How to Study for the Nursing Boards

The route to a career in nursing has many steps. After you complete your classroom education and on-site nursing clinicals, it is time to study for your nursing boards. Passing nursing boards is necessary for licensure as a registered nurse, or RN, or licensed practical or vocational nurse, also known as LPN or LVN. The licensure exam is called the NCLEX, for National Council Licensure EXamination. Upon passing the NCLEX exam, you are licensed to practice nursing in all of the United States.

Things You'll Need

  • Index cards
  • Study guides
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Review your textbooks from your nursing classes and your notes from your clinical rotations. Pay extra attention to the diagnostic test results and symptoms, along with final diagnoses, of former patients you evaluated during clinicals. Many of the questions on the NCLEX are about how symptoms and tests help diagnose illness. Write these facts on index cards.

    • 2

      Get a study guide for the exam. Publishers sell study guides and reference materials that are updated on a regular basis. These books also may come with CD-ROMs containing sample test questions.

    • 3

      Work with a study partner such as another nursing student who is taking the exam at the same time. Quiz each other on items that may be covered on the test.

    • 4

      Study frequently. The NCLEX is a difficult exam and is not one for which you should cram at the last minute.

Learnify Hub © www.0685.com All Rights Reserved