NCLEX Prep

NCLEX Prep

I finished school. What do I do now?

index

Final Preparations

Now That You Have Applied . . .

Understanding Computer Adaptive Testing

Make a Plan for Success

References

The NCLEX-PN Test Plan

Test-Taking Strategies

Resources for NCLEX-Prep

Now that you have applied . . .

So . . . Now What?

STUDY We will discuss a plan for studying later, but the biggest key – STUDY!!!

Getting Your Authorization to Test (ATT)

• You will receive your Authorization to Test (ATT) via email.
• Schedule your exam with Pearson Vue as soon as you get your ATT (even if you know you want to wait a few weeks to test).
• Do not put off your test for a significant period of time!! (Pass rates decline the longer the gap between graduation and testing.)
• Review this site - https://www.ncsbn.org/exam-day.htm - for information about acceptable ID the day of the test, what to expect regarding personal items, etc.
• Be careful about traveling to the test site with friend(s). If tends to increase your stress level if they finish before you. Same goes with your family waiting out in the car because you are going to “do something fun” after your test. If it takes you 5 hours, you are going to be stressed because you know they are waiting!

Let's Review

Let's Review

Understanding Computer Adaptive Testing

Understanding Computer Adaptive Testing

(National Council State Boards of Nursing Inc. [NCSBN], n.d.)

Watch the video on the next slide for a better understanding of how Computer Adaptive Testing Works!

Minimum of 85 Questions

Time Limit: 5 Hours

Maximum of 150 Questions

Don't be discouraged by getting more than 85 questions: Every question is an opportunity to prove you will be a safe nurse!

Take a break if you need it! Five hours is PLENTY of time!!!

The test ends when you have gotten at least 85 questions and the "confidence level" is 90%.

Be sure to unmute the video!!!

Item Selection:

• Your first question is mid-level.
• With every question, the computer attempts to give you a question that you have a 50% chance of answering correctly.
• If you answer a question correctly, your next question is harder.
• If you answer a question incorrectly, your next question is easier.

****The goal is to stay above the passing level, which does not require you to get every question correct!****

Let's Review

Let's Review

The NCLEX-PN Test Plan

The NCLEX-PN Test Plan

(NCSBN, n.d.)

• The Test Plan changes every 3 years to reflect the most current entry-level competency of practical nurses.

• For the most current Test Plan: https://www.ncsbn.org/testplans.htm - Click on the NCLEX-PN Test Plan

• Categories on the Test Plan:
• Safe and Effective Care Environment
• Coordinated Care
• Safety and Infection Control
• Health Promotion and Maintenance
• Psychosocial Integrity
• Physiological Integrity
• Basic Care and Comfort
• Pharmacological Therapies
• Reduction of Risk Potential
• Physiological Adaptation

If you review the linked Test Plan, it gives you examples of topics within the Test Plan categories. Use the HESI Readiness for NCLEX Dashboard, Elsevier Adaptive Quizzing, and Saunders’ Online Questions to find your weak areas and to Study/Practice Specific Areas.

Let's Review

Let's Review

test-Taking Strategies

Test-Taking Strategies

Don't Ask

(Silvestri & Silvestri, 2022)

The Ideal NCLEX World

Avoid Reading into the Question

You have unlimited staffing, unlimited time, all the supplies at your fingertips, and one patient at a time.

+ INFO

+ INFO

Know How to Prioritize

Prioritization strategies on the next slide

Prioritization Strategies

The Nursing Process

Assessment before Implementation.

The ABCs

Airway, Breathing, Circulation.

Physiological before Psychological

Meet physical needs first. Note: Pain falls into the psychosocial category when prioritizing.

More Prioritization Strategies

Lease Restrictive/ Least Invasive

Unstable vs. Stable

Prioritize unstable clients over stable ones.

When given multiple options that could help the client, choose the least restrictive or least invasive one.

Urgent vs. Nonurgent

Acute vs. Chronic

Identify and prioritize the need that is the most urgent.

Prioritize acute problems over chronic ones.

More Test-Taking Strategies

(Silvestri & Silvestri, 2022)

Assignment & Delegation:

• Remember this is a national exam, so do not base your answer on a specific facility’s standards.
• Delegate noninvasive tasks (i.e. skin care, range-of-motion, ambulation, etc. to assistive personnel [AP or UAP])
• Generally, do not choose to “Report to RN” or “Report to physician” unless none of the other options are viable. Avoid answers that “do nothing.” Answers where you leave the patient, delay treatment, etc. are generally not the correct answer.

General Tips:

• Choose the option that best ensures client safety.
• Eliminate similar or alike options.
• Eliminate options that contain closed-ended words - all, always, never, etc.
• Use therapeutic communication for any communication questions

And More Test-Taking Strategies

(Silvestri & Silvestri, 2022)

General Principles of Pharmacology:

• Do not give antacids with other medications.
• Do not crush enteric-coated, sustained-release, or long-acting medications.
• You and/or your client cannot change a medication dose without an order.
• Generally, the client should not abruptly stop taking a medication.
• The client should not consume alcohol with medications.
• Be careful with any over-the-counter and herbal medications when taking prescription medications.
• Never administer a medication if the prescription is not fully legible or is an abnormal dose.

Answering Pharmacology Questions:

• Focus on learning drug categories as opposed to memorizing specific drug information.
• Learn the suffixes that help you match certain drugs with their drug category (i.e. ACE Inhibitors all end in –pril).
• Note any diagnoses listed in the question to help you identify the drug category if you don’t recognize the name of the drug.
• Identify what the question is asking (Is it looking for the intended effect of the drug, adverse effects, etc.)
• Use the available calculator on the screen for all calculations.

