trying to prepare to test for 3rd time...

Get the most recent book and follow her plan exactly do not change or add to it. That is what i did. Good luck.

I took the NCLEX 2 times: first on September, and second time on November. The first time I stayed the whole 6 hrs and answered 168 questions. I remember it being tough and me not having the slightest clue for 50% or more of the answers. Some questions, I did not even understand what they were asking me!!! The second time around, I passed with about 85 questions in about 2 1/2 hrs (I was trying not to look at the counter so I would not get distracted by how many questions I had answered and still had to answer). I walked out of the exam feeling these set of NCLEX questions were easier than my toughest practice questions and that I had done well, but did not want to get my hopes too high though (just to be on the safe side). I think these NCLEX questions were equally as tough as the first time around (I may have gotten even more tougher this time because I was answering them right), but I think I this time I was better prepared to answer them because I reviewed material that I did not review the first time around.

Our school included the NCLEX preparation course from Kaplan. I know it co$t$ "an arm and a leg" and by no means am I trying to advertise for them, but I felt reviewing their toughest set of questions helped me pass my NCLEX the 2nd time around. It really made a difference! The thing about Kaplan is that it gives you really tricky questions filled with facts that you might/might have not learned in nursing school or in your practical experience, and sometimes these are the deciding factors in helping you answer some of the tricky questions. Some of these facts sometimes makes you wonder: "And how am I supposed to know this???" but I guess that is why they give it to you, so that if you did not know that before, NOW YOU KNOW! Kaplan might also give you similar questions with similar multiple choice answers, but there might be one differential factor that might change the outcome of the question. In other words, it makes you analyze the reason for choosing a specific answer and forces you to read the question reeeaaally carefully! The week before my 2nd NCLEX, I reviewed the questions I had the hardest time with or did not understand and the material that I felt weak on. I think this was crucial to help keep things fresh in my mind. They tell you stop reviewing the night or days before the exam, but for me it ALWAYS help to review up to the last minute (I even reviewed stuff the morning of the exam!) but that works for me and I do not suggest others doing it if it does not work for you.

Anyway, I hope this helps. I know it is a tough exam, and each time you fail it takes something away from you. You feel lousy, you can't concentrate, and it becomes very difficult to study each time around because you no longer have the desire to, but have faith. Keep your chin up and your hopes high. You will find a way to pass!!

Saunder's 4th Edition ( or most current ). Suzanne's Plan.