When should I start studying for the NCLEX-RN?

CrufflerJJ, BSN, RN, EMT-P · Aug 9, 2009

I'd recommend that you wait until you start your nursing program. Use a good NCLEX book (such as Saunders) as an added reference during nursing school. By doing questions out of the NCLEX book as you go from basic introductory med/surg to OB to Peds to Psych to Community to ....., you can gain a better understanding of the subject material. You'll also get a LOT better understanding of how NCLEX style questions are worded, and why the "best" answer is the best one. This can really help you on tests during school.

Good luck!

PAERRN20 · Aug 10, 2009

I highly recommend the Saunders book. I bought that and a few other ones after the first semester of nursing school. I used that book to study for my tests as well. I would read the chapter in Saunders on whatever section we were covering and then do the questions. This helped me ace the tests in school. When it was time to graduate I kicked into high gear and did every question in the book. I also used the CD that came with the book to study for NCLEX. This worked for me and I passed the NCLEX-RN the first time with 75 questions.

PopeJane3rd · Aug 10, 2009

I highly recommend the Saunders book. I bought that and a few other ones after the first semester of nursing school. I used that book to study for my tests as well. I would read the chapter in Saunders on whatever section we were covering and then do the questions. This helped me ace the tests in school. When it was time to graduate I kicked into high gear and did every question in the book. I also used the CD that came with the book to study for NCLEX. This worked for me and I passed the NCLEX-RN the first time with 70 questions.

Saunders has many books. Which particular one to use?

SnowRain7489 · Aug 10, 2009

Trust me on this one I know that these books are expensive, but they are helpful in developing good critical thinking skills (which you will need alot of) and great test success in your nursing courses

Read "Test Success: Test-Taking Techniques for Beginning Nursing Students" and "Saunders for Success for the NCLEX-RN Examination" They both provide information on how to study nursing material and exams. I recommend reading these the summer before your nursing program starts. I would however not start studying for your NCLEX until you start your nursing courses.

SlightlyMental_RN · Aug 10, 2009

I didn't study for my NCLEX-RN until less than a month before the exam. Passed w/ 75 questions.... I've never even heard of anyone starting to study for the NCLEX when they begin a nursing program. Wow-- I'm impressed with your diligence. I guess I would recommend to not go too crazy studying at first, as you will be able to understand the questions much better towards the latter part of your program.

PAERRN20 · Aug 10, 2009

PopeJane3rd- I am almost 100% sure it is called Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-RN. I don't have the book handy.

pinkypie · Aug 10, 2009

Start to do questions gradually as you go through Nursing School, then study hard core for atleast 3 weeks before youre scheduled to take the test. I found the Kaplan NCLEX-RN Exam 2010 with CD-ROM: Strategies for the Registered Nursing Licensing Exam (Paperback)review VERY helpful.... Saunders is great for explaining but the questions are a little too easy... Kaplan has crazy questions and provides you with test taking strategies... they offer an online course that in $499... I think it's a waste of money but many have used it with success.... Overall I would concentrate on getting into a nursing program before you focus on NCLEX-RN .... I studied for about 3 weeks and did ONLY questions with minor review here and there and I passes 75 qs first time.... It can be done it just depends on you... Good Luck! Oh yeah I also did questions from Lippincott's Q&A Review for NCLEX-RN® (Lippincott's Review for Nclex-Rn) :typing

Hushdawg · Aug 10, 2009

If you are a US nursing student then it is best to continually review while you are attending classes.

If you are a foreign student then it is best to pass your local board before beginning your standard review for NCLEX and then do an intensive review once you have completed your application package for licensure/eligibility.

Then do a follow-up review once your eligibility has been approved.

This is because as a foreign nurse your local boards will be looking for different sets of information than NCLEX and your NCLEX review pre-local board can misdirect your responses for local board.

This is due to the difference between what the US nursing career demands from a nurse and what other countries will demand from the similar position.

fragino · Aug 10, 2009

I vote for studying for the NCLEX as soon as you start the program. Yes, there are a lot of very bright people out there who only have to study the NCLEX for a few weeks and pass. Frankly I am very envious of them. I had a classmate who looked like he slept through most most of the classes, only carried a pencil and then only if it's the day of a test but still passed all the tests and NCLEX on the very first try. I was green with envy, but still liked him though because he was a great guy. But if you're a grinder like me who has to compensate with a lot of work this is the priority plan that worked for me.

1. Study the notes and handouts from your lectures. They will usually lecture about what they think is important. Of course there are some lecturers out there who pass out tests that had nothing to do with the lecture. In that case this rule is out and you just have to try to survive.

2. Read and study every single NCLEX question you can get your hand on, for the section you are covering. If you are covering renal, then study renal. Some books even break down specialized subjects like Psych into different categories like Personality Disorders. This system does not work well in the first semester. In this case I recommend a book called Fundamentals Success.

3. If you have time left, read the text pages assigned to you.

Here are the rationales

a. The first hurdle is to pass the class, so study the lectures notes. Focused NCLEX question review can give you the same information from many different angles and may help you understand your subject better.

b. The second hurdle is that your school may require you to take something like an ATI exam in order to move on to the next semester, even if you passed the class. The ATI or something like it, is like a mini, focused, NCLEX exam. This is your second major hurdle.

c. The ultimate hurdle is to pass the NCLEX. Going to nursing school is just to get permission to take the NCLEX. Wouldn't it make sense to start now? Especially since it also helps you get through your classes at the same time.

My final tip, which I've stated over and over again in these forums, is that when you do the NCLEX questions, don't worry too much about getting them right. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO READ AND UNDERSTAND THE RATIONALES AS TO WHY THEY PICKED THAT AS THE RIGHT ANSWER. After awhile understanding the NCLEX rationale becomes second nature and when you take the NCLEX and are faced with a totally incomprehensible question, which believe it or not are the kind you want to get, you will be able to anwer that question.

Good luck.

naun · Aug 10, 2009

Excellent outline and advice from Fragino.

I just graduated this May and passed NCLEX in June. Nursing school was not difficult per se, but it was time consuming. You do have to know how to prioritize and manage your time. Like Fragino, I studied for in-class tests primarily from lecture notes with reading from the text and NCLEX material as needed/as time allowed. I studied for ATIs by doing the ATI practice tests with attention to rationales. I did not feel I adequately prepared for NCLEX - I only reviewed with ATI practice tests and a handful of Saunders cards only 1.5 weeks before my test date. I took the test about a month after graduation. Our school recommended for us to take NCLEX ASAP upon receiving the ATT, preferably

carluvscats · Aug 10, 2009

I don't think the NCLEX prep books will make much sense to you until the nursing part of the program starts. What I did was use the Saunders book in conjunction with class notes while studying for tests. If the class test was on the cardiac system, I pulled out Saunders and did the chapters related to that subject. It definitely will get you into the "NCLEX mindset" while simultaneously give you another author's way of wording things. And, it helped me not get caught in the trap of only learning ONE way to phrase things.

Best of luck to you in school!