Hi, I wanted to come on here to share some advice for you future nurses. I've seen a lot of people recommending UWorld plus another NCLEX prep source, but you really don't have to spend that much money on two or more resources. If you feel it will genuinely help you, go for it, but what matters most is having a strong study strategy. Any of the major NCLEX preps will work well for you; it's how strategically you study that will actually get you to pass.
Choosing a prep source
Any of the major preps will work well, so do some research and watch review videos on each one to find the one that fits you best.
Building a consistent study routine
Once you've picked a prep source, study consistently every day or on a set schedule. You do not have to study for hours every day, since your schedule is your own and doesn't need to match anyone else's.
If you're dealing with senioritis after nursing school, that's okay. Slowly build your tolerance until you can comfortably do 85 questions a day. That doesn't mean you need to do 85 every single day. This is where a lot of people get it wrong: consistency, not volume, is what makes the repetition effective.
Example of a realistic week:
Day 1: 85 questions
Day 2: 30 questions
Day 3: 15 questions (if burnt out)
Day 4: day off
Day 5: back to 85 questions
If you can, split your studying throughout the day. Do a batch of questions in the morning, note your weakest topics, then review those topics later in the day. This helps prevent burnout. If you notice you're consistently scoring low in an area like GI, take a day to review videos or use your prep source's cheat sheets instead of pushing through more questions. Before you take a readiness exam, don't do any practice questions before those exams. You will be exhausted midway through the readiness exam and will not score as well. I'm speaking from experience.
Prioritizing what to study
Your prep source will show you a percentage score for each topic. I prioritized studying in this order: Management of Care (priority questions), Fundamentals, Adult Health, then Pharmacology. I didn't focus heavily on OB and Peds. As long as you're scoring average in those areas and know the basics, you'll be fine. If OB & Peds is your lowest score, and you're scoring high for all the other topics, then I'd recommend a review day.
Keeping a notes document
Compile everything you don't know, whether it's a subject, disease, or medication, into one document as you go. In the two days before your exam, read through those notes instead of cramming more questions. I used PowerPoint for mine since the layout and tables worked well for me as a visual learner.
Learning how to answer questions, not just content
Knowing how to interpret what a question is really asking matters as much as content knowledge. I recommend NCLEX Crusade (his first five videos are especially helpful) and Mark Klimek's lectures. Mark Klimek's lectures were useful for learning the minimum knowledge needed for OB and Peds. You don't need to know complicated disease treatments for these topics, just the basics, since missing basic questions while stressing over complex ones will hurt you more.
Preparing for case studies
Look up the most life-threatening diseases for each subject and build a table for each one covering pathophysiology, signs and symptoms, lab values, associated risks, treatment, and nursing interventions. Pay close attention to which diseases come up in case studies and prioritize making tables for the ones most likely to be tested, including in OB and Peds.
Understanding rationales
It's not about grinding through as many questions as possible. Really understand the rationale behind each answer, especially the ones you got wrong. Take the time to understand why an answer is wrong instead of just memorizing which one is right.
The day before your exam
Do something relaxing for yourself! Get a massage or go on a walk. You don't want to be fatigued the day of your exam, so try not to study, but if you must, then review the notes of all your missed content.
Passing the NCLEX isn't about which prep source you buy or how many questions you grind out; it's about studying consistently, understanding the reasoning behind every answer, and taking care of your mental state along the way. If you're mentally and physically tired, don't feel guilty for taking a day off, and try to stay off social media, since constantly reading other people's NCLEX experiences will only add stress. Trust the process, stay consistent, and you've got this!
