Waiting is over! I passed!

[Okie36]

I took NCLEX on Tuesday. After 1 1/2 hours, it cut me off at question # 85. I had 25 SATA, 4 drugs, and lots of delegation, priority, and education.

I used Saunders NCLEX PN 5th edition, Saunders NCLEX PN flashcards, and exam Cram. I had pinning April 10th and started studying the week after so that gave me approximately 3 weeks. I just answered as many questions as I could. If I stumbled in an area, I went and reviewed content in that area.

The flashcards were given to me but I'm sure u can find them anywhere. I used them during school. I would grab a bunch and stick them in my scrub pockets and would study them during clinical when it was slow and also during my preceptor hours when it was slow..

I like exam cram because it is condensed and focused ( if u truly do NOT know your content, exam cram will NOT help you). It helps hit the high points with each system and reviews focused things that u will want to know.

I cannot emphasize enough to truly learn and know WHAT the question is asking....I had several questions that had answers that had everything to do with that particular disease process BUT the question was asking for another priority! Slow down! Read the question twice! Read your answers twice and don't change your answers!

If you have answer options that are total opposites of each other, (ex, cold therapy versus hot therapy) the likelihood of 1 of those answers being the correct one is high!

LAB VALUES! They are your friend! Know them and know them well! Know the effect that certain conditions have on lab values! Know your acid/base PH levels and what's respiratory acidosis/alkalosis and metabolic acidosis / alkalosis.... Also, what conditions will reflect ph deficiency like hyperventilation and N/V.

Treat SATA like true and false... Take each option 1 at a time and ask is this a true statement? If u cannot say definitively yes, don't choose it!

Lastly, go to the board of nursing and read your scope of practice! I had 2 questions that dealt with situations that had I NOT done that, would have gotten them wrong...

[Tmlpn83]

Congrats on your success. I am scheduled to test May 15, 2014 at 8 a.m. I wish they had afternoon appts like my first time but they don't. My brain is very efficient, alert, and works very well in the morning instead too, so I guess it's okay. This time around I actually have confidence in myself that I didn't have, and have gained knowledge of subjects that I didn't know much on, etc.. I know I'm ready now. I've been doing review of all sources ( ATI, Exam Cram, Kaplan Ques Bank online) in a steady pace and stop when I need a break, because I want what I review to be firm in my mind, Especially ATI. I have decided 48 hrs before my test not to touch anything and also the day of my test. I figure A) I will give my brain a good rest B) if I don't know it by 48 hrs before the test, then I ain't ever gonna know it. I have prayed constantly from the time I had started to study, which will be about 3 months now, I am continuously continuing to pray, I believe prayer is powerful but i also know by me doing my part too, everything will be alright.