To pass the NCLEX-RN®, you have to prepare. And preparation looks different for everyone. Use study methods that have been successful throughout your education and consider adding a prep program like Slone NCLEX. Incorporating myriad study styles is one of the best ways to ensure you’re ready come exam day. The secret is, there is...
NCLEX® test questions are supposed to prepare new-graduate nurses for a career caring for patients. Safely. But to pass the exam on your first try, you’ll want to ensure you’re aware of what’s involved in the Next-Gen NCLEX®. Keep study materials handy, test questions at the ready, and zero in on the new question item...
Having an NCLEX® preparation plan is a common refrain among nursing professors and students alike.
Creating a plan tailored to your own learning style and availability will help you pass the exam.
Consider combining your NCLEX® preparation plan with a program like Slone NCLEX.
Preparation is the key that unlocks the door to success, particularly where the NCLEX® is concerned.
Having an NCLEX® preparation plan is a common refrain among nursing professors and students alike. And creating a plan that’s unique to you, your schedule, and your learning style will give you the best chance to pass the exam on the first try.
Studies Support Having an NCLEX® Preparation Plan
When professors and industry professionals talk about an NCLEX® preparation plan, they’re not just saying it for the sake of saying it. Studies support the use of a preparation plan.
Students who participated in a New York Nurses Association (NYNA) 2021 study on the ... Read more
To pass the NCLEX-RN®, you have to prepare. And preparation looks different for everyone.
Use study methods that have been successful throughout your education and consider adding a prep program like Slone NCLEX.
Incorporating myriad study styles is one of the best ways to ensure you’re ready come exam day.
The secret is, there is no secret. To pass the NCLEX-RN®, you have to prepare.What matters though is how you prepare. And that looks different for everyone.Some studies suggest that success in the classroom is a predictor of how you’ll do on NCLEX-RN®. Others compare how computer-based studying fares against a textbook-focused approach.For our money, we encourage a multi-pronged approach. Use the study methods that have helped you feel confident throughout nursing school, add in a prep program like Slone NCLEX, and don't shy away from trying something new. And if you’re among the cohort that has struggled a bit (we’ve all been there!), there’s no shame in reaching out to professors or other students for one-on-one help or to form a study group. Here we’ll discuss various approaches you can incorporate into your study plan (and in some cases before you’re even ready to start studying) to pass the NCLEX-RN®.
It Starts in the Classroom
Academic success is an indicator of NCLEX-RN® success. That’s what researchers found in an exploratory study published in October 2024 in the journal Teaching and Learning in Nursing. They determined that GPA and academic performance in anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology courses predicted passing NCLEX-RN® scores in more than 84% of students in their sample cohort.So don’t neglect your studies. Be as dedicated as a student as you want to be when you’re a full-fledged nurse. It will only help you in the long run.
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask For Help
A 2024 Journal of Nursing Education study noted that remediation efforts, such as an NCLEX-RN® coaching program, were created to help graduating seniors “who had a low GPA or low scores on the standardized predictor examination.”“Coaches met individually with students to work on test-taking strategies and develop a plan of study, as well as ways for students to manage test anxiety,” the authors stated, noting that program results were not available at the time of publication.Sometimes, individual coaching is what you need. It takes away distractions and can reduce anxiety you might have about answering questions in front of other students.
Be Proactive
Prior to the Next-Generation NCLEX’s launch in 2023, one nursing program shifted its curriculum to include a “clinical judgment framework.” (The Clinical Judgment Model was one of the changes implemented with the NGN.) Doing so increased the program’s first-time pass rates by 24%, according to a 2023 Nurse Educator article.That said, if your nursing program’s curriculum hasn’t already incorporated a clinical judgment approach, find prep courses, like Slone NCLEX, that do. The more proactive you are in ensuring you’re studying the most relevant material, the better off you’ll be.
Don’t Just Hit the Books
Studying NCLEX-RN® textbook material is a given when it comes to preparing for exam day. But when that day comes, you’ll be answering questions through computer-assisted quizzing (CAQ). So incorporate that method into your study plan. An April 2024 study from Teaching and Learning in Nursing examined the differences between students who prepared for the NCLEX-RN® with CAQ and those who used textbooks. The authors found that the “CAQ group had higher exit HESI [Health Education Systems Incorporated] examination scores compared to the NCLEX review textbook preparation group.”
