NCLEX Season: How to Prepare for Licensure Testing
And the anxiety continues…….
Are you feeling overwhelmed preparing for the NCLEX? This is completely natural. Let’s channel that anxiety into productive energy that will have your name followed by registered or licensed practical nurse.
Completing nursing school is a significant achievement that showcases your unwavering dedication, hard work, and perseverance. It is important to take a moment to acknowledge and celebrate the milestones achieved throughout this challenging yet rewarding journey. Embrace this well-earned accomplishment with pride and confidence as you prepare to embark on a fulfilling career path as a compassionate and skilled nurse.
So, what are the next steps after graduation? Preparing for the Next Generation NCLEX licensure exam. This standardized test is a requirement to become a licensed nurse in the United States. Many nursing graduates dedicate a significant amount of time to studying and preparing for this exam to increase their chances of success. The NCLEX covers a wide range of topics related to nursing practice, requiring test-takers to demonstrate their knowledge and critical thinking skills. Once the exam is passed, nurses can apply for licensure and begin working in your chosen field of nursing.
To reduce anxiety around testing, equip yourself with knowledge about the test and how it works. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) has so many resources to help with NGN NCLEX test success. Go to their website and download the testing blueprint, and practice questions. Outlined are the question categories and subcategories on the exam. Why not hear it from the horse’s mouth? After all, they created the test.
Tips for preparing to take the NCLEX exam for nursing students:
Understand the Exam Format: Familiarize yourself with the NCLEX exam format, including the types of questions and timing. All of this information is outlined on the website for the NCSBN: https://www.ncsbn.org/index.page.
Create a Study Schedule: Using the testing blueprint, develop a study schedule that covers all the content areas tested on the NCLEX. It is important to allow enough time for review and practice questions. Creating a study schedule that allows for breaks and sufficient rest can help alleviate some of the pressure associated with exams.
Use Reliable Resources: Utilize reputable NCLEX review materials such as textbooks, online resources, and practice exams to supplement your studies. I personally love the Saunders NCLEX study guides. Not only do they have fantastic test questions, their disease process overviews are chef’s kiss!
Focus on Weak Areas: Focus on strengthening your weaker subject areas, while maintaining proficiency in areas of strength.
Take Practice Tests: Regularly take practice tests to assess your knowledge, identify weak areas, and get used to the exam's format. Practice answering sample questions and taking mock tests to familiarize yourself with the format and pacing of the exam. There are so many sites that provide NGN NCLEX style test questions. It’s all about where you want to put your money.
As for me, I like to start with free first. NCSBN provides an NCLEX preview guide with questions for download https://www.nclex.com/prepare.page. Nurse Labs has a ton of free NCLEX style questions. Here is the link: https://nurseslabs.com/nclex-practice-questions/. Uworld is a popular paid question bank. They do have a trial period if you sign up to purchase the bank for your licensure exam. https://nursing.uworld.com/nclex/sample-questions/. Archer Review is another popular paid question bank. https://nurses.archerreview.com/nclex-rn. If you are using a paid resource, investigate the terms of cancellation so you won’t keep getting charged after you pass.
Study Groups: If you had an established study group in nursing school, do not disband just because school is over! Or consider joining or forming study groups with nursing students to review material, discuss challenging topics, and quiz each other. You can even set up a group study session appointment for NCLEX prep with me using the Book An Appointment link above.
Practice Time Management: Practice answering questions within the time limits to improve time management skills during the actual exam. If you received testing accommodations while you were in school, make sure that those accommodations follow you to the testing environment, if applicable.
Prioritize Self-Care: Don’t get me wrong, you should be out in these streets having a good ol’ time after graduation. But when it’s time to buckle down and start licensure prep, ensure you get adequate rest, eat healthily, and manage your stress during your exam preparation. Implement stress-reduction techniques such as deep breathing exercises or progressive muscle relaxation to calm nerves before a test.
Review Test-Taking Strategies: Familiarize yourself with test-taking strategies such as the process of elimination, strategic guessing, and staying calm under pressure.
Stay Positive: Walk in the testing center with your head high like you already passed! Own your accomplishments and all the hours that you have put in. Keep this positive energy and mindset, and believe in your abilities, knowledge, and skills.
I am so proud of you for getting to this point! Set yourself up for success, and it will help reduce testing anxiety!