The NCLEX exam represents a crucial requirement on the pathway to the nursing profession in Canada, requiring applicants to have a solid command of clinical knowledge and skills. However, you should know that preparing for the NCLEX goes far beyond occasional studying and relying on fate.
To pass the NCLEX, you must implement effective strategies and set viable study goals. Understanding the importance of systematic preparation, time management, and accessing reliable study resources will be critical to your success.
Are you ready to explore the ultimate NCLEX guide to success? Move steadily towards achieving your career ambitions in nursing and take control of your NCLEX preparation wherever you are in Canada.
Key Takeaways
- Familiarize yourself with NCLEX content and assess your current knowledge
- Create a focused study plan and use reliable resources like review books and practice exams
- Practice answering questions using the nursing process to enhance critical thinking
- Trust your preparation, stay calm, and focus on your strengths during the exam.
How to study for the NCLEX-RN: 7 Key Tips to Excel!
While setting an NCLEX study plan is essential in preparing for the exam, successful studying requires more than simply following a list of topics. It would be best to adopt strategic study approaches that maximize your information retention, strengthen your clinical skills, and identify areas for improvement.
Here are some tips on effectively approaching studying for the NCLEX and optimizing your learning process!
1. Familiarized yourself with the NCLEX Content
Getting familiarized with the NCLEX syllabus is essential because you will know what topics to expect and what areas of study are priorities for preparation. This way, you can study more effectively, identify your strengths and areas for improvement, and increase your chances of success.
The NCLEX comprises four categories: Safe and Effective Care Environment, Health Promotion and Maintenance, Psychosocial Integrity, and Physiological Integrity. Understanding the content areas and their weight on the exam is essential to prioritize your study.
2. Evaluate Your Current Knowledge
Assessing your current NCLEX knowledge before you begin studying is essential to identify which areas of the test you have mastered and which areas need more work to focus your study efforts. In addition, taking periodic assessments allows you to measure your progress and see how you are progressing in your test preparation.
3. Make A Study Plan
A well-designed plan will allow you to effectively manage your time and resources, covering all key topics, and it will be ideal for setting realistic and achievable goals to keep you focused. Divide your study plan into blocks of study time, and try to be realistic about how much time you can devote to studying each day, allowing for essential rest and distraction time.
For a one-month plan, try to dedicate at least four to six hours of study time per day; for a three-month plan, try to devote two to three hours per day.
However, we recommend that you start studying as soon as possible to avoid an excessive study content load and test anxiety. Although it is recommended to take at least eight weeks to prepare for the NCLEX-RN exam, here is an example of an NCLEX study plan designed for one month:
- Week 1: Spend each day reviewing a specific area of the NCLEX exam, such as patient safety, primary care, pharmacology, etc. Use textbooks and online resources to review key concepts and remember to practice with related questions.
- Week 2: Continue to review specific NCLEX content areas. Spend additional time practicing practice questions and reviewing your answers to understand the concepts behind each question.
- Week 3: Use the third week of study to delve deeper into content areas that still need reinforcement and address additional practice questions. Begin to focus on time management.
- Week 4: Take full-length practice exams to familiarize yourself with the exam format and time to solve. Review your areas of weakness and review critical concepts, review all topics covered up to this point, and take a complete practice exam to evaluate your progress.
Remember to take short breaks to avoid burnout, maintain a proper sleep routine, eat well, and exercise to keep your mind and body in top condition. Here, you can discover the best NCLEX test-anxiety coping strategies and techniques.
it is recommended to take at least eight weeks to prepare for the NCLEX-RN exam.
4. Familiarize Yourself with the Question Types
The NCLEX questions are primarily multiple-choice with four possible answer choices; however, alternate question types exist. Alternate questions include multiple-response, fill-in-the-blank, hot spots, chart/exhibit, and drag-and-drop. All questions involve integrated nursing content.
NCLEX practice question example: The nurse is teaching the parents to instill eye drops in their 4-month-old daughter. The parents tell the nurse the daughter shuts her eyes tightly to avoid the drops. Which instruction by the nurse is most appropriate?
- The parents should instill the drops into the conjunctival sac.
- The parents should wait until their daughter is relaxed.
- The parents should open her eyes with a thumb and forefinger.
- The parents should put the drops into the inner canthus.
5. Use Quality Study Resources
Gather reputable study materials such as review books, online courses, and practice questions, and ensure your resources align with the NCLEX test plan. Below, you can find excellent NCLEX Tips and Resources on how to start practicing for the NCLEX.
- Accredited review books for the NCLEX-RN include Saunders Comprehensive Review, Lippincott Q&A Review, and NCLEX-RN Questions & Answers Made Incredibly Easy.
