NCLEX NOTES

And here is the revised version of the 35 pages :

It is my great pleasure to write the foreword for Hurst Review Services’ NCLEX-RN® Review. I can personally attest to Hurst Review Services’ superior teaching methods, not only as a former instructor with the company but as a recent student. I took Hurst Review Services’ live course in December of 2002 and was amazed! Marlene Hurst’s teaching methods made all of the difficult concepts I had learned in nursing school just click. I can still remember speaking with friends who took the review course with me: we said that we wished nursing school were taught the Marlene way. It would have made nursing school more enjoyable and less difficult.

After taking Marlene Hurst’s review course, I realized that learning didn’t have to be so stressful . . . it could actually be fun. With the help of Hurst Review Services, I did just like Marlene always says: I passed the NCLEX-RN® the FIRST time and got on with my life! Even after passing the NCLEX-RN® and going into practice as a new graduate critical care nurse, I found myself referring back to my Hurst Review Services materials to refresh my memory of the many concepts I was being asked to apply in the hospital. Thanks to Hurst Review Services, I felt that my critical thinking skills were at a new all-time high. It is a challenge to write a book that students can read without difficulty in a limited amount of time, but Marlene Hurst has done just that. Marlene’s book not only maintains the tone of a teacher talking to a student, but it takes complex principles and concepts and turns them into a language that is easy to understand. After reading this book, students taking the NCLEX-RN® will feel as if Marlene is right there with them during the exam, helping them to choose the correct answer. In addition to the live review, this book is definitely the key to passing the NCLEX-RN® the FIRST time and getting on with life!

A. Foster, RN, BSN, CCRN

It is my great pleasure to write the foreword for Hurst Review Services’ NCLEX-RN® Review. I can personally attest to Hurst Review Services’ superior teaching methods, not only as a former instructor with the company but as a recent student. I took Hurst Review Services’ live course in December of 2002 and was amazed! Marlene Hurst’s teaching methods made all of the difficult concepts I had learned in nursing school just click. I can still remember speaking with friends who took the review course with me: we said that we wished nursing school were taught the Marlene way. It would have made nursing school more enjoyable and less difficult.

After taking Marlene Hurst’s review course, I realized that learning didn’t have to be so stressful . . . it could actually be fun. With the help of Hurst Review Services, I did just like Marlene always says: I passed the NCLEX-RN® the FIRST time and got on with my life! Even after passing the NCLEX-RN® and going into practice as a new graduate critical care nurse, I found myself referring back to my Hurst Review Services materials to refresh my memory of the many concepts I was being asked to apply in the hospital. Thanks to Hurst Review Services, I felt that my critical thinking skills were at a new all-time high. It is a challenge to write a book that students can read without difficulty in a limited amount of time, but Marlene Hurst has done just that. Marlene’s book not only maintains the tone of a teacher talking to a student, but it takes complex principles and concepts and turns them into a language that is easy to understand. After reading this book, students taking the NCLEX-RN® will feel as if Marlene is right there with them during the exam, helping them to choose the correct answer. In addition to the live review, this book is definitely the key to passing the NCLEX-RN® the FIRST time and getting on with life!

A. Foster, RN, BSN, CCRN

Been a silent follower and sometimes drop nclex questions on this awesome group.. I took nclex last friday (11/23/2018) and passed with 75 questions the first try. Thank you for sharing your humble stories. I also want to share mine, to inspire more.

I Graduated Nursing, 10 years ago in the Philippines and only worked as an RN for 1 year. After that, I entered in a BPO company (Accenture) in 2010 as a Healthcare Transaction Analyst. Never been happy working there that's why until now, i'm proud still serving for the company. Fast forward 2018. Our company chose some of the employees to be part of the USRN Build Program and lucky enough I became part of the 20 students. Our company paid all the expenses. From a 25-day review program and 10-day final coaching at Rachel Allen up to processing fees of our papers. Blessed and grateful, I promised myself to study hard and go extra mile in my review in return for my company and the rest is history.

