NCLEX Exam Tips and Strategies

If you are reading this, you probably have a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN) or an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN). You should leverage the knowledge assimilated during your years in college as well as practical experience to attempt the NCLEX. The cardinal guideline rule in answering NCLEX question items is “Priority” and “Safety of the Client”. The NCLEX tests are all about prioritizing care and safety of the patient.

Many Nursing School Professors might tell you that you need not memorize anything. But the truth of the matter is that basic lab values, heart rates and respiratory rates must be memorized for you to be successful in this exam. If you don’t remember the normal ranges, you will have no chance of answering several questions on the NCLEX.

Critical thinking is important and you will need to select answers that require further assessment, data collection and factual information. It is also important to note that notifying the physician or contacting other health care workers is not the correct answer in many NCLEX or CGFNS question items. If equipment breaks down or the patient is in trouble, work on resolving the patient’s immediate issues and getting the client to a safe environment before getting someone to fix the equipment. NCLEX and CGFNS scenarios attempt to determine competencies related to all of the above situations. Remember the law, Privacy, HIPAA and Advance Directives.

30 NCLEX Exam Tips to Remember

Remember that your Nursing degree has prepared you for the NCLEX. Be confident!
Practice Critical Thinking and apply it in your everyday life
Study for each sub-category of the exam individually
Focus on your weak areas and face your fears head-on instead of avoiding them
Do not cram for the exam. Practice Review Exam questions at least one month in advance
Stay away from negative talk or speculation about the exam with other students
Develop and maintain a Positive confident attitude
Attend a Review Exam class or subscribe to an Online Review Exam
Form a Review Study group and pool funds to subscribe for a Review Exam
Get a Study buddy if you can’t join a group
Use Skype to video conference with your study buddy. You will focus if you are being watched
Be helpful to others if they need your help. Helping others reinforces concepts
Work through several timed practice review tests prior to the exam on your own
Never guess. Always use a process of intelligent elimination
You can't go back and change an answer. So focus on the Next Question
Concentrate on the current question instead of worrying if you were right or wrong
Watch out for the words: Except, Always, Not, May and Sometimes in all questions.
Understand the question first. You cannot answer something you don’t understand
Trust yourself and pick the answer you believe is best after eliminating the distracters
Always think about the safety of the patient when answering the questions
Always prioritize the options while thinking about the most effective method of care
Have a light meal before your exam and drink plenty of fluids
Try to be in a relaxed mood. Do not take the exam if you are not in the right frame of mind
Avoid excess caffeine or alcohol for at least a week before your exam
Wear layered clothing to the exam. You never know if it might be too hot or too cold for you
Practice with a stop-watch and take a watch to the test
Practice going to bed early for at least a week before your exam
Get a good night’s sleep before the exam
Know the route to the testing center. Print directions or program your GPS
Make a check-list of items to take with you for the exam such as ID and copy of your ATT

Invest in yourself,   Prepare with Confidence

Vipra Med offers web based online NCLEX, CGFNS and NNAAP Review Exams for Nursing Students. The Review exams have the following features:

• Optimized for the iPad and Android Tablet devices
• Over 3000 NCLEX Question Items that are parallel to the real NCLEX Exam Questions
• Developed by Ex-Kaplan and Tenured MSN, Ph.D. Professors from Universities across the US
• Computerised Adaptive Testing (CAT) Engine simulation of Pearson Vue CAT
• Coverage of all Question Item formats
• All Question Items at a similar or higher cognitive level
• Detailed Rationale that enables your Critical Thinking
• Avoidance of the need to memorize content
• Largest repository of Nursing and Medical test content online
• Monthly update of the Question Bank
• Quarterly expansion of Question Items