1. Free Printable Nursing Study Guides

Students interested in becoming nurses should know that two main categories of professional nurses work in the medical field in the United States: registered nurses (RN) and practical nurses (PN), also known as vocational nurses. Although these nurses may have similar job descriptions and work in some of the same settings, RNs generally command higher salaries than PNs. This is due to the fact that becoming an RN requires more advanced education and training. These two types of nursing also have different competency exams for licensure. To become an RN, you must pass the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), whereas individuals interested in becoming vocational or practical nurses must earn a passing score on the NCLEX-PN.

Sitting for the NCLEX is a necessary step to licensure for any prospective nurse. Earning a passing score demonstrates to state licensing boards and employers that a nursing candidate has a thorough understanding of the fundamentals of nursing, including ethics, patient care, and medical procedures. Completion of the exam and subsequent licensing qualifies a nurse for employment in a variety of medical settings, such as hospitals, doctors offices, medical clinics, nursing homes, hospices, and home health services. Preparing for the NCLEX exam involves more than just reviewing the material learned in a nursing program. You must also go through an application and registration procedure that involves contacting your state nursing board/regulatory agency and the testing administrators to confirm your eligibility and schedule the exam. Additionally, you need to select a testing center and pay all of the fees associated with the administration of the exam. Finally, you should familiarize yourself with the day-of-examination procedures and be prepared to follow the test-taking protocol.

Before you can actually sit for the nursing exam, you must apply to the responsible for certifying nurses in the area in which you plan to work. If this regulatory body finds you eligible to take the exam, you will be issued an Authorization to Test (ATT) by email.

This ATT is valid for a certain period of time, as determined by your regulatory body; the average ATT period is 90 days. You must also register with to take the NCLEX exam while your ATT is valid. Prospective nurses can register for the test online or by phone, although the online method is recommended due to the large number of calls fielded by the call center. Your registration with Pearson VUE is open for a period of 365 days.

NCLEX Fees & Payment FeeCandidates Seeking U.S. LicensureCandidates Seeking Canadian Licensure/RegistrationRegistration fee$200 USD$360 CADAdditional international scheduling fee (plus a value-added tax where applicable)$150 USD$150 CADChanging the board of nursing/regulatory body after registration fee$50 USD$50 CADChanging the exam type (RN/PN) after registration fee$50 USDN/AChanging the exam language (English/French) after registration feeN/A$50 CADLicensure/registration fee. Nursing students can schedule their NCLEX test online or by phone. Can be found domestically and internationally. Candidates seeking licensure in the U.S. Can contact domestic centers in the U.S., Guam, American Samoa, Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Additionally, candidates seeking licensure in Canada can choose from domestic testing centers in Canadian provinces and territories, as well as the mainland U.S. Students located outside of the country seeking licensure in the U.S.

May schedule their exam at one of the many available international test centers. Students taking the NCLEX-RN exam will see between 75 and 265 questions, while NCLEX-PN candidates answer between 85 and 205 questions; the number of questions depend on a test taker’s performance. If an individual is asked 75 questions, with the questions steadily becoming more difficult, this is a sign that they likely did very well on the test. Alternatively, if questions fail to get harder, a test taker is likely struggling to select the correct answers.

Test questions come in the form of multiple-choice questions, fill-in-the-blanks, ordered responses, and/or hot spots. Students may also need to review tables, graphics, charts, sound, and/or video in order to answer questions. Take the test early. If you schedule the exam right after your nursing program finishes, information will be fresher in your mind. This can help cut down on the time you would otherwise need to spend relearning forgotten material. Critical thinking and memorization represent crucial test-taking skills. The NCLEX exam asks students to recall memorized information, such as symptoms, side effects, and normal lab values.

Other questions require critical thinking to choose the most correct answer from several that seem right. Familiarize yourself with the exam format.

Knowing how the test is structured helps improve the efficacy of your study strategies. Take practice tests. Practice tests help you learn how to avoid common pitfalls. This is a good strategy to avoid feeling confused or overwhelmed on test day. Study effectively instead of cramming.

Free Printable Nursing Study Guides

Due to the wide amount of information covered in a nursing program, attempting to review or relearn all of this material in a short period just before the test is extremely difficult. Instead, give yourself enough time to absorb and retain the information. Come prepared for the exam. Dress comfortably and make sure you have gotten enough sleep and eaten enough food; being distracted by hunger or drowsiness can adversely affect your test-taking ability. Visualize the scenarios presented in exam questions.

Draw upon the knowledge you have acquired over the course of your nursing program by imagining the situations presented by the test questions. This visualization exercise can help activate your memory. Eliminate the false answers first. If you can immediately identify incorrect multiple choice answers, eliminate those and concentrate on the remaining options. After taking the NCLEX exam, you will need to wait about six weeks to get your test results from your state regulatory board. These will be sent to you in the mail.

However, 48 U.S. States and territories participate in a “quick results” program.

This program allows test takers to view their unofficial results just two business days after they completed the exam; individuals interested in this privilege must pay a fee of $7.95. However, these results do not authorize you to practice as a licensed or registered nurse. To earn that status, you must wait until you receive your official results. If your official exam results indicate that you successfully passed the exam, you qualify to begin practicing as a licensed or registered nurse in your state or region. Some states in the U.S.

Participate in a program called the Enhanced Nurse Licensure Compact (eNLC). The eNLC allows nurses licensed in one eNLC state to practice nursing in other eNLC states, without needing to obtain additional licensure. This program increases public access to qualified nurses while minimizing the red tape nurses must go through to practice healthcare in multiple locations over their careers. To determine whether or not the state or region you want to practice in participates in the eNLC program, visit this. Many nurses who successfully pass the NCLEX exam cite practice tests as the most important and effective study tool. Practice exams can help you get a feel for the structure and design of the exam and decrease the anxiety you might otherwise feel upon seeing a new test format. The list below contains some NCLEX practice tests and study resources that may prove beneficial as you prepare for the exam.: Kaplan Nursing’s NCLEX-RN Prep offers several study guide packages that include practice questions with explanations of answers, video content, and instruction in a classroom environment (either virtually or in a practical setting).: The National Council of State Boards of Nursing provides NCLEX review materials that include practice questions, study guides, and reinforcement activities.

Program cost varies based on the length of the program.: UWorld is a valuable resource for students preparing for the NCLEX exams. Users can access practice questions with in-depth explanations, flash cards, and performance tracking to monitor their progress and focus future studying.: Khan Academy offers free resources to students aiming for NCLEX mastery. Participants start the program by taking a preliminary test to identify the areas they need to focus on most. A program of study is then customized to suit an individual’s needs.

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