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10 Tips and Tricks for the NCLEX PN® exam

and surgeons) and registered nurses in a variety of healthcare settings. Individuals attend accredited LPN training programs with such courses as pharmacology, nursing, biology and supervised practicums in clinical settings. After completion of this field of study, the LPN can sit for the NCLEX-PN® exam.

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) provides the NCLEX-PN® Exam for the LPN. This test over 5 hours contains an average of 117 questions, but if the candidate fails to answer questions correctly, the number of questions can increase up to 205. The number of items varies between individuals, because it is based on the candidate’s response to previous items. A total of 74 percent of NCLEX-PN® test-takers passed in 2018.

Top ten tips and tricks for studying and taking the examination comprise of the following items:

source: https://www.nclexexamination.com/post/10-tips-and-tricks-for-the-nclex-pn-exam

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A Surprising Victory

The Journey Starts At Home

My nursing journey did not begin the way I had anticipated.

My mom was an OR nurse for over 30 years and was an inspiration and guidance to me as I began nursing school in the fall of 2017. All was well as I tackled the books and began to take the possibility of becoming a nurse very seriously.

About two months into the program, my mom suffered a large stroke that required her to be hospitalized for several months. I was shaken by this unexpected turn of events, but I feel grateful for the opportunity to see nurses in action.

The care that my mother received was phenomenal; and she has since recovered, thanks to the hard work of her health care team.

As for me, it felt like such a struggle to deal with her hospitalization while trying to juggle the nuances of nursing school. I felt lost, overwhelmed, and unsure of myself more than ever.

Going from the hospital and seeing my own family member in a life or death situation taught me more empathy for my patients than any textbook ever could.

I realized that working at a hospital wasn’t just a job to clock in and out of.

My presence would mean everything to the patient and their family during their time of need.

This wake-up call scared me silly.

The Stress Tests

Every single exam in nursing school was torture, regardless of how much I had studied. Studying was scary. Tests were scary. The thought of killing a hypothetical patient with the wrong multiple choice answer tormented me at every question.

I would lament over every possible answer and make some pretty stupid choices because I would think so much into the question.

sorce: https://www.nclexexamination.com/post/a-surprising-victory

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MY NCLEX RN STORY

I apologize not being able to update for the past month. Basically i was very stressed out trying to pass my NCLEX exam.

For now, I would like to write my NCLEX journey and hopefully give hope to people who failed at least once just like me.

Im a batch 2009 BSN graduate from Philippines. anyone can count that for sure … thats 8 years out of school…My previous work were all straight Neonatal intensive care unit nurse, no adult experience. I failed nclex once as well last 2015, when i was in UK, i am really unprepared that time.

having said that, the failure was a big hit to my ego. it felt so hard to try one more time. basically, i am scared i will fail again. and i have a hard time finding the courage to take a leap of faith to study because the fear of failing is always higher. i am human after all and my ego has been high eversince i was young hehe.

I left my application unattended because i have to move from UK to USA so that i can be with my now hubby.it means paperwork, making sure i did everything needs to be done in UK so i wont need to come back… But eversince i was in US, this has always been in my head… i need to be an RN – BECAUSE I WANT TO BE ONE. i really cant picture myself being in another job , maybe temporary yes, but not for long.

A lot of people have helped me, even those whom i become friends with here in my blog helped me, giving me reviewers, saunders online questions and LA charity pdf questions… i have read through a lot of individual successes and failures , advices from different people how they passed.

While studying for my NCLEX exam i have so much paperwork needed to be done because i am also applying for nclex california to know what are the subjects i will need to restudy…cgfns ces and lvn application. those were hard to complete as well because i am RN in both Philippines and UK.

