Hello to all!!!!! Today is such a very joyous and tearful day for myself and my very supportive husband! I AM NOW A REGISTERED NURSE! :clpty:.....I've had a very long journey. The first time (75 questions) I did the exam last 2003 was such a big disappointment and very scared to do it again. It took me 7 years to face NCLEX again for the second time - my exam was last April 27 with 76 questions for 2 hours: lots of priority, delegations, meds only one that I knew Clomid but the rest of the meds are totally foreign to me, one calculation and tons of SATA.
For the last 12 months, I spent 4-6 hours, five days a week studying and doing all the questions of Saunders 4th Edition Q&A Review- finished the whole book and the CD. With Saunder's CD I did first the 5,203 questions (on the Study mode & finished it all) and also the Exam mode with 100 questions. Then I used Illustrated Study Guide 6th Edition by Zerwekh and Claborn, which I had this for quite sometime - I'm using it for quick reference and liked the mnemonics that they included on this book.
To tell you the truth it was not easy especially that I graduated from the Philippines 12 years ago and earned my RN license also in my own country. Sitting and staring on the laptop :throcomp:doing all the questions day after day are very brutal. But I often told myself.....I CAN DO THIS AND 2010 WILL BE MY YEAR! :anpom::anpom::hpygrp:
To those that will be taking the exam, I will share to you what I did.
- Have a calendar and mark the time when you start and end EACH STUDY SESSION. Jot down what is your % when you're doing a test. STICK TO IT! :igtsyt:
- Don't tempt yourself with all the emails, facebook, texting and etc. I know it is hard but you have to reach your goal.
- Have little notes in front of you for encouragement! I wrote in the bright note pad: HEY!!!! Forget the emails, chat and Texting!!!! FOCUS! STUDY! GOAL! I AM AN RN!.....The second note that I made: No matter how hard it is- I CAN BEAT ALL THE ODDS! I AM PROUD TO BE AND ALWAYS WILL AN RN.:[anb]:
- Stay away from TOXIC PEOPLE AND TOXIC NEWS- FOCUS ONLY ON YOUR STUDIES.....Talk ONLY to people who are positive and always on your side.
- Have a time for a FUN, break and eat well! (You have no idea how much I gained so much weight!)
- If something upsets you that will disrupt your concentration, have a time to mellow out and go back studying. This works for me it may not work to others.
- If your scores are low, look again what went wrong. Read the rationales and go back to the questions what's really been asked. DON'T GET DISCOURAGE.
- Take down notes that are very important and those that you are struggling.
- PRACTICE, PRACTICE AND MORE PRACTICE!!!!
- When you are close to your exam day, take a day or two to rest your brain and don't peek at your books or notes. Stay as calm as you are and go watch nice movies, shop and eat! ...... IF YOU ARE VERY FAR FROM THE TESTING CENTER STAY IN A HOTEL!....My husband chose a hotel just steps away from the Pearson center. Nice way to start....having a walk that will circulate your blood before the test.
- Have a nice breakfast.
- When you are in the testing center, stay calm and encourage yourself that you will beat NCLEX! :hlk:
- Don't be quick in answering! Read the questions very well and break down the question. Eliminate the choices that are not relevant. DON'T KEEP CHANGING ANSWERS. Whatever your gut says stick to it.
Finally, my long journey, patience, perseverance paid off! If I'm able to do it.....YOU can do it also! :dancgrp:
Be positive all the time!
Good luck to all and remember: FOCUS! GOAL! YOU ARE AN RN! :nmbrn:
Congratulations! You are proof that it doesn't matter how long the journey takes, as long as we arrive at our destination in the end.:flwrhrts::flwrhrts:
I'm sure you're getting excited now that soon you will be graduating......Just keep on studying and like I've written on my thread, you need time for fun too.
m1yage
35 Posts
oppss...i thought you took your exam in the philippines...
...i'll be taking my exam next week...:)