Took My NCLEX Today

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I just got home from taking the NCLEX and my head is about to explode. I got all 145 questions, multiple SATAs (I didn’t count), a lot of prioritization questions. One EKG, no math, no hotspot, no drag and drop, no audio.

I can’t help feeling like a failure. I pretty much have an RN residency position that’s waiting on these exam results. I feel so defeated at the moment and I’m just on here to vent. Seeing as today is a Friday, I wonder if I’ll be able to view my quick results by Sunday or if I’ll have to wait till Monday or after. I’m too scared to even try the PVT.

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On 2/11/2022 at 6:08 PM, Ofure97 said:

I just got home from taking the NCLEX and my head is about to explode. 
I got all 145 questions, multiple SATAs(I didn’t count), a lot of prioritization questions. One ekg, no math, no hotspot, no drag and drop, no audio.

I can’t help feeling like a failed. I pretty much have an RN residency position that’s waiting on this exam results. I feel so defeated at the moment and I’m just on here to vent. 
seeing as today is a Friday, I wonder if I’ll be able to view my quick results by Sunday or if I’ll have to wait till Monday or after. I’m too scared to even try the PVT 

Update: I passed! I feel so relieved. This was my first try and I am glad I never have to do this again. Good luck to all yet to take it

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Congratulations! That's a big sigh of relief and happiness I bet! Excuse me while I bombard you with questions haha. 

I'm doing terribly on my Kaplan, and I have mine scheduled for 2/24. How did you study? I feel like I don't know anything; lab values are scrambled in my brain, I'm mixing up S/S with similar diseases, and it's terrifying me! Do you have any words of advice?

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On 2/13/2022 at 9:36 PM, Jasoki said:

Congratulations! That's a big sigh of relief and happiness I bet! Excuse me while I bombard you with questions haha. 

I'm doing terribly on my Kaplan, and I have mine scheduled for 2/24. How did you study? I feel like I don't know anything; lab values are scrambled in my brain, I'm mixing up S/S with similar diseases, and it's terrifying me! Do you have any words of advice?

No worries!

I would suggest NCLEX high yield with Dr Zeeshan. He has podcasts, free weekly zoom sessions and Youtube videos where he breaks down concepts and makes them easy to understand. If you haven’t already, invest in UWorld. (I would go through questions and write down the rationales for questions I got right and wrong, then I would spend an hour or two going through my notes first thing every day). These were the only two resources I used. I was averaging 61% on my questions and was in the 82nd percentile with a high chance of passing on my assessment. 

know your lab values and common medication ranges!! Know toxic meds and what their contraindications are. Use mnemonics and songs to make important information stick…most importantly you need to understand the concepts and not just memorize them. 

When you get to the testing center, write down all your lab values, med ranges, mnemonics, formulas and whatever else you can think of in that moment. 

PRACTICE a lot of SATA and prioritization questions, I had a whole lot of these and it seems  like everyone else also gets a lot of these question formats on their exams as well…..so I suggest you get comfortable with answering such questions. 

Take breaks, take care of yourself!! The questions are not trying to trick you at all and are very “straight to the point”, most of the questions will be unfamiliar to you and that’s okay, take a deep breath and think through each answer choice. 

They don’t expect you to be a nursing genius or to remember every single detail that you’ve studied, but to be able to make educated choices. Treat each question like it’s the only question on the exam…you have 5 hours! (I finished all 145 in 3 hours and that was with me spending forever on each question and taking a break during my exam)

 Don’t freak out if it goes past 75 questions, just use the bathroom, get some water and a snack, recoup and continue on. 
You’ve got this! 

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On 2/13/2022 at 9:59 PM, Ofure97 said:

No worries!

I would suggest NCLEX high yield with Dr Zeeshan. He has podcasts, free weekly zoom sessions and Youtube videos where he breaks down concepts and makes them easy to understand. If you haven’t already, invest in UWorld. (I would go through questions and write down the rationales for questions I got right and wrong, then I would spend an hour or two going through my notes first thing every day). These were the only two resources I used. I was averaging 61% on my questions and was in the 82nd percentile with a high chance of passing on my assessment. 

know your lab values and common medication ranges!! Know toxic meds and what their contraindications are. Use mnemonics and songs to make important information stick…most importantly you need to understand the concepts and not just memorize them. 

When you get to the testing center, write down all your lab values, med ranges, mnemonics, formulas and whatever else you can think of in that moment. 

PRACTICE a lot of SATA and prioritization questions, I had a whole lot of these and it seems  like everyone else also gets a lot of these question formats on their exams as well…..so I suggest you get comfortable with answering such questions. 

Take breaks, take care of yourself!! The questions are not trying to trick you at all and are very “straight to the point”, most of the questions will be unfamiliar to you and that’s okay, take a deep breath and think through each answer choice. 

They don’t expect you to be a nursing genius or to remember every single detail that you’ve studied, but to be able to make educated choices. Treat each question like it’s the only question on the exam…you have 5 hours! (I finished all 145 in 3 hours and that was with me spending forever on each question and taking a break during my exam)

 Don’t freak out if it goes past 75 questions, just use the bathroom, get some water and a snack, recoup and continue on. 
You’ve got this! 

Thank you for the advice! Honestly, my school forced us to get Kaplan so I've been using that and haven't gotten UWorld because of finances. I've listened to all of Dr. Z's podcasts! Unfortunately I haven't been able to make it to any of his Zooms. Meds and Lab values are my worst enemy, and I struggle with them so much. I know at the end of the day I need to memorize them because I'll be using them everyday as a nurse, but right now I'm just suffering from them

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9 hours ago, Jasoki said:

Thank you for the advice! Honestly, my school forced us to get Kaplan so I've been using that and haven't gotten UWorld because of finances. I've listened to all of Dr. Z's podcasts! Unfortunately I haven't been able to make it to any of his Zooms. Meds and Lab values are my worst enemy, and I struggle with them so much. I know at the end of the day I need to memorize them because I'll be using them everyday as a nurse, but right now I'm just suffering from them

Try to recall and write them out every few hours. Also write them on post its and place them on the fridge, closet doors etc…general places around the house. The more you see them, the easier it’ll be to familiarize and remember them.

I struggled with lab values too but every day I would write them out without reference during my study time. This way I knew the ones I already learned and focused on learning the ones difficult for me to remember.

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Specializes in RN, DSD.
On 2/13/2022 at 8:36 PM, Jasoki said:

Congratulations! That's a big sigh of relief and happiness I bet! Excuse me while I bombard you with questions haha. 

I'm doing terribly on my Kaplan, and I have mine scheduled for 2/24. How did you study? I feel like I don't know anything; lab values are scrambled in my brain, I'm mixing up S/S with similar diseases, and it's terrifying me! Do you have any words of advice?

Repetitive study,  question after question.  Reschedule if your not doing well in your practice questions.  I did Nurse Academy Plus, I studied for 3wks, I did every question in there test bank until I passed every section 100 percent.   I passed in 75 questions.  My test was mostly Select all that apply.  My study course had SATA questions,  I don't think I would have passed without that course.  

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