What if I do not have enough time to do 3000 ques. before my exam???

suzanne4, RN · May 27, 2005

If you can complete between 3000 to 4000 questions before taking the exam, you will have a much better chance at completing the questions.

This is something that could have been done while you were still in school in your last semester, so trying to cram everything in the end won't be beneficial to you. There is a complete strategy in taking an NCLEX exam, the questions are worded differently than most other exams.

I know that this isn't what you wanted to hear.........

pie123 · May 27, 2005

If you can complete between 3000 to 4000 questions before taking the exam, you will have a much better chance at completing the questions.
This is something that could have been done while you were still in school in your last semester, so trying to cram everything in the end won't be beneficial to you. There is a complete strategy in taking an NCLEX exam, the questions are worded differently than most other exams.
I know that this isn't what you wanted to hear.........

Wow super moderator...geez :stone I was just curious about what other people did & their success. I am not trying to cram everything in, I have been doing questions, as I believe I stated in my post. It would be unrealistic for me to think that I could do 3000 questions in 3 days. Also, since you mentioned it, during my last semester of school, there were TONS of projects, papers, etc. & I needed to concentrate on keeping my head above water at the time so that I COULD actually graduate.

shirleyTX · May 27, 2005

I just took the NCLEx thursday, and let me tell you all the studying in the world doesnt do you any good. The way I feel, its alot of prioritization, but not stuff that's apparent, like no cardio or respr. conditions, it's more like choose between diabetes, bone fractures, renal. Things that are not so life threatening. I would have a good idea of labs like RBC, WBC, PT

Good luck to you, and also to me (since I dont know if I passed or not)

Leda · May 28, 2005

The "guessing" that your doing on the NCLEX is actually applying critical thinking. It feels like guessing because the best answer on NCLEX is not obvious. However with the application of your nursing knowledge and critical thinking skills you can determine the best answer.

To answer Pie123's question, certainly there are people who have passed the NCLEX that have not completed 3000 questions. In the best of all worlds those preparing for NCLEX would have completed between 3000 and 5000 NCLEX-style questions. Strong students may not need to complete 3000 questions and weak or high risk NCLEX candidates (i.e., those that failed a nursing course, have a history of doing poorly on comprehensive nursing exams, have failed NCLEX in the past, etc.) should complete a minimum of 6000 questions during their planned study.

At the end of the day the NCLEX test taker has to have a sound knowledge base and confidence in applying critical thinking to answer the NCLEX questions. This is the basis for the recommendation to complete X# of questions before taking the NCLEX.

As important as completing a set number of questions is the ability to be centered and relaxed during the NCLEX. You have to be able to automatically reduce you stress/anxiety level. Deep breathing, thought stopping, and other similar techniques all must be second nature to before you sit for NCLEX. If you are anxious and/or doubt your confidence in being able to pass NCLEX you can hinder your chances for success.

So Pie123, you need to evaluate your NCLEX preparedness in light of where you are. How did you do on the NCLEX style exams in school? How much prepartion have you done for NCLEX since graduation? Did your study plan encompass all of the components of the NCLEX Test Plan? Has your percentile score on the practice exams improved since you began preparing for the NCLEX? If you have improved your percentile score a minimum of 10 to 15% and you are now consistentlly scoring significantly higher than when you started out, you have benefited from your study plan.

No one ever feels 100% prepared for NCLEX, but YOU must have confidence in your nursing knowledge and your ability to apply critical thinking strategies to answer the NCLEX-style questions. From your post it sounds like you will be very close to having completed 3000 questions, so congratulate yourself for that and focus on what you know and can do.

Best of luck to you, keep us posted.

Gator,SN · May 28, 2005

I reviewed my class notes and the text books before the NCLEX and I finished about 1000-1500 questions from two different review books concentrating on my areas of weakness (pharm, peds). I had 75 questions and passed the first time. You should use your time to work on the areas you feel unsure about because no matter how many questions you answer before the test these will be the same things that trip you up on the exam. Practice thinking things through and reading the rationales for all the choices. This helped me a lot. Good luck to you and try to relax. Keep telling yourself that you are going to do this and that you will not have any trouble with the exam. Best Wishes!

