TIPS/Info for passing NCLEX

Published

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

http://learningext.com/hives/534b38552a/summary

That is the link for the course. NCSBN (National Council of State Board of NUrsing) is who makes the NCLEX exam. Many people on this site have recommended the site so I am trying it out as a last resort. Hopefully luck will be on my side this time around. The first time I wrote the exam was back in Dec of 2009 in Toronto. Since then I got married and am now living in the US with my husband. When are you planning on taking the exam?

http://learningext.com/hives/534b38552a/summary

That is the link for the course. NCSBN (National Council of State Board of NUrsing) is who makes the NCLEX exam. Many people on this site have recommended the site so I am trying it out as a last resort. Hopefully luck will be on my side this time around. The first time I wrote the exam was back in Dec of 2009 in Toronto. Since then I got married and am now living in the US with my husband. When are you planning on taking the exam?

Thanks for the link! I'm not sure when I will do the exam. Thought I should do more studying first before I pay the money for booking. Looking for an agency (ie. American Mobile) that will recruit me so they can help me through the process and get me a job. I plan on going again through Minnesota. As soon as I have my licence I plan to buy a house in Southeast Florida.

i hope this helps. . . :)

Specializes in ER, progressive care.

my advice for the NCLEX:

do lots of practice questions! And read every single rationale, even if you got the question right! that is how you build your knowledge base.

Books that I found to be very helpful:

Saunders 4th & 5th editions are both good + CDs

Pearson Prentice Hall Reviews & Rationales NCLEX-RN + CD

Saunders Q&A Review for NCLEX-RN Examination

Lippincott's NCLEX-RN Alternate-Format Questions 4th Edition - not a big book (291 pages, no CD, but apparently there is a website for more practice but I didn't use it) but it's allllll alternate-format questions you will see on the exam - SATA, graphic option, audio (that is on the website), math, chart exhibit, drag & drop, hotspot...great if you want more practice with those kinds of questions!!

I also took a review course which really helped me. I would definitely focus on infection control (including what kind of precautions to take - whether it's standard, contact, droplet or airborne), delegation/prioritization (though I didn't have any delegation, just prioritization), and electrolyte imbalances!! Also know your math. You might get questions, you might not...I didn't get any math questions on mine! But I know you will fail the NCLEX if you keep answer the math incorrectly...a good indicator is if you get a math question and then the next one happens to be another math question.

Specializes in None yet.

@ melosaurRN

How many months should it take to study all of this nursing material?

Where are you located? Just follow Suzanne's plan, it really works. If you study NCLEX Saunder's, it's very very helpful. Just practice lots of questions.

What is Suzanne's plan?

Specializes in L & D, Med-Surge, Dialysis.

Susan's plan have been cancelled!

Specializes in Med-Surge, ER, GI Lab/Scopes.

Ok nurses-to-be! Don't stress. Passing the NCLEX is based upon your OVERALL nursing knowledge. I got hung up on pneumonics and specific questions too, when I was preparing, but the best thing that helped me pass the test in Feb. 2010 was confidence. Now I wasn't over-confident by any means. In fact, I had A LOT of anxiety. After I took it, though, I realized that by studying question after question in the CD provided by Saunders with their study book, I had gained confidence in my general nursing knowledge.

Also, don't get hung up on the little things. Study the basic things that are pertinent to every nurse's knowledge needs on a daily basis. I can't tell you exactly what to study because test-takers are not allowed to divulge questions presented on the test. Just remember to have a general working knowledge in every key body system, important disease processes, and the role of the nurse as a whole.

Hope this helps and GOOD LUCK!

my advice for the NCLEX:

do lots of practice questions! And read every single rationale, even if you got the question right! that is how you build your knowledge base.

Books that I found to be very helpful:

Saunders 4th & 5th editions are both good + CDs

Pearson Prentice Hall Reviews & Rationales NCLEX-RN + CD

Saunders Q&A Review for NCLEX-RN Examination

Lippincott's NCLEX-RN Alternate-Format Questions 4th Edition - not a big book (291 pages, no CD, but apparently there is a website for more practice but I didn't use it) but it's allllll alternate-format questions you will see on the exam - SATA, graphic option, audio (that is on the website), math, chart exhibit, drag & drop, hotspot...great if you want more practice with those kinds of questions!!

I also took a review course which really helped me. I would definitely focus on infection control (including what kind of precautions to take - whether it's standard, contact, droplet or airborne), delegation/prioritization (though I didn't have any delegation, just prioritization), and electrolyte imbalances!! Also know your math. You might get questions, you might not...I didn't get any math questions on mine! But I know you will fail the NCLEX if you keep answer the math incorrectly...a good indicator is if you get a math question and then the next one happens to be another math question.

Thanks a lot! I am considering Hurst review also since it seems many people like that rather than reading a book. I remember on the exam too!...lots of Infection Control, Delegation/Prioritization questions but also a lot of Meds! Maybe because Meds is my greatest weakness?

Hi!

I've been out of Nursing school for about 1 1/2 years and have been postponing my Nclex. Now, the time has come! I have 9 days until then. I've read a thock book, just to go through everything, I've been testing about 200-300 items everyday, but I have no idea to study drugs. I've always hated them, always panicked, and I don't want to back down this time (not again).

Please help me, My test is on May 2, Monday and I'm so frightened.

Specializes in Med-Surge, ER, GI Lab/Scopes.

It seems that you are experiencing a lot of anxiety R/T the test. My advice- take a deep breath, watch a favorite movie, or relax in your own favorite way. Remember from school that a little anxiety helps you reach your goals, but a lot is overwhelming and can hinder your confidence!

I don't know if I've studied enough.. It seems as I keep practice testing I keep encountering new questions, or questions I have no clue about!! What should I do? Should I read books again? Keep testing even if I get so frustrated?

I did not avail of Kaplan or Hurst review.

I just did it all on my own and my test is in 8 days so I'm freaking out. HELP.

+ Join the Discussion