Studying for the NCLEX-PN Exam – Tips & Tools

• The National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN) is one of the most important exams you will take. The exam determines if it is safe for you to begin practicing as an entry level nurse. 
• The test taker is given up to five hours to complete the exam. The questions one may answer during the exam can range between 85-205 depending on Computerized Adaptive Testing. 
• Author and LPN, Katy Luggar-Schmit will share her study tips and advice that helped her pass the exam on her first try! 

If you are enrolled in a Practical Nursing Program you already know that the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-PN) is one of the most important exams you will take. The exam determines if it is safe for you to begin practicing as an entry level nurse.  

The test taker is given up to five hours to complete the exam. The questions one may answer during the exam can range between 85-205 depending on CAT or Computerized Adaptive Testing. 

There is a number of times you are allowed to retake the exam if you do not succeed the first time, but we are not going to get into that because you are going to pass the first time!  

I have gathered some tips and study tools that I used that I believe helped me pass the first time. Keep in mind some of these tools may have changed since I took the exam in 2014 but refer to it as a guideline on what may help you study. 

NCLEX-PN Study Materials

The first tool is the ATI NCLEX-PN Review; ATI stands for Assessment Technologies Institute. The school I went to provided a few weeks long course on studying for the NCLEX-PN Exam during the last few weeks of the nursing program.  

This course was not graded but provided for study purposes. The ATI book was provided to us by the school, or you also have the option of purchasing it on your own if your school does not provide a similar course. I would inquire about what NCLEX-PN prep your school does prior to purchasing anything on your own.  

Another tool I found helpful was the Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-PN Examination by Saunders. This is a book I purchased on my own and the reason I liked it was the amount of practice test questions it provided on every nursing topic you could think of. It is a large book with a great deal of information.  

Some other tools I purchased on my own were pathophysiology pocket guides by Wolters Kluwer Health, Mosby’s flashcards, and Memory Notebook of Nursing by the Nursing Education Consultants.

These assisted me in not only preparing for the NCLEX-PN; but were used throughout my entire nursing program to aid in studying. If you are more of a visual learner who appreciates diagrams and pictures; the Memory Notebook of Nursing is a great tool.  

Save Your Notes for the NCLEX-PN Exam

In addition to those tools, I suggest keeping and using any notes you feel were especially important that you took during your program. Read them over and over; the repetition of reading the same information over a period of time will help plant it in your mind to use for later reference.  

Now that I have went over some of the tools you can use, I want to highlight some tips and advice I found useful. Many of these apply to any test you take, and you have probably heard some of them before.

NCLEX-PN Exam Tips

When you are taking a test, most often your first instinctual answer is correct. Try not to second guess yourself too much or spend too much time on one question as the exam will be timed.

If you get stuck on a question, use the process of elimination. There are usually a few answer choices you can get rid of right away.

Patient Safety comes first; always prioritize patient safety and you will most likely choose the correct answer.

Do not cram for the examination; start studying a month or two prior to your test date. If you can reduce some working hours to study, do so.  

Relax the entire day prior to your test; distract yourself and trust that you have thoroughly studied the material and know everything you need to know. This will help lower the stress levels prior to testing.

Along with any other test, be sure to get adequate sleep the night prior and have breakfast the morning of the exam. The NCLEX is a long test and you do not want hunger to distract your focus.

I also suggest getting to your place of examination a little early for any remaining registration. Now it is time to test. 

The Bottom Line

You did it! You made it through the NCLEX-PN; now what? When I took the Exam in 2014, we had to wait at least 24 hours to receive our pass or fail results.

It is unlikely that you will know that day unless that aspect has changed. Do not assume you failed; the exam is really challenging, and many nurses feel they did not pass when they leave.

I remember calling my mom in tears assuming I had failed, and it turns out I passed. Try to maintain a cheerful outlook and distract yourself until you can get the results.  

If you pass, congratulations! You are now ready to start your new career as a Licensed Practical Nurse. If you did not pass that is ok; please do not get discouraged. Study and retest again when you are ready. I hope you find the tips and tools in this article helpful in achieving a positive NCLEX-PN experience.  

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