Breaking the Barrier

It's so frustrating when one tries to do his best yet it doesn't seem to be enough. At least one thinks he does his best.

The results of the self-tests I've been taking are very disappointing yet very telling. They reveal a constant score of 58 to 62 out of a hundred. Dismal. I've taken almost 1000 questions and 58 to 62 out of every hundred of those comes to... NOT EVEN CLOSE TO READY. I am thankful though. At least I know where I stand...or wobble. This evidently shows that I should work triply hard on the content now that d-day is fast approaching. I refuse to believe that I have hit my intellectual ceiling but it sure feels that way because fo the results. Breaking the mediocre barrier will be difficult but I know that I'm up to the challenge.

Maslow is a verb: Maslow it!

I've been reading Kaplan's NCLEX-RN Exam Review (as per my brother's advice) for the better part of yesterday and today. It's a really good book. The test-taking skills discussed are particularly helpful and aside from the test questions in the book and accompanying CD, they also threw in, for a limited time, access to their online qbank (only 20 questions though). Hey, the more test questions I answer the better. Just like what the book says, in order to know which strategies to use come exam time, one needs to practice, practice and practice. I have yet to answer the questions on the CD but if I understand correctly, the software is suppose to churn out results regarding the test taker's area of weakness. Of course I don't need some software to tell me which area I need to improve on but the validation would certainly help. One of the ten strategies taught in the book is to "Maslow it". This method entails prioritizing physiological needs over psychosocial needs. Very simple yet effective. I like it. I like it soooo much, in fact, that I can't stop saying Maslow It! inside my head for quite some time now. It's starting to irritate me.

More on this after I'm done with the book. One more thing...style and strategies are great but if you don't know your stuff then you'll be in trouble. This is why I'm working on the content as well.

small fruit of my labor

I got a somewhat decent score in our post-review exam yesterday, no doubt a direct result from studying beforehand at another center. I didn't bomb the test, which is good, but I also didn't do splendidly either. The good thing that came out of yesterday's exam wasn't much of how I did in the test but how I'll still be on my toes after it. The worst thing I can do right now is not to score below average but to let my guard down. Complacency will be a killer and vigillance a life-saver. The real thing will happen in six month's time, I really can't afford to relax.

I might do well in some of the practice exams and do extremely bad in others but having the will to carry on and try to get better after a massive setback will be the key to achieve my goal. Now, before I sound like a self-help book, I must say that I'm glad I spent some of my brother's money (thanks Ko!) on that review I did back in October and November. It was money well spent. I also thank the progenitor of this whole review thing, I would not have thought it prudent to cough up some extra dough that I didn't have if it wasn't for his great idea. Thanks Jon.

rEv

So far so good on the Review front.

ReView :-)

I am not sure if I should be doing this but I am taking the plunge. I believe that this is for the best. Getting myself into a review program should motivate me to devoting more time to studying. At this point in time, the plan is enhancement of knowldege and getting acquainted with test taking skills. That requires ample amounts of repetition which the review program should be able to give. Something is bothering me though. I would be lying if I said that I am not concerned about the issues surrounding this particular review center but I know it's still the best in spite of all the bad press it's been getting. I have to believe that because I already paid in full :-)
So...it's go time!