I also want to share my resources in my nclex success.
1. Rachell Allen Review Center- Best coaches. Best teaching strategies and they share not only the knowledge but also lots of motivations not to give up during our review.
2. Uworld- I only finished 1000 questions but uworld helped me familiarized with nclex type questions and improved my critical thinking skills. Read every rationale and dont dwell on your scores. Mine ranges 50-60 only and i only got 77 in one subject. 💪
3. La charity- perfect for prio and dele questions practice
4. ULTIMATE APP NCLEX RN- a free app I downloaded. It include all the topics you should know in nclex and it is very fun app. Try it.

I studied for 4 months with all these resources i have. I did not add anymore because it might give me some confusions. I usually study 4-6 hours including weekends. I do practice Q&As minimum of 50 per day. But try to do the things you love. In my case, after a long time of review, i binge watch netflix and also cook my favorite food. 😁

During my exam- I stay focused and prayed hard. I even cried at the restroom and ask for guidance before I enter the pearson vue exam room. I read the questions twice, slowly and absorbed it. Nclex is tricky and I should not fall for it. I told my self. I can feel my heart is pounding but tried to calm and pray and focus on the questions. And it stopped at 75. I waited for 48hours. The longest weekend of my life. And worth the wait. 🙏

My advice to all test takers which i also learned from Rachell Allen. REFOCUS.
R-emind yourself to be positive at all times
E-energize yourself with positivity
F-ind joy, love and happiness in everything you do
O-vercome fear and anxiety
C-alm yourself
U-se your nursing instinct
S-ee yourself as a success.

Congrats in advance to all😊 God bless us.. 🙏🙏

This post was a bit overdue but anyway, here's my story..

I graduated BSN 2007 (yes that's 11 years ago).. October 2016 my husband and I took the NCLEX during our US vacation.. My husband was the only one who made it.. I on the other hand passed another test - Pregnancy test! (Even passed it with flying colors 😅)..

After a year I renewed my eligibility.. 2 months before its expiry this year, I decided to retake the exam.. I am grateful to God for blessing me a very supportive husband who took care of my ATT registration and UWorld subscription for 2 months.. 😍

I worked as a fulltime nurse until January this year I decided to switch career and became a stay-at-home-mother to my now 17 month old son. Basically one can say I have all the time in the world to review and answer UWorld Qs. Apparently, I am pregnant with baby number 2. It was during my 1st trimester wherein I'd feel nauseated and hypersomnolent all day - very unproductive! 🙃 I searched for supportive review materials and stumbled upon Mark Klimek audios.. Initially, I would just stream along during the day but ending up in a nap next to my son (best lullaby for babies too 😴).. So instead I would listen to the audios while doing my routine housewife/mommy duties and answering UWorld only when I feel like doing so, from 15 to 75 Qs daily.. No pressure! 🤪

Then came October, I am due for the exam the second time.. The night before the test I was browsing through this page, seeing all the passed results of the other members and dreaming I would see myself posting the same thing in the future.. I was motivated! 🤩

October 31 - exam day, I wasn't able to sleep well and I just want to fastforward the clock until the whole thing was over.. Every night for the entire review period I prayed for determination and self-confidence.. But the moment I walked towards my seat I petitioned to God to make the exam a smooth one for me so I can finish at 75 without expectations.. I just wanted to go home, hug my son to comfort my tired body and shut the whole nursing world.. 😫

Once again I prayed right before starting to answer.. When I opened my eyes to the 1st question, I was surprised with this familiar feeling.. It was like answering to UWorld while lying on the couch at home.. No pressure! At the end of the exam I found myself walking out of the building with my head held slightly high.. 😎 That's how UWorld has helped me boost my confidence in answering, unknowingly.. 😉

The computer stopped at 81.. Overall, I had quite a few SATAs and Prioritization Qs, 1 drag & drop, 2 hot spot Qs.. No delegation, no ECG strip and no drug computation.. 🤓

After the exam I went to meet my husband and told him it was tough so he would not expect anything too.. Then he mentioned something about Pearson Vue Trick but discouraged me to do.. Though my fingers were itching to google the moment I heard of it.. That night I tried the trick, at first it says "ON HOLD", I was sooooooo disheartened believing it was a bad pop up. But then I searched what it meant and it could be additional verification was ongoing.. The next day I checked and finally got a good pop up.. Rechecked the day after that and it was still the same.. Early morning of December 3, my husband checked the Quick Results and woke me up with a big smile! 😁

I am forever thankful to God for this another blessing! And today I received my licensure certificate - Yes I am officially a USRN! 😊

I know the battle has just begun but that's one down though there's a lot more to go through.. 😅

A big THANK YOU goes out to all the members of this page for inspiring one another, including me! 🤗

Guys, continue to persevere in prayer because our Heavenly Father knows us well - what our hearts truly desire.. Be patience until He answers, it's always in His perfect time so just keep the faith! 🙏

Big love to all! ❤

“When the time is right, I the Lord will make it happen..”

