When should I begin studying for the NCLEX-RN?

LJR89 · Feb 15, 2017

Does your school do any sort of comprehensive predictor?

Finding out your strengths and weaknesses is the best place to start to figure out how, what, and for how long you should be studying.

everyone on here studies and learns differently so you first need to figure out what your unique needs are. After all the first step in the nursing process is to assess right?

Volley88 · Feb 16, 2017

Two weeks after graduation. You need a vacation. You deserve it. Just make a plan.

If you want to use review resources (cost effective)

1 - NCSBN

2 - UWorld

TrishRN2016 · Feb 26, 2017

It's definitely different for everyone. I gave myself a month after graduating to relax and catch up with family and friends. At that point I was so done with school and studying. I did do some questions before bed from NCLEX Mastery within that month, but no major studying at all. Maybe 20 questions on average almost every night, just to keep my mind sharp. Then I booked my exam date. I had 10 days to study, and studying only really consisted of doing questions for several hours throughout the day. I also used the Kaplan NCLEX Premiere book to study (I just skimmed through it) and I did the 265 question practice quiz in the back. The day before the NCLEX I didn't study at all. I think some nursing students sell themselves short and think they have to study everything all over again. You know the material, you just may be a bit rusty. As someone mentioned above, if there is an option to take an NCLEX predictor test, that could help you narrow down areas that need improvement. Stick to those areas and just keep doing questions. I think the biggest thing is test taking strategies, which any NCLEX book will explain or go through.

Ellen, RN · Feb 26, 2017

Like every has said you need to find out what you are weak in, a good way to find out ( if you don't have a review session or predictor exam at school) is to look at your grades for each class and brush up on those you may not have the best in. I also gave myself some time off after school to just enjoy being done! those 2 weeks were amazing because they give you time to reconnect with the world and your family and to really celebrate your accomplishment. During that time I did around 30-40 questions each night using the NCLEX mastery app. I did schedule my NCLEX right after graduation so I knew my date and two weeks beforehand I did the practice tests, and made sure to do at least 80-100 questions a day. Don't try to relearn everything, concentrate more on answering questions and really thinking about what they are asking you. remember NCLEX world is a perfect setting where you will always have an order and time to do each and every task with never being late. Good Luck you can do this!