Will never really be ready...

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So, I've been studying hardcore for five weeks now. I mean morning until night, and only time off for work, for the most part. Took the Kaplan class, reviewing Saunders, Exam Cram, and NCLEX 4000. Probably close to 4000 questions, reading the rationale for everything, and researching the items I don't understand. I've been eating, sleeping, and breathing NCLEX, yet somehow... I keep thinking of things I don't know. I know that I am not supposed to study the day before, but I wonder how I can possibly do that when I take the test on Tuesday.

Before we had children, someone told us to not worry about waiting until we had enough money or were ready, because you'll never really have enough or be ready. It was good advice. I am wondering if the NCLEX is the same: I can never possibly know everything, right?

I feel good for the most part, and have been scoring well on Kaplan QTrainers; #6 was a 72. Still, on the qbanks once in a while, I bomb out and get a 50-something. Yesterday I got a 44 (on only 25 questions, thought). And my list of things to study yet only gets longer instead of shorter... I still have QTrainer 7 to do, and I'll do it on Sunday, because if I bomb it the day before the test, I'll freak.

There comes a time to be satisfied and go for it, right?

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Hi Momof3WannabeRN, I think that you are ready! You have given it a lot of energy, and focus. I agree, you never really feel ready for any big change event....how can we? It is new, and humans have an inborn fear of the new and unknown...more of that fight or flight thing...we feel like prey animals of the NCLEX beast. BUT! Lots of people are posting passes lately...so go for it!! It's your turn! YOU WILL DO THIS!!!

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Don't freak out. Your scores looks exactly like mine on the Kaplan question trainers and Qbanks...including the 40%. Guess what though, I freaked out for awhile too. When I finally took the NCLEX, I passed with the minimum amount of questions and it was super easy for me only because of Kaplan. Their questions, I have to say, were the closest to the real NCLEX. Good Luck!

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Specializes in Acute Rehab.

you are ready. i studied about the same amount of time, maybe a little less, and passed. My feelings were identical to yours. my list of study topics seemed to increase instead of decrease. Finally, I decided i was tired of looking at that cursed book...just that sight of it was making me sick. So as soon as i got my ATT, i scheduled for the next available date, which was two days from when i got it. Passed with the minimum :)

You can do it.

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Thanks, everyone!!!! It's so nice to have a group who understands the stresses accompanying this test...

1. Breathe deep, relax.

2. Don't freak out.

3. Enjoy the fact that I have written G.N. after my nursing notes for the last time.

4. Relish the fact that after I pass, I do not have to say, "O.K., now it's time to look for a job." :D

5. Look at the test as an opportunity to show off what I have learned (trying to tell myself this, don't quite believe it yet)

6. In all things, pray.

7. Relax. Breathe deeply.

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Hey Mom I'm sending you a PM

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Specializes in "Wound care - geriatric care.

Absolutely, there is a time you must go for it. You are there or you are not. I think the chances of messing up exist but the decisive fact is: you are there or you are not. The NCLEX will test you in several ways trying to find out where your ability is and what kind of "potential" nurse are you. For someone like you who obviously did your homework just remember to not overthink. Read the question very carefully and pay attention to detail, spend about 1/2 minute doing this, the other 1/2 spend eliminating the wrong questions first. If you get rid of 3 great but if you get rid of 2 or only 1 don't panic, among the remaining you could not eliminate, pick one randomly and do not go on a hunch. Guessing on a hunch could put you in danger of falling in the trap. This is very important. If you spend too much time even if you get it right, the same kind of question will come over again and again, If you answer within one minute you will move forward and it doesn't matter if you get it wrong as long as you score 50% right and 50% wrong. At that point the computer will shut down and look where you are in the scale, if you are above the line the magic doors will open and you will pass. So if your knowledge level is above passing you will pass, but you must answer the questions quickly without thinking too much. GOOD LUCK! relax but don't worry if you are tense, tension is good. When I failed I was the most relaxed, when I passed I almost had a heart attack. One of my strategies was: imagine the question as a real situation, what would you do for real with your good sense, don't be afraid, mark and move on.

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Specializes in L&D/Maternity nursing.

I did very very light studying for the last few days leading up to NCLEX. Dont spend morning, noon and night from here on out-you'll be burnt out come Tuesday. Relax your mind a bit.

You sound very ready.

Best of luck to you.

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Specializes in Telemetry, Med-Surg.
I did very very light studying for the last few days leading up to NCLEX. Dont spend morning, noon and night from here on out-you'll be burnt out come Tuesday. Relax your mind a bit.

You sound very ready.

Best of luck to you.

I agree. There's not much more you can do. The questions that I had on the exam were not like what I had studied during the days leading up to the exam. I got questions I had never heard of before. It'a all about strategy. You have been through school and have been studying and working as a GN, so you have this! I'm so happy to be done. You will be too. Don't burn yourself out leading up to your exam. Sounds like you are prepared.

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Wishing you good luck.

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So, I took my exam this morning...I took a ATI review class that our school offered the wek after graduation, and I took the Kaplan review class, I got a 65 on diagnostic and 71 on the readiness, however, i completed about half of the Q bank and my average was 61. I BUSTED my butt studying, I started working the beggining of June, and I have a 2 yar old, who I can now shower with the attention he has been needing from mommy these last few months. All I have done is study study study...even this morning before the exam. This being said...my advice is...take the damn thing, as I sat staring at the screen for more than half of my questions, I thought, holy crap, if I fail this, I dont even know how I will prepare for the next time. Kudos to all of the people who posted that they thought it was easy, as I did not. I was praying to get SATA because at least then I would know that I was testing at a high level. My exam shut off after 75. I thought that I was going to vomit, literally. I am still shaky, 7 hours later. I cried when I got into my car, came home and went right on pearsonsvue. I was told that if your status says not yet delivered you will have to try again and when it says delivered successful then you can try the trick. Well mine was already successfully delivered when I got home, so I tried it and got the good pop up. I have continued to check it over and over lol. And I will not be assured until I have a license number..BUT the point of this is not to scare you even more, it is to try to say that you will never feel ready, and if you feel that you have done the work to be successful then-you should just make your appointment. I mean, I wanted to call the day before and reschedule, but then I realize, no matter how much I do to prepare, I am never going to feel 100% ready. And like a previous person posted, some of the questions......what?!?!?! I would have never known the answers. We are proving that we are safe, not that we know everything there is to know about everything! I wish you much luck, dont second guess yourself, You sound ready!!!! You know what you know, and hopefully it shows in your exam. Thats my conclusion on myself. Kepping my fingers crossed!!!! GOOD LUCK!!! You can do this!!! Jamie

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