Isaiah 60:22

Now its my time for me to share my story.. 

im writing this down in order for me to atleast inspire somebody out there thats been struggling!! I have been a silent foll0wer of this group, I am so very blessed to be part of this community where people are always there for each other. I am an international student graduated 2007 in the Philippines. I am a father of two wonderful and energetic toddlers with a full time job working 12 hrs shift 3 times a week sometimes 4 to help my wife pay bills. Im a repeat test taker and i failed NCLEX twice already and theres a point in my life that im already about to give up but God is truly amazing to show me that His Love is way better than my failures, and realize that failure is just a stepping stone in order for us to grow and be more patient waiting for God’s time.. 1st and 2nd attempt.. my routine is to put my kids to sleep before I review but It was so hard for me that I also fall asleep sometimes. Most of the time I feel frustrated and burned out since we dont have any baby sitter coz its just me and my wife alternating our schedule and working nightshift as well is so hard since we got 2 toddlers at home.. There are times that I just cry it to God and ask why do I need to take the hardest road and He show me every single day that He will not give you a problem that you cannot overcome. So I study day and night sometimes till 2 o’clock in the morning when Im off.. I continue to pray to Him for strenght and wisdom.. on my 3rd attempt I change my approach and strategy from putting my kids to sleep to reviewing with them while they are playing.. I dont know how I did it but its effective on my part enjoying to see them play at the same time reading my notes. I used Uworld for about a year!!! My first 2 attempts I just memorized the answers which is a bad idea, on my 3rd attempt I memorized the ratinale by heart and kept on reading why thats the right answer.. I never rush and took my time reading every single questions, believe me those rationales will save you especially on the prioritization part!! I also used Mark K audios!! Those audios are the bomb!! I listened to his prioritization audios 2 days before my exam!! Those audios makes you learn the easiest way how to remember NEEDS to know!! I also used Saunders for content and remar, Remember to do not over study!! Always go for quality over quantity and never force yourself to do 75 questions if your tired because a fried brain cannot retain anything!! So last Dec 3 I took my exam. Before I went inside I took time to pray and ask for His guidance and wisdom and that whatever happens its all God’s will like the saying “Do your best and God will take care of the rest”.. everytime I answer questions is like Im answering uworld!! I got tons of prioritization and more or less 10 satas and I was shock it shut down at 75!! From there on I knew I have already pass and I thank God giving Him all the glory raising my hands in front of the computer!! And seeing those four letter word PASS on the quick result made me cry that I have never cry like that in my life!! I woke my wife and showed it to her and I still cannot believe it and still i cant stop crying like how michael jordan cry getting his first championship!! And mostly I want to thank God for giving me a wonderful and an amazing wife that is always been there for me through my ups and downs.. God is good!! Just believe and have faith on Him!!

“I can do all things through Christ who strenghtens me”!!

Philippians 4:13

I am now officially 

Dexter Nool Medrano Ph RN, US RN 

To God be all the glory!!!!

Silent follower here ! 😁 

Thank you all for sharing your stories in this page , it inspires me to start chasing my American dream! I joined this group last year , first things first - to become a USRN. 🇱🇷

I took my exam last December 1, 2018 and by God’s amazing grace I passed the Nclex exam for the first try. I subscribed Uworld for 3 months with 2 assessments having a low and consistent performance level 40-45 % 😭 , listened to Mark K’s audio and read Saunders 7th and 6th edition (comprehensive and q&a review ) first time in my life that I read a book from cover to cover 😂😂😂 but I did not finish the comprehensive book at all 🤪. 

I concentrated studying for the first month of my vacation coz i had only 2 months to stay with my loved ones in my beloved country and the rest are enjoying my stay while preparing for the exam ( currently working here in KSA ). 🇸🇦

I set a goal waking up too early, I practiced timed questions up to 200/day and reviewing the rationales after. 

