D&D Nursing Educators

August 12, 2008 Written by Kim Keason

You graduated from nursing school and now it is time to take your state board exams, otherwise known as the National Council Licensure Examination or simply NCLEX. According to www.ncsbn.org, 17.2% of first time NCLEX takers do not pass. If you are one of those graduates who made it through nursing school only to be disappointed at not passing your boards, there are several things you can do to better prepare yourself and ensure you pass the test on the second try.

Identify the areas you are weakest in
I know that I always struggled with psychology. When I studied for my NCLEX exams, I focused my efforts on therapeutic conversation and the different psychological disorders and medications. You know the areas of nursing that you struggled with in school. Start with these areas, but do not spend all of your time on them.

Set up a study routine
If you put studying for your boards into your daily routine then it will not seem like work. Try to keep your study area quiet and have all supplies available. Make your study time at your optimum time of the day.

Take a review course
If you did not take a review course before you took NCLEX the first time, then sign up for one. The courses will help you focus on the important aspects of nursing, which is what the exam does. If you did take a review course, then your refresher course should be free or at a discounted price. Take advantage of this and repeat the course.

Team up with a study buddy
You have plenty of friends from nursing school. Team up with some of them to help you review your nursing material. If you can, have a nurse who just passed NCLEX help you review. They can offer fresh insight to the test and highlight areas that were focused on.

Enlist the help of your nursing instructors
Your nursing instructors know your test taking abilities better than anyone. Call up your favorite instructor and ask for her help. They may be able to provide you with sample tests or computer software that simulates the NCLEX exam.

Source: http://www.associatedcontent.com