Tips When Doing An NCLEX Review

By Elizabeth Fisher


NCLEX or National Council Licensure Examination has its one and only purpose. This is to determine whether you are safe to begin a practice as an entry level nurse. This test is far different from any tests you have experienced in your nursing school. School exams are often knowledge based, while this exam will tests your application and analysis based on the knowledge you have learned in school. It will test you thinking skills in making nursing judgments.

This serves as a first step for your career and final obstacle for your nursing career. It is important for you to find easy ways to overcome this. So here are some NCLEX review techniques to help you prepare for the exam.

First tip is to focus on critical thinking and memorization. These are a necessity in nursing, so you cannot be surprised if ever they are needed to pass this exam. Some questions may contain multiple right answers, but you need to choose the most right answer for a certain scenario among those choices. There are some types of questions that will rely on memorization. Topics that are usually under this type are disease symptoms, normal lab values, and drug side effects.

Second is do not cram for the exam. After graduating for a nursing program for four years, and if studying for the last and final exams seems to kill you, think again if ever you are considering to do it again and cram for the NCLEX. You should try to focus on the areas that you found very difficult when you are still a student, instead of focusing on the detailed part of every topic you have learned.

Third, research on the exam backgrounds. Research on websites and check information on the exam itself. A CAT or computerized adaptive testing method is being used by NCLEX to reestimate your ability in answering each item, in which is based on those previous questions. Each examinee has different sequence of questions.

Fourth is you should take a lot of practice tests. You must be able to experience test like situations for you will be prepared through this. Some questions may trick you which will make you think more. By practicing, you can be able to have more focus on the root of the situation and avoid distractions like irrelevant information.

Fifth tip is you should come prepared. Arrive early at the exam location. Dress comfortably and do not forget to bring any acceptable ID and expect to leave your bags and gadgets in a different room. Sixth is try to visualize each situation. Envision each scenario or question and think about what you would do based on what you have learned.

Seventh is eliminate those false answer immediately. Try to see the answers as true or false. If there are choices which you think are false, eliminate it immediately and try to compare the answers left. Take note that there are some instances that the answer which you think is right is actually wrong.

The eighth and last is keep your cool. You should never freak out. Always keep your mind relaxed and remind yourself to keep calm. So these are just some helpful tips. And now you are one step closer to your career.




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