Most of the states require aspiring nurses or licensed practical nurses to take an examination known as the National Council Licensure Exam. This examination can be taken online or at an approved local center. Once you pass the examination you will be required to take a state administered practical test, in addition to taking and passing a written test. If you do not pass the first time, you have the option of taking the second examination, for a fee of course.
After you have passed the NCLEX-RN examination, you may need to take a state-administered nurse aide exam. You may also be required to take a licensing examination in order to work as a nurse aide in a specific medical facility. The state will determine what licensing exams you have to take. Some facilities require aspiring nurses to take a three-credit hour online nursing assistant training course, before they can apply for the exam. Others only require a two-credit hour class, which will get you ready for the licensing exam.
Online examination help is available in a variety of forms. There are many websites that offer free sample tests, and practice tests. These tests will give you a good idea of the format of the actual exam. The exams are available from all educational services that are accredited by the state. They are administered a couple of times each year, prior to the actual exam date. You can request a copy of your official examination from your local state board.
Before taking the online examinations, it is a good idea to read the directions. Each question should have an answer section, and the correct response should be marked on the page. Look over the questions several times, and make sure you understand the concepts being taught. Be sure to take plenty of notes, and formulate a strategy for your response. Remember to keep track of your time. Stay focused and work toward answering all of the questions.
Once you have studied for the NCLEX-RN, you will need to practice your question answering skills. Familiarize yourself with the types of questions that will be asked on the exam. There will be quite a few academic questions on the exam, and you will need to be ready to address the topics, as well as formulating strategies to answer those questions. Review the concepts and topics that were covered in the previous topics section.
After you have reviewed the material in the previous sections, review the topics and test passages online. Study hard, and review the essay prompts. These questions will be difficult, and you will need to practice your ability to answer questions quickly and correctly. You will find that the NCLEX-RN is a test that is designed to test your ability to read and comprehend materials and use critical thinking skills in a short period of time. Use the previous topics section as a refresher course.
The third area that will help you prepare for the NCLEX-RN is research. Although you probably already know most of the information that you will need for the exam, it is always helpful to have another source of information. During the preparation process, find books, websites, and blogs that cover the topic that you are likely to be asked on the NCLEX-RN. You can also watch videos from previous NCLEX exams. These materials should not only help you brush up on the topics you have learned in your previous classes, but they will help you determine the types of questions you will face on the NCLEX-RN.
