How Much Time Should I Take to Study for the NCLEX-RN Exam?
The NCLEX-RN Exam is the required entry to practice exam for all Registered Nurses who practice in the USA. The purpose of the exam is to determine your competency and understanding of knowledge learned over the course of your nursing degree as you transition to the practice setting. While the NCLEX may seem overwhelming, it shouldn’t be. The most difficult stage of your journey to become a Medliant USRN was completing your Bachelor of Nursing Degree, which included dozens of exams, papers, projects, and presentations. What’s one more exam?
Similar to other exams you took throughout your nursing degree, the NCLEX also requires preparation and studying. With the proper amount of time, effort, and practice, it is more than possible (and even probable) that you will pass the NCLEX on your very first attempt!
In 2020, the passing percent for first time NCLEX exam takers in the USA was 86.57% according to nursing.org, which should give you confidence knowing that with the right amount of preparation, you can pass too!
How Much Time Should You Take to Study for the NCLEX-RN Exam?
I recommend taking at least eight weeks (or two months) to prepare for the NCLEX-RN Exam. Your preparation should come in the form of reading an NCLEX-RN study guide (I recommend the Saunders Comprehensive Review NCLEX-RN Examination 8th Edition) and with practicing NCLEX-RN style questions (I recommend the NCLEX-RN Mastery App). I personally used the Saunders Comprehensive Review NCLEX-RN Examination book and the NCLEX-RN Mastery app and passed the NCLEX-RN Exam on my very first attempt in the minimum number of questions, which is 75.
The NCLEX-RN Exam does require an adequate amount of preparation as the testing style of questions used are unique, and practice is required to understand how to specifically answer NCLEX style questions. Using the ABCs (airway, breathing, circulation), Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, and the Nursing Process can help guide you as you answer NCLEX style questions. Remember that you will often be asked what the first or most appropriate nursing action will be throughout the NCLEX exam. The first step in the Nursing Process is assessment, which is what you would do before completing an evaluation for example.
Establish a Personalized NCLEX-RN Exam Study Plan
Decide how many weeks you will study, including how many days per week (e.g. five days a week for eight weeks).
Allocate a specific amount of time each study day for studying, including breaks (e.g. eight hours a day of studying including a one-hour lunch break).
Create a personalized study schedule to review one to two chapters of your comprehensive study guide each day and assign them (e.g. Chapter 34: Cardiology and Chapter 35: Cardiology Pharmaceuticals on Tuesday August 17th).
Study based on your learning style (e.g. if you learn best by writing out information on flashcards, consider using this practice for your NCLEX preparation).
Allocate one to two hours each day for practice questions and tailor your practice to areas of need (e.g. if you score lower in med-surg questions than labs questions, you may want to spend extra time practicing med-surg questions).
Decide How You Will Study NCLEX-RN Exam Content
The following categories are how NCLEX-RN Exam questions are categorized. You might plan to study one to two chapters each day based on the following categories (e.g. spending one day studying safe and effective care environment content).
1. Safe and Effective Care Environment
Management of Care
Safety and Infection Control
2. Health Promotion and Maintenance
3. Psychosocial Integrity
4. Physiological Integrity
Basic Care and Comfort
Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
Reduction of Risk Potential
Physiological Adaptation
(Source: https://nurse.plus/become-a-nurse/nclex-study-plan/)The Final Week of NCLEX Review
During your final week of NCLEX Review you should strictly allocate time for practice questions and to review any content that you highlighted as requiring additional time. The more practice questions you are able to complete, the more prepared for the NCLEX-RN Exam that you will be. Similar to how you schedule your study time, you should also dedicate blocks of time in your final week to practicing specific categories of questions (e.g. Med-surg, labs, pharmaceuticals, maternity, cardiology, etc.).
Ready to apply? If you are ready to begin your application to become a US Registered Nurse with Medliant International Healthcare Staffing please reach out to us on our Medliant Website, Facebook (Medliant International Healthcare Staffing), or Instagram (@medliant).
You can also email your resume to nursebrennan@medliant.com to start your application. Let Medliant help you begin making your American Dream come true today!
