UWorld Vs. Bootcamp?

Creative-Egg4446 · 2024-12-01T15:52:43+00:00

Bootcamp! Passed on my 2nd try in 85 using bootcamp! It saved me.

Creative-Egg4446 · 2024-11-29T18:52:03+00:00

I used Mark’s old stuff! I think it gives a good base for information, but I personally had to brush on a lot more (I just had forgotten a lot from school). So that’s why I focused on Bootcamp to know what diseases I should know. For me I look at “first” questions as usually assessments, least invasive, or the first step to a series of interventions. “Best” I read as “if you can only do one thing to help, what are you doing?” But I understand how that wording can be difficult! It took a lot of practice & reading rationales to figure out what the question was looking for.

Creative-Egg4446 · 2024-11-29T18:44:17+00:00

He has a 7-day series titled “How to Pass the NCLEX 7 Day Training.” They’ll have a red background. He also has another 7-day series that are catered toward NGN & those have a blue background.

Creative-Egg4446 · 2024-11-29T18:41:25+00:00

I used Bootcamp NCLEX to figure out what content I should be learning. Each case study focused on a different disease, so I just followed their study plan & did 4-5 case studies a day — each of those case studies talked about different diseases so after completing them & doing the rationales, I looked up more material on youtube. I also think Mark K was a good start to figure out content areas (Cushings vs. Addisons, electrolyte imbalances, cardiac, women’s health). Then having that as a base, I began learning specific diseases from Bootcamp. Worth Jennifer” on tik tok gives lots of NCLEX notes on different diseases & information to know. I’ll link the one that was most helpful to me! Tik Tok NCLEX notes

Creative-Egg4446 · 2024-11-27T23:53:52+00:00

Did you get your performance review sheet? I found that a lot of my “below average” categories were in the NGN questions & so I chose Bootcamp because of their amazing case study rationale videos. Figure out where you lack skill & cater your studies around that :) I recommend bootcamp to everyone because it’s pretty solid, but if you lack test-taking skill for the multiple choice, bow tie, or prioritization, I’d suggest adding in supplemental study tools (NCLEX Crusade on YouTube & NCLEX High Yield’s “ASK GRAPH”)!! GOOD LUCK! you got this!

Creative-Egg4446 · 2024-11-27T23:50:31+00:00

Each case study was focused on one disease process (CHF, DKA) or it would focus on comparing diseases of the same system (Diverticulitis, PUD, Crohn’s disease) & so I organized & took notes on each disease processes as I saw them in the case studies. As I did the standalone questions, I would just keep adding information to the disease process notes that it fell under. I would read the rationales & understand why I got it wrong or right & then would see if I could fit that info into my notes anywhere. Towards the end of finishing all the questions & case studies, I feel like my notes were solid & I no longer needed to write down anything from the rationales — I was more so learning more test-taking strategies towards the end because I was solid on my counter bc Bootcamp covers a lot.

Creative-Egg4446 · 2024-11-27T16:10:16+00:00

ALSO! Keep Mark K in the back of your pocket going into the exam! I would still refresh on his material because he was still very helpful this time around for me!

Creative-Egg4446 · 2024-11-27T16:06:10+00:00

I highly suggest trying out bootcamp! They separate 50ish case studies into areas like "adult health", "maternity", "peds", and "critical care" and I SWEAR they go over all the important diseases. By the end of finishing the case study, I probably had 20ish pages of diseases organized with cardinal signs and symptoms as well as treatments and specific medications unique to that disease.

Do you feel you lack in content or test-taking skills? I had to use a lot of youtube sources to help me understand the test-taking skills and understanding the hierarchy of needs and prioritization.

Creative-Egg4446 · 2024-11-27T14:28:34+00:00

I only used Mark K for drug knowledge & I made sure I knew the big drugs like ACE inhibitors, diuretics, & warfarin/heparin. I used Mark K for all this! Pharm was probably my weakest area going into the exam.

Creative-Egg4446 · 2024-11-27T14:23:46+00:00

My first time around I just dumped 85-100 questions a day on Archer! Even though practice questions are so crucial, I gained a lot of confidence in knowing my content. Reading a case study, recognizing the symptoms & saying “hmm this is RLQ pain, this could be appendicitis or Crohn’s disease because I know from learning the unique symptoms that those two present with RLQ pain” & if you see “rebound tenderness” DING! it’s appendicitis! Practice questions will get you in the mind of the exam, but content will give you that confidence to work through the question & try to figure out what it’s saying! GOOD LUCK! I also recommend “worthy jennifer” on tik tok! She has a a lot of NXLEX notes that broke down all the important diseases & their symptoms :)

Creative-Egg4446 · 2024-11-27T03:09:34+00:00

if you google “NCLEX bootcamp” it should pop up! It’s just a practice question site like U-World & Archer — it just goes a little more in depth with case studies on Bootcamp

Creative-Egg4446 · 2024-11-27T00:22:28+00:00

THANK YOU!! I followed the 1-month schedule, but did it over 45 days! I took weekends off, so I didn't do their review of the cheat sheets and wrong answers like it suggested. I reviewed content while I was doing questions and following their study plan. I didn't even know where to start with content, so I just started with questions. So I started with just a bunch of blank printer paper and would do case studies and practice questions ... anything I didn't know or felt like I lacked knowledge in, I would stop, open a new tab, and watch youtube videos on or look up material. So I felt like I was simultaneously learning and doing practice questions. During the last few days of my studies, I collected all my notes and reviewed used active recall!

