What is the key for NCLEX success???

[allabtu]

So I failed for the second time! I WILL NOT GIVE UP! I WILL CONQUER THIS EXAM!

I need advice from someone who may have experienced this challenge.

My plan was study the review, answer questions "1500", understand the rationales, and come home a nurse. Instead I sat down began with confidence then slowly started realizing that the conference questions were unfamiliar as the terms they used. Like the nurse needs further explanation or the nurse reconfirms. Then the questions all seemed correct nut it was that best choice. I had 85% of the exam was like that. Then meds that I thought I had seen before but did not.

How I understand the NCLEX is that you need to be well rounded in all four categories and subcategories But how am I to understand their terminology It looks like you could go either way for or against the most important priority or the opposite. What did I do wrong? I do know that I was not hitting pass 70% on the review questions, would that be the answer to my problem? PLEASE HELP...

[mzmae]

It's based upon statistical analysis of results, nothing more.

Okay, I was just a bit surprised by how low the percentage is. I know way too many nurses who did not pass on their first time and a handful who weren't so lucky on their second.

[steppybay]

majongerz05,

What do you mean? Is it possible that they have tagged us where no matter what we do they will fail us? I am very upset, I studied by my failures last time. I went in feeling there was nothing stopping me from passing but I was wrong. I still do not understand why they placed such an emphasis on conferences I zoomed through drugs and priorities SIC and everything possible but those stupid conferences with best answer made it impossible. What is your thoughts?

No, no, you're over thinking the situation. It's not a conspiracy theory as you imagined. I too am studying to take the exam myself for the first time.

Everyone's given a different test in the same exam site and day. It's the luck of the draw in getting your examination questions. This is to avoid test takers from asking the answer (if they were all the same).

I think many times, it's a matter of over-thinking the answers, becoming too anxious, getting the contents mixed, getting nervous as one sees others leaving the test site while you're still there, etc. This is what other friends of mine tells me, but they too failed the exam for the 1st or 2nd time.

[allabtu]

As a second timer, the test is designed to get harder until you've reached the maximum questions that says you passed. You must pass all categories and as you say its luck of the drawl yes & no. It really does not matter you have to know the content and have critical thinking skills. The test make you think like a nurse to a point. Unless your like I and have a crap load of conference questions. Few pharm because I knew them, few safety infection question because I knew them but there was some form of trick questions to see if you understand the material. Reconfirm, further instructions, and lots and lots of best answers type questions. I would say that my test was unfair because of the best answers. That 85% of my test was like that. There has been statements made that the test is equivalent to the sat test for high schoolers. I can believe that because I have a bachelors and breezed through the program but I think differently. I am use to seeing the material I study not questions rounding to what I studied.

Good luck and I know you will pass.

[athesenar]

I took NCLEX-RN exam on August and December. Unfortunately I didn't pass both times. I did find that the second time was much harder than the first time. I even thought they changed the questions before April 1.2013. Totally different felling. After that I read more document from NCSBN and also found the percentage. The pass rate for repeat taker are about half for both American Educated nurse and International Educated nurse. The pass rate for international educated repeat exam taker is only about 20%. So if you study nursing in the US, you are lucky. I felt the exam become harder if you take it more than once. Because I was much more confident than before as I studied more and got much higher correct percentage at the practice.

Anyway, I will not give up, and will prepare more about it for the next time. :)

Good luck for everybody.

[Danielle318]

What do you mean by "conference questions"

[allabtu]

The conference questions based on nurses holding meetings, it ranges differently by subject and category. It is a best choice option so all the answers are correct but you have to chose which is the better. That was my exam 85% through was best choice options. This was very unfair and upsetting, the exam is much harder if you fail the first time. Its luck of the drawl and the questions are worded a way that you must understand through critical thinking. I now know the test will be much harder next time and to be ready for the hardest questions that can be given.

[begosh]

The conference questions based on nurses holding meetings, it ranges differently by subject and category. It is a best choice option so all the answers are correct but you have to chose which is the better. That was my exam 85% through was best choice options. This was very unfair and upsetting, the exam is much harder if you fail the first time. Its luck of the drawl and the questions are worded a way that you must understand through critical thinking. I now know the test will be much harder next time and to be ready for the hardest questions that can be given.

