As nursing students near the completion of their nursing degrees, they face one final barrier before they can finally become registered nurses: the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). In this article, we’ll discuss helpful tips to help you pass the NCLEX-RN test with flying colors and become a full-fledged RN.
First things first: What is the NCLEX-RN?
The NCLEX-RN is a computerized generalist knowledge test that nursing graduates must pass to become licensed RNs in the US and Canada. The NCLEX-RN test has the following question types:
· Multiple-choice questions
· Fill-in-the-blank questions
· Select-all-that-apply questions
· Drag-and-drop questions
· Hot spot questions
Typically, this pass-fail exam ranges from 75 to 145 questions. Candidates need to finish taking the NCLEX-RN in five hours including breaks. The four main categories of NCLEX-RN exams are as follows:
· Safe and effective care environment
· Health promotion and maintenance
· Psychosocial integrity
· Physiological integrity
According to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, in 2023, 69.66% of all NCLEX-RN candidates passed the test, including first-time or repeat candidates.
5 Helpful tips to help you pass the NCLEX-RN
We’ve compiled practical and useful tips to help you prep for and pass the NCLEX-RN exam. Best of luck!
Figure out what schedule works for you
One of the first things you need to figure out is how to manage your time and find the most optimized way and hours to study for the NCLEX. Not everyone has the same situation — some will be fortunate enough to focus on prepping for NCLEX while others are squeezing in their NCLEX preparation with other work and familial responsibilities.
Take a look at your schedule and figure out the following:
· Submitting your nursing license application. Figure out when you’ll submit your application for a nursing license. This is typically submitted near the end of your training program. You would also need to register for a Pearson VUE account.
· Scheduling your NCLEX-RN test. You can schedule your test via an Authorization to Test (ATT) email once you get authorized to do so. Candidates must take note of their testing validity dates and schedule the NCLEX-RN tests within that period.
· Scheduling your NCLEX-RN prep period. Once you have an exam date, you can determine how long your study period will be based on your schedule. For example, if you have the bandwidth to focus solely on studying, you might choose to do a two-week study period. Meanwhile, if you have a lot on your plate, you might choose to do a month-long study period.
· Creating a study schedule. Create a study schedule that’s feasible for you and your unique needs. Determine the specific days in a week and the number of hours per day you can commit to studying. Make sure that your study schedule is something that you can easily stick to.
Find an effective learning method
Some learners find that they retain information better when taking notes, while others find it easier to learn when they hear information via audio reviews and podcasts.
If you’re unsure what learning technique works best for you, here are some popular learning techniques that you can explore or incorporate into your study routine:
· Pomodoro technique. This time management strategy promotes working for 25 minutes — or one pomodoro — and resting for five. Typically, after four pomodoros, a learner should take longer breaks of around 15 to 30 minutes each.
· Feynman technique. This is a quick and easy learning method that attempts to simplify new and complex concepts by identifying the subject, writing down everything you know about it in simple terms — ones that a child would be able to understand, reviewing knowledge bases to add information you’ve missed, and organizing and simplifying your notes.
Invest in test prep resources and take practice exams
There are numerous NCLEX-RN test prep resources and practice exams that you can look into, including:
· Kaplan
Before making a purchase, it’s helpful to check out reviews from forums and online groups to see which one best suits your preferences.
Manage your stress and anxiety
Studies show that people with higher test anxiety are more prone to performing poorly on exams. Test anxiety can interfere with a person’s cognitive and decision-making processes, which can greatly impact their testing experience. This is why test-takers must understand their anxiety and stress triggers and manage them appropriately.
A large part of handling test anxiety is preparing for the test, which we’ve covered in previous tips. Alongside studying for the NCLEX-RN, the following are also effective ways to manage your stress and anxiety before the big test day:
· Learn relaxation techniques. These include deep breathing, meditation, music and art therapy, and aromatherapy.
· Exercise regularly. This can be walking, jogging, biking, or dancing for at least 30 minutes three to five times a week.
· Sleep well. Create a healthy sleep routine, avoid distractions, and limit caffeine and alcohol intake.
