Start your NCLEX-RN prep as early as possible, even as early as the first semester of nursing school. Create a study plan, form a study group, and review material frequently. Take multiple practice exams, answer practice questions each day, and practice NCLEX-RN testing strategies.
Passing the NCLEX-RN nurse licensure exam requires preparation and smart test-taking tactics. What is the best NCLEX-RN prep? The best approach involves using a combination of strategies and asking for help with your NCLEX-RN prep as needed. Learning how to pass the NCLEX-RN is crucial because passing this exam is necessary for obtaining your nursing license.
Students enrolled in Northeastern University’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program participate in extensive NCLEX-RN prep in addition to online coursework and in-person clinicals. Our nursing students are supported by attentive faculty members and a close-knit nursing cohort.
Become familiar with the NCLEX-RN well in advance. First, learn what the NCLEX-RN is, why preparation is important, and which steps you should follow to succeed on the exam. Then, look at effective test-taking strategies.
What Is the NCLEX-RN and Why Does Preparation Matter?
The NCLEX-RN is the licensure exam that all aspiring RNs must pass to get licensed. While the NCLEX-RN tests rote nursing knowledge, it also evaluates your ability to make clinical judgment-based decisions. It’s administered in a computerized adaptive testing (CAT) format, meaning there isn’t one single version of the test; the test will recalibrate itself based on your answers.
Preparation matters because the exam is challenging. It’s essential to develop a deep understanding of the topics and clinical judgment to pass; you cannot pass simply by memorizing a question pool.
Before enrolling in Northeastern’s ABSN, you must complete the prerequisites for nursing. Learn why prerequisite courses are important.
Essential Steps for NCLEX-RN Prep
Learning how to pass the NCLEX-RN doesn’t have a universal solution. It’s best to combine a variety of NCLEX-RN tips and strategies. Study in a way that works for you based on your previous academic experience, but don’t be afraid to try new studying strategies.
Team up with other members of your nursing cohort for study sessions. Don’t hesitate to reach out to your peers for help; they're likely wondering how to prepare for the NCLEX-RN exam as well and would want to form a study group.
1. Build a Study Plan and Start Early
As you might expect, a test of this rigor and scope demands extensive prep work. Get started early by creating a study plan. Determine how much time you can devote to studying for classes and the exam. Consider scheduling shorter, more frequent study sessions rather than infrequent, marathon sessions.
2. Review Material Frequently
Take thorough notes during your classes and labs and review them immediately before and after each class and at the end of the week. If your schedule doesn’t permit immediate daily review, set aside time at the end of each day.
Try using a combination of passive and active study techniques. A passive study technique is to review your notes. An active study technique requires you to synthesize and apply your knowledge. For example, you can ask yourself questions like, “How can I apply this information in a clinical situation?” or “What should I have done differently during that simulation?”
3. Answer Practice Questions Each Day
A thorough approach to NCLEX-RN prep includes reviewing practice questions, many of which are available online. You can also sign up for a “Question of the Day” service. It’s a good idea to answer a few practice questions every day to familiarize yourself with the types of questions and to better understand what to focus on during study sessions.
4. Take a Few Practice NCLEX-RN Tests
In addition to answering individual questions, you should plan to complete full-length exams, taking your first practice exam during your second or third semester and continuing to graduation. Treat the first practice exam as an assessment, identifying problem areas and strengths. This will enable you to tweak your study plan to better fit your needs.
Take at least one or two more practice exams by the end of your fourth semester to see how you are progressing. When you graduate with your nursing degree, you can devote more time to studying and taking practice exams before your NCLEX-RN test date.
5. Use High-Quality NCLEX-RN Prep Resources
As a nursing student, you will have access to ample academic and NCLEX-RN prep resources. There are many credible websites that offer NCLEX-RN prep tips and video tutorials on nursing topics. Looking for study guides and similar resources online but check with your professors to see which ones they recommend.how to pass the NCLEX the first time and might appreciate an offer to form a study group.
Learn how to study in nursing school effectively by using proven tips.
6. Understand the Exam Format and Question Types
Early on in your nursing journey, you should familiarize yourself with the exam format and question types. The NCLEX-RN tests your knowledge and clinical judgment in the following main areas:
- 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
Study content across each of these areas, particularly the safe and effective care environment categories, as those account for 25% to 37% of your score.
It’s also important to familiarize yourself with the question types. These include:
- Case study questions: You’ll review patient chart information, vital signs, and other pertinent data before answering questions applicable to the case.
- Drag and drop questions: You’ll be asked to place answers in a specific order.
- Fill-in-the-blank questions: You’ll need to calculate a number and enter it in the blank space.
- Hot spot questions: You’ll click a specific area of a graphic to choose your response.
- Matrix: You’ll choose multiple responses from a grid.
- Multiple response questions: You must choose the correct answers from five or more responses.
7. Avoid Burnout
Maintaining a school-life balance can be challenging, but it is vital to avoid burnout. Schedule regular time for relaxing activities. Go for a walk on a nature trail, exercise, or watch a movie with friends to maintain your mental health.
Proven NCLEX-RN Test-Taking Strategies
Along with studying the content and fine-tuning your clinical judgment, you can learn how to pass the NCLEX-RN by using actionable test-taking strategies.
Understand the Testing Strategies That Don’t Work
First, know which NCLEX-RN prep and testing strategies to avoid. The NCLEX-RN is a unique exam format. Memorizing hundreds of facts about diseases and pharmacology won’t help you as much as you might think, as the test prioritizes critical thinking and clinical judgment.
Some testing strategies that help with other tests do not work for the NCLEX-RN. These include:
- Selecting a response that is of a different length than the others
- Choosing C or D when in doubt
- Selecting the grammatically correct response
Apply the Testing Strategies That Do Work
Although some common testing strategies won’t work on this exam, there are plenty of NCLEX-RN test-taking strategies that are helpful. Try the following:
- Put the question into your own words.
- Mentally visualize each clinical situation.
- Identify the difference between expected and unexpected patient outcomes. Is the situation being described within normal limits? If so, the correct answer might simply be to document the patient’s results in their chart.
- Before choosing an answer, carefully consider all of them and use the process of elimination.
- When in doubt, select the best answer that prioritizes patient safety.
- Always choose the least invasive intervention first.
Experience Thorough NCLEX-RN Prep at Northeastern
With small class sizes and attentive instructors, the ABSN program at Northeastern University can effectively prepare you for professional success in healthcare. Contact an admissions counselor at Northeastern today to discuss your eligibility to enroll in our ABSN program.