Each state certifies nurses through state nursing boards exams, the NCLEX. The NCLEX assesses the skills of entry-level nurses. The statistics indicate that applicants should take the nursing boards very seriously. According to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, just over half the applicants who attempted the NCLEX for the second time in 2010 passed. That means applicants should study hard for the NCLEX to increase the chances they will pass on their first attempt. A number of different types of study techniques and tools can help you prepare for the state boards.
Classes
Colleges and universities with nursing programs offer courses both within and outside the program requirements that teach the fundamentals of nursing, medical terminology, and medical math, all the kinds of questions found on the NCLEX. Your state’s nursing board has a list of institutions that offer NCLEX preparatory classes. Cuesta College in California, for instance, offers special topics courses that teach students how to study for the nursing boards.
Test-Taking
It’s also important to practice your test-taking schools before tacking the nursing state boards. The NCLEX is made up primarily of multiple-choice questions, so practicing how to read questions carefully and narrow your choices as you test is invaluable. You can find practice exams in books and online through testing services such as Kaplan. Your state board’s website may also have practice tests along with more specific information about the state’s requirements for the exam. Some states have started adding different types of questions such as short answer and fill-in-the-blank, so knowing if you need to study for such question types is helpful.
Study Groups
Working in groups can also be very helpful when studying for the NCLEX. The College Board indicates that study groups are good for any topic because students within them learn from each other, work off each others’ strengths, and offer a strong support system. Group study helps nursing students commit information to long-term memory since you talk about ideas, hear them from others, and write them down, using a combination of modalities. This combination helps put concepts into long-term memory.
Portable Tools
Having tools available to help you study for the nursing boards at all times is a good option. PDAs and phone types have many applications you can download to help review information and take practice tests. You can create your own flashcards to help you study. Making them helps you commit information to memory through the use of writing the information down, and you can flip through them quickly when you have a few minutes. They are easy to carry and never run out of batteries.
The Exam
Preparing for the state nursing boards is an important part of a future nurse’s study. Using good tools will help you pass the NCLEX on the first try and get you on your way toward your new career.
References
Cuesta College. Cuesta.edu.
“Multiple-Choice Exams.” SoftPanorama Open Source Software. Softpanorama.org.
“PEPID Board Review.” Blackberry. Appworld.blackberry.com.
