10 Tips to Prepare for the NCLEX-RN Exam in Alaska

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The National Council Licensure Exam, or the NCLEX-RN, is a standardized test that you must pass to begin your career as a registered nurse in Alaska. It validates your knowledge in patient care, safety, and clinical procedures. Studying for the NCLEX may seem like a daunting task, but with the right study practices, you can prepare in no time. Follow these 10 tips to help you prepare for your NCLEX-RN exam.

1. Find the Right Nursing Education Program

The first step to becoming a registered nurse is to find an accredited nursing program in Alaska that fully prepares you for the healthcare responsibilities you take on as a nurse. Look for institutional accreditation and further accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing and the Alaska Board of Nursing.

Your nursing program teaches you how to provide quality, safe care, educate patients on diagnoses and treatments, and utilize nursing technology in a secure and effective manner. The knowledge and technical skills you gain from your program are the foundation for the information that’s presented on the NCLEX-RN.

2. Gain Clinical Nursing Experience for Real-World Application

Once you have the knowledge from the classroom, your clinical rotations allow you to put what you learned into practice. Your nursing program can help place you in a variety of clinics or doctor’s offices around Alaska. The work you do in a real-world environment can help you better retain information that will be on your exam.

3. Understand the NCLEX-RN Test Format

The NCLEX-RN is an online exam that consists of at least 85 questions with a maximum of 150 questions. The test is a computerized adaptive testing, which means that the exact number of questions you must answer is based on the number of correct answers you give. As you answer questions correctly, the exam ramps up in difficulty to truly gauge your abilities. You are given five hours to complete the exam, so you don’t need to rush or overthink. Choose the answer that is most appropriate for the clinical situation described.

4. Create a Study Plan for the NCLEX-RN Exam

Your nursing education and clinical experience provide you with a solid foundation to prepare for the exam. But you still need to study. Don’t wait until the last minute. Begin studying for the exam 8 to 12 weeks before test day, spending 20 to 30 hours each week preparing. Make studying part of your daily routine so it feels more like a habit and not like a chore. Start by reviewing core subjects like pharmacology, med-surg, and maternal health, then transition into daily question drills with rationales. In the final weeks, take full-length practice exams to test your knowledge, discover gaps, and build confidence from your successes. Adjust your plan based on your strengths, weaknesses, and how recently you completed nursing school.

5. Create a Study Space for the Nursing Exam

You won’t be able to study effectively if you don’t have a space that allows you to focus on the material. Use your bedroom, kitchen, or a home office if you have one. Make sure you have all of the supplies you need like notepads, pens, highlighters, sticky notes, and index cards. Download any apps you need on your tablet or phone. Grab a pair of noise-canceling headphones, put your phone on silent, and make a sign for the door so your children, spouse, or roommates don’t bother you.

6. Explore NCLEX Exam Resources

The National Council of the State Boards of Nursing, which administers the NCLEX-RN, offers the RN Test Plan, which includes an abundance of information about the exam. It tells you what subjects the exam covers and approximately how many questions you can expect for each subject. It provides further information on how the exam is administered and also offers sample content so you can see what the questions are like. You can also download an exam preview from the NCSBN website and use it as a practice test.

7. Use a Variety of Study Techniques for the Nursing Exam

Studying can feel pretty repetitive after a while, so be sure to incorporate a variety of techniques into your routine. For example, you can write down everything you know about a particular subject and write in terms that a child would understand. You can check your writing against the textbook for anything you might have missed. You can also color code your notes, use flashcards, teach the material to someone else, or write down questions you have about the material so you can look it up or reach out to your instructors for assistance.

8. Use Mnemonics to Study for the NCLEX-RN

A creative technique for studying is to use mnemonics to help you remember nursing processes or terms. For example, RICE helps you remember how to treat soft tissue injuries: Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. Studies show that mnemonics can greatly improve your memory performance, which can help you on test day. You can look up common mnemonics or create your own.

9. Create or Join a NCLEX-RN Study Group

Sometimes studying can be more fun with a partner. See if a friend or family member can help you review through teaching techniques or flashcards. They can also ask you practice questions or quiz you from your textbook. Or join—or form—a study group. Remember, your peers need to take the exam as well, so they might also need help studying. You can meet in person or online through Zoom.

10. Avoid Test-Taking Mistakes

There are many test-taking mistakes you should recognize and avoid even before you sit down to take the exam. Review the NCLEX exam day page to make sure you follow all the rules and regulations beforehand. Arrive early on test day so you can check in and avoid having to reschedule, which comes with additional fees. When you begin your exam, make sure you read each question carefully and understand what it’s asking. Don’t rush through your questions but don’t take too long on those you don’t fully understand. Read all the multiple-choice answers, keep an eye on your time, and don’t stress yourself out! This is what you have worked toward and you likely know more than you think you do.

Are you ready to begin a nursing career in Alaska? Contact Charter College today. We offer an Associate of Applied Science degree in Nursing that can prepare you for rewarding helping others. The program is offered in a blended learning format and can be completed in less than two years. Call 888-200-9942 or fill out the form for more information.

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