How to Study for the NCLEX ®

At long last, after many projects, quizzes, and exams, you have finally graduated from nursing school. Now, there is only one more exam to take before becoming a registered nurse: the NCLEX ®. Studying and preparing for exams has most likely become second nature to you by now. However, learning how to study for the NCLEX ® poses a unique challenge compared to what a typical exam requires, which is why it demands a specific approach to studying and preparation. Specialized guides and online review courses, like those offered by Ready to Pass, offer vital and practical assistance with all aspects of the exam.

How to Study for NCLEX ® by Understanding the Format

As with all exam study prep, the first thing you will want to understand is the format of the exam and how it is administered. The NCLEX ® consists of 75 – 145 items, 15 of which are unscored, and the total time allotted is five hours. While multiple-choice questions make up the majority of the items, the exam also consists of multiple-response, fill-in-the-blank, hot spots, chart/exhibit, and drag-and-drop prompts.

The content of the NCLEX ® is organized into four major “Client Needs” categories, with two of the four being broken down into subcategories:

• Safe and Effective Care Environment
  • Management of Care
  • Safety and Infection Control 

• Health Promotion and Maintenance

• Psychosocial Integrity

• Physiological Integrity
  • Basic Care and Comfort
  • Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
  • Reduction of Risk Potential
  • Physiological Adaptation

The exam uses computerized adaptive testing (CAT), which means the exam adapts in real time to each individual test-taker throughout the exam. No two exams are identical. This CAT system also ensures that no question is “too difficult” or “too easy.” So, each time you answer a question right or wrong, the exam adjusts to give a harder or easier question for the next item, respectively. A passing grade is given when enough questions have been answered correctly and the test-taker has stayed above the pass line with a 95% confidence interval.

Plan Your Study Sessions

It is always important to plan out study sessions, but doing so is even more important when preparing for how to study for the NCLEX ®. Without proper planning, the time spent studying can go down the drain as it is not just about the hours you have put in, unlike many previous exams. As mentioned earlier, the NCLEX ® uniquely assesses test-takers’ general knowledge of the subject matter as well as their approach to certain problems and their decision-making skills.

• Use a Calendar
  • This could be either on your phone or on your wall.
    • Wherever you are more likely to see it every day.
  • Set aside specific days and hours dedicated to studying.
    • You may even want to break up those days and hours by subject matter in a way that allows you to connect topics in your mind.
• Have a Goal
  • Always go into each study session with a goal in mind that you will reach by the end of the allotted time.
    • That may be reading/listening to X amount of chapters and notes.
      • Or correctly completing X amount of study practice problems. 

Separate Work Experience from Classroom Knowledge

The NCLEX ®, along with many other tests in different fields, does not concern itself with untested and non-research-based material. It requires you to know the proven facts and practices that are understood and known to get measurable results.

While textbook-based information can be understood much more greatly through real-world exposure, bringing “short-hand” into the exam may lead you astray. Failing to separate the two can muddy the water and make it more difficult to find the correct answers on the exam and leave you unsure of how to study for the NCLEX ®. Experienced nurses can help you spot the differences, but for aspiring nurses, it can prove to be difficult and unclear.

Prep Courses

Online prep courses and other test-prep resources are invaluable and their proven effectiveness cannot be overstated. Different courses will vary from one to the other, and one that worked for your friend or family member may not work for you. It is important to do a little bit of research into the many courses and find the right one that will work best for you.

However, the NCLEX ® prep program provided by Ready to Pass has a proven track record in addition to a long line of proud and accomplished RNs to back up its effectiveness. Unlike other test-taking prep programs, Ready to Pass’ content is led by experienced nurses who guide you through lessons learned in real-life nursing to help you truly understand and connect the various lessons and topics.

Learn How To Study for NCLEX ® With Ready to Pass

Contact Us to Enroll Today

Ready to Pass helps students learn how to study for and to pass the NCLEX ®. Ready to Pass has established a team of experienced nurses that are ready to help you prepare for your exam, by providing real-life insight. Here at Ready to Pass, we care. Our qualified instructors are education-oriented and passionate about your success. We look forward to the opportunity to get you Ready to Pass!

Give us a call today at (516) 408-3696 or fill out our contact form to learn about the next steps of enrolling in NCLEX ® classes at Ready to Pass. We look forward to being a part of your success!