So I think I know what I am supposed to do now, don’t I? Of course I do. Since then, I have never looked back, and I still plan on passing the NCLEX this year, regardless of whether I fail my nursing licensing examination. It is better to be safe than sorry when it comes to taking any kind of exam, including a nursing one.
So, how can I make sure I am preparing properly? You simply need to take adequate preparation classes, including practicing as many sample questions as possible, and getting a grasp on just exactly what will be asked on the NCLEX. And although we all think we know what the NCLEX is all about, the reality is that very few people who are preparing for the NCLEX take the time to prepare fully and effectively for the exam.
Let’s talk a little bit about preparing for a test like this. Most people prepare in some fashion, whether through reading test questions or practice tests at home, or taking a practice exam online. All of these things are great and can help you prepare for the NCLEX, but there are a couple of big differences with nursing practice tests. The first is that they only test one aspect of the NCLEX, which is basically the four core subjects that you must learn to pass the NCLEX with.
To understand this, you need to understand just why taking the four core subjects is so important to your chances of passing the NCLEX. Think about it: nursing care requires a variety of different skills. First, doctors have to assess patients’ needs, assessing their physical abilities and their mental state, then making the decision to take an action based on those assessments. Second, nurses have to assess the patient’s safety and make sure the care they provide is done correctly. Finally, nurses have to encourage patients to participate in the process of care-giver and patient communication, and then make sure everyone gets what they want out of the nursing process.
It’s these skills that are the focus of the NCLEX. Because all of these different aspects of nursing are so involved, nursing school takes years to get right. And because no two nursing students will ever be exactly alike, the types of questions that are asked on the NCLEX must be different enough for each student to master them in a unique way. The good news is, there are a number of different resources you can use to help you study for the NCLEX. Here are two of the most useful:
The first is online practice exams. These are typically timed so that you know exactly how long it will take you to complete them – much like the official exam, you will only have one try before the time expires. Using these timed exams, you can see just what kind of questions you’ll face on the actual exam day. Not only will you have time to prepare effectively, but you’ll have the luxury of doing it from the comfort of your own home at any time of the day or night. Online practice exams are a great way to prepare and study for this important exam.
The second is a popular online resource: forums. Forums allow you to interact directly with people who have already gone through the process of taking the NCLEX. They give you access to their tips, tricks and techniques, which you can then employ when you’re preparing for the exam. It is one of the most effective ways to learn what you need to know about passing the nursing exam.
