How long should I study?

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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! :)

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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!!! :)

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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!!!!

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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:

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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!!

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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.

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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

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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!!

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