How to Study for the NCLEX PN

You have to pass the NCLEX-PN to become a practical nurse.

The National Council Licensure Examination-Practical Nurse or NCLEX-PN is a timed, computerized nursing test whose difficulty level is based upon the questions you answer. The number of study questions varies from 85 to 205, based on your knowledge, therefore it is an application test rather than a knowledge test. There are no grades; rather, the test is based on a pass/fail decision. As with most tests, it is best to prepare over a number of weeks beforehand, rather than trying to cram the night before.

Instructions

1. Review the different human body systems including circulatory and endocrine, familiarizing yourself with all terms associated. You need to be able to identify healthy systems in order to identify and diagnose unhealthy conditions.

2. Study the vocabulary terms, including pharmacology and the names of common diseases, as explained in your completed nursing courses. You will need to know the full Latin name of each bacterium that causes a disease, how to test for the bacterium and the disease's symptoms.

3. Take practice tests, which are available online, comparing your scores. Learn why you received a wrong answer or right answer. Practice tests are available online. Plan to take a practice test each week leading up to the actual test to prepare yourself for the test's format and to alleviate any anxiety.

4. Study with a partner to improve memory retention. You can test each other on vocabulary, practice administering treatment, or play nurse and patient. Have one person choose a disease who must explain their symptoms to have the other person accurately diagnose the condition.

Tips & Warnings

• Common memory retention tools include flash cards, acronyms, visual aids and word association.

References

• NCLEX PN Study Guide PDF
• NCLEX PN Exam Help

Resources

• NCLEX Test Practice Questions