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NCLEX-RN Study Plans for Accelerated Nursing Graduates

Key Takeaways

  • Understand the NCLEX-RN format and focus on safety-related questions.
  • Develop a detailed study schedule and study at the same time daily if possible.
  • Use reputable NCLEX-RN study guides and resources like Kaplan and Saunders.
  • Employ effective study techniques such as the Pomodoro Technique and focus on understanding concepts, not just memorization.

For all nursing students, there is a looming hurdle that must be cleared before they can officially enter the workforce. That hurdle is known as the National Council Licensure Examination for Nurses, or NCLEX-RN. Passing this exam is necessary to become a licensed nurse and begin using your education.

Rather than fearing the test, it’s better to be proactive and work on ways to make sure you are as ready as possible. NCLEX-RN preparation for accelerated graduates is particularly important as you will have worked through the material in nursing school at a fast pace, and reviewing everything before the test is extremely helpful. Let’s discuss the study process below so you can put together a plan and start to get yourself ready for exam day to arrive.

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Understanding How the NCLEX-RN Works

To prepare for any type of test, you need to know what that test is going to look like and what kinds of questions you can expect to find. Of course, since you have already made it through nursing school – or will be finished with school shortly – you should have a firm grasp on most of the topics that will be covered on the exam. So, much of your prep will come down to getting comfortable with the format and making sure you aren’t caught off-guard.

The best NCLEX study plans for nurses will highlight the question styles used on the test. These include multiple-choice, select-all-that-apply, and fill-in-the-blank questions. Some of the areas of content featured on the exam are psychosocial integrity, physiological integrity, safe and effective care environment, and more.

There is one other important point to remember about this exam. Rather than testing your knowledge of the entire book of nursing techniques and tasks that you have learned throughout school,  this is a test that is going to ensure you’ll be operating safely for your patients once hired in the real world. This is a test that is primarily about safety and being able to determine the safest option within each question is a big part of what will get you to the finish line.

Creating a Plan for Detailed Study

Getting ready for a test as demanding as this one isn’t something that happens by accident. Like everything else you’ve done in your program, you need to be intentional about using effective NCLEX-RN strategies for fast-track nursing students if you want to pass on the first try.

Start by building a schedule for study that fits within the timeline you have available. How long is it until test day? If you have a month or a couple of months, you can build a schedule that makes use of all of your available study time in that window. Obviously, if you have eight weeks to work with rather than four, you can spread your studies out a little more and perhaps commit fewer hours per day to the task.

It’s a great idea if at all possible, to study at the same time each day – and make that time as close as possible to the time you’ll be taking the test when the day comes around. That way, your brain will get into the “mode” of thinking about this topic at that time, and the habit will be strongly formed over the next few weeks. Of all of the accelerated nursing NCLEX preparation tips you find, this might be the one that has the greatest impact on your actual test performance.

Finding the Best Resources

You will need to work with some quality resources throughout the study process to make sure you are reviewing the right materials. While you can build some study guides on your own, it’s a great idea to simply lean on what is already out there.

To get started, go directly to the website for the NCLEX. On the site, you’ll be able to download some materials that will help you understand how the exam works and what you can expect to see on test day. This might not be everything you need to do to get ready, but it’s an essential starting point.

Next, pick an NCLEX-RN study guide from accelerated programs from one of the many reliable sources online. There are plenty of these study guides on the web, and they are quite similar. With a proper study guide available to you, it will be easier to avoid wasting time when you sit down to study – you’ll have something to work on, and you can just dig right in and get moving. Kaplan and Saunders are two of the big names in this space, so consider looking at their resources first.

Master a Few Study Techniques

NCLEX success for accelerated nursing graduates is going to require not only logging study hours but actually making good use of those hours. It’s easy to think that just putting in the time will guarantee results, but that isn’t really how it works. It’s about the quality of your study as much as it is the raw amount of time you spend. Even the best-tailored NCLEX study schedules for nurses aren’t going to pay off if you don’t have the habits needed to get the most out of your schedule.

One basic study technique that you can use is known as the Pomodoro Technique. This method has you study for 25-minute blocks before taking a 5-minute break and then repeating the process. So, if you are going to study for two hours, you’d go through four 25-minute study sessions and take short breaks between each one. This tends to work better and improve your focus as compared to trying to just stare at the material for two straight hours.

Also, it’s a good practice to lean into understanding the “why” behind the answers rather than just trying to memorize everything. You’ll never be able to prepare for every possible situation – either on the exam or in the real world – so the important skill is understanding situations and applying your knowledge rather than just using rote memorization. It’s harder and takes more effort to understand the “why”, but it’s worth it in the end.

Dealing with Stress and Anxiety

Some people are more prone to stress and anxiety than others, but everyone will be at least a little nervous when sitting down to take this exam. And that’s okay – with comprehensive NCLEX prep for accelerated nurses, you can still succeed even with those nerves coming along for the ride.

One of the most essential NCLEX tips for fast-track graduates is simply to keep this test in perspective and see it as just another challenge you are going to overcome. This one day won’t define the rest of your life, so don’t put it on that kind of pedestal. By all means, take the exam seriously and prepare for it thoroughly, but a little perspective can go a long way toward putting your mind and nerves at ease.

Good NCLEX-RN study techniques for accelerated students can easily be the difference between passing the exam and having to try again. This is the kind of challenge that is best met head-on with as much preparation as possible in the weeks and months leading up to the test. If you embrace the challenge as an opportunity to enter your new career and work hard to make sure you are as prepared as possible, a good outcome is likely. We hope this page has helped you start to form a study plan and good luck on the test!