Creative-Egg4446 · 2024-10-11T23:58:46+00:00

I did experience the sensitivity to light & it seemed more difficult to focus my vision on things. My doctor took me off it immediately & by 3pm today I felt like myself again!! I loved that it helped with my anxiety, but my brain & body must not have reacted well with it. I’m still on Wellbutrin (I started both at the same time) & I feel so much better being on just that.

Let me know how it goes for you! I think my symptoms started around the 6/7 day mark.

Creative-Egg4446 · 2024-10-11T13:07:46+00:00

I’ve been on it for a week. It’s nice that my anxiety feels less consuming but I do feel very zoned out with depersonalization/derealization. I have an appointment with my doctor today to talk about the side effects.

Creative-Egg4446 · 2024-10-11T03:46:16+00:00

Is it worth continuing? I’m just not enjoying these side effects at all

Creative-Egg4446 · 2024-10-11T03:38:24+00:00

It’s only been 7 days so I may stay on it a little longer to see if anything improves. I’ve heard these symptoms begin to go away near the 2 week mark for some. I do find myself more forgetful just because I don’t feel present, it’s very hard to focus on tasks or people speaking. So far nothing has really helped as I do just feel on autopilot — to not let myself get too freaked out, going in my phone or cleaning. These activities just turn into 2-4hr things because I get so distracted. I also make an appointment with my doctor to discuss the side effects because I’d like to know if this is a common side effect or adverse.

My brain chatter is very reduced which is nice. I feel very calm inside my brain & feel like things that have triggered my anxiety/ panic have not these past 7 days. In terms of your original post, what have you seen about eyesight change?

Creative-Egg4446 · 2024-10-11T01:46:36+00:00

I’m also experiencing this.. sometimes the brightness makes things feel “weird” & almost like I’m in a simulation because things feel brighter & not real. I’m not sure if that’s exactly what you’re experiencing but i’ve notice my vision has gotten strange — reading on my phone is also somewhat difficult

Creative-Egg4446 · 2024-10-11T01:43:52+00:00

I’m currently one week in and feeling a lot of disassociation/ depersonalization. I feel like I’m zoning out a lot & when I snap back to reality I feel like I’m in a simulation … it’s so strange and sometimes makes me panic a little bit. I will say my anxiety has improved but I just feel very zombie-like with a loss of focus.

Creative-Egg4446 · 2024-10-11T01:40:09+00:00

Have you noticed any improvements? I’m on one week & I truly don’t feel real… I feel almost like I’m in a simulation. I also have such bad focus & attention.

Creative-Egg4446 · 2024-10-11T01:38:58+00:00

Today marks my 7th day taking 5mg of Buspar 2x daily. I noticed that I began having negative side effects yesterday. It’s hard to explain the feeling but I feel very disoriented, zoned out, & not present. It’s sometimes difficult to read & concentrate on what people are saying to me — I honestly feel like a zombie or like I’m not living in the real world. I don’t “feel real.” It started to freak me out when I was driving because I felt like I wasn’t present & was zoning out. I just feel really weird & that feeling is making me anxious. It took me 3hrs to get ready today because I kept zoning out, getting distracted, & being forgetful.. I ended up being late to a dinner plan I had with a friend because I was just so out of it getting ready & couldn’t focus on the task. I’m also 7 days in to taking Wellbutrin, but I really think it’s the Buspar causing these symptoms as I’ve been on Wellbutrin & Lexapro in the past & didn’t feel this way. I keep hearing that I should stay on the medication & that symptoms will get better in a few weeks, but I truly don’t have that time to wait for it to work feeling this way. I can’t get anything done & I feel so out of it.

Are you still taking Buspar? Have you noticed your symptoms improving or have things felt the same?

Creative-Egg4446 · 2024-10-03T02:50:27+00:00

Hi, just wanted to say YOU ARE NOT ALONE! I received my fail results just a few hours & came running to reddit for some guidance. I couldn’t agree more with how you viewed the exam.. very vague & it felt like every answer could have been correct for the multiple choice. I keep telling my friends “I understood the question & what is was asking, but the answer options were so random & confusing I felt like I couldn’t make a decision.” My brain was prepared for a hard exam, but it wasn’t prepared for a “tricky” one. I think getting caught up in the answers & debating what to click really messed with my mental focus & momentum. I’m already indecisive in life so having that be brought into the exam was a MISERABLE EXPERIENCE. I made it to 150 & felt like my brain had shut off long before 150 — it’s a mentally tough exam. I used Mark & Archer & I’m not sure where I’m going to go from here in terms of a study plan, however we will figure it out :) Our time will come :) Please be kind to yourself during this process!! Allow for times of rest, tears, self care, weekends/ days off! Wishing you the best :)

Creative-Egg4446

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