any tips on passing the Nclex?

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Hello,

I will be taking my Nclex next week, and I'm freaking out about the approaching date. In addition, I just received the news that one of my friends unfortunately didn't pass the exam. I was taken aback by her news, because I was so sure that she would pass based on her relentless diligence and the amount of time she studied for this exam. Just after the exam, she told me that nothing on the exam was what she studied for, or similar to Kaplan questions, which by the way is THE material I've been using since the beginning. What's worst is that she was extremely anxious that she blanked out a few times during the exam. Her story just made me feel very not confident and incompetent about my preparations and about this test.

I need a lot of emotional support! :crying2:

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Specializes in Emergency Department.

First, THINK POSITIVE! You get what you focus on. For example, keeping the words, "I WILL PASS" in your mind. This is not the same as, "I WILL NOT FAIL". Focus on PASSING, and not FAILING.

Also, the NCLEX was exactly like the Kaplan review questions. The online/computer Kaplan questions looked, felt, and even formatted the same as the real NCLEX right down to the screen color and font size and type.

The Kaplan Decision Tree was a huge help as well as the other strategies they teach.

If you have access to the Kaplan online practice tests, do them.

Lastly, 86% of first time NCLEX takers pass. So the odds are, that YOU will PASS.

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Specializes in ICU, Hospice, Nursing Education.

Well it's not the end of the world if you don't pass... so don't be hard on yourself if it happens. It is a VERY stressful test and I was positive I failed it when I took it 8 years ago. I got all the questions and it took me just shy of 5 hrs to take. Turns out I passed!! But there were some great students who grad with honors to fail it. Kaplan is the way to go with studying. I took my test AS SOON AS I could schedule it after grad. I think I took it 2 weeks after graduation. I found with my own class that the ones who took it immediately did well, where as the ones who didn't- didn't! I studied about 6 hours a day for 1 straight week. When I say studied, I did NCLEX questions on CD over and over and over. I did not review any info from nursing school. Just he NCLEX questions. I did a couple hundred a day. And then day before the test study (do a few more questions) some in the am and then put up your study material (after all... if you don't know it by this time... you won't know it for the test) and try and relax, eat a good dinner, and get a good nights sleep ( I think I took Benedryl to help the sleep process that night b/c I knew anxiety would keep me awake). Have a decent b-fast and go in with a clear head!! Do your best.. it's all you can do!! Don't freak out if it doesn't cut off after 75... and then after 100... and then after 200!! I was praying for it to cut off, but it didn't'! GOOD luck!! :)

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Thanks for those encouraging words! Yes, I'm trying to do all the Qbanks and Qtrainer tests before the big date. I will not let my friend's unfortunate situation impede from thinking positive. I WILL PASS!

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Just stay focus on you goal. Don't compare yourself to your friend because everyone has a different experience on that test. Keep in mind that you CAN DO IT. Study really hard it will pay off after the test and of course, prayers won't hurt.:)

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Well it's not the end of the world if you don't pass... so don't be hard on yourself if it happens. It is a VERY stressful test and I was positive I failed it when I took it 8 years ago. I got all the questions and it took me just shy of 5 hrs to take. Turns out I passed!! But there were some great students who grad with honors to fail it. Kaplan is the way to go with studying. I took my test AS SOON AS I could schedule it after grad. I think I took it 2 weeks after graduation. I found with my own class that the ones who took it immediately did well, where as the ones who didn't- didn't! I studied about 6 hours a day for 1 straight week. When I say studied, I did NCLEX questions on CD over and over and over. I did not review any info from nursing school. Just he NCLEX questions. I did a couple hundred a day. And then day before the test study (do a few more questions) some in the am and then put up your study material (after all... if you don't know it by this time... you won't know it for the test) and try and relax, eat a good dinner, and get a good nights sleep ( I think I took Benedryl to help the sleep process that night b/c I knew anxiety would keep me awake). Have a decent b-fast and go in with a clear head!! Do your best.. it's all you can do!! Don't freak out if it doesn't cut off after 75... and then after 100... and then after 200!! I was praying for it to cut off, but it didn't'! GOOD luck!! :)

Thanks for the tips! very much appreciated! =]

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Just stay focus on you goal. Don't compare yourself to your friend because everyone has a different experience on that test. Keep in mind that you CAN DO IT. Study really hard it will pay off after the test and of course, prayers won't hurt.:)

Yes, I've been praying everyday. And the best thing to do is leave it up to God, because He is the great God who will take care of everything. =]

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Hi! I am taking the exam next week too. Though I am sorry for your friend, I suggest, try to differentiate yourself from her/him. Failing the exam does not have a Domino effect, so try to lighten up. Put all your efforts into what you are studying right now, remember there no space for negative vibes since we're gonna take it very very soon. Worrying will just make you lose focus. I know you dont want to fail, all of us dont want to, but let the worrying happen AFTER we take the exam. Ruminating thoughts right now would just decrease your self confidence and will likely affect how you will perform.

I hope both of us will pass. :yeah::up::up:

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Hi! I am taking the exam next week too. Though I am sorry for your friend, I suggest, try to differentiate yourself from her/him. Failing the exam does not have a Domino effect, so try to lighten up. Put all your efforts into what you are studying right now, remember there no space for negative vibes since we're gonna take it very very soon. Worrying will just make you lose focus. I know you dont want to fail, all of us dont want to, but let the worrying happen AFTER we take the exam. Ruminating thoughts right now would just decrease your self confidence and will likely affect how you will perform.

I hope both of us will pass. :yeah::up::up:

Ahh! good luck to you too! =]

I'm taking it on Thursday, in the Queens NY. How about you?

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Specializes in orthopedic & HDU.
Hello,

I will be taking my Nclex next week, and I'm freaking out about the approaching date. In addition, I just received the news that one of my friends unfortunately didn't pass the exam. I was taken aback by her news, because I was so sure that she would pass based on her relentless diligence and the amount of time she studied for this exam. Just after the exam, she told me that nothing on the exam was what she studied for, or similar to Kaplan questions, which by the way is THE material I've been using since the beginning. What's worst is that she was extremely anxious that she blanked out a few times during the exam. Her story just made me feel very not confident and incompetent about my preparations and about this test.

I need a lot of emotional support! :crying2:

stay away from negative vibes,,u can do this ,,u are different from ur friend,,,dont expect that evrything uve studied will be on ur test...relentless studying most says is not healthy,,relax a bit dont over exhaust ur brain..they need a rest too...most importantly pray...

goodluck

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