Practical NCLEX Tips

Preparing to take the NCLEX-RN exam is a very scary and stressful place to be. It is a time to transition from being a nursing student to a nurse. How is that accomplished? How do you make that leap?

Here are some very practical and simple tips to use while you prepare to take the NCLEX:

1. Start soon! When is it too early to start studying for the NCLEX? Never. Most nursing school books have NCLEX questions at the end of each chapter – even beginning semesters. Do them! It is a great tool to help measure if you know the material in the first place and it helps to prepare you for the style of NCLEX questions.

2. Start believing that you are a Registered Nurse. The first day of my NCLEX preparation class, my teacher made us all write our names with “RN” following them. “Cassie Applegate, RN” - It has such a nice ring to it! If you do it enough times you may actually start to believe it.

3. Find your weaknesses. There are many great tools to take NCLEX pretests. Some even analyze them for you and determine which areas you are strong in and which areas you are weak in. It is also a good idea to study the categories that you are not interested in. Generally, we tend to study the areas we like – therefore we know those areas the best. If you know you hate pharmacology, for instance, maybe that’s a good place to start.

4. Take the tutorial. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing has some great information on their website about the NCLEX. They have basic information as well as a tutorial on how to take the exam here: https://www.ncsbn.org/1213.htm This tutorial walks you through the computer-based NCLEX format, and even gives you time to practice using the calculator and manipulating the screen. The more comfortable you become with this the easier it will be when you sit down to take the test. It is also a great idea to take the tutorial again while you are taking your NCLEX exam because you will waste those first few minutes of anxiety on the tutorial instead of on the actual NCLEX questions.

5. Practice in a similar environment. This means do not study in a room where the TV or music is on, or while you’re lying in bed or sitting on a couch. Go somewhere quiet and sit on a hard chair. Try to schedule your study time into your week so that you know you will have no interruptions or distractions. It is also very useful to study for at least a couple of hours. If you’re not used to it by the time you go in to take your NCLEX, you might get too fidgety and stop concentrating completely on the questions. Try to use the calculator on your computer and use a whiteboard to write out your calculations. These tools will eventually become familiar to you and you will feel more comfortable while taking the exam.

These are just a few simple tools that you can begin to integrate into your study times. Remember that by the time you take the test you will have learned all of the material needed to make you a minimally safe and competent nurse – which is what the NCLEX is testing you for. You can do this and these tips will help you feel more comfortable and confident during the process.