis.

Fellow nurses,

Just a quick thoughts while studying....

what happens when the bilirubin is decreased

or what is high on a baby with PKU

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Hi All About to take the NCLEX!

I can't say for sure if this is going to work for me - the test is next week! That said, I listen to the Kaplan mp3s on my ipod. For the technical stuff and numbers, I will sit quietly and take notes. But a lot of it you can listen to while driving, cooking or whatever you need to do that keeps you away from studying. In a way, it's like taking an NCLEX prep course in your spare time, with the added advantage that you can stop and go back over stuff. I will report back after the test, but it's really good for the judgement and priority stuff. I sure wish there were a "master list" of stuff you need to know - most study books are over-kill with the info. Failing that, it's obvious (correct me if I'm wrong) that we should focus on the most common diseases, the most common side effects (well maybe the rare side effect like Stevens-Johnson is important) Though I believe everybody who says that nothing really prepared them for the test, I'm wondering if the best thing to do (which I'm doing) is practice taking the test. I'm confused about the advice that it's not "knowlege based," because to make priorities, etc. you need a lot of info.

Any suggestions, anyone?

Diahni

hello! hope you can help me on where/how can i get this kaplan mp3? tnx!!!

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Specializes in Geri.

I too would like to know where to get that kaplan mp3. I am a audiotory learner I think this will help.

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hey! wizard,

i have taken the nclex 5 x and will take it again in january. i am going to a rinhart review this week. i hope it will help. let me hear from you.

lyneb

these are strategies taken from drexel university's nclex® excel! prep course. (i took the live course first time and didn't pass but the strategies are pretty simple to follow and may be some of you might findhelpful).

the parts of a question

the question contains several parts:

o the case (sometimes called scenario) - the description of the client and what is happening to him/her

o the stem - the part of the question that asks the question

o the correct response

o distracters - incorrect but feasible choices

http://passnclex.drexel.edu/study_resources.aspx

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Hey Wizard100,

Thank you for all your help.

LynEB

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Thank u for the tips of the Acide base ,but would u give me the tip to evaluate the compensation and partial compensation with Acid base?

Thank u

rnaffah

Hi Everyone,

i was studying with the Saunder's book and came across this really simple way of determining Respiratory/Metabolic Acidosis/Alkalosis. i really struggled with my Acid Base through nursing school and even now, so this really worked for me. And i've been getting all the acid/ base questions right now! i've added some strategies i've used to remember the values, as well. here it is, hope it helps someone else out there too!

ØQuick way to determine Respiratory é Metabolic Acidosis é Alkalosis

oMemorize PH of blood (7.35 - 7.45)

oNow remember the numbers 35 and 45 from the PH, this is the range for PCO2

oIf you can`t remember the HCO3 range (22 - 27), just remember it`s in the 20`s and that will eventually help you remember the actual values

oPO2, 80 - 100, associate it with O2 levels. Remember, O2 readings should be at the higher end, and we don't generally start to panic unless O2 readings are below 80.

oThe acidosis and alkalosis part is determined by the blood PH (high PH = alkalosis, and low PH = acidosis)

oIf the condition is RESPIRATORY, the PH and PCO2 moves in opposite directions

Ex: PH 7.30, PCO2 48 = respiratory acidosis

PH 7.51, PCO2 30 = resp. alkalosis

oIf condition is METABOLIC, the PH and HCO3, move in the same direction

Ex: PH 7.30, HCO3 20 = metabolic acidosis

PH 7.51, HCO3 29 = metabolic alkalosis

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Thank u for this tip,but would u give me some tips related to compensation and partial compensation?

Regards,

rnaffah

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Hello,would you please give me the full name of Kaplan book with edition so I can order it,and also Davis book ---For RN-NCLEX.

Thank u,

rnaffah

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This is good review to look at:

http://www.the-abg-site.com/level1.htm

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You can look them all up on amazon.com and maybe even get used copies for much cheaper. With all books, you're better off getting the most recent edition, though I don't think it's entirely necessary.

Don't forget you might have a library you can borrow these from, and copy the attached cds to practice the tests.

I think the online ncsbn review is really worth it, particularly the practice tests - after all, ncsbn is the organization who makes up the nclex. you can register for the ncsbn online course at

http://www.learningext.com. The test questions are good - closer to the real test than anything else I have used, but I think the course is much too detailed. For instance, it goes into different aspects of stenosis for the various cardiac valves - I think this is far beyond the kind of signs and symptoms questions you'd get on the nclex. Just my opinion, but at this point, it is probably enough to know what happens you have a stenotic heart valve, and how would you know?

Don't forget Mosby's (or anybody else's) books on priority and delegation questions - it looks like everybody gets a lot these kind of problems. I believe this was the most useful book for me, aside from the fact I reviewed basic diseases.

Have fun studying!

Diahni

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Thank u for this tip,but would u give me some tips related to compensation and partial compensation?

Regards,

rnaffah

Rnaffah:

http://www.the-abg-site.com/level1.htm - this is a good review of blood gases, too.

this is from an allnurses.com posting two years ago from nursefirst:

Okay: first thing, find out what the pH is.

7.35-7.45 is normal

>7.45 is alkalosis

To find out whether it is respiratory or metabolic you need to know the HCO-3 and the paCO-2 values--and the normal values.

If the HCO-3 is out-of-whack and not the paCO-2, what ever is happening is metabolic, and the body uses the respiratory system to compensate. For example, in DKA, pts breath deeply (Kussmaul) in order to blow off CO-2. This helps the body to become more alkalotic.

If the paCO-2 is out-of-whack and not the HCO-3, what ever is happening is respiratory. The body uses the kidneys to adjust the pH.

One method is to draw a diagram, showing acidotic normal alkalotic on top and the pH, HCO-3 and paCO-2 values along the side. Then you determine which values represent what. I've forgotten the exact values at the moment, but I can tell you that in respiratory conditions, the paCO-2 values move opposite to the pH values. In metabolic conditions, the HCO-3 values move in the same direction as the pH.

If the pH is within the normal range, but the HCO-3 and paCO-2 values are out-of-whack, it means that the body has compensated for the disturbance in the primary system (resp or metabolic). If the pH is less than 7.4, then the body is compensating an acidosis; if the pH is > 7.4, the body is compensating an alkalosis. You then find out which, the HCO-3 or the paCO-2 value falls on the same side as the pH. If it's the HCO-3, it is metabolic; if it is the paCO-2, it is respiratory.

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If you have some money - there is an online program by ATI Testing- you get a teacher, some DVDs some review books and a lot of practice assessments. I think though that you have to take a good hard look at what has been working for you ion the past. SOme people do flashcards, bullets, and others read. My thing is to take as many tests as I can and I study with a group and we quiz each other.

It helps to know how to read what the question is asking and to know how to make an educated guess if you dont know the answer. What the teachers have been trying to get into our heads all along is true. If one thing aout the answer is wrong - the answer is wrong. Eliminate thing you know are incorrect. Try to decideif theya re asking about priorities of care or safety etc. Read the introductory material that is in most nclex books about test taking strategies. THese really help.

What others have said in the posts is true- you cant possible memorize everything but if your general knowledge is good and you can think through the question you will do allright.

Good Luck

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