I started gaining back the courage to study around October. i have a lot of struggle throughout,naming a few were the name change, visa interview, changing my name and address in NYBON, lets not forget contacting UK was hard too because of time difference…those were just a few.. but i really have a very loving and understanding hubby.

source: https://www.nclexexamination.com/post/my-nclex-rn-story

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Passing the NCLEX-RN Exam in 75 Questions

Review Tips / Study Guide

SO! I can finally write a blog about passing the NCLEX-RN exam in just 75 questions because that’s exactly what I was able to accomplish last July – pass it in just 75 questions AND for the first time! To begin with and make everything clear, I’m not saying that what I’ll be writing here is a fail-safe guideline and a 100% effective way to pass the NCLEX-RN exam.

There’s no such thing as that. Studying and preparing for any major exam is highly individualized. What I’m gonna share with you though are the things I did that worked for me, and I’m hoping might also help you in some ways. Feeling optimistic? Let’s get started!

source: https://www.nclexexamination.com/post/passing-the-nclex-rn-exam-in-75-questions

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Studying the NCLEX-RN

As the first year of Canada’s new entry-to-practice exam, the NCLEX-RN, draws to a close, preliminary results are disconcerting for nursing students, educators and regulators.

In 2011, the Canadian Council of Registered Nurse Regulators (CCRNR) announced that the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. (NCSBN), an American organization, would begin offering NCLEX as of Jan. 1, 2015. Canadian nursing graduates in every province and territory (except Quebec) need to pass the NCLEX as a requirement for registration and licensure.

“Canada’s RN nursing regulators made the decision to move to the NCLEX-RN using a RFP process,” CCRNR president Anne Coghlan says. “The NCLEX-RN met all of our requirements for an entry-to-practice exam. In addition, extensive research that compared Canadian and U.S. entry-level nursing practice found that practice was similar.”

NCLEX is a computer-adaptive test (CAT), which is an electronic system that adjusts to each test-taker’s ability as questions are answered. As exam writers answer questions, the system assesses them on how well or poorly the test-taker performed before generating the next question. No two exams will be the same. According to NCSBN’s website, CAT generates less “easy” items for high-ability candidates and less “difficult” items for low-ability candidates to avoid having candidates guess on items that are too difficult, which can skew results.

“The number of questions a person answers is determined by how long it takes for the CAT algorithm to confirm that the writer has responded consistently above the passing standard,” Coghlan explains. “The fewest number of questions it takes to determine this is 75; the maximum number of questions a writer will be asked is 265.”

During the three years between announcing the change and launching the exam, CCRNR and NCSBN worked with educators and provided access to several resources to give them the information they needed to prepare students for the exam, Coghlan says.

However, those who wrote the exam in the first half of this year feel differently about how the change was implemented. “We were told in second year that we would be writing the NCLEX and I honestly think some of the professors were as surprised as us,” Alberta graduate Christine Blacquière says.

“For the past four years, we were all taught a curriculum based on the [old exam] and at the last minute we were given a different test developed by a different country with different curricula,” says B.C. graduate Nikki Doherty. “When we pointed out glaring issues arising from practice exams, we were told that when it came to the loads of specialty content we were being asked and hadn’t been taught, we were outright told to give it our ‘best guess.’”

Doherty said prep material included information about U.S. government branches and health-care legislation and questions about private insurance, interpreting EKGs, biological warfare, cultural care related to larger American minority groups, pharmacology, and specialties, including maternity, pediatrics and oncology.

Coghlan disagrees with critics who call NCLEX an American-centric exam, saying Canadian and American regulators, educators and nurses worked together to develop the current exam. “The NCLEX is not an American exam, nor is it a Canadian exam: it is a nursing exam. It does not test the writer’s knowledge of a particular health-care system, history, or legislation. It tests whether an applicant to the nursing profession has the knowledge, skill, and judgment needed to provide safe care to the public.”

Less-than-hoped-for pass rates

On Sept. 1, Canada-wide and provincial/territorial breakdowns of the exam results for the first six months of the year were released. The national pass rate was 70.6 per cent — more than 10 percentage points below the Canadian pass rate in recent years and eight points below the American pass rate.

source: https://www.nclexexamination.com/post/studying-the-nclex-rn

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Top 10 Tips: How To Pass The NCLEX The First Time

Graduating from nursing school is an enormous accomplishment. Nursing students have proven their competency in the classroom and clinical setting. They are at the verge of beginning a lifelong career in nursing. There’s just one small hurdle to overcome before officially becoming a Registered Nurse.

