Worried About Nclex

meownsmile, BSN, RN · May 17, 2005

Those review cd's arent really set up for you to score real high with. I think the one i did i was consistent with 80ish % on my practice tests. I passed NCLEX on the 1st sitting. Keep working on your practice tests, and take NCLEX when you feel you are being consistent with your scores. If you were an A/B student i dont know that you need to wait to long to test. Ultimately only you can decide when you want to test, but understand you wont ever feel completely "ready" to test.

jgillyrn · May 18, 2005

I graduated from a ASN program April 29, 2005, and I am currently enrolled in a KAPLAN review course. I did not do well on the diagnostic exam and I only scored 45% on the first test from the question trainer CD. After reviewing testing strategies and the decision tree, I feel a little more confident (but not much) at being able to answer the questions but I wanted to know:
1. How soon after graduating and taking the KAPLAN review, to those who took it, did you sit for boards?
2. How do you know when you are ready to sit?
3. Did taking the KAPLAN review really help and did you past on the first attempt.
I was a A/B student in nursing school and I just hate feeling this way and doubting myself. Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks :)

I just did the book tests over and over at home. I took my boards 1 mth after graduation and passed 1st time. The classes make you nervous just like you are now. You know what you know and will be fine! Good Luck!

maire, ASN, RN · May 19, 2005

If it makes you feel any better, I, too, took the Kaplan review, and my scores on the practice tests were pretty abysmal. I sat for the NCLEX about 2 weeks after I finished the Kaplan review, and passed on the first attempt with 75 questions.

Did I feel ready? lol Heck no, but knew I couldn't put it off any longer and had to bite the bullet, so to speak, and get it over with.

I watched the video lectures on the Kaplan web site over and over again, pored over that book many many times, and did all the practice tests. My weakness is pharmacology, so I studied that part probably the most.

I wish I had some sage advice for you, but all I can say is prepare the best you can, and go in there with a positive attitude. All but one of my graduating class passed the boards on the first try. The statistics are in your favor. :) Good luck!

rach_nc_03 · May 21, 2005

I graduated on may 9th, 2005, and took the kaplan course last week. I scored an 80% on the diagnostic test, then 63% on the readiness test. i was floored! almost everyone in the class did poorly after that last test, at least by our standards...lots of stuff we were taught 'wrong' in school, according to the question rationales the instructor read. on my other review books and cd's, i'm consistently scoring around 80%, so i believe the kaplan stuff is simply more difficult.

my friend and i are scheduled to take the nclex-rn on june 9th. next week, she and i are going to study together every day from 8 to 5; some days, we'll do the book questions and cd's at my apartment, and we'll go to the kaplan site to read the question rationales a few times. the next week, we're going to do the last 3 tests on the kaplan cd and see how we do. i'm also reviewing the content and strategy videos on the kaplan website. problem i have with them is that they move so *slowly*!! i find my mind wandering in between words. :chuckle

everyone i've talked to who took a review course- kaplan or otherwise- passed the nclex with 75 questions. several did the same thing without a review course. i didn't have any doubts until that last kaplan test, so i'm going to assume i didn't suddenly become less prepared. i will, however, hammer the kaplan review stuff until i can pass the cd tests.

good luck to you! let us know how it goes!!