how many months of prepration is required for nclex

llg, PhD, RN · Apr 8, 2006

Research shows that you should take the test soon after graduation -- not several months later. The pass rates go down the longer people delay.

It will take a few weeks for your school and the State Board to process your paperwork and for you to arrange to take the test. Use that time to take a review course and do some studying. Delaying it for months usually does more harm than good.

llg

EmilyCCRN · Apr 9, 2006

If a student has been properly prepared by his/her nursing program, he/she shouldn't require a lot of extra studying for NCLEX. I'm taking it the day after graduation--the soonest I can take it. Good luck! :)

Elleann · Apr 9, 2006

Zinn, are you a new graduate? If like me you graduated many, many years ago, then you will need a lot more preparation that recent grads and this is hard to quantify in terms of months.

The best way to assess your preparedness, imho, is to do a review course which includes an initial diagnostic assessment test (EG Kaplan which offers you a CD testing system, or NCSBN which does the same online.) This will help you see what your current level of nursing knowledge is, as well as your ability to think critically, analytically and logically.

I have been advised that to even attempt the NCLEX, one needs to be doing practice tests regularly and getting at least 75% on those. My initial diagnostic test gave me a very dismal 55% (Kaplan) which scared me to death. :-) I have review books and courses, but I have found that I have learnt FAR more simply by doing practice questions and my test percentages have now improved dramatically, PTL!

Best of luck

Elleann

zcmanio1975 · Apr 9, 2006

If a student has been properly prepared by his/her nursing program, he/she shouldn't require a lot of extra studying for NCLEX. I'm taking it the day after graduation--the soonest I can take it. Good luck! :)

I graduated on December 2005, took my test on February and, thank GOD, passed it. My school has a great reputation for passing the nclex. The passing rate for my school is 95% (per program director) I know I took the test too soon and as I remember, none of the questions I saw in the NCLEX resembled any of the questions I took in nursing school. I guess, my advice is not to wait too long to take the test BUT not to take too early either or before you have time to prepare. I recommend at least 6 to 8 weeks of preparation. DO a LOT of practice questions, I recommend SAUNDERS, KAPLAN, I also did a little bit of Lippincott. GOODLUCK!!!

zcmanio1975 · Apr 9, 2006

If a student has been properly prepared by his/her nursing program, he/she shouldn't require a lot of extra studying for NCLEX. I'm taking it the day after graduation--the soonest I can take it. Good luck! :)

I graduated December 2005 and took the test Feb, and passed it, thank God. Still, if I had to redo it all over again, I would probably wait longer so I could study more just to give me the confidence that I didn't have when I was taking the test. One of my best friends is graduating this june and my advice to her is to study 2 months before taking the test. Eventhough our school has a great reputation of passing the nclex (95% passing rate), I still think that a 6-8 weeks of review or preparation should be done. Do a lot of practice questions, I did at least 75 questions a day. I used Kaplan but Saunders is also a great tool and comes highly recommended. If I could give you a tip, as I remember, none of the questions I had in NCLEX resembled any of the questions I had in nursing school. Best of luck to you!

Z, rn

Cloudtalker · Apr 10, 2006

If your program did their part, and you did yours, you shouldn't have to spend "months" studying. I would think you would want to take it within a couple of months though.

I think a properly prepared student should be able to get a couple of NCLEX books/discs, do them over a period of a month or so and then take and pass the NCLEX.

The whole "prep" thing is just a way for companines to prey on insecure people and top take their money.

If you payed attention in school, do a few practice books/discs, then you should be able to pass without a problem.

CT

suzanne4, RN · Apr 10, 2006

If the nurse trained overseas, there are many more things to reivew than if they graduated here in the US. Just the phrases that we use, American idioms, as well. Many times the equipment that they learned with may not exist over here, or even a technique may no longer be in favor over here.

A complete different set issues comes up. And this is even true for nurses that graduated from Canada and the UK coming here to work.

If you put your mind to it, it can be done in about three months.

Elleann · Apr 10, 2006

Agreed, Suzanne! I'm a South African trained RN - qualified in 1978 and did post grads in midwifery and psychiatry - in those days, each post grad qualification was a year's study on it's own after the basic three year course. I've also been out of the clinical field for the last eight years so I needed a lot more refreshing than a recent US grad.

I've been working seriously (albeit part time) on my NCLEX prep since Nov last year and am only now starting to feel like I stand a chance of passing. I have benefitted hugely from Kaplan books and CDs, the NCSBN online review and Mosby CDs - some of it has been getting to know and understand the US terminology, some of it has been relearning things in which approaches or techniques have changed.

But on the whole I, for one, do NOT think that companies who offer review programs are out to 'prey' on people or rip them off financially. It is true, however, that there are always unscrupulous operators out there, and one that springs to mind is called 'NCLEX Secrets Study Guide' which is useless waste of about $40.00 - luckily, I got my money back!

I'll be taking my test in London on 1st of June - 50 days to go. :)

Blesings

Elleann

Rozy · Apr 10, 2006

Hello!

I agree with Susan! I believe overseas nurses should take 3 months to study for th NCLEX. On the other hand, I think 2 months max is good enough for American trained nursing students. I say 1 month of content review (comprehensive) in your weakest areas (Med-Surg, Maternity, Pediatrics, etc.) and 1 month doing 100 questions a day with reading ALL the rationales.

UNLESS YOU ARE DOING SUSAN'S PLAN, which is like 6-8 weeks. I hope this helps.

llg, PhD, RN · Apr 11, 2006

To Zinn: I apologize for my earlier response, which may not be correct. I had not noticed that you are not in the United States at the present time. I wrongly assumed that you are graduating from an American school.

Good luck with your review!

llg

leigh21 · Apr 11, 2006

Kaplan was great!! IF you have test anxiety issues..??? My doctor experimented a "new" research with me. I do not have test anxiety, I have an adult form of ADD. I am not over hyper or cannot sit still. I have always sat in the front of the classroom to make myself focus and has worked wonderfully. BUT, when you are in that small room, sitting in front of the computer at your cubicle..believe me your mind races. So, the doctor prescribed me a 3 day dose of Ritalin. That way I knew how it would affect me. Man, did I concentrate!!!!! I practiced the two days before on the computer disc from Kaplan. I was acing them tests.

Just a thought.