Be sure to unmute the video!!!

5 Tips from Nursing.com by Jon Haws, RN

Let's Review

Let's Review

Resources for NCLEX Prep

Must-Haves for NCLEX Prep

High-Quality NCLEX-Style Practice Questions that include Rationales and Strategies

High-Quality Source(s) for Content Review – textbooks, class notes, NCLEX-Prep Material, etc.

Resources to Consider

Hint: Don't try to use them all!!!

Free YouTube Channels

Paid Review Sources

NCLEX Prep Courses

HESI NCLEX Prep – 2-day review (included with your HESI fees)

Simple Nursing

UWorld

Archer Review

Mark Klimek

Hurst NCLEX Prep

ATI NCLEX Prep

Nursing.com

Nursing.com

Kaplan NCLEX Prep

More Resources & Info

Free Sources for Practice Questions:

Important Tips from Mrs. Cooper

1. Don't try to use ALL of the resources.
2. Find a content review source focused on the basics and on safe nursing practice.
3. Select a source for practice questions.
1. Take a minimum of 150 practice questions weekly.
2. Remediate every question - Click here for an idea of what remediation should look like.
3. Use the topics you identify in the last column to drive your Content Review areas.
4. At least 2 times before taking Boards, take 150 questions in one sitting (to get used to a long test). Remediate as noted above.

Amy's Blog

Nurse Plus

here

Nursing Explorer

Elsevier Adaptive Quizzing

***My Recommendation for both Content Review and Practice Questions: Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-PN Examination

Let's Review

Final Preparations

The Day Before the Test

• The Key for this day is to relax and de-stress!
• Do not do heavy studying the day before the test.
• Do something that is relaxing and fun for you!
• Avoid/minimize alcohol intake on this day.
• If you haven’t already, drive to the testing site to make sure you know how to find it, how long it takes to get there, etc.
• Visualize your name with LPN after it!
• Believe in yourself!

You've Got This!!!

The Day of the Test

(Silvestri & Silvestri, 2022)

Groom yourself for success – you want to feel successful!

Get up early enough that you will have time to spare.

Eat a nutritious breakfast.

Leave with enough time to arrive early!!!

Stay confident and positive – this may mean spending some time meditating, praying, relaxing, etc. the morning of the test.

Bring a bottle of water and a small snack in case you need a break during the test.

Don't forget: Believe in yourself!!!

During the Test

• Use relaxation techniques if you feel yourself starting to get overly stressed. Click for some quick relaxation techniques that you can practice ahead of time.
• Take a break if you need one. You have up to 5 hours to take a maximum of 145 questions. You have time to take a break.
• Remember that every question is another opportunity to be successful.
• Do NOT get upset if it does not shut off at the minimum number of questions!!!

here

Let's Review

Make a Plan for Success

Making Your Plan

(Silvestri & Silvestri, 2022)

Develop a Study Plan including the following:

• Study schedule – be specific (When/where will you study each day/week? Who will you study with? How often will you take breaks?)
• Steps you will take to protect your study time (i.e. put phone on silent, study while kids are at school, etc.)
• Content areas to review (Be specific with your goals and adapt these as needed based on remediation.)
• Number of NCLEX Practice Questions you will take each week and how you plan to remediate
• Steps you will take to care for yourself during this time
• Relaxation Plan for the day before the test

Ask Yourself . . .

How do YOU study best?

• Alone or in a group?
• Location?
• Time of day?

Decide Now!

(Silvestri & Silvestri, 2022)

• Plan to take all of the questions – the maximum number.
• Consider it a bonus if the computer shuts off before that number!
• In your study plan, include blocks of time to take the maximum number of test questions in one session. Do this AT LEAST 2 TIMES BEFORE BOARDS!
• Remediate every question on every exam.

• Stick to your plan!

Click here to review remediation!

Scan the QR code or just click on it to make your plan!

Make Your Own Study Plan Now by Following the Link:

References

Web links in the Presentation

Amy's Blog

Archer Review

ATI NCLEX Prep

Bibliography

Hurst NCLEX Review

Kaplan NCLEX Prep

Mark Klimek YouTube Channel

National Council of State Boards of Nursing Inc. (n.d.) Computer adaptive testing (CAT). https://www.ncsbn.org/1216.htm NCSBN. (2023, March 7). The Next Generation NCLEX Uses Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT). [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PU6YDCkwJ6Y NURSINGcom w/ Jon Haws, RN. (2019, September 30). 5 Insanely Easy NCLEX Test-Taking Tips for Nursing Students (you can start using TODAY). [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3X1Zx5dWwU Silvestri, L. A. & Silvestri, A. E. (2020). Saunders Comprehensive Review for the NCLEX-PN Examination. Elsevier.

NCLEX.com - Be ready for exam day

NCLEX.com - The Current Test Plan

Nurse Plus

Nursing.com NCLEX Review Site

Nursing.com YouTube Channel

Nursing Explorer

Quick Relaxation Strategies

Simple Nursing YouTube Channel

UWorld NCLEX Review

THANK YOU

Meredith Cooper, MSN, RN

Director of Practical Nursing and Allied Health Tennessee College of Applied Technology Jackson

Contact me at 731-424-0691 ext. 120 or meredith.cooper@tcatjackson.edu or via Linked In here:

• Do not ask, “What if . . .”

• Figure out what the question is asking – look for strategic words

• Determine if the question is looking for a positive (correct) answer or negative (incorrect) answer

Remediation Table

Name: __________________________________________ Topic of Questions: __________________________________ Source of Questions: _________________________________

Remediation Table

Name: __________________________________________ Topic of Questions: __________________________________ Source of Questions: _________________________________