To earn licensure as a Registered Nurse, nursing school graduates must pass the NCLEX-RN (National Council Licensure Examination-Registered Nurse). This standardized, computer-based test is offered year-round in the US and Canada. The state in which you choose to sit for your test determines which nursing board will issue your first active RN license upon passing.

With the right preparation, passing the NCLEX is absolutely attainable for every nursing school graduate. That being said, the test should be taken seriously. Earning straight A’s or 4.0 GPA in nursing school does not predict success on the NCLEX.

To pass the NCLEX, students should plan to spend a minimum of 1-2 month studying – effective and targeted studying. If for whatever reason, the test-taker does not pass, it is possible to retake the NCLEX after a 45 day waiting period. Each exam attempt costs $200, so it’s in the best interest of nursing graduates to make their time and money worthwhile by passing the first time.

Here are 10 tips to pass on your first attempt:

1. UNDERSTAND THE NCLEX FORMAT

The NCLEX uses CAT format, or computerized adaptive testing. Meaning that no single exam is identical. During the course of the exam, the computer algorithm produces each new question based on the performance from previous questions. The test bank is comprehensive and comprises of different question styles and topic content.

The test will produce a minimum of 75 questions, and a maximum of 265 questions. A candidate passes the test when the tester has answered enough questions correctly to stay above the pass line with 95% confidence interval. The candidate will fail the test when they do not rise about the pass line with 95% confidence.

Think of it this way – there is a horizontal line on an axis and we will call it the “pass line.” Anything above it is passing, and anything below it is not passing. You start exactly on the line at question zero, and with each correct and incorrect answer, you get bumped up a notch and down a notch, respectively. With each correct answer, the computer will give progressively harder questions, to determine your peak knowledge.

To pass, you must ultimately rise to a point above the pass line that demonstrates competency with marginal doubt. The test can end at any point when this determination is made, between questions 75 – 265, or at the maximum time allowance (6 hours).

It is not useful to try to self-evaluate as you test. Don’t assume that because you got a few “easy” questions in a row that you are below pass level. Just focus on the questions at hand. What seems easy to you, might be challenging to someone else. Every question is as important as the next.

This exam is all about endurance. Prepare to sit the full time and then you won’t stress in the chance that you need to.

2. STRESS MANAGEMENT

For all of the nervous test-takers out there, don’t worry. There are ways to manage your stress. Test anxiety is a real thing, but you made it through nursing school, so just continue to prepare in whatever way worked for you in the past. Even if you don’t typically have test anxiety, there is a chance that you will be nervous just from the pressure of such an important test.

There are a couple key ways to keep stress at a minimum.

First, prepare for the exam seriously but don’t make studying your life. It’s important to still keep a balance in the weeks and months leading up to the exam.

Allot time in your days for exercise, proper sleep, and whatever you do for fun! By keeping a balance, your mind won’t build up the test moment to anything bigger than it actually is.

Also, when it comes time to actually take the NCLEX, do not study or cram information the day of. Take the morning before test to calm your mind. Focus on something that helps you stay grounded – cooking a nice breakfast, listening to music, going on a run, whatever works for you.

Ultimately, the best way to abate your nerves is to study appropriately. When you feel confident and prepared, the NCLEX doesn’t seem all that scary.

3. KNOW YOUR STUDY STYLE

We all have slightly different learning styles, and you probably know yours by now. If you understand concepts well with visual representation of information, it might behoove you draw out rough sketches of cardiac chambers, color-coded medication classes, etc. If you are an auditory learner, there are plenty of YouTube lectures online and podcasts that cover NCLEX. If you learn best through discussion, be sure to create a study group to talk through concepts together.