The Bottom Line
There’s no one way to guarantee a passing score on the NCLEX-RN®. But by focusing on your pre-NCLEX classes and clinicals; incorporating multiple study formats; and asking for help when you need it, you will be one step closer to a successful exam day.
NCLEX® test questions are supposed to prepare new-graduate nurses for a career caring for patients. Safely.
But to pass the exam on your first try, you’ll want to ensure you’re aware of what’s involved in the Next-Gen NCLEX®.
Keep study materials handy, test questions at the ready, and zero in on the new question item types presented through NGN.
NCLEX® test questions are meant to prepare student nurses for the full-fledged nursing workforce, and with the implementation of the Next-Gen NCLEX® (NGN), practice is as important as ever.You know the drill by now — take 200 to 400 practice questions per day, of varying item types, and aim to take the exam itself as soon as possible after graduation. And until exam day? Keep those study materials handy, the NCLEX® test questions at the ready, and zero in on the new question item types presented through NGN.
Why Focus on Next-Gen NCLEX® Test Questions?
The NGN was introduced less than two years ago, adding new components to the already information-laden exam. In addition to the clinical judgment model, it brings in several new question item types, including:
Bowtie
Select N
Multiple response group
Highlight questions (including highlight test and highlight table)
A Journal of Nursing Education study published last April found that less than one-third of surveyed students were confident answering NGN questions and scored lower on the NGN’s bowtie or SATA styles. The authors suggested that, based on their results, “faculty should incorporate these item types into classroom activities or course assignments.”If you’re not in a position where NGN questions being incorporated into classroom curriculum will help, be vocal in your study group or in online study forums about reinforcing those question types. Maybe even devote a certain number of NCLEX® test question practice hours to NGN question item types and the clinical judgment model.
How to Study NCLEX® Test Questions
Creating a multi-pronged approach to studying NCLEX® test questions can also lead you to a passing score. Another study, also published last April in Teaching and Learning in Nursing, concluded that incorporating computer-assisted quizzing into nursing curriculum “can contribute to student success on standardized examinations.” Having the ability to take tests in the same manner as the NCLEX® could also help students prepare for NCLEX® test questions and gain a better understanding of how to approach them on exam day.If you’re studying NCLEX® test questions before you’ve graduated, consider asking a professor if there’s a way they can add computer-assisted quizzing to their course. Or at least send you in the direction of an NCLEX® study group that uses that study style as part of its methods. But don’t discount the importance of writing NCLEX® test questions and answers out by hand. The repetitiveness of doing so can help you better absorb the information. And used alongside study groups, computer-assisted quizzing, and prep programs like Slone NCLEX, it could give you an extra boost of confidence and know-how on exam day.
The Bottom Line
NCLEX® test questions are meant to test your ability to practice safely as a new nurse. The Next-Gen NCLEX® and its related additions only serve to reinforce that goal. Practicing regularly and using several methods to do so, will give you the best chance to pass the exam on the first try and start serving patients right away.
Having an NCLEX® preparation plan is a common refrain among nursing professors and students alike.
Creating a plan tailored to your own learning style and availability will help you pass the exam.
Consider combining your NCLEX® preparation plan with a program like Slone NCLEX.
Preparation is the key that unlocks the door to success, particularly where the NCLEX® is concerned.Having an NCLEX® preparation plan is a common refrain among nursing professors and students alike. And creating a plan that’s unique to you, your schedule, and your learning style will give you the best chance to pass the exam on the first try.
Studies Support Having an NCLEX® Preparation Plan
When professors and industry professionals talk about an NCLEX® preparation plan, they’re not just saying it for the sake of saying it. Studies support the use of a preparation plan.Students who participated in a New York Nurses Association (NYNA) 2021 study on the subject reported having an “organized study plan” that included: designating a specific amount of time for practice questions, taking breaks, and balancing their NCLEX® preparation with eating, shopping, exercising, and sleeping.“I had a plan to separate four to five hours for studying daily, planned to take a practice test after studying each system and then go back to the rationale for each answer before studying again,” one participated stated. “I looked at the NCLEX-RN® blueprint and template from NCBSN to make my study schedule. I would say, ‘Today I should get through this section and these many questions.’ I also planned and took a break to go to the mall in between studying.”The NYNA study also found the following to be effective:
Constant practice
Note-taking and summarizing
Staying focused while preparing for the exam
Having a commitment to study
Having a study plan and a schedule for that plan helped students study “by using a deep approach to learning and reinforced student success,” according to the authors.However, there’s no singular strategy or approach that will make your NCLEX® preparation plan more or less successful. The authors of a scoping review published in 2023 in Nursing Open determined as much, while also finding that “active learning strategies were the most founded.”