- Online preparation courses: The UWorld NCLEX Preparation, the NURSING.com - NCLEX Test Preparation, or the Kaplan NCLEX Test Preparation are good options for acquiring the knowledge needed.
- NCLEX Simulation Tests: NURSING.com offers NCLEX practice tests (SIMCLEX), Mometrix Test Preparation, and Kaplan.
- NCLEX Private Tutoring: Private tutoring can help you develop an effective study plan and the best approach to the NCLEX exam. Strengthen your current NCLEX knowledge with Superprof's private tutors, the best tutoring services in Canada.
6. Rely on the Nursing Process
If you were looking for the best way to approach NCLEX questions, the nursing process, or ADPIE, is precisely how you will begin to approach your NCLEX exam. ADPIE is an acronym that represents the five stages of a nursing process designed to provide quality healthcare to patients. It stands for assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, and evaluation.
Knowing the nursing process fosters critical thinking to analyze data, identify priorities, and make clinical judgments. Practicing these skills during study sessions will help you develop the critical thinking skills to answer NCLEX questions accurately. You can use the Nursing Process as a guide for preparing for the NCLEX in the following ways:
- Assessment: Assess the situation.
- Diagnosis: Provide a diagnosis.
- Planning: Develop a plan of action.
- Implementation: Implement the plan.
- Evaluation: Evaluate the outcome.
7. Know Your Weaknesses
By devoting more time to the areas you need to improve, you can focus your study efforts where they are needed most. This maximizes study time and allows you to effectively address areas of weakness, improve your confidence and performance during the exam, reduce anxiety and overall performance, and increase your chances of scoring higher on the NCLEX exam.
8. Trust Your Preparation
On the exam day, you must rely on the preparation you have been doing for weeks or months. Staying calm is critical to face the exam with mental clarity and concentration. In addition, it is essential to plan the exam day to avoid last-minute surprises that can cause unnecessary stress.
This includes knowing the exact location of the test center and how to get there. Ensure you cover all the NCLEX eligibility criteria and the necessary identification, such as a photo ID or passport, as it is required to enter the test center and verify your identity during registration.
Also, familiarize yourself with the test center's rules and regulations, such as policies on electronic devices, food and beverages, and any other specific requirements you must meet. This will help you avoid problems on test day and fully concentrate on your performance.
What is the best thing to use to study for the NCLEX?
In this blog, you will find quality resources that will help you complement your study sessions. However, no matter which study resources you choose, we always recommend including practice tests, as they are an excellent resource for familiarizing yourself with the NCLEX test questions, getting an overview of what content might be part of your strengths or weaknesses, and measuring your progress.
If you must brush up on specific areas, include certain days within your study plan to refresh the content through practice simulation tests and familiarize yourself with a realistic practice environment. Some sites you can consult to study using NCLEX practice tests are:
- Free NCLEX RN Practice Test from Mometrix Test Preparation
- NURSING.com offers NCLEX practice tests (SIMCLEX)
- The NCLEX practice tests
- Free NCLEX Nursing Practice Questions from Nurseslabs
- The Kaplan NCLEX Test Preparation
How can I focus on studying for NCLEX?
To focus on studying for the NCLEX, we recommend that you design a study schedule. With an exam as important as the NCLEX, students need to plan their preparation to do well. To create a workable study schedule that you can maintain throughout your preparation period, we recommend that you include the following:
By knowing our existing commitments and schedules, we can identify the most suitable times to study. This allows us to make the most of our available time and avoid conflicts with other important activities. A well-planned study schedule helps us distribute our tasks evenly over time, which can reduce feelings of overwhelm and stress.
In summary, a customized study approach is essential for adequate preparation for any exam, as it allows students to identify and address their individual needs specifically, optimize their study time, adapt to their learning styles, and increase their motivation and engagement, ultimately leading to better performance on the exam.
Contrary to popular belief, devoting all available time to study does not always lead to better academic performance. Rest and recreation are essential components of effective learning. A proper balance between study time and free time can improve information retention, concentration, and overall productivity, leading to better performance during the exam.
The most valuable tool aspiring nurses can use when preparing for the NCLEX exam is to plan and focus on what will make them successful and perform better when exam day arrives. Learn everything about the score to pass the NCLEX!
Wrap up!
Understanding the importance of setting achievable study goals, managing time effectively, and utilizing reliable study resources are essential for success. You can optimize your preparation efforts by familiarizing yourself with the exam content, evaluating your current knowledge, and devising a personalized study plan. With dedication, strategic planning, and a focus on customized needs, aspiring nurses will excel in the NCLEX exam.
Get started on the path to a successful career in nursing by leaning on the best private tutoring in Canada with Superprof! Master the NCLEX with just a click.
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