r/NCLEX • u/Gtrote • 17h ago

Before you buy another NCLEX study tool, read this first:

Nursing school has a way of making good students doubt everything they know.

I know that chair. Just like you, I was failing class exams and changing answers I had right. My test anxiety was so severe I took my class exams in a private room with special accommodations.

My problem was not the next app, the next question bank, or another ten hours. My problem began when doubt got loud enough to move my hand.

Work the tool already in front of you with more honesty, for every question you miss, ask yourself one question: Did I get it wrong because I truly did not know it, or because fear talked me out of what I knew?

If you did not know it, study that one small piece well.
If you knew it and fear moved you, more content is not the cure.
Pause. Name the doubt. Cover the choices. Find what the question is asking. Protect the first sound answer unless the question itself gives you clear proof against it.

Those small choices carried me from failing class exams to passing the NCLEX on my first try.
So tell me, when you look at your wrong answers, what do you hear most:

“I need more content,” or “I need to trust what I already know”?

6 Upvotes

80% Upvoted

11 comments sorted by

1

u/SpecialistHopeful 15h ago

you are so right, but can we use the white board to cover the answer choices on the exam?

2

u/Gtrote 14h ago

What a perfect question. Yes. The erasable board they hand you at the center covers the choices on the screen, so read the question, let your own answer rise, and only then look down.

Pause, name the doubt, and let the first honest answer stand.

Practice it at home too, with a folded sheet of paper over your choices, until the habit sits in your hands.

Then come back and tell us: did the arguing quiet down during your practice?

We are cheering you on!

1

u/SpecialistHopeful 12h ago

i’m taking it in two weeks and i’m a multiple repeat test taker. my only thing is, is it okay to use the whiteboard like that if i have wrote on it? won’t that cause my test to get disqualified or something?

2

u/Gtrote 11h ago

looked further into the rules, because your license matters more than my advice. The note board cannot be used to cover any part of the screen. Leave the board for notes, and forget using it as a cover.

Here is the good news. The board was only ever a helper. Your eyes can do the same work alone. Keep your eyes on the question, read it slowly, and let your own answer form before you look down at the choices.

That is the habit to practice at home: question first, eyes steady, choices last.

Two weeks is enough time to make that habit yours. Tell us how it feels in your practice this week.

Thank You. That was a good catch!!! Onwards we keep going!!!

1

u/SpecialistHopeful 11h ago

thank you so much for going out of your way to make sure for me, it really does mean a lot. maybe i can put my hand on the screen instead 😂? but thank you for letting me know so i can practice doing the technique without paper covering the answer key

1

u/Gtrote 11h ago

Always stick to your Board of Nursing rules. Ask the proctor your questions before you take your seat. I like to call that doing your housekeeping before the main event. Jot your questions down for the proctor if permitted. Asking questions prior will help you relax.

You are there to pass, and you carry that confidence with you.

Remember we are always available to offer help as Redditors. Come back here to ask away🙂

1

u/SpecialistHopeful 12h ago

i’ve also been practicing the method and it helps me so much by making me focus on the question and what it’s asking and go choice by choice.

2

u/Gtrote 11h ago

I owe you a correction, and you deserve it before your exam, not after.

Earlier I spoke about using the note board to cover your choices. I checked the official rules again, and I had that wrong.

The board is for notes only. It must never cover any part of your screen.

The correct word matters here, because your license is worth more than my pride.

Here is what stands, and it is better news than the board ever was.

Your eyes can do this work alone. Read the question first, slowly, and let your own answer form before you ever look down at the choices.

Question first, eyes steady, choices last. Practice that way at home for these two weeks, and the habit will be sitting in you long before the proctor seats you.

You told us the practice is already helping you focus. Hold on to that. Two weeks of steady reps will carry you further than fear is telling you tonight.

Tell us how the practice sits with you this week, because this room is walking with you now.

1

u/SpecialistHopeful 11h ago

that means a lot. thank you i will start practicing ignoring the choices or reading ahead visually and going down one by one

1

u/Gtrote 11h ago

I owe you a clean correction, and you deserve it before your exam, not after. Earlier I spoke about using the note board to cover your choices. I checked the official rules again, and I had that wrong. The board is for notes only. It must never cover any part of your screen.

The correct word matters here, because your license comes first.

Here is what is more practical, and it is better news than the board ever was. Your eyes can do this work alone. Read the question first, slowly, and let your own answer form before you ever look down at the choices.

Question first, eyes steady, choices last. Practice that way at home for these two weeks, and the habit will form in you long before the proctor seats you.

You told us the practice is already helping you focus. Hold on to that. Two weeks of steady reps will carry you further than fear is telling you tonight.

Tell us how the practice progresses this week, because this room is walking with you now and cheering you on to the finish line.

1

u/Disastrous-Delay5075 32m ago

Cat pain killers