TIPS/Info for passing NCLEX

sunnycalifornianurse · Dec 15, 2007

Hi Diahni,

Thank you ! My name says how I feel !

I absolutely agree but I was really scared when I heard there is no "orginal" NCSBN questions to learn. They do not exist. The NCSBN does not and did not sell them. So I found all these books are basically phantasy questions. Good to practice but they still have nothing to do with originals. The Prep - Course I took gave me good practice on the questions style and how to read and analyze them and also an intense review of the materials. The Review was like the exam is. Everything is looked at in a complex way not at one aspect. This is very helpful. Like when you learn Diabetes, you learn symptoms, pathophysiology,treatment,pharmacology etc. all ot once not singularly. That has put it all together for me. But as I say, everybody learns differently. I am just glad I made it right away because it is difficult when you come from a different country and you have to take the same exam as an us - trained nurse. Good Luck !

Diahni · Dec 15, 2007

Hi Diahni,
Thank you ! My name says how I feel !
I absolutely agree but I was really scared when I heard there is no "orginal" NCSBN questions to learn. They do not exist. The NCSBN does not and did not sell them. So I found all these books are basically phantasy questions. Good to practice but they still have nothing to do with originals. The Prep - Course I took gave me good practice on the questions style and how to read and analyze them and also an intense review of the materials. The Review was like the exam is. Everything is looked at in a complex way not at one aspect. This is very helpful. Like when you learn Diabetes, you learn symptoms, pathophysiology,treatment,pharmacology etc. all ot once not singularly. That has put it all together for me. But as I say, everybody learns differently. I am just glad I made it right away because it is difficult when you come from a different country and you have to take the same exam as an us - trained nurse. Good Luck !

SCN,

Everybody says the same thing - nothing really prepares you for the strangeness that is the nclex - some people say best thing is to keep doing questions. Well, I though that was a real bore. What I wanted to know was exactly what is it about this question that could make me mess up. So I started keeping a list, such as well, the information in this answer is right, but the question wanted to know FIRST symptoms. Stuff like that. Enjoy California - I went to high school there, and am in Massachusetts with about two feet of snow. Booooo!

All told, it is a very weird test, I think. Given that we can't know everything, it is good that, to my mind, the test is looking for you instincts and educated judgement far more than all the stuff you memorized in nursing school. I felt I didn't spend enough time with rote memorization - lab value, meds, etc. Yet it didn't seem to matter, because my questions seemed much more about snap judgement calls, such as "which patient do you see first." In a certain way, this kind of question is easier than being asked to recite a list of low tyramine foods. But it is also harder without the nursing sensibility. I think a big generalization that could be made - are you going to make safe snap decisions in your work? btw, I passed in November - yay!

Diahni

chirpingrobin · Dec 16, 2007

Hi I'm chirpingrobin. I live in Boston, MA. Could you please send one to me if it is in your convenience. I graduated this summer. I failed already once. I am so scared to take NCLEX again.

try kaplan books... you can check it at barnes and nobles... it really helped me eliminate wrong answers.... i also have cds if you want it.. let me know and give me your infos and i can send it to you.. best of luck...hang in there.. you will make it....... :)

Silverdragon102, BSN · Dec 17, 2007

Hi I'm chirpingrobin. I live in Boston, MA. Could you please send one to me if it is in your convenience. I graduated this summer. I failed already once. I am so scared to take NCLEX again.

Plenty written on hints and tips and Suzanne one of the moderators on the forum has done a plan that works well for NCLEX check out the thread it is a sticky and called 'New revised first tip for Suzanne's plan'

monikee31 · Dec 20, 2007

hello to everyone out there! I would like to congratulate everyone who has taken and passed their nclex-rn exams, that is so encouraging to me. This question is directed to all who has taken and passed the nclex-rn and has utilized saunders comprehensive review and cd. congrats to all the successful nclex-rn test takers and all the best of luck to those who will be testing soon!

p.s. please send me a private message if you could help me out, thank you all!!!

fashionguru · Dec 20, 2007

oops sorry, i meant for that to be a private reply, Monikee!

igmirnor · Dec 21, 2007

Hi

I was just browsing around allnurses and I happened on the speciality area, I checked out the ICU sticky's and It gives amazing and extremely interesting information on everything from labs , to treatments, I think its a must read..It has a LOT of practical info and I certainly enjoyed reading ...I know one thing I will certainly know my lab values and how to fix Na/K problems...etc.. I have just started reading and for once enjoyed "studying"....check it out..