Thanks to the review materials and resources offered by this group!

I pushed myself to study alone in all that I can and a lots of prayer without relying on a review center in town that i paid but they had nothing to offer ( long story ) which I was very dissappointed. 😕

Anyway, so much for that ! I did not give up on my 271 questions in 5 hours and 41 minutes including the case studies 😂😂 . I was very anxious that day, I even answered those questions which are not part of 

how much score you will get in the exam (Alam ko na yun binasa ko ) hahaha !😅😅 

I got 30-40 sata’s, 3 dragging and 3 drug calculations ,prioritization and I did not expect 5 or more questions that appeared twice on my monitor and I was thinking I answered the wrong one and maybe answered the same !! 😭😭Panic attack to the highest level 😬😬 Whatever the result is, it’s according to God’s will. 🙏🙏

But God is in control and I never stop praying. I truly believe that He will never fail you for He knows what is best and right for you. 😉 

Just believe in yourself, study hard and pray harder ! God bless us all 😇

To God be the glory !

Jubie Ann Sy Agustin, RN 🇵🇭, SCFHS🇸🇦, USRN 🇱🇷

Jeremiah 29:11 🌷

P.s : I need to improve and practice more English pa, feel free to correct my grammar haha chaooo ! 

Hello everyone!

I have been a silent follower of this group. I have read posts of success and I have read posts of failures. Both of it have been my inspiration and motivation.

I just passed my NCLEX-RN today. I took it last December 10th at 12:45pm and ended at almost 2pm. I stopped at 75 questions without any expectations that I would stop at that number because I was prepared to take the whole set just as long as I would pass. This was my 2nd attempt and thank God was my last. I myself is an international graduate from the Philippines from batch 2013. I started the journey of chasing the title of USRN in year 2015, got my evaluation a year after only to find out that I am not eligible and that I need to retake my Med Surg. It was hard to look for schools. Until I was placed on a waiting lists in few schools. After almost a year CSUSB have reached back to me, I was one of those lucky ones to be in their summer program. i finished the class and clinicals September of 2017 and did not get my ATT until January of 2018. Took my exam a month after and failed. I took the whole set in a matter of 5 hours and 30mins. I left the center defeated- and I knew I failed. I did the PVT, it was a bad pop up. So it was not a surprise anymore when I received my letter. I faced depression, left me jobless. But I had to pick myself up. I reapplied again and have gotten my ATT last June of this year.

I was all skeptical about myself facing the boards again- I kept moving my date because I was not ready yet. But then I realized that I will never be ready- that I just have to take the risk, have faith in myself and God.

Started studying August, but it was a joke. I started picking up my notes again by late September but I cannot push myself too hard to really study because I was lacking the drive. October came that I wanna take a time off to attend a live review but unfortunately they ran out of sit. So I had no choice but to study what I could. Until November came. I started freaking out because my exam was scheduled November 28th. But then Due to work, I decided to move it for the last time which was December 10. I tried to study every day. And I try to rest my mind as much as I could.

So this was my routine:

I only used Uworld, Nrsng Academy and Rachell Allen notes.

August- September I only used uworld. I studied when I remember to study. I only did 15-30 questions when I did it. And focused on the rationales, wrong or right, and take a note on my notebook to whatever I didn’t know about or that I need to master.

October- November. In October I wrote all my lab values on the mirror of my closet. Just in that way, I always see them everyday and will be retained in my head. I started reading my notes from Rachell Allen. I did it per system. Before I read my notes I did a pre test on uworld on the system that I was about to study. And after I read my notes, I will do a post test- just to gauge if I really learned something. I never moved on from a system until I get the whole deal of it. Until I get why such and such happens. And I focused as well on my weak areas. I also started using Nrsng Academy- it is a big help. I infused it with my notes. While I was watching videos and audios on Nrsng Academy I would follow it by reading my notes from Rachell allen. I tried to study every day as I have work and get out at 10pm. But I just always stick with 15-30 questions per day and focused more on the rationales. I have done 75 questions per day in some days when I know that I have mastered my system already. Because 75 questions is draining and so as well when you read the rationales.

December- i still stick with my routine. Until few days before my exam- that was the only time I started using LaCharity- the same thing- I have done it per system.