Prepare with Professors
Professors can also be a big part of your exam preparation. Was there a particular professor whose teaching style resonated with you? Consider asking them to lead a study group or help you create a study plan.A faculty coaching study published in 2023 found that students who were possibly at risk for failing the exam but worked with a professor had a “90% first attempt NCLEX-RN® pass rate.”Once you have that foundational support, you can combine it with programs like Slone NCLEX to round out your NCLEX® preparation plan.
The Bottom Line
Creating an NCLEX® preparation plan is one of the best ways to set yourself up for success. Build your study plan around your learning style and don’t be afraid to ask professors for additional help. They know better than anyone what it takes to pass the exam.
To pass the NCLEX-RN®, you have to prepare. And preparation looks different for everyone.
Use study methods that have been successful throughout your education and consider adding a prep program like Slone NCLEX.
Incorporating myriad study styles is one of the best ways to ensure you’re ready come exam day.
The secret is, there is no secret. To pass the NCLEX-RN®, you have to prepare.What matters though is how you prepare. And that looks different for everyone.Some studies suggest that success in the classroom is a predictor of how you’ll do on NCLEX-RN®. Others compare how computer-based studying fares against a textbook-focused approach.For our money, we encourage a multi-pronged approach. Use the study methods that have helped you feel confident throughout nursing school, add in a prep program like Slone NCLEX, and don't shy away from trying something new. And if you’re among the cohort that has struggled a bit (we’ve all been there!), there’s no shame in reaching out to professors or other students for one-on-one help or to form a study group. Here we’ll discuss various approaches you can incorporate into your study plan (and in some cases before you’re even ready to start studying) to pass the NCLEX-RN®.
It Starts in the Classroom
Academic success is an indicator of NCLEX-RN® success. That’s what researchers found in an exploratory study published in October 2024 in the journal Teaching and Learning in Nursing. They determined that GPA and academic performance in anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology courses predicted passing NCLEX-RN® scores in more than 84% of students in their sample cohort.So don’t neglect your studies. Be as dedicated as a student as you want to be when you’re a full-fledged nurse. It will only help you in the long run.
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask For Help
A 2024 Journal of Nursing Education study noted that remediation efforts, such as an NCLEX-RN® coaching program, were created to help graduating seniors “who had a low GPA or low scores on the standardized predictor examination.”“Coaches met individually with students to work on test-taking strategies and develop a plan of study, as well as ways for students to manage test anxiety,” the authors stated, noting that program results were not available at the time of publication.Sometimes, individual coaching is what you need. It takes away distractions and can reduce anxiety you might have about answering questions in front of other students.
Be Proactive
Prior to the Next-Generation NCLEX’s launch in 2023, one nursing program shifted its curriculum to include a “clinical judgment framework.” (The Clinical Judgment Model was one of the changes implemented with the NGN.) Doing so increased the program’s first-time pass rates by 24%, according to a 2023 Nurse Educator article.That said, if your nursing program’s curriculum hasn’t already incorporated a clinical judgment approach, find prep courses, like Slone NCLEX, that do. The more proactive you are in ensuring you’re studying the most relevant material, the better off you’ll be.
Don’t Just Hit the Books
Studying NCLEX-RN® textbook material is a given when it comes to preparing for exam day. But when that day comes, you’ll be answering questions through computer-assisted quizzing (CAQ). So incorporate that method into your study plan. An April 2024 study from Teaching and Learning in Nursing examined the differences between students who prepared for the NCLEX-RN® with CAQ and those who used textbooks. The authors found that the “CAQ group had higher exit HESI [Health Education Systems Incorporated] examination scores compared to the NCLEX review textbook preparation group.”
The Bottom Line
There’s no one way to guarantee a passing score on the NCLEX-RN®. But by focusing on your pre-NCLEX classes and clinicals; incorporating multiple study formats; and asking for help when you need it, you will be one step closer to a successful exam day.
