Career Tips & Advice

How to Prepare Best for the NCLEX

Concorde Staff

Concorde Staff

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Updated August 2, 2017. The information contained in this blog is current and accurate as of this date.
Nursing Student

One of the most pressing issues facing most Concorde Nursing students is, how will they do on the National Council Licensure Examination, better known as the NCLEX? How well will they be prepared?

We at Concorde are confident our core curriculum in our Nursing, online RN to BSN program, and Practical/Vocational Nursing programs is designed to lead you to success when you take the NCLEX or any other required licensing exams.

Still, a little extra preparation never hurts, and our Vocational Nursing Program Director at our campus in Garden Grove, Calif., Lu-Ping Gamble, RN, MSN, PhDEd, pointed to a recent article posted at Study.com which she feels will help her students and others prepare for the Nursing exam.

Nursing help when taking the NCLEX

What NCLEX practice questions and study guides are the best?

  • You can choose to study NCLEX practice questions by yourself, or you can enroll in review classes. Be sure the type of test preparation you use matches your learning style. If prep courses are far from where you live, consider getting NCLEX-RN practice tests, study guides, and other review materials online.
  • If you already downloaded the Test Plan, read through it and understand the scope of the test, you can start practicing for the NCLEX exam. Start by developing your own study plan and schedule.
  • Provide enough time for test practice on a regular basis. Allot enough preparation time for each subject area, especially in your areas of weakness.
  • Gather all the NCLEX practice materials you will need to study. Aside from your textbooks and journals, you might want to review books from bookstores to help you prepare for the NCLEX. There also is a free nursing test review download sheet online, as well as review apps that you can install on your smartphone. This downloadable application will allow you to review anywhere and everywhere you go.

Make a Nursing plan

  • Stick to your NCLEX-RN practice plan. Make it a habit to do at least one thing every day that will move you in the direction of getting a passing score. Even if you've had a busy day, try to get in 10 minutes of review before going to bed. Your subconscious mind can then go to work to process this information and help you retain it long-term.
  • Some websites like Test Score Breakthrough provide free NCLEX practice questions online. Leverage free resources online to achieve your registered nursing license.
  • Take NCLEX practice questions at least once a week to assess your progress. You'll get a sense of how the exam questions are phrased as well as the format, structure, and design of the exam. This will give you a definite advantage on testing day. Use your newfound insight to reorganize your test prep plan and use the time to improve in the areas where you need improving.

Take plenty of Nursing practice exams

Carol Carotenuti, Vocational Nursing Program Director at Concorde's campus in San Diego, said the most important items to remember is to keep testing and not wait any longer than necessary after graduating to take the test.

"Students that have been focusing on the NCLEX exam from Day 1 of the program to when they actually test do better because they are continuing to test themselves and they do not let their brains become stagnant," Carotenuti said. "Usually, the student that has completed all the required reviews of a course and has taken an exam every night after they graduate from the program to stay active.... They are usually so confident that they take the exam and pass with no difficulty."

So, remember, when searching for "LVN programs near me," consider carefully how well the program has, in the past, prepared students for taking the NCLEX. Ask around, hear what past graduates of the Nursing programs have to say. In the case of Concorde, we're confident the answers will be positive.

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  1. Program length may be subject to change dependent on transfer credits and course load. Please refer to current course catalog for more information. Concorde does not guarantee admittance, graduation, subsequent employment or salary amount.

  2. Professional certification is not a requirement for graduation, may not be a requirement for employment nor does it guarantee employment.

  3. Financial aid is available to those who qualify but may not be available for all programs. Concorde does not guarantee financial aid or scholarship awards or amounts.

  4. Clinical hour requirements and delivery may vary by campus location and may be subject to change. Concorde does not guarantee clinical site assignments based upon student preference or geographic convenience; nor do clinical experiences guarantee graduation, post-clinical employment or salary outcomes.

  5. Registration and certification requirements for taking and passing these examinations are not controlled by Concorde, but by outside agencies, and are subject to change by the agency without notice. Therefore, Concorde cannot guarantee that graduates will be eligible to take these exams, at all or at any specific time, regardless of their eligibility status upon enrollment.

  6. Externships are a non-paid in-person learning experience, whose length and location may be subject to change. Concorde does not guarantee externship placement, graduation, post-externship employment or salary outcomes.