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...
The Best NCLEX® prep advice often comes from nursing professors. Slone-NCLEX Professor Tanya Killian breaks down her top three tips for passing the exam. Most importantly, you’ll want to focus on the quality and quantity of your preparation leading into exam day. As a professor of nursing, I’m not sure there’s a question I have...
The NCLEX-RN® exam can feel daunting, but we’re here to help you pass with flying colors.
RN candidates will have to answer at least 85 questions in various item types, with three full case studies.
In 2023, with the introduction of the Nex-Gen NCLEX®, a clinical judgment section was introduced to the NCLEX-RN® exam.
The NCLEX-RN® exam can be terrifying, daunting, and overwhelming. But we’re here to help you feel comfortable, prepared, and ready to take that exam by the horns and pass with flying colors.
Let’s start with the details of the exam and what it entails.
NCLEX-RN® Exam Format and Updates
All registered nurse (RN) candidates will have a minimum of 85 questions in various item types, with three full case studies. The maximum number of questions an RN candidate can have is 150 with a variety of item types and three full case studies.
A candidate has up to five hours, including breaks, to take the NCLEX-RN® ... Read more
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.
The Best NCLEX® prep advice often comes from nursing professors.
Slone-NCLEX Professor Tanya Killian breaks down her top three tips for passing the exam.
Most importantly, you’ll want to focus on the quality and quantity of your preparation leading into exam day.
As a professor of nursing, I’m not sure there's a question I have received more than, “What do I need to do to pass the NCLEX® exam?”I am sure you have asked yourself and others this exact question. Likely, you received all different answers. What I have found in my years as a nursing student, a nurse, and as a nursing professor is that the best NCLEX® prep involves remembering what the NCLEX® is, what it’s testing over, taking a lot of NCLEX®-style questions every day, and using a structured prep program, such as Slone NCLEX.
Best NCLEX® Prep Tip No. 1: Remember What the Test is About
First things first, remember what the NCLEX® is and what it is ultimately testing you over, which is one thing, SAFETY! The exam evaluates if you can be a safe practicing licensed nurse. So, when preparing for, and taking, the exam be sure to read each option and then pick the answer that is going to save your patient. So, if it’s a question about administering a blood pressure medication, make sure you are selecting answers that ensure patient safety. Assess if the dose being given is safe. Does the client have an allergy to that medication? Is the client stable enough to receive that medication, or is their blood pressure too low so you should hold that blood pressure medication? Always keeping in mind that safety is the priority.
Best NCLEX® Prep Tip No. 2: Practice, Practice, Practice
Next, take NCLEX®-style questions, and take a lot of them. When I was preparing to take the exam, I took more than 2,000 practice questions and I started reviewing questions during the last part of my final semester in nursing school. In one of the best NCLEX® prep tips I’ve received, a very wise professor told me not to wait to take the exam and to start preparing early. That way, the moment I received my authorization to test (ATT), I was all set. Follow this advice! Begin preparing six to eight weeks before you graduate and take your NCLEX® the moment you can. The more questions that you can take ahead of exam day, the better prepared you will be. Make sure you include a variety of questions that cover a variety of topics and feature a variety of item types. In 2023, the National Council State Board of Nursing developed a new NCLEX® that increased the testing of clinical judgement and added new item types for students to be evaluated with. This update was called the next-generation NCLEX® (NGN NCLEX®), so make sure when taking questions that you also find ones that are labeled NGN or next-generation.
Best NCLEX® Prep Tip No. 3: Use a Prep Program
Finally, use a prep program. I did, and it helped me prepare better than anything else. It is so hard to stay focused and organized after nursing school. A prep program like Slone NCLEX will help you remain structured and do what you need to do to be fully prepared.Find a prep program that provides you with a quality review and LOTS of questions. There’s no substitute for practice questions. You NEED them, so make sure you trial the preparation program’s questions, ensure their quality and check that the rationales help you understand the content.
The Bottom Line
The other piece that is important in preparing is to keep your mindset positive and believe in yourself! You’ve got this and we’ve got you!
