Top 10 Tips to Prepare Yourself on the Day of the NCLEX The big day has arrived. Today is exam day – the day you have been preparing for over the last 4 years. This is the first day of the rest of your life, and you cannot wait to start writing and start your first day of work. Of course, that will only happen if you pass the exam! Besides it being a real test of your knowledge and practical skills, you will also find out whether your study skills work or not. Imagine taking the exam and falling short in all the questions because you did not study enough to answer the questions in full – what a nightmare! This blog is going to give you some easy tips and tricks to assist you in preparing for this big day. Follow them diligently, and you really cannot go wrong. The National Council Licensure Examinations for Registered Nurses is a very important turning point at the start of your career. You should be feeling eager, and raring to go! Let’s look at the ways in which you can ace this exam: 1. Positive Thinking The power of our Mind is really an incredible thing. Did you know that with some selected positive thinking you can actually ‘think’ your way through the exam? This is not hocus-pocus stuff – oh no, this is an honest to true goodness fact. From the day you start studying keep telling yourself that you will pass and that you can pass – everyday – repeat those thoughts up to 5 times a day. Then start seeing yourself receiving the good marks – see that 80%, or 90% clearly in your mind – see yourself achieving that mark. Before you know it, you will be moved to do as much as you can to pass that exam because your subconscious mind starts believing that you can do it. At the same time, the universe makes sure that everything goes your way and that you pass with flying colours.
This does not mean that you do not have to study – remember, you always get what you work for. Related: 5 Struggles Only Nurses Understand
2. Exercise When you are under stress and studying for exams, it really is a good idea to start doing some exercise to keep your body feeling refreshed and healthy, or continue with your current exercise schedule. Any form of exercise will get your adrenalin going which increases your endorphin levels – which are the ‘feel-good’ hormones. You will get back to your books feeling renewed and full of energy again. Even watching a movie for an hour or so just gives your brain some time to rest and recoup, then you can hit the books again. Exercising will keep your body and mind in tip top shape for this exam, and you will wake up each day feeling refreshed and revitalized. Whatever you do, do not say you are too busy studying to exercise. Remember each new day is a day closer to the exam and getting it done. 3. Eat regularly Yes, I can hear everyone saying, ‘Aah, come on, we snack all day – that should be fine”, or “I eat chocolates when I am stressed – those will see me through” – well actually – neither of those will give you any energy or staying power when studying for your NCLEX. Your body needs to be in the balance and fortified with proteins, fruit, and vegetables.
This is the area where most people slip up. They sit in front of their books all day long nibbling on crisps, a cracker or two, maybe an apple – then wonder why they are so tired, or why they have the shakes? Then they go and lie down because they are not feeling great, and they end up sleeping for 2 hours because their bodies are simply exhausted. They are not winning at all and consequently will not get good marks for their examination. Be kind to your mind and body and see the difference it makes in your good marks. Here is a great little tip for eating: eat lots of bananas and a few chocolates – they both help with your memory and any concentration problems. 4. Visual Studying A very quick and easy way to study is to use the internet – go to YouTube and look up videos on your work. So instead of wading through pages of notes on The Cardiovascular System – rather go and find a video that tells you all about it, including easy to understand diagrams. You can watch lecturers and videos and learn so much faster with visual aids. This is how visual learning works: ● Images last for just 30 milliseconds and the brain can still see them ● 36 000 visual messages can be registered by our eyes in an hour ● We can understand a visual scene in 1/10ths of a second ● 90% of all information sent to our brains is visual ● Our brains process visuals 60 000 times quicker than text Even if you work out your own diagrams with arrows and shapes, you will find that so much easier to remember than thousands of words!
Related: Licensed Practical Nurses(LPNS) 5. Audio Studying Some people have realized the advantages of studying while listening to audio discussions or programs Some of these are question and answer sessions and they serve to refresh your mind on that topic. It’s also a good way to remember how some of the complicated medical terminologies sound out loud. Also, you get to hear the way they present the answers which give you some tips on how to answer the questions in the exam room. You can even record some of your own questions and answers and replay them a couple of time. 6. Information on the NCLEX-RN This exam was formulated to protect the public from unlicensed, and untrained health care workers are trying to get employed without any medical training. The Council has certain standards that all nurses must adhere once they have completed their training. The exam asks questions to ascertain whether you have the necessary skills, knowledge and thinking patterns to practice as a nurse. The exam is divided into sections designed to “Meet Client Needs.” There are 4 categories and 6 sub-categories: 1. Safe and Effective Care Environment 1. Management of Care 2. Safety and Infection Control 2. Health Promotion and Maintenance 3. Psychosocial Integrity 4. Physiological Integrity 1. Basic Care and Comfort
2. Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies 3. Reduction of Risk Potential 4. Physiological Adaptation
Conclusion The more helpful tips you have, the easier your work should become. Just use the tips that work best for you. Also do not forget to read through as many practice tests as possible, look at your study guides again – even make flash cards if those work for you. Some people find it easy to “study with a buddy” – if that is you, then get going, and it helps also to test each other on the spur of the moment – will give an idea of prepared you actually are. The NCLEX-RN website has lots of study aides to offer you. You can even get questions and answers sent to you mobile phone. However, at the end of the day, it will be you and the computer screen. Study the best way you know how and prepare methodically - this could be the first day of the rest of your life RN! Related: Leading Community Nurse Henry Carlo Moïse, RN, BSN, MBA, to be Published in the Worldwide Leaders in Healthcare as New Member of the International Nurses Association Please follow us on Facebook, Linkedin, Pinterest and Twitter