Licensure
Tips
Create
a plan for Passing NCLEX
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Decide how much you need to study
and how much time that you have before NCLEX, for example “I can study 2 hours
three times per week”
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Make this plan and stick to it.
Cramming the night before the exam is not effective.
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Begin to study when the rest of
your other course requirements have been completed.
A good time to begin may be during the preceptorship course.
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Use the information that you know
to make good use of the study time that is available.
For example, use the results of the tests you have been taking to decide
which areas you need to study. Maybe OB or Mental Health are your worst scores.
If you have 10 hours of study time devote at least half of these hours to your
lowest score areas.
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Consider taking a review course.
They usually cost about $275 and run anywhere from 3-5 days.
Please evaluate the review courses carefully because there are some good
ones and some courses that are not so good.
It is not absolutely necessary to take a review course.
If you have been passing all of your other tests during your nursing
school days.
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Definitely get a review book, or
maybe 2 books. Don’t bother
buying more books just exchange with your friends.
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Use the ATI practice tests.
You already paid for them. Make
sure you use them. You can take them as often as you want to.
Try to get you scores as high as you can.
Use the review books to study areas that may need improvement.
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Do you have problems with test
anxiety? There are lots of good
references in the MSTC library to help you get that under control.
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Do some studying on “Test
Taking Strategies”. These
strategies will help you to choose the right answer if when you are not sure.
Just knowing how to be a good test taker will increase your chances of
success.
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Go take a look at the testing
center. Most of our students go to
the Evaluation Center at the UWSP that is in Delzell Hall across form St.
Michael’s Hospital in Stevens Point.
Get familiar with the testing center before the day of the exam.
Imagine yourself sitting there taking the test.
This will really help to reduce your anxiety on the day of the test.
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Plan where you will park, and if
the parking lot is full then where you will go next.
Have a back up plan in place in case something doesn’t go just the way
you planned it.
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Make a test drive to the testing
center. Determine how long it will
take you to drive to the testing center, and then give yourself lots of extra
time.
§
Some graduates do not pass because
they have a flat tire, or are help up by a train on the way to the testing site.
Give yourself lots of extra time. If something happens unexpectedly, and
you are stressed out when you get to the testing center, just ask to reschedule
your test.
§ Don’t forget to take your “Authorization to Test” and your 2 forms of ID with you. One has to be a photo ID. Also remember that you will be fingerprinted prior to testing. This is so you can’t send someone to take the test for you! J