The NCLEX-RN® exam can feel daunting, but we're here to help you pass with flying colors.
RN candidates will have to answer at least 85 questions in various item types, with three full case studies.
In 2023, with the introduction of the Nex-Gen NCLEX®, a clinical judgment section was introduced to the NCLEX-RN® exam.
The NCLEX-RN® exam can be terrifying, daunting, and overwhelming. But we're here to help you feel comfortable, prepared, and ready to take that exam by the horns and pass with flying colors. Let’s start with the details of the exam and what it entails.
NCLEX-RN® Exam Format and Updates
All registered nurse (RN) candidates will have a minimum of 85 questions in various item types, with three full case studies. The maximum number of questions an RN candidate can have is 150 with a variety of item types and three full case studies. A candidate has up to five hours, including breaks, to take the NCLEX-RN® exam. If you were granted additional time for accommodation in school, make sure you have the same accommodation for this exam. To request accommodation, you’ll have to go through your state’s nursing review board.The NCLEX® tests over specific categories. Its eight client need categories are:
Management of Care.
Safety and Infection Control.
Health Promotion and Maintenance.
Psychosocial Integrity.
Basic Care and Comfort.
Pharmacological and parenteral Therapies.
Reduction of Risk Potential.
Physiological Adaption.
In 2023, with the introduction of the Next-Gen NCLEX®, a clinical judgment section was introduced.Clinical judgment is a substantial portion of professional nursing and is the result of critical thinking and decision making. It is a process that first recognizes cues, then analyzes those cues, prioritizes hypotheses made from those cues, generates solutions to those hypotheses, takes action while prioritizing the most important client needs first, and finally, evaluates the outcomes of those actions. Another major change that coincided with the 2023 Next-Gen update was the introduction of new item types. The traditional item types are multiple choice, select all that apply, hot spot, fill-in-the-blank (numerical), drag and drop ordered response, chart/exhibit/graphics questions, and audio questions. The new item types seem a bit more complex, but that’s mostly because they are new and not as familiar as the traditional item types. The Next-Gen item types are extended multiple response, matrix grids, drag and drop, drop down, highlight, bowtie, and unfolding case studies. Slone NCLEX features all of these item types in its NCLEX® prep program. The exam is administered through computer-adaptive testing, meaning that the computer adjusts the difficulty of questions based on your answers to previous questions. Once a tester is above or below the passing standard at a certain level the test will shut off, the exam is scored, and a pass or fail is sent to the tester's nursing review board to be sent to the tester. Another change was updated scoring that now ensures partial credit is given to multiple part questions. There are four types of scoring models used in the NCLEX-RN® exam. There is partial credit scoring for items for which more than one key exists. There will be three methods for scoring items for partial credit: plus/minus, zero/one, and rationale scoring.
How to Study
All right, now that you understand what the NCLEX® is and what to expect, let’s talk about how you can study. The most important thing you can do is take as many NCLEX®-style questions as you can in various categories and item types. Your goal should be to take at least 200-400 questions per day until exam day. You should also use a prep program like Slone NCLEX to keep your preparation organized and structured. It is so hard to stay focused and maintain the rigor of nursing school with NCLEX® prep after you graduate, but it is needed for you to be successful. So, find a reputable prep program that provides quality questions, detailed rationales, and readiness exams to gauge your progression and exam readiness. And stick to it!When answering questions, remember that the entire purpose of the exam is to test your ability to be a SAFE practicing entry-level nurse. After reading questions on the exam, determining which possible answer ensures your client is SAFE, which promotes their safety, and how do I ensure they have safe outcomes? On the questions where you’re at a loss, look at the answer options and see if you can find a common denominator. Or, do all but one option seem negative? This can help you pick an option.
The Bottom Line
Before you start the exam, take three deep breaths. Deep breathing can help you improve focus, reduce anxiety, and help you manage the stress of the exam. If you begin getting worked up during the exam, pause and take a deep breath, it sounds simple, but it will be a huge help!Most importantly, believe in yourself. Remember that you’ve got this, you can do this and that we’ve got you!
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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.
