4 Ways to Maximize NCLEX-RN® Prep Time

• NCLEX-RN® prep is a requirement to put yourself in the best position for a passing score on exam day. 
• However, we know that finding time in an already busy schedule is a challenge for nearly every new graduate.  
• Planning ahead and recording study sessions can help you stay on top of your studies when life gets in the way. 

Everyone is busy, and it feels like there are never enough hours in the day. Between work, school, and personal obligations, squeezing in study sessions for the NCLEX-RN® can be a challenge. 

But when it comes to NCLEX-RN® prep, you have to make time. 

The stakes are high, and your career is dependent on a passing score. Consider these tips to maximize your study time. 

1. Record your study groups 

If you know your schedule is unpredictable and you’re not guaranteed to make every study group, consider recording them. That way you can listen to the discussions again at your own pace (maybe even while cooking dinner or getting in a quick workout). Just make sure that everyone in the group is aware and consents to being recorded. Not every state is a one-party consent state when it comes to recording laws, and you want to play it safe.

2. Plan Ahead for NCLEX-RN® Prep Time

If you’re someone who likes to schedule out your to-do list for the week ahead, add studying to that process. When you sit down on a Sunday afternoon or evening to map out your week, figure out where you can add in some prep time. Whether that’s 15-minute increments between tasks to review practice questions, deciding in advance that your lunch break will double as a solo study session, or setting aside a larger block of time for a study group, putting it down on paper (or on your phone) will make you more likely to stick to the plan. 

3. Take Voice Notes During Solo NCLEX-RN® Prep 

The simple act of recording yourself as you talk through a rationale or discover why your answer to a practice question was right (or wrong) can be beneficial in the long run. Similar to recording a study group, being able to listen back to your thought process will reinforce the information. That second (or third, or fourth) listen can happen when you’re driving, running errands, or even doing yardwork or cleaning the house. 

4. Create a Cram Sheet for Your Most-Needed Focus Areas

There is a lot of information to absorb as you go through NCLEX-RN® prep, and some focus areas will need more attention than others. Once you’ve determined what those are (possibly through using a prep program like Slone NCLEX), you can create a cram sheet dedicated to those items. Say, for example, you’re struggling with questions about safety and infection control. The cram sheet can include key elements of that topic for you to reference as you make your way through those questions in practice tests and study sessions. 

The Bottom Line 

Finding time to for NCLEX-RN® prep is one of the biggest challenges leading up to exam day. You’re likely trying to balance work and studying with personal obligations. But taking simple steps like recording voice notes during solo study sessions and creating a cram sheet for your trouble spots can go a long way in helping you maximize the free time you do have to dedicate to studying.