We have all experienced panic over things that we encountered for the first time. When a person encounters something unusual, we tend to overthink and later on experience panic attacks. There’s also a time when we know that we will face something new. We tend to over-prepare as if everything is important. It can also be that we keep asking others what to do and end up getting a different answer which will make us even more confused. In life, there are certain codes that we must follow. That question is, what is the right one to follow. Here are 10 Dos and Don’ts that you might want to check out.
10 Things You SHOULD NOT Do
1. Don’t freak out.
As you have already got through the difficult part, which is the nursing school and your local board examination. You have already experienced a lot of tests about assistive devices, contraindications, and pathophysiology. You can do it. Freaking out will not help you achieve anything. You were prepared for this and still preparing for this. You have a lot of time so that when you face this stage, you get everything that you need.
2. Don’t cram
When you cram, a lot of information in your brain will surely fail. Researchers proved that studying in portions but continuously for a long period of time is the best way to retain information. Cramming will not give you good results as you have to get much rest that you need before NCLEX, and it won’t give you any rest; instead, it will only give you confusion.
3. Don’t rely on past work or clinical experiences.
Clinical experiences and past work are helpful, but it doesn’t always translate well onto the NCLEX exam. Past experiences helped us in the real world, although NCLEX is based on what would happen in a perfect hospital, where this revolves around what is ideal and not realistic. So instead of relying on your clinical experiences, start to ask yourself what you would do in the ideal world and prepare how you would handle the situation. This will help you delve into the NCLEX mindset.
4. Don’t overwhelm yourself with an abundance of resources.
When nervous, we tend to over-prepare as if everything is important. We ask people for advice, and they might give us tons of materials that we thought might help us. Overloading materials is not helpful. First, you cannot read all of it. Second, you cannot remember and apply all of it. And last, you might miss what really matters while going over all the resources that you have acquired. What you have to do is to review your NCLEX exam notes. It is crucial for your success. Find at least 1 or 2 resources that will work with your learning style. Master those before adding other resources to your study plan.
5. Don’t go into your exam hungry.
When we are stressed and busy, eating might come last to our priorities. Don’t neglect these meals, for they are essential to your success. If you think that it has nothing to do with the examination, then you are wrong. Meals will keep your body prepared and will help your mind to focus on what you are doing. This is as important as getting enough rest for your body. Prepare a healthy meal ahead of time and bring a snack with you. Make sure to refuel your body with energy by using the 2-hour scheduled break during the examination.
7. Don’t rush to answer the questions.
You know you are prepared well and ready for the fight. You saw a question that seemed easy for you, and you rushed to answer to have more time for a much more difficult question. But then, you saw that you got it wrong on the results. Why is that? It is because you rushed through a question assuming that you know the answer. Take your time on each question. This exam tests more than your knowledge but also your critical thinking, reasoning skills, and also your ability to make judgment calls. If you try to speed things up, it’s more likely that you’ll miss some important information that could lead you to get the wrong answer.
8. Don’t expect that the questions will be the same.
As you go through Nursing school, you already encounter a lot of examinations. In addition to that, you have the local board examination. Now, NCLEX is a different examination that also has a different standard from your previous examinations. The NCLEX exam is very adaptive. That means it is designed to change based on your answers. You cannot completely rely on what someone tells you about it. Instead, you must gather and study all the relevant materials and multiple practice exams.
7. Don’t second-guess yourself.
Self-doubt will be your greatest enemy. This can help you fail in no time. If you are not 100% sure about the question, this can easily eat all your hard work. This is what you can do, when you have decided the answer, use all your knowledge, reasoning, and logic and stick with it. Trust your instincts and your preparation.
8. Don’t focus on the number of questions.
You should expect to receive between 75-265 questions on the NCLEX exam. However, the number of questions you are given should not be your primary concern on exam day. Don’t try to decipher what it means to have fewer or more questions; instead, concentrate on answering each one individually.
10. Don’t study the day before your exam.
You should be well prepared to take the exam the day before, so instead of worrying about getting one more study session in, use the day for some downtime. Allow yourself to get a decent night’s sleep and trust that all of your hard work in the weeks leading up to this will pay off.
10 Things You SHOULD DO (With BONUS Tips)
1. Make a study group
Study groups are an excellent way to go over, consult on, and theoretically apply all of the knowledge you’ve been going over with people in the same situation as you. Having others examine the test with you is a terrific opportunity to discuss components you’re unsure about, assist others in clearing up any misunderstandings, and generally gain a better knowledge of the subject.
