Use these TIPS..There's no such thing as studying for the NCLEX

[pinknursepower, BSN]

I know everyone's NCLEX experience is different and everyone's understanding is different so I will only speak for me. Studying for the NCLEX did not help me. I am an honors student graduated top of my class so trust me I love my nursing books, but not for NCLEX. I studied so much stuff all day everyday and I feel the most useful thing I learned was not the information I studied but things like Kaplan that teaches you how to critically think and how to answer NCLEX style questions. 85% wasn't about what you know it was about being able to think, eliminate, and understand the question. Here are a few tricks I used.

*First of course you must know basic knowledge

• ABC, Maslow, patient before equipment, systemic before local
  
• When in doubt (none of the above can help) go with safety
  
• Ask yourself what is this question asking me
  
• process of elimination- give yourself a 50% chance
  
• Always be able to tell yourself why you picked that answer
  
• Close your eyes and put yourself at the scene
  
• Take your time and get it right- if your answering things right you will get less questions and wont need all the time anyway.
  

These simple skills helped me more than anything I used Kaplan and Saunders. The Saunders book comes with a code for thousands of practice questions and I used these skills to answer those questions and I was getting things right I had never seen in my life. Good luck to everyone out there and stay positive.

[pinknursepower, BSN]

one more thing guys don't take the NCLEX on an empty stomach. the girl next to me stomach was growling so bad she couldn't concentrate and she was embarrassed which I'm sure interfered with her performance as well

[AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

I agree with the OP.. NCLEX is a test of common sense and no so much of knowledge!

Annie

[springchick1, ADN, RN]

Also, never pick the answer that says to reassess. You always want to take some sort of action.

[RainMom]

An answer that says "always" or "never" is usually wrong.

If you have 2 options that are the exact opposite of each other, one of them is usually the answer.

[pinknursepower, BSN]

So true nu rn

[twss2323]

Another good tip, don't pass the buck! The answer isn't going to be referring the patient to PT or a psychiatrist, there's something you, as a nurse you can do.

[pinknursepower, BSN]

yes you're right twss2323 the purpose of the NCLEX is to test you the nurse they're not interested in what the doctor and the team can do

[kristimarieSC]

What an awesome thread!! I'm going to paste the info into a document and save it for next May when I take my NCLEX!!

[pinknursepower, BSN]

KristimarieSC glad I could help you

[sjalv]

Another good tip, don't pass the buck! The answer isn't going to be referring the patient to PT or a psychiatrist, there's something you, as a nurse you can do.

This isn't always true. Sometimes patients need to be told to contact their physician. It's usually NOT the answer but sometimes it is. One needs to consider the data presented in the question.

[Pinkfleud]

This is exactly why I joined AN. You nurses that have been there and done/seen that are a wealth of information, and I love how there is usually rationale to every explanation.

I'm waiting to hear if I've been accepted to my program, but while I'm trying to get in I've copy and pasted numerous word docs from here.

Thank you all for taking the time to share.