If you are a nursing student—or are entertaining the thought of enrolling in a nursing program—and you haven't heard of the NCLEX, you should.
All nursing-career hopefuls in the United States are required to pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) before they can receive their license as a registered nurse. For many, testing is often accompanied with unwanted angst and unrelenting nerves. This is especially true for the NCLEX; notorious for being one of the most challenging exams for future healthcare employees.
One of the reasons the NCLEX is so challenging is the sheer volumes of questions. Unlike most other certification qualifying tests, the NCLEX requires everyone to answer a minimum of 75 questions to a maximum of 265 questions in the six hours of time you are given to take the exam. That means you will have an average of a little less than a minute and a half to complete each question.
Most of the questions you'll come across are multiple choice questions with four answers to choose from, only one of which is correct. Other questions may be fill in the blanks, arranging lists of priorities or steps to a procedure from the first to last. Questions may also include charts, tables, or graphic images.
Every question throughout the exam is created to test essential themes and skills such as clinical problem solving, an understanding of the nursing process, proper communication, caring and compassion, and accurate collection of documentation.
A client is admitted to the labor and delivery unit. The nurse performs a vaginal exam and determines that the client's cervix is 5 cm dilated with 75% effacement. Based on the nurse's assessment the client is in which phase of labor?
A 2-year-old is admitted for repair of a fractured femur and is placed in Bryant's traction. Which finding by the nurse indicates that the traction is working properly?
The best thing you can do to ensure you're prepared to take the NCLEX is to actively study for it. There are so many resources online to help students understand the NCLEX. Search online for practice tests to take, focusing on getting correct answers but also trying to answer as many questions as possible in the shortest amount of time. Take note of any subjects you'd like to familiarize yourself with more before the big exam day and be proactive about studying them.
It's also important to be prepared to take the NCLEX on exam day. Be sure to get plenty of sleep the night before and wake up with enough time to get to the testing location (anticipate traffic), find a parking spot, and find your testing room with time to spare. Eat a balanced breakfast and pack water and simple snacks to take with you into the exam room. Stress and anxiety can really weigh on your mind, taking away from focusing on the exam itself. Take a deep breath and remember that everything you've studied has helped to prepare you for this next step.
If you're ready to start a rewarding career as a nurse, contact Eagle Gate College today. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff will be able to explain our nursing programs to you and help you find the one that is best for you.