As a general rule, using mnemonic devices help most students with harder to learn concepts. Don’t just reread, rewrite, and copy old notes. Try connecting concepts. Think about what you are learning from a holistic approach and relate it to clinical experiences you had in school.

4. MAKE A STUDY PLAN

Commit to the preparation that the test deserves. Go into studying with a plan, here is an example:

Plan days to study. Set a schedule including which days of the week you will study, which days you will take off, and which you will use to take practice exams.

Make a goal before each study session. Maybe it’s to do x amount of practice questions, or master x specific content topic, but be intentional.

Studying without a plan is a waste of your time and won’t ultimately help you pass the NCLEX. It’s not about the hours you put in, it’s about how you use them. This is one exam you can absolutely not cram for – the NCLEX is a holistic test model that aims to test knowledge gained over the course of years, not days.

5. DON’T DRAW FROM PAST CLINICAL OR WORK EXPERIENCES

Unfortunately, for those of you who have previous experience working in hospitals as nursing techs or aides, the experience can cloud your ability to answer test questions. Even just from what you observed as student nurses in clinicals, it is usually apparent that many topics or clinical skills are different between textbooks and real-life healthcare.

The NCLEX is based on proven, researched-based, evidence-based practice. Even if your previous facility does something in a different way that is just as safe or just as correct, do not assume that this applies to the NCLEX. It’s important to answer NCLEX questions as if you don’t have any real-life constraints as a nurse.

Assume you have ample time and resources to perform each answer choice.

6. TEST-TAKING SKILLS

The NCLEX is just as much about knowing how the test is written as it is what knowledge it tests. Utilize test-taking strategies to eliminate wrong answers, avoid “extremes” like ALL or NONE answers, and remember to always put patient safety first.

With practice, you will notice themes in answers:

Always assess the patient first, calling the doctor right away isn’t usually the best first step, Use Airway-Breathing-Circulation approach, etc.

Use deductive reasoning even if you have no idea about the concepts behind the topic.

If all else fails, rely on that budding feeling that we like to call “nurse intuition.”

You will no doubt encounter the dreaded select-all-that-apply questions. Use the same, systematic approach to eliminate incorrect answer choices based on knowledge and wording of answers.

7. INVEST IN RESOURCES

It is definitely worthwhile to invest in practice exam books or enroll in a classroom review course. Some examples are Kaplan, UWorld, and NRSNG. Usually, people choose their study material based on reviews, peer references, or personal preference.

All exam resource companies produce exceptional guides to prepare you for the NCLEX exam, so spend some time browsing reviews to see which guidebook style fits you best.

8. PRACTICE QUESTIONS

Practice exams are absolutely the best and most important way to prepare – HOWEVER – simply taking the practice exam questions is only half of the process.

It is just as important to:

Look up questions that you answered incorrectly. Practice question banks provide explanations as to why each answer choice is correct or incorrect, as well as outlining the particular content topic it falls under.

Jot down notes of which concepts you want to revisit, so with your next study session, you can focus on problem areas.

Practice, practice, practice. It is especially useful to take at least 1 or 2 full online mock NCLEX exams so you are used to the experience of computer testing. Go through as much of the question bank as you can before exam day and you will be miles ahead.

9. TIPS TO PREPARE FOR EXAM DAY

Be sure to sleep well the week before the exam.

Bring snacks to the center to keep in your locker in case you choose to take a break during the exam.

Arrive early to the testing center, prepared with necessary documents for testing.

Put gas in your car the night before.

Set a reliable alarm.

Bring clothes you can layer in case you tend to get cold. If you try to control your environment as much as possible, it will help you to feel comfortable and prepared for the exam itself.

Schedule your exam time with your usual preference for testing. If you are a morning person, schedule a morning test. If you enjoy slow mornings and sleeping in, then schedule an afternoon exam.

10. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF

Most importantly, believe in yourself. You deserve to pass and you have already proven your potential as a nurse by graduating nursing school. This is only the final step on your exciting and new journey to being a Registered Nurse – so congratulations!