What did you find helpful in preparing for NCLEX?

harley0511 · Sep 27, 2011

Hi Very Tired...

I remember that feeling. I'm nursing now and am still very tired! :nurse:

I found several review books/CD's at a local used book store. I used Saunders, Kaplan, Lippencott, ATI (supplied through my class), Lippencott's NCLEX PrepU (online resource) and the NCLEX style questions in my nursing books. I found each one to be different and helpful. I think it was the mixing up of resources that helped me most. I liked the online and CD versions of the test questions as they were similar to taking the actual test (can't see the answers until you're done, don't know if you got them right until you're finished, etc.)

Try not to stress too much. Study, take breaks, be proud of yourself for finishing school...it's almost over!

Hope that helps...Good luck! :up:

deemalt, BSN, RN · Sep 27, 2011

Cough up the bucks, do the Kaplan course and enjoy your peace of mind. It's worth it, it's structured, and organized. 75 questions and out the door.

Anthonyrnbsn, BSN, RN · Sep 27, 2011

It depends on your studying style. Do you need super quiet or is public studying ok? I used to hang out in like borders or barnes and noble. Used to eat drink coffee and use all their books for free. Need a break? Just walk around stretch your legs people watch etc then back to the books. A couple weeks of this and the nclex will be a breeze

noahsmama · Sep 27, 2011

I bought a pack of NCLEX flash cards (by Mosby, I think), and did practice questions for as many hours a day as I could stand. I always read the rationale for what was the "best" answer, even on the questions I got right the first time. Any question I got wrong would go to the back of the deck for me to go over again, until I got them all right.

I only reviewed content for those topics that came up repeatedly in my deck of incorrectly answered flash cards. And I memorized normal/abnormal lab values.

I did not do the Kaplan course, but I did buy the Kaplan review book. I found it to give good advice on strategies to use to narrow down the possible correct answers on questions where I didn't immediately know the answer.

Also did practice exams. Practiced until I was running 70 to 75% correct -- I've heard you only need to be getting 60% correct on practice exams to do well on the NCLEX.

I passed on the first try with 75 questions, so I guess my study strategies worked for me!

Good Morning, Gil · Sep 27, 2011

I didn't take any formal review course. My school had some kind of review thing, but that was it. I did practice questions from a few different books and made sure I read every single rationale (both the questions I got right and wrong). I found this most helpful, especially on questions I got wrong, because the rationales served as refreshers for things I may have had in the recesses of my mind.

Now that it's been over a year, and I have absolutely no peds experience, I can only tell you not to palpate a Wilm's tumor lol. Anyway, best of luck!! The main thing is just to study and be prepared! Being prepared should eliminate any actual test day anxiety b/c you know that you are ready and WILL pass it! It is also helpful to figure out what kind of test taker you are...for instance, do you typically get a lot of ?'s wrong at the end of your test (indicating fatigue). If so, def. make use of a 5 min break at the actual test!

simmonslRN · Sep 29, 2011

My school offered the ATI course and I think it was great and helped alot. I also brought the Fuerer Home Study program which consist of audio cds, study booklets, and practice questions which was also a big help. It worked for me 75 questions and now I'm an RN:)