What to Look for in a Quality NCLEX® Prep Course

• There’s a lot to consider when choosing an NCLEX® prep course. 
• The best programs will take a comprehensive approach, using adaptive learning technology and focusing on effective test-taking strategies. 
• Perhaps most important is to ensure that the prep course includes the most recent changes to the exam from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. (NCSBN). 

I often get asked about the best NCLEX® prep course. While I may personally favor Slone NCLEX, I truly believe it stands out as one of the best options available. However, regardless of my opinion, I will share what I know about top NCLEX® prep courses and what you should look for when selecting the right one for you. 

A quality NCLEX® prep course will offer a comprehensive approach by utilizing adaptive learning technology and emphasizing effective test-taking strategies. It will feature an extensive question bank with detailed explanations and focus on core content review through lectures and online resources. The NCLEX® prep course you select should prioritize comprehensive rationales and provide varied practice scenarios, as this will greatly enhance your ability to succeed on the NCLEX-RN® Next-Gen exam. 

10 Key Features of A Good NCLEX® Prep Course  

1. Comprehensive Question Bank: A large collection of practice questions covering all content areas, complete with detailed explanations for both correct and incorrect answers. 
2. Flexible Learning: Offers a variety of content with different levels of difficulty in practice questions, helping you focus on the areas that need the most improvement. 
3. Readiness Exams: Full-length practice exams that simulate the actual NCLEX® format, featuring varying difficulty levels and a variety of question types. 
4. Content Review Materials: Video lectures, study guides, and supplementary resources designed to reinforce essential nursing concepts.  
5. Test-Taking Strategy Instruction: Guidance on how to approach various question types, such as “select all that apply” (SATA), along with strategies for time management.  
6. Personalized Study Plan: The ability to create a study schedule tailored to your individual needs and learning pace.  
7. Expert Faculty: Instruction and support provided by experienced nurses and educators.  
8. Structured Learning: The course offers a well-organized curriculum that covers all essential content for the NCLEX®, ensuring that you don’t overlook any categories.  
9. Personalized Feedback: Some courses provide personalized feedback based on your performance in practice exams, enabling you to focus on areas that need improvement.  
10. Exam Simulation: Practice exams closely replicate the format and difficulty level of the actual NCLEX®, helping you become familiar with the test environment. 

Reminders For Choosing an NCLEX® Prep Course 

When choosing an NCLEX® prep course, make sure it covers all types of question formats. In 2023, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) introduced new question types, including bowtie and drop-down questions, in addition to traditional formats like multiple-choice and SATA. Remember that approximately 10% of your exam will consist of these new question types. Each NCLEX® exam also now includes three unfolding case studies, each with six different questions and item types. A quality NCLEX® prep course, such as Slone NCLEX, will feature these unfolding case studies to mirror the actual exam. 

In addition to quality and varied practice questions, prep courses need to offer detailed rationales for each answer choice. Understanding the rationale behind each correct answer reinforces your knowledge and helps solidify your understanding of key nursing concepts. Moreover, the rationales should thoroughly explain why the other options are incorrect, enabling you to identify common pitfalls and misconceptions. 

Understanding the “why” is crucial for retaining information, as it fosters deeper cognitive processing and connects new knowledge with what you already know. This not only aids in recall but also enhances your ability to apply concepts in different situations. By seeking the “why,” you engage more deeply with the material and develop critical thinking skills. When you can explain the rationale behind a topic, it reflects a solid understanding. 

Focus On Comprehensive Review Materials 

Find a course that offers a comprehensive review of important nursing topics, ensuring you have a strong grasp of the material before the exam. This is where having a quality and current NCLEX® prep course is HUGE! Make sure that whatever course you choose addresses all eight client needs categories and all six clinical judgment categories that are tested over on the NCLEX®.  

The 8 client need categories: 

1. Management of Care, which tests your ability to prioritize, delegate, and coordinate care for yourself, your patients, and other healthcare professionals.  
2. Safety and Infection Control, which tests your ability to follow proper isolation precautions, sterile techniques, and general infection control protocols, such as proper hand hygiene.  
3. Health Promotion and Maintenance, which tests your ability to properly educate patients on their preventative care and healthy lifestyle choices.  
4. Psychosocial Integrity, which assesses your ability to assess and address a client’s emotional and psychological needs.   
5. Basic Care & Comfort, which tests your ability to provide care to your patients in a safe way that promotes their care and ensures their basic needs are met and their activities of daily living (ADLs) are safely performed to the best of their ability.  
6. Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies, which test your understanding of medications, their administration, dosages, and side effects.  
7. Reduction of Risk Potential, which tests your ability to identify and manage potential risks for patients such as medication errors, fall prevention techniques, and safe sex practices; and  
8. Physiological Adaptation, which tests your ability to understand how the body responds to alterations in their health and the interventions needed to prevent further harm from occurring.  

The 6 Clinical Judgment Categories: 

1. Recognize Cues  
2. Analyze Cues  
3. Prioritize Hypotheses  
4. Generate Solutions  
5. Take Actions, and   
6. Evaluate Outcomes.   

NCLEX® Prep Course Test-Taking Strategies 

In addition to mastering the content, the best prep courses teach valuable test-taking strategies that boost students’ confidence as they head into the exam. Find NCLEX® prep courses that offer full-length practice tests that mimic the real exam setting, helping familiarize yourself with the testing format you will see on your exam day. Choose an NCLEX® prep course that provides support from experienced nursing instructors who can provide guidance, clarification, and encouragement throughout your entire preparation journey. 

The Bottom Line 

Enrolling in an NCLEX® prep course opens the door to countless advantages that can elevate your preparation journey. These courses empower you to focus on the most vital and relevant material, ensuring that each study session is productive and efficient. With a wealth of targeted practice questions and detailed explanations, you gain a deeper understanding of not just the correct answers but the reasoning behind them. 

Finally, an NCLEX® prep course helps pinpoint specific areas for further review, allowing you to channel your efforts where they will have the greatest impact. You will learn essential test-taking strategies that enhance your performance under exam conditions. By simulating the real exam environment, the course builds your confidence, making you feel well-prepared and reducing anxiety. This comprehensive approach aids in critical thinking and prepares you to tackle questions with confidence during the exam.