How long should I study?

Nursing Students NCLEX

Published

Specializes in Peds, PICU, Home health, Dialysis.

I will graduate August 21st (I am incredibly excited about this!!), but would like some input as to how long I should study for the NCLEX.

I was thinking of taking the exam late September and study 5 days a week (8 hour days) for that month break. I am terrified of not passing (even though I have done quite well in nursing school thus far and feel like I know a lot), so I have purchased all of the major publisher review books -- Kaplan, Saunders, Lippincott, & Mosby.

A few new grads told me they spent THREE months studying -- that seems a bit much. Any advice??

Thanks! :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

i graduated first week of may and went on vacation til the end of may... started my internship first week of june and took the boards june 27...n found out today i passed. :)

i say it depends... we had to take an exit exam in order to get our bsn and it was similar to NCLEX... so my last semester of nursing school i was already preparing for NCLEX due to the fact that i have to pass my exit exams. i solely just stuck with the saunders book and there's a website http://www.nursing.goivytech.net it's a free website where u can do practice questions on and the answers and rationales are immediate and u don't have to go through 68898988 qs just to see them. u can tailor them to how many qs u want to do that day. i focused on each body system the diseases in each. i didn't study everyday because i have work or sometimes i am just not so focused that day. i say it's a waste of time studying if you are in the wrong mindset. Don't force urself to study cus sometimes it's counterproductive. Be relaxed when u study... have a little game with it. For instance, if u just finished reviewing a disease process... talk about it with a random person and educate them about it. It really helps to talk about this stuff so it's more natural to u and avoid memorizing as much as possible....

that's all for now... let me know if u need any other info...

good luck to u!!! :)

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I graduated on May 3rd, took a week vacation, and passed my boards on June 26th. I used Saunder's 4th ed (nclex-rn) for content, and The Kaplan Book for test strategies. I did 150 questions a day and that was it. I allowed myself three weeks to review which I believe was enough for me. Also, you want to give yourself a day or two before the test to do nothing but relax. NO STUDYING!!!!!! I personally believe that more than a 100 to 150 questions a day is pure overload (again my opinion). Plus, statistics show that 85% of people who take it within the first 30 days of graduation pass on the first attempt. I think this is true because the information is fresh in your head and you're still in the critical thinking mode. Good Luck!!!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.

I used my Saunders book to study all through school so when I graduated from both the LPN and RN program I scheduled my NCLEX for 3 weeks later. I studied about 2 hours a day in those 3 weeks. Can someone really study for 8 hours a day?

:confused:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds, PICU, Home health, Dialysis.
I used my Saunders book to study all through school so when I graduated from both the LPN and RN program I scheduled my NCLEX for 3 weeks later. I studied about 2 hours a day in those 3 weeks. Can someone really study for 8 hours a day?

:confused:

I guess I should have reworded my original post. When I say "study", I mean only doing questions and reading their rationales.

And when I study, I usually sit down for 2 hours and then get up for an hour and do something else and then come back for another 2 hours, etc.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Family Nurse Practitioner.
I guess I should have reworded my original post. When I say "study", I mean only doing questions and reading their rationales.

And when I study, I usually sit down for 2 hours and then get up for an hour and do something else and then come back for another 2 hours, etc.

Gottcha, that is how I studied also and probably did about 200 questions a day for three weeks. Hang in there.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Tele,CCU,ER.

I haven't taken the test but I studied hardcore for about two weeks about 3 hours a day reviewing content. I have been 100-150 questions a day for a month. I test Tuesday so hopefully my hard works pays off. I am planning on actually studying the day before. You never know if a subject you studied might show up on the test

good luck!!

clara.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Peds, PICU, Home health, Dialysis.
I haven't taken the test but I studied hardcore for about two weeks about 3 hours a day reviewing content. I have been 100-150 questions a day for a month. I test Tuesday so hopefully my hard works pays off. I am planning on actually studying the day before. You never know if a subject you studied might show up on the test

good luck!!

clara.

They actually recommend to not study the day before the NCLEX. They day before the NCLEX, I plan on relaxing the entire day, perhaps going to dinner and seeing a movie -- anything but look at study material.

When it comes to exams in school, I study up till the hour before the exam; however, I think I am going to approach the NCLEX a bit different.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Ortho/neuro rehab, dialysis.

i graduated may 16th, took a weeks vacation to vegas (didn't pick up a review book the whole time), and tested on june 20th. i probably averaged 100-150 questions/day. i used saunders (mostly their strategies for alt items questions) and ncsbn to study, if i was on the go i would do a few questions from mosby's that i had downloaded on my pda whenever i got the chance.

everyone is different, if you feel you are ready and that a month is long enough then that is right for you. follow your gut!!

i moved my date up because i couldn't stand the wait any longer and was driving myself crazy. that was the right decision for me.

believe in yourself and the most important thing is to think positive!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ED.

I graduated May 14, took a week off, then studied and took boards June 9 (passed). I did about 100-300 questions a day and that is really all I did to study. I did briefly read over the meds sections and reveiwed a few labs. I could never study (do questions) 8 hr/day. i probably studied 2-3 hr a day off and on. I used Saunders mainly and some lippencott CD questions. I did not take a kaplan course but many in my class did.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Tele,CCU,ER.
They actually recommend to not study the day before the NCLEX. They day before the NCLEX, I plan on relaxing the entire day, perhaps going to dinner and seeing a movie -- anything but look at study material.

When it comes to exams in school, I study up till the hour before the exam; however, I think I am going to approach the NCLEX a bit different.

I know they dont recommend studying the day before. But everyone is different. Hurst recommends studying the day before and my kaplan instructor did too. I dont plan on being a bookworm because I never was. I didnt stop going to the movies or going out during the month I studied. The day before I will do what I did everyday just review...my :twocents::twocents:. I plan on doing my last Kaplan question trainer and just reviewing the rationales. Then I will just stay home or go out to dinner with my lil one.

Clara

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Ortho/neuro rehab, dialysis.

claralon, sounds like you have a good plan and know what works for you. i studied for a short time the night before my exam also. i worked 12 hrs each of the 2 days before as well. i had heard people say not to work the day before but knew i would be alright.

good luck and i look forward to hearing good news from you later this week.

by the way, your little one is just adorable!!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment