Passing the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses, or NCLEX-PN, is mandatory for anyone who wants to work as a practical or vocational nurse in the US. Most graduates aim to take it shortly after finishing their nursing program – when concepts and information are still fresh in their minds – so they can quickly move into a career. But as many nurses will agree, preparing for the NCLEX-PN shouldn’t be taken lightly. The following guide walks would-be test takers through the entire process, from registration to a break down of the exam’s categories to study tips to getting results.
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Get the information you need to get organized, create a study plan, and feel prepared and confident for the big test day. Before the Exam: Application and Registration The eligibility requirements to take the NCLEX are determined by each state’s board of nursing or an equivalent regulatory body. Therefore, before getting too deep in the process, prospective LPNs and LVNs should contact their state nursing board for information on requirements and to get the registration process rolling. Nonetheless, there are still some general steps all students must take before studying, regardless of the state in which they plan to work. 5 Schedule a time and place to take the exam Holding an ATT will allow applicants to log in and choose a time and place to take the NCLEX.
Individuals must take the exam within 90 days of receiving their ATT; Pearson VUE does not issue refunds to those who do not take the test within that timeframe. Exam centers are located in all 50 states. Preparing for the NCLEX-PN There is no standard recommendation of when to start studying for the NCLEX-PN. Some experts recommend starting six months in advance, while many nurses recommend closer to two or three months. However, what everyone agrees on is that applicants should not cram for the exam. Starting three months in advance — assuming one can set aside three or four hours a day to study — should be sufficient.
But creating a study plan a little further out can be valuable too, because it will give applicants time to register for and take prep courses, find a tutor, or put together a study group. There are five typical ways to study for the exam, which most utilize in some combination. Getting tutoring Though perhaps an expensive route, a good tutor combines the intimacy of a study group with the structure of a taught course. Tutors are able to focus on shoring up individual students’ weaknesses since they are not teaching an entire class.
While all study methods can lead to favorable results, certain strategies may be more successful than others for applicants, depending on their individual learning style and preferences. Below is a comparison of some of the most common strategies to help you determine which style would work best. Cons Can be costly Does not necessarily come with other materials, such as practice question guides, textbooks and/or access to online tutorials Study Tips For some, studying for the NCLEX-PN is even more difficult than the actual exam itself. Staying focused and motivated – not to mention setting aside a good chunk of time every day – to review material can be challenging. While complete isolation with study materials may work well for some, here are other study tips to help get you through the process so you feel well prepared for the big day. It’s an open secret that students can figure out answers to questions — or at least eliminate wrong answers — not by remembering their nursing training but by using critical thinking skills.
In other words, if taking tests isn’t your strong suit, you can become one by learning a few tricks, such as:. Look for words in the question that are repeated in one of the answers, either verbatim or as a synonym. It could be the right one. Check for opposite answers because one of them is probably the correct answer. Why else would the exam put so much focus on that stream of thought?. See if there is an “all of the above” answer hiding. If all of the answers are quite close, there’s probably one answer that actually encompasses the other three.
That answer may be the right one. Regardless of the study method they choose, applicants should make sure to spend a significant amount of time learning and practicing critical thinking strategies as these can can help test takers narrow down answers to the one that makes the most sense. Some students want to know how many questions they got right and wrong. Others want to see which questions they got wrong so they can memorize the answers. But a winning strategy is to delve deeper into the question and seek out an explanation for why the answer was incorrect (or correct).
Doing this will not just increase test takers’ likelihood of nailing that question if it appears on the actual test — it will improve their ability to answer any question with a similar logic structure and also helps individuals understand and retain practical nursing information better, which should be the big picture goal of studying for the NCLEX-PN. It’s easy to say that test takers shouldn’t get stressed about time or panic while taking the test, but it’s harder to get to that level of comfort unless they simulate the examination experience ahead of time. For one thing, Pearson VUE has strict regulations for NCLEX-PN procedures – applicants aren’t allowed to take items such as lip balm, watches, coats or water into the testing room. Some items, such as cell phones, can’t be accessed at all, even during break times.