Gator

suzanne4, RN · May 28, 2005

Wow super moderator...geez :stone I was just curious about what other people did & their success. I am not trying to cram everything in, I have been doing questions, as I believe I stated in my post. It would be unrealistic for me to think that I could do 3000 questions in 3 days. Also, since you mentioned it, during my last semester of school, there were TONS of projects, papers, etc. & I needed to concentrate on keeping my head above water at the time so that I COULD actually graduate.

You asked for suggestions..........and I offered. Sorry if you did not like what I have to say. Even if a student is an "A" student and aces every class, that doesn't mean that they will, pass NCLEX the first time. There is a strategy in taking the exam and how to answer the questions and the more experience that you have with them, the better.

I actually have been teaching overseas and have a 100% pass rate with all of my students or those that I help because of the way that I teach. And there primary language is not even English for most of them.

Sorry that you do not want my help.................

Luv2BAnurse · May 28, 2005

I didn't take anywhere near 3000 practice questions. I passed (in one try). Of course the more practice questions you take, the better. What I found most helpful, however, was the strategies most NCLEX review books offered. I did study from three different books, but (to me) the Kaplan review gave great strategy advice.

Good luck

pie123 · May 28, 2005

The "guessing" that your doing on the NCLEX is actually applying critical thinking. It feels like guessing because the best answer on NCLEX is not obvious. However with the application of your nursing knowledge and critical thinking skills you can determine the best answer.
To answer Pie123's question, certainly there are people who have passed the NCLEX that have not completed 3000 questions. In the best of all worlds those preparing for NCLEX would have completed between 3000 and 5000 NCLEX-style questions. Strong students may not need to complete 3000 questions and weak or high risk NCLEX candidates (i.e., those that failed a nursing course, have a history of doing poorly on comprehensive nursing exams, have failed NCLEX in the past, etc.) should complete a minimum of 6000 questions during their planned study.
At the end of the day the NCLEX test taker has to have a sound knowledge base and confidence in applying critical thinking to answer the NCLEX questions. This is the basis for the recommendation to complete X# of questions before taking the NCLEX.
As important as completing a set number of questions is the ability to be centered and relaxed during the NCLEX. You have to be able to automatically reduce you stress/anxiety level. Deep breathing, thought stopping, and other similar techniques all must be second nature to before you sit for NCLEX. If you are anxious and/or doubt your confidence in being able to pass NCLEX you can hinder your chances for success.
So Pie123, you need to evaluate your NCLEX preparedness in light of where you are. How did you do on the NCLEX style exams in school? How much prepartion have you done for NCLEX since graduation? Did your study plan encompass all of the components of the NCLEX Test Plan? Has your percentile score on the practice exams improved since you began preparing for the NCLEX? If you have improved your percentile score a minimum of 10 to 15% and you are now consistentlly scoring significantly higher than when you started out, you have benefited from your study plan.
No one ever feels 100% prepared for NCLEX, but YOU must have confidence in your nursing knowledge and your ability to apply critical thinking strategies to answer the NCLEX-style questions. From your post it sounds like you will be very close to having completed 3000 questions, so congratulate yourself for that and focus on what you know and can do.
Best of luck to you, keep us posted.

Thank you so much.

pie123 · May 28, 2005

You asked for suggestions..........and I offered. Sorry if you did not like what I have to say. Even if a student is an "A" student and aces every class, that doesn't mean that they will, pass NCLEX the first time. There is a strategy in taking the exam and how to answer the questions and the more experience that you have with them, the better.
I actually have been teaching overseas and have a 100% pass rate with all of my students or those that I help because of the way that I teach. And there primary language is not even English for most of them.
Sorry that you do not want my help.................

I just PM'd you. Sorry if I sounded harsh...I think it's last minute anxiety :)

janetrette · May 29, 2005

honestly, i don't remember the exact number of questions i did for nclex. i don't count questions just do the set of question of cds.

i took kaplan; it got 1000classroom-1000online-1000computer disk. so yeah, about 3000 question and nclex 3000.

practice questions to get use to the wording and type of question that they might ask you. priority; delegation; meds.

SarasotaRN2b · May 29, 2005

With the 31st just two days away, chances of anyone doing getting to do all 3000 will drive them to the funny farm. As long as one thinks about the whole number "3000", it'll remain a mountain to cross. The best is to give yourself enough time and break it into smaller sections. Doing 10 questions seems like nothing. Then if you can do more, you can add another one, and then another, etc. Of course, I'm probably preaching to the choir on this bulletin board.

Kris