TIPS/Info for passing NCLEX

SpelaD · Apr 23, 2011

I don't know how much studying is going to be good enough and how to go for it. I have Saunders comprehensive review, Kaplan.

I don't know if I should study the whole book and then do the questions; or start with questions and study the topics that come up in them.

amyn87 · Apr 23, 2011

applereyes : i keep trying to post a reply as to what i'm studying, but for some reason it won't let me. do u have an email or something i can try to send it to?

fire rescue · Apr 24, 2011

applereyes : i keep trying to post a reply as to what i'm studying, but for some reason it won't let me. do u have an email or something i can try to send it to?

that's because you need to have more than 15 posts so you can send a message. :)

Silverdragon102, BSN · Apr 24, 2011

applereyes : i keep trying to post a reply as to what i'm studying, but for some reason it won't let me. do u have an email or something i can try to send it to?

If you are trying to reply to a pm then you need 15 or more posts before you can do so

amyn87 · Apr 24, 2011

I don't need to send it as a message, I was trying to post it on here so everyone could see it. Whenever I try to submit it, a green screen comes up and tells me that I need to log out, close my browser page, and open a new one and log back in. I've tried doing that about 10 times and it still won't let me. I don't understand how I can post this, but I can't post something else...maybe because it's too long?

amyn87 · Apr 26, 2011

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.

I've been out of school since June last year, and May 3rd I take NCLEX for the 3rd time. The first time I took boards it was right out of school, and all I wanted to do that summer was relax, so needless to say I didn't study as much as I should have. I took it for the second time at the end of January and got 265 questions and failed. I was devastated because I studied nonstop for a month before I took it. This time I gave myself more than a month to study and I read 1/2 of a Saunders book then made notecards out of the last half. I've also been doing practice questions on the CD that came with my Saunders book everyday.

As far as drugs are concerned, if I get a question on a drug in a practice questions and I don't know what it is, I look it up and make a notecard on the main points about it, including what was asked about it in the question. Also as I was going through the Saunders book making notecards I made some on drugs that were mentioned that had a few "pyramid points" next to it. I also noticed that there were a lot of TB and chemotherapy drugs in Saunders that I recognized from practice questions.

Here's some of the drugs I've made notecards on so far:

Prednisone S/E

Imuran S/E

Aminosalicylic acid (Paser)

Pyrazinamide (PZA)

Ethambutol (Myanmbutol)

Rifampin (Rifadin)

Isoniazid (INH, Nydrazid)

Nasal Decongestants

Antihistamines

Bronchodilators (names)

Antiemetics (Reglan - when to give - 30 min before meals and at bedtime)

Proton Pump Inhibitors (names and action)

Histamine 2 - Receptor Antagonists (names, action, whether or not it's affected by food, cautions)

Antacids (when to take)

Oral Hypoglycemic Meds

Glucocorticoids (S/E, cautions, names)

Mineralocorticoids (interventions)

Fosamax

Thyroid meds

Antithyroid meds

Baclofen

Aldactone

Diuretics

Lithium

Calcium Channel Blockers

Digoxin

Insulins

Pitocin

Ticlid

Theophylline

Desferal

Heparin and Coumadin

Zoloft (interaction w/ St.John's Wort)

Clozaril (causes agranulocytosis)

Then I also went to the alternate format test questions on the Saunders CD and made notecards on priority questions, like steps for blood administration, steps for Allen's test...etc.

If you feel confident about what you went over in your book, then go through more practice questions and make notecards (if it helps you) on things you don't know.

Hope this helps! Also if anyone has any studying tips for me, it would be greatly appreciated!! I really don't want to go for a 4th time…

(YAY IT FINALLY LET ME POST IT!! LOL)

applereyes · Apr 26, 2011

Thanks so much amyn87!!

This really helps.. I hope we both get it. I'm so nervous.

amyn87 · Apr 28, 2011

Thanks so much amyn87!!
This really helps.. I hope we both get it. I'm so nervous.

You're welcome! Good luck on your test! Just try to stay confident!

applereyes · Apr 29, 2011

amyn87 my test is on Mondayyyy!! Any last minute tipe? Should I just keep testing at this point or try to cram even more things? It seems like I'm still making SO many mistakes..

amyn87 · Apr 29, 2011

Check out this post: study checklist for passing NCLEX-RN. It has a study-guide type thing for NCLEX and it's pretty helpful. It's someone's opinion of what to study, but it still gives a good idea of what's important.

If you're starting to feel overwhelmed, stop what you're doing and do something else. You still have a few days, so if you want to learn a little bit more it could help, but don't try to cram in a whole NCLEX book in 2 days...just do a few things that you feel shakey on. Keep doing practice questions because it gets you used to the format of NCLEX.

If you haven't been to the test center before, make sure you go BEFORE the day of your test. It relieves some stress of trying to find it that morning.

The day before I take my test, I plan on getting my hair done, getting my nails done, and going shopping, because they're all fun relaxing things that make me feel good. lol. Do something the day before your test that relaxes you and reduces your stress. If you feel like you need to study that day, then do it. It's whatever makes you feel better.

Use the earplugs they give you. They feel funny at first but once you get them in right they're a huge help.

Use the dry-erase board they give you. Use it to write key words from the question or draw pictures or whatever you want to do with it!

BREATHE. Very important. Don't forget to do it. lol. If you start to feel nervous or panic over a question, stop, close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and clear your mind.

Try not to let your nerves get the best of you. Be confident when you walk in that room. Think you're gonna kick that test's A**!! lol :lol2:

You made it through nursing school, you can pass this test!! :yeah:

applereyes · Apr 29, 2011

Thank you again amyn87! I took about 200 items on Saunders last night and got 75% on Pharmacology ONLY. I've been writing down all the rationales for my mistakes. I felt good. I don't know if this will be enough though.

amyn87 · Apr 30, 2011

75% on pharm is pretty good in my opinion; i'm horrible at learning meds! keep it up, i have faith in ya! be sure to let me know how you did when you find out!