Would-be test takers should seriously consider investing in, and blocking off five hours to complete a practice exam as if it’s the real thing at least once before taking the real test. It might seem counterintuitive, especially given the previous recommendation, but many students waste time taking practice tests instead of targeting their weakest areas. Practice tests should be used to pinpoint the areas and concepts applicants need to work on most.
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With eight categories and subcategories, students don’t necessarily need to keep practicing all eight. Moreover, not all questions are multiple choice. The NCLEX-PN now uses some “” such as fill-in-the-blank questions and charts to be interpreted. Therefore, students should craft their study plan to question types and categories in which they are weakest. They can take another one or two practice tests later on to track their improvement, make adjustments to their approach, and become comfortable with the exam experience.
While it’s tempting to cram up until the last minute, many experts recommend relaxing the day before the exam. The exam does not primarily test memory or recall of nursing facts. Rather, it is testing for cognitive processes. Poor cognitive function is directly correlated to lack of sleep, according to a, which suggests that students should instead adopt a consistent study schedule that includes a healthy amount of breaks and sleep. Therefore, students who create a study plan well in advance shouldn’t feel bad about taking the day before the exam off so their brain can rest up — so long as they also take it easy on the alcohol, which impairs cognitive function as well. Breaking Down the NCLEX-PN There are four sections of the NCLEX-PN: The first and fourth sections have several subcategories, leaving eight total knowledge areas covered by the exam. Covers all the different changes to a patient’s physical condition that may take place in a hospital setting, e.g.
Blood flow, electrolyte imbalances, allergic reactions and emergencies. (7 to 13 percent) On Exam Day: What to Expect After putting in many hours of studying and getting a good night’s rest, it’s equally important to have an idea of what you’ll be getting into on the day of the exam so you can manage your time wisely and also avoid any unnecessary stress. Below is a list of common questions that NCLEX test takers have on exam day to give you an idea of what to expect and help you get into the proper mindset. What do applicants need to bring? The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), which develops the test, advises test takers to arrive at least 30 minutes before the exam with a photo ID that matches the name they provided when registering. Any personal items have to be left in a storage locker outside the testing room.
Such items include jewelry, food, wallets and purses, and winter clothing such as hats and coats. Other items, such as cellphones and study materials, will be collected by a test administrator separately before the exam, and cannot be accessed during breaks. Students will receive a white board and marker on which they can work out problems. Earplugs are also available on request.
How should people manage their time? Although candidates should not dilly-dally, only two percent of those who take the exam fail to finish. During the actual exam, applicants are not allowed to skip questions – they have to answer before they can move onto the next question – and they have no way to go back and change their answers later. Students should plan on spending about a minute for each question, but if they occasionally go over they shouldn’t stress. Here’s why: The test is calibrated to find students’ ability levels.
As a result, it doesn’t move from an easy question to a really difficult one. Instead, test takers have a decent shot at getting the answer if they think critically about it.
Therefore, applicants should avoid guessing without at least ruling out an answer or two first. After the Exam There is no published passing score to reach on the NCLEX-PN. Rather, the NCSBN uses a formula to calculate an acceptable passing score.
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Test takers will continue to be asked questions until the algorithm is 95 certain that an individual test taker has the knowledge and competence to be a licensed practical nurse. A person who gets all the first 85 questions right should be in. If they get them all wrong, on the other hand, the test has probably seen enough to levy a judgment. After applicants finish the exam, they’ll hear back on one of two things about six weeks later: If they passed, they’ll hear it from their state nursing board and will receive further instructions on finalizing the licensure process.
If they didn’t, they’ll receive a Candidate Performance Report with a breakdown of how they did in each category and subcategory so they can know in which areas they fell below the passing standard. Some state boards, however, allow candidates to see unofficial results sooner if they pay $7.95.
After the exam score is verified by a human, Pearson VUE will send the candidate results within two business days. These will be followed by official results from the state nursing board six weeks later.
Q&A: Retaking the NCLEX. What are the steps for retaking the test? Aspiring practical and vocational nurses who need to retake the test should contact their state nursing board for details and to ask if they’ll need to resubmit their licensure application or simply pay an additional fee as these requirements can vary from state to state. The steps for registering and paying with Pearson VUE remain the same. Pearson charges $200 — the same as an initial test. Once the applicant receives an ATT, she or he can schedule an exam for within 90 days. NCLEX-PN Resources.