Is it okay not to study for the NCLEX while on vaca?

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Specializes in ICU/CCU/SICU.

I just ended my final last week and started my NCLEX review course today. The review course is for 5 days every other day, ending next Friday (May 11th). Next Sat (May 12th) is my graduation party and the following Wednesday (May 16th) is my graduation and then I leave for Mexico for 2 weeks. I want to take the NCLEX either around the 21st or the 28th of June, giving me 3 to 4 weeks to fully study for the exam. I consider this review course kinda studying because they make you think and I plan on doing questions until I leave for Mexico.

I am wondering if I should bring some study materials with me when I am in Mexico??? Am I hurting myself if I do not study? Am I hurting myself if I do study considering I am at an all-inclusive resort which is a well deserved vacation...... Will it hurt just to read some and maybe bring a one book or should I drop the books for 2 weeks and then pick up again when I get back allowing myself the solid 4 weeks of studying??

Please help! :confused:

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Specializes in Cardiac.

Dont' bring them. You won't study. I graduated on May 18th of last year, and then went and got married/honeymoon for 2 weeks. Picking up a review book was the last thing on my mind!

Enjoy your well deserved vacation, and worry about studying after you get back...

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Specializes in ICU/CCU/SICU.
Dont' bring them. You won't study. I graduated on May 18th of last year, and then went and got married/honeymoon for 2 weeks. Picking up a review book was the last thing on my mind!

Enjoy your well deserved vacation, and worry about studying after you get back...

Just wondering....how long did you study for before you took the NCLEX when you came back?

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Specializes in Cardiac.

I came back on a Friday, and took the test on Tuesday. I brought my Saunders book, and only cracked it open in the airport for the flight back. But it was such a pain, and I only really reviewed for a few questions before I became too distracted.

See you will be thinking about the ocean, or margaritas, not about Maslow!

It will be a waste of time and luggage space to bring anything.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

Oh good grief...don't study on your vacation. Relax and forget about studying!

If you have three or so weeks before NCLEX, that will be plenty of time. I only studied for NCLEX a few hours a day for two weeks. Now that I've taken and passed NCLEX, I truly feel that studying for weeks and weeks would be a waste of time. There seems to be some sort of hysteria surrounding this test, I think if you did well in nursing school, you will do well on NCLEX.

My advice when taking the test: Read the question, and go with your first gut instinct for your answer. There were very few questions I knew without a doubt, so I did a lot of gut instinct choices. I had 75 questions and passed, so it worked for me. All of my other nursing school buddies that passed said they did basically the same thing. Good luck!

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Specializes in Med/Surg <1; Epic Certified <1.

I think you should leave it at home, too. If you managed breaks at school and were able to come back with your mind intact, I'd bet a week off won't make or break your passing the NCLEX.

I'm a second semester student looking at the summer break coming up in my ADN program and wondering how *I* will ever remember everything for next fall!! I felt that way just over the winter break, lol!! So I think if you've done well in your nursing studies, one week will be a very-well deserved break and might even help when you get back!!

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