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What are the Common NCLEX Exam Mistakes and How do you Avoid Them
  • Posted on 15th September, 2022
    7 Minutes read

What are the Common NCLEX Exam Mistakes and How do you Avoid Them?

Every graduating nurse is aware that passing the NCLEX Exam is the ultimate requirement before they may practise as registered nurses in countries like Australia, the US, Canada, and Japan, to name a few. This demanding examination ensures that all RNs possess the necessary competencies before entering practice. If you fail the exam, you must take it again or, in the worst case, you may never reach your professional goal of becoming an RN.

How can a graduate nurse prepare effectively for the NCLEX?

One essential thing is to be aware of the typical errors that individuals make, which may range from overworking themselves academically to failing to obtain enough sleep. As we all know, knowledge is power. Thus, the more we understand potential challenges, the better we will be able to devise strategies to combat them and ensure success.

NCLEX errors and solutions: If you have finished your nursing school degree and are preparing for the NCLEX, you are aware that your coursework is intended to prepare students to effectively pass their boards. Every state’s nursing board keeps an eye out for it. The state board tells nursing schools whose pass rates stay below 80% that they need to come up with an improvement plan. However, here are some typical errors made by nursing students, along with advice on how to avoid them.

1. Failure to take the test as soon as possible: This is indeed the greatest error. Students who delay post-graduation testing too long may lose momentum. Some students want a delay of several months so they can study during that period. Sadly, so much of what is learnt in school may be forgotten over time. It is advised that since it takes time to have all the paperwork processed and a testing date set, students begin the process as soon as they graduate. The optimal timeframe is between 4–5 weeks following graduation. You must schedule within that timeframe. 

2. Failure to read the questions beforehand: Students do not thoroughly read each question. Students just hurry through the questions because they are so anxious about the high stakes of the NCLEX exam. They are aware that this exam has a time limit. This is an adaptive exam. How you answer one question will impact the following ones. This may be taxing. It is essential to read the question carefully, allow yourself time to analyse it, and then proceed. Avoid overthinking. 

3. Unhealthy Learning Approaches: Students often attempt to “cram” the night before an exam. This inconsistency can be portrayed in several different ways. You may study excessively, up to 100 questions each day, or you can cram the night before the exam by staying up all night. Neither is certain to succeed. 

4. Create an organised study strategy for the weeks before the exam: Simulation exams should be included in your study plan for optimal effectiveness. This entails completing timed practise assessments under the same constraints as the actual exam, without paper, pencils, laptops, or phones. If you recreate the testing set, you will have fewer test-day worries. In your sample tests, you may also carefully examine each question’s rationale and the correct response. This might help you demonstrate your critical thinking abilities on the exam. 

5. Absence of self-care: Utilize the day before the test to take care of yourself. Take a break from studying. Try to exercise, eat healthily, and get enough rest. On the day of the test, a nutritious meal and, yes, coffee may help you maintain mental acuity for the long hours ahead. Students often self-destruct via stress, excessive studying, or ineffective studying. Including mental and physical health in your plan will make it more likely that you will succeed.

Passing the NCLEX demonstrates that you possess the professional competencies necessary to be an RN. It is a success that should provide you with a sense of accomplishment. Knowing the most frequent NCLEX mistakes and the most effective techniques to prevent them will increase your likelihood of succeeding. 

FAQ’s

As a result, a test-taker may pass or fail the NCLEX-RN/PN with 60, 145, or any figure somewhere between. People who fail the exam have attributed their failure to not responding to at least 60 questions in the allocated period. You may approach the first 59 questions correctly, but if you don’t get to number 60, you will instantaneously fail the test.

The NCLEX is not based on a proportion of successfully answered questions. You may complete a series of questions between 75 and 265 and get a pass or fail result. Your score is determined by the computer’s estimation of your ability to properly respond to moderate questions at least 50% of the time. The NCLEX is designed to your specific abilities and must seem challenging since the computer selects questions with a 50% probability of being accurate. If you miss tough questions but successfully answer medium-difficult questions at least 50% of the session, you have a high chance of success.

Higher-level questions on the NCLEX will need you to analyse or assess the information supplied in order to make a choice or build a relationship. A query, for instance, may encourage you to identify a relationship between a person’s diet and certain health symptoms or difficulties. You may also be asked to consider what you would do in a particular medical condition or emergency, as well as what strategy would be most effective for speaking with a patient about specific issues.
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