Are you prepping for the NCLEX exam? If so, don’t make these 3 common NCLEX mistakes when prepping or while taking the NCLEX exam.
The NCLEX is the BIG exam nursing students take after graduation in order to work as a nurse. Students who are studying to become LPNs will take the NCLEX-PN, while students who are studying to become RNs will take the NCLEX-RN.
Video on the 3 Common NCLEX Mistakes
3 Common NCLEX Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake #1: Panicking when the computer doesn’t shut off at a certain number of questions!
Go into NCLEX expecting the whole amount of questions (265 NCLEX-RN & 205 NCLEX-PN). Many students go into the exam expecting to receive only 75 to 85 questions, and if the computer doesn’t shut off at this number they start to panic. This leads them to feel like they have failed (which is usually NOT the case). So, they start selecting answers, which in turns leads them to fail. So, if you don’t get that magic number of questions don’t worry…just keep going until the end and wait for your results.
Mistake #2: Waiting too long to take NCLEX after graduation!
After graduation, plan on taking the NCLEX within 1-2 months. Don’t wait any longer because you will start to forget the material. Right after graduation, the nursing concepts are still fresh on your mind and chances are you just got done taking exit exams (which primed you for NCLEX). Therefore, you are prepared more than you realize for the exam. Don’t wait 6-8 months after graduation to take the exam!
Mistake #3: Practicing questions without reading the rationales!
A great way to study for the NCLEX exam is to practice many, many NCLEX style questions. However, don’t practice questions without reading the rationales. A great way to practice questions is to complete the practice test, and then go back and read every rationale on the questions you got both RIGHT and WRONG. Then for the questions you got wrong or “guessed” right go back in your study resource and read the information. You must fully understand the material because remember NCLEX is a critical thinking exam not fact based.
Don’t forget to utilize our FREE NCLEX resources: