What if/Is it possible?

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Let's just say, for the sake of argument, taking NCLEX is okay without a nursing degree. Would it still be possible for someone to just read all the nursing books and pass the exam? Or is it practically impossible without clinical experience?

On 2/11/2019 at 7:45 AM, CollegeStudStudent said:

Let's just say, for the sake of argument, taking NCLEX is okay without a nursing degree. Would it still be possible for someone to just read all the nursing books and pass the exam? Or is it practically impossible without clinical experience?

Are you just curious, or is there some other reason why you ask?

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Specializes in Psychiatry/Mental Health.

I would say no. I guess it all depends on what questions you get, as well.

When I took the NCLEX-RN, there were only a small handful of answers that I "knew" from lecture/reading. The rest, I guessed on, using all of the skills and knowledge that I'd accumulated in nursing school. I felt like all of my last-minute studying and test-prep was a waste, other than helping acclimate me to answering NCLEX-style questions. Even then, I think the test was so much harder than the practice questions. I passed in 75 questions, and I flew through the exam because I was afraid of wasting too much time on material that I was obviously unfamiliar with. I narrowed it down and then picked one.

In some cases, there were answers that were very obviously wrong. I think a big part of doing well is how well you eliminate answers that would harm the patient. For instance, I had one question, I think it was my 74th question, that I basically had to choose the correct medication for the patient's infection. Two of them were antibiotics. One, that I had never heard of, had the -lol ending of a beta blocker. The last med, I somehow knew was mainly a veterinary sedative. I was able to then narrow it down to the 2 antibiotics, and although (I now know) I chose the wrong one, it wasn't the worst answer! My next question was "easy" and then the test shut off. In summary, even if I didn't know that that 4th med was a sedative, recognizing common antibiotics and choosing one of those was obviously the "safe" guess. You might be able to learn a lot from books, but the only way I could see someone doing well on the exam (theoretically) from only text would be if they practiced a lot of critical thinking questions (for years), and truly understood the rationales!

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4 minutes ago, mzinfinit said:

I would say no. I guess it all depends on what questions you get, as well.

When I took the NCLEX-RN, there were only a small handful of answers that I "knew" from lecture/reading. The rest, I guessed on, using all of the skills and knowledge that I'd accumulated in nursing school. I felt like all of my last-minute studying and test-prep was a waste, other than helping acclimate me to answering NCLEX-style questions. Even then, I think the test was so much harder than the practice questions. I passed in 75 questions, and I flew through the exam because I was afraid of wasting too much time on material that I was obviously unfamiliar with. I narrowed it down and then picked one.

In some cases, there were answers that were very obviously wrong. I think a big part of doing well is how well you eliminate answers that would harm the patient. For instance, I had one question, I think it was my 74th question, that I basically had to choose the correct medication for the patient's infection. Two of them were antibiotics. One, that I had never heard of, had the -lol ending of a beta blocker. The last med, I somehow knew was mainly a veterinary sedative. I was able to then narrow it down to the 2 antibiotics, and although (I now know) I chose the wrong one, it wasn't the worst answer! My next question was "easy" and then the test shut off. In summary, even if I didn't know that that 4th med was a sedative, recognizing common antibiotics and choosing one of those was obviously the "safe" guess. You might be able to learn a lot from books, but the only way I could see someone doing well on the exam (theoretically) from only text would be if they practiced a lot of critical thinking questions (for years), and truly understood the rationales!

Same here, now that I think about it ...LOTS of educated guessing. There were very few answers that I knew outright.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I guess I disagree with a lot of people here. I think a good test taker could pass the test. It's just a test. The so-called "critical thinking" is just the ability to connect bits of information into a comprehensive whole and to interpret data correctly to form a valid conclusion. People can acquire that skill any number of ways. It doesn't have to be through nursing school clinicals.

That being said ... just because I believe SOME people could pass NCLEX without actually going to nursing school does not mean that I believe everyone could. The majority of people would probably not pass. But some people could.

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Specializes in Critical Care; Cardiac; Professional Development.

Given how many people (some who work as CNAs) take it after nursing school and fail, I am going to go with no, not most of the time.

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I've actually had people look at my NCLEX study book and go, "Oh, that's all you had to know for your licence? That's easy! I could do that!" Then they see the questions.

I suppose it might be possible to study for the NCLEX without having been in school and pass it, but it would take a ton of studying, prep classes, and luck to do it. Plus, there's so much that you learn in class and clinical that isn't on the NCLEX, and there are skills that are near impossible to learn from a book.

You have to remember that the NCLEX, while cumulative, is more a summary rather than "this is absolutely everything you need to know to be a nurse". You also do continuous learning throughout your nursing career.

In theory, it is possible to do, but knowing the right answer from rote and knowing the right answer due to critical thinking and experience are two very different things. There's a lot more than just memorization that goes into nursing.

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On 2/11/2019 at 6:45 AM, CollegeStudStudent said:

Let's just say, for the sake of argument, taking NCLEX is okay without a nursing degree. Would it still be possible for someone to just read all the nursing books and pass the exam? Or is it practically impossible without clinical experience?

In my state just passing the NCLEX wouldn't make you an RN. You have to do two things--

1. Graduate from state approved RN program.

2. Pass NCLEX.

I have a hunch it's the same in all states.

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6 hours ago, Luchador said:

In my state just passing the NCLEX wouldn't make you an RN. You have to do two things--

1. Graduate from state approved RN program.

2. Pass NCLEX.

I have a hunch it's the same in all states.

Very true! In Canada, you need to graduate AND pass the NCLEX to call yourself an RN.

It's certainly a process, but a necessary one.

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This is the problem with setting the NCLEX up as the ultimate litmus test of a nurse. You see somewhat desperate responses here in defense of the difficulty of the NCLEX and how it supposedly reflects clinical competency. Because if the NCLEX means you're a competent nurse, and someone who never went to nursing school could actually pass it, then what does that mean about all the time you spent in nursing school?

I'm not burdened by that delusion and don't feel the need to defend the NCLEX. Becoming a nurse is more of a gestalt. The NCLEX is a standardized test that tests, among other things, your ability to take tests. There is a reason there are prep courses that focus less on specific content and more on critical approach and algorithms. The NCLEX is largely a rite of passage into a professional and bureaucratic culture.

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Yes. Military LPNs work near/at the scope of a RN depending on unit of assignment. I personally learned very little in RN school. If anything, it was a good refresher from LPN school. I viewed myself as average amongst my peers so by no means am I exceptional.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Dialysis.

Theoretically I suppose it's possible for an intelligent person to study for the test and pass without any formal schooling. It would take the right kind of brain, the right kind of study materials and a lot of study time but sure, I suppose it could be done.

In actuality though I doubt it would ever happen. I'm not sure how many state's allow somebody to challenge the NCLEX at LPN or RN level without the associated degree but I am pretty sure those state's that do allow it have a lot of other requirements that must be met before testing.

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Nope, I don't think so, or it may be quite difficult. I really think one needs to have that clinical component that is crucial to all nursing students to succeed in providing safe effective nursing care.

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