I had these questions as well. I chose responses based on Airway, breathing, circulation, Maslow, stable vs. unstable, acute vs. chronic...as applicable. Also, I found the stem of the questions to be pretty straightforward. For example (these are just examples...NOT from actual test..."what would be priority discussion during a bioterrorism conference?" Or "what's essential to discuss during a cardiac conference?"

NCLEX is a TEXTBOOK exam...forget what you saw during clinicals or hospital duty. I, too, am a foreign graduate...18 years post BSN. And I struggled with thinking in terms of a "textbook exam mind set." Once I got passed this struggle, I started answering questions correctly...meaning...getting more right than wrong. Hope this makes sense.

[allabtu]

begosh,

Yes, this is making sense. Let me further this a bit so I can see where your coming from. When I would read a question that asked: conference is held on __________, the statement that follows needs_________: and there we have our 4 answers or sata. Now for me to understand this there are four or sata statements that all look like they fit, but only one or more choices are correct. Using ABC's and maslow chart which one would most likely fall into the category? Do we look for a airway choice; which is how viewed the answer and follow Air way, Breathing, Circulation, and if no answers fell into that category I followed maslow; safety and security so on. Is this what you mean?

I knew there were other questions that asked very deep actions by the nurse that you must know the procedures and our nurse process was involved. Where can I find questions that teach how to answer best options?

I really need to go deep with best choice questions and focus on each category and subcategory. Where can I find questions that use terms to address critical thinking as a nurse, any advice?

[begosh]

Allabtu,

Critical thinking is a state of mind. It involves analysis and not memorization. For example, while I was reviewing...hypernatremia (this is just an example)...easiest thing to remember is sodium over 145. For critical thinking...there needs to be depth and breadth of knowledge....meaning you need to be able to understand:

1.) What potentiates Hypernatremia?

2.) How is hypernatremia manifested in cardiac patients? GI patients? etc

3.) What other electrolytes imbalances appear when Hypernatremia occurs in cardiac or GI patients?

Once again, NCLEX is a TEXTBOOK exam...forget what you saw during clinicals or hospital duty.

Also, I posted this in one of your threads: https://allnurses.com/nclex-discussion-forum/failed-second-time-799820.html. Try answering questions using this method. However, knowing CONTENT is also critical in answering questions.

Also, gnjoy posted what's called "SAARE Method" [COLOR=#003366]https://allnurses.com/nclex-discussio...537-page5.html.

Stable versus Unstable

Acute versus Chronic

ABCs

Real versus Potential

Expected vs Unexpected....

during my exam..when nclex asked me to pick the least stable patient...i analyzed each of this patients next to the SAARE method...and said

Is this patient:

Stable versus Unstable (u would of course pick the unstable patient based on the choices given)

Acute versus Chronic (does the patient have an acute condition or chronic...chronic can wait..acute is NOW)

ABCs (ABCs is priority....no need to explain this one)

Real versus Potential (is patient having a real problem now or potential problem...fixed the REAL problem NOW)

Expected vs Unexpected.... (does the patient nclex gave u have an expected or unexpected outcome...for least stable patient..u will pick the unexpected action)

[allabtu]

Yes, I understand. Here is some info I am researching at this point. Safe and effective care environment: we have 27 break down care activities in this category and subcategories. Each have understanding the nurse must know when giving care to a client. Pending on the clients age, race, condition, and procedures what could be the best strategy used? This is the subcategory on coordinated care, can all ABCs, maslow, and the nursing process be applied? Or would there be one specific action for coordinated care? This maybe to deep but I'm looking to understand how to use the process and see what would fit when being an advocacy or contributing to their care under (Safe and Effective Care Environment).

[rinehart106]

I have failed twice too. I am taking the Kaplan review course online anywhere class, it is amazing. I have felt confident going in both times as I have already been through and passed the NLCEX-PN. I took all 265 questions each time wit taking my NCLEX-RN. I honestly don't know what I did wrong either time but knew I had to do something different than I did the first two times. The first time I studied on my own like I did for nursing school, question after question. Second time had a friend give me their Mark Klimeck stuff to review and question after question. So taking the course myself is the only other option on too of question after question. Stay positive and confident you can do it!

[allabtu]

Thank you for your response. I believe I boiled it down, I am reviewing with Saunders and vipra med. I know now it has alot to do with how you understand the break down of categories and subcategories. Saunders give the break down after rationales and what level of cognitive thinking you should use. I did not see this importance til yesterday. If you see what category and cognitive thinking you can place it under which process you ought to use. It will take me some time to zero in exactly how but its coming.