2. Start working on your NCLEX practice exam.
Practice tests allow you to fill up knowledge gaps and gain new skills over time. There are a number of excellent NCLEX practice examinations available, so acquire a few and get started. Practice not only assesses your ability to recall and apply what you’ve learned, but it also prepares your body and mind for what you can anticipate on exam day. The more you can do ahead of time to familiarize yourself with the experience of taking the NCLEX, the better you’ll perform on the real test.
3. Get enough rest
Avoid being the person who finds it challenging to stay awake throughout your NCLEX exam. Make sure you get enough rest, not just the night before. To be refreshed, you must have at least a few nights in a row of uninterrupted sleep; therefore, do whatever it takes to achieve this. A well-rested mind and body are essential for remembering and utilizing all of the knowledge you’ve spent so much time reviewing.
4. Prepare yourself mentally and physically.
It matters to make healthy decisions before taking an important examination in order to prepare mentally and physically for the exam. Giving oneself sufficient time to practice for the test is also part of mentally preparing for it, so schedule a few final study sessions to prevent cramming just before the test.
5. Know your learning style.
Each of us has a unique learning style, whether it is visual, reading/writing, kinesthetic, auditory, or a combination of all. Once you’ve determined how you learn best, you may use it to help you prepare for the NCLEX exam. If you are a visual learner, try to color code your notes or diagrams. If auditory, listen to YouTube videos or recorded lectures. If it happens that you are a reading/writing learner, read a study guide or write out your own guide. Last but not the least, if you are a kinesthetic learner, you may use a whiteboard to write or draw.
6. Know and apply ABCs and Maslow’s hierarchy during the NCLEX exam.
The ABCs and Maslow’s Hierarchy are both methods for addressing the patient’s most significant issue. Using these theories can assist you in answering problems such as what you should do first or what is the most urgent problem at hand. Keep in mind that you may need to use both the ABCs and Maslow’s Hierarchy to arrive at the correct answer, so be prepared to use both. ABC stands for Airway, Breathing, and Circulation, and familiarize yourself with all the levels of the pyramid of Maslow’s Hierarchy.
7. Understand the difference between the real world and the NCLEX.
Although we would like the actual world to match the same rules as the NCLEX exam, it rarely does. It’s vital to understand where the two vary. We discover that what you actually do at work may lead you to answer the question incorrectly. The NCLEX is built on an idealized world rather than what we really encounter. Always remember that the NCLEX examination mirrors the perfect hospital where there is no staff shortage. You only have one patient, no time constraints, and endless supplies and tools at your disposal.
8. Focus on the areas you struggle with first.
As you are aware, there is a lot to learn from a nursing exam. If you neglect to evaluate yourself, chances are you’ll gravitate toward those aspects you like or feel good about – yet when preparing for the NCLEX exam, and it’s a good idea to start with the areas you struggle with. By reviewing the areas that you are not confident in, it’s easier to keep your motivation up at the end of the day, knowing that you have already gone over the parts that you find difficult.
9. Think like a nurse.
What does it mean to “Think like a nurse”? It means that you must acquire what it’s like to be a nurse, even if you are still working on becoming a registered nurse. It comes with time and experience, so be patient with yourself. Use a combination of critical thinking and clinical judgment to make decisions. It is a plus that it will help you gain the confidence to think like a nurse.
10. Learn and practice “select all that apply” questions.
The “Select All That Apply” questions on the NCLEX exam are among the most difficult. Thankfully, there are numerous resources available for practice. One of the better approaches to these questions is to treat each answer as a “true or false statement.” Breaking it down makes the question less frightening and allows you to focus on each response individually.
11. Know and apply prioritization.
One of the most significant skills in nursing is the capacity to prioritize. This is repeatedly assessed in the NCLEX exam. One tried-and-true technique is to ask oneself, “Which patient would have the most harm?” after each question.
12. Enrol in a study center
Study centers like AuRNPathway, will definitely help you prepare in no time. The benefit of this is that at AuRNPathway, you will have a chance to study with experienced educators who have proven themselves and produced lots of passers. It’s good that you’re preparing yourself mentally and physically, but there’s something different if you enroll in a study center.
Taking exams is something we always experienced since we were kids, but it still has the magic that keeps us scared and anxious. Although it made us squirm at times, it left us with good memories. Memories of success, and this examination is not different from the others. You will someday have it in your memories what preparations you have done just to be a registered nurse. For now, stand firm and face what’s ahead. You are not alone, and we help you along the way. Together we can achieve it.
References:
How to pass the NCLEX: 10 Dos and Don’ts. Retrieved from https://organizednursedesigns.com/blogs/nclex-101/nclex-101-dos-and-donts
12 Dos and Don’ts for a Successful NCLEX Examination. Retrieved from https://medexamcenter.com/blogs/neac/12-dos-and-donts-for-a-successful-nclex-exam