A day before my exam- I stopped studying. I told myself that I don’t have to worry. It’s just that its whatever that i could only remember on my exam. I went to church, had fun and all that.

The same night, before I went to bed, I erased all the things I have written on my mirror and said to myself that I would say goodbye to the lab values and i will only see them again on the charts of my patients at the hospital that I am going to be working at. I hid all my notes and my books. I did not worry a thing. And really told my self that it will be my last attempt.

On the day of my exam, woke up early, relax and prepared myself. I wore a scrubsuit, tidied up myself, put some makeup on, ate lite foods and drank good amount of water. Went to church, left all my worries and doubts there. Then went to the center.

I started off early. Before I got checked in I said my prayers, when I got to my chair I said my prayers again, before my official exam started I closed my eyes and said my prayers again. Then In the middle of my exam, I wrote my name on the scratch board with the BSN, USRN title and under it i wrote “this is my 2nd take and last take because I will be an RN when I finish this!” I took the exam with ease and tried to be 100% confident. I never got any ekgs, nor audios. I got 26 Satas, one drug calculation and bunch of prio. No delegations. No cardio, respi, endo topic. I had a bunch of Psych Nursing and Management.

Screen shut off at 75. I got scared. My heart was racing. But it was the feeling that I never felt the first time I took it. It was a feeling where i have said that whatever it is, I am just so glad that it’s over.

And lo and behold, I woke up early this morning with a text saying that I am already an RN.

Don’t lose hope. Don’t compare yourself to others who have passed it already or who have passed it on the first try. Don’t be discouraged to whatever hurdles you may have now.

If I could do it, you can too. Just please do it with your own pace- don’t let anything or anyone put pressure on you.

And above all, trust yourself, trust that you can do it, trust in your abilities, because you wont finished nursing school if you are not well equipped to conquer the NCLEX. And mostly have faith- have faith in what will be, have Faith in Him. Don’t second guess and doubt Him.

I worked hard for my license, i worked hard to get it, but surely I would not able to get it without HIM.

For people who have failed once, twice, thrice or how many times, don’t count it. It will not be written in the certificate of how many times you took it before you passed it and how many numbers you have gotten when you passed it. We all have our own timing. And always remember that a castle takes longer to be built and completed compare to a regular house. Your castle is still being constructed- GOOD!

And for those who are waiting to take it and scared, acknowledge the feeling but don’t dwell in it. Let go of it. Trust in yourself and trust that you can do it. And YES! Trust in Him. His plans are way better than ours.

God bless fellow future RNs!!!!

We all deserve that title and that license.

Ok, so here is my story....

I graduated from Nursing School 4 years ago. I received a job after to begin working as a GN until I got my license. However, that never happened.... The first time I took the NCLEX was the same day as my dad's funeral. I was not in the right mindset but I took it anyway and failed of course.

Over the years, I have used every review I think there is out there or so I thought. I couldn't tell you how much money I spent in those and books just to prepare for the one thing that was stopping me from my dream career. I did this while continuing to work in a hospital as a Nurse Tech for the last 4 years. There were days that I would cry on my way home because I knew where I was supposed to be but couldn't because of the NCLEX. I worked everyday beside nurses, sometimes showing and explaining things to them if they were new to the facility. It was frustrating and depressing to say the least!

On June 4th, I took the NCLEX for the 9th time. Yes, I said NINE!!! I took it one question at a time and prepared myself for the whole 265. I didn't get to 265 though. I'm not sure where it cut off, but I am guessing around 150 questions. I walked out of that test having mixed emotions about how I did. Some questions were similar to ones that I had studied with and some were way out in left field! 48 hours later, the results showed I PASSED! Tears poured down, but this time it was finally happy ones!

So, like I said before.... I took I think every review that I could do, bought books, etc. The only thing different was this....

A girl I work with told me about UWORLD and said that is what she used to prepare. I looked it up and decided that I would buy the one month subscription after reading several others' testimonies. When I joined the UWORLD group, I heard about the Mark Klimek audios and started searching online to try to find them. These 2 things are the only things I used this time to prepare myself and it worked for me. Some people might need more of a content review but everyone is different. I am sorry for the extra long post, but I wanted to share my story to others! If you really want something, you are going to have to work for it! Don't give up! Stay strong and you can achieve your goals no matter what life throws at you!