This post is for what helped ME pass the NCLEX. In NO WAY am I telling you "You must use these methods or else you will fail!" Do whatever makes you happy. This is for me to share with those who are lost or just interested in reading.
And also, if you're going to be a non-therapeutic nurse and put someone's studying skills down, stay off my wall.
:) I'm so happy that I passed and I understand how difficult it is to retain the information or to find the right stuff that will work. It has been such a tough journey doing this with two jobs and running a business.
I've tried everything (KAPLAN, Exam Cram, books, etc.) I feel like I had all the books out there and I was still overwhelmed.
In the end, I only used four study methods:
NCLEX-RN Questions and Answers Made Incredibly Easy
Lippincott's NCLEX-RN Alternate-Format Questions
NCLEX question apps on my phone/ipad when I'm out and about
I used NCLEX-RN Questions and Answers Made Incredibly Easy and I really really like this most of all, surprisingly. I completed the entire book and did not use KAPLAN at all the second time. For the record, the questions weren't easy. It is broken down into different categories (CARDIO, RESP, ETC.). The reason why I love this one the most is because it'll keep repetitively asking me the questions in a different way to help me retain that question.
I bought the Davismobile apps to use in my spare time. I loved using them! They were PRIORITY questions and ALTERNATE FORMAT questions. I felt that the NCLEX was based off on these two apps. I think if I didn't have to worry about understanding the contents, I'd be happy just using these two apps to practice for the exam & nothing else.
I used this person's guide (it is not mine so due to the respect of how hard she's worked to put this together, I will not post it up, distribute it, or sell it.) This guide is 97 pages long. It is the summary of all the rationales that the girl used from KAPLAN & other questions she's found. To me, it's amazing and worth the price because I did not have time to put a guide together myself.
Idk if that's worth it to you guys, but every single question I answered on the NCLEX, I remembered reading it off from her guide:
I know this is long! I just wanted to post this up for those who's struggling with sitting there and answering a million questions or reading hundreds of pages for review.
So key points:
I preferred the Easy Q&A since it kept asking you questions about the disease instead of just "moving" on assuming you know it or will remember it.
I love getting apps to go especially if I'm waiting on a long line. Worth the investment, especially the Priorizations & Delegations.
Bless that girl who made that study guide. I read it the weekend before the exam and that. saved. my. life.
GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE! I'M ALWAYS HERE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS! FEEL FREE TO EMAIL ME!
