NCLEX Study Adventure: Your Ultimate Guide to Topic Mastery
Next Generation NCLEX
Welcome to the NCLEX Expedition! We are venturing out into the wilderness of test prep and actual test taking. The NCLEX Next Gen is like no other test. Nurse graduates often get caught up in getting a job right away and sign up for a nurse residency based on passing the NCLEX. The entire idea puts the nurse graduate into a stressful event that is not good for any new nurse. Now, the day of the test comes: The new grad has her job depending on the test, her upgraded new car, and whatever else they have added to the financial situation. As the test progresses, minor setbacks of being unsure turn into the last straw. Now, the student feels like a failure when they don’t know if they have passed.
Why Topic Study is Your Key to Success:
Topic study gives the nurse graduate a chance to build a solid base of knowledge. If I have a good knowledge base (i.e. knowing what the condition or medication does to the body), I have a good idea of what signs and symptoms, or side effects will occur. Picture each of these items in the knowledge base as trees in a vast forest, and you need to be able to pick out certain trees for firewood - conditions by signs and symptoms. Critical thinking is crucial in this step, so be sure you have gathered the necessary tools. What has happened in the body? Does this affect body function? If so, how? Does this affect labs? Is this condition treatable or chronic, or is it terminal? If it is treatable, what is it treated with? Use questions like these as tools for your critical thinking, and you will do just fine in this wilderness of test prep and test taking.
Overview of the Adventure:
Understanding the NCLEX format and content is the key to unlocking your success. The exam has evolved into a Next Gen beast, featuring a medley of question types that'll keep you on your toes. From the evolving case study to the notorious “select all that apply”, each question type is like a piece of a complex puzzle that you need to decipher.
A path through the forest terrain.
Unraveling the NCLEX Terrain: Your Expedition Blueprint
1. Mapping Out the NCLEX Wilderness:
Format and Challenges—The NCLEX changed in April 2024 with the addition of assessing the new nurse graduate’s clinical judgment. Critical thinking is used to provide clinical judgment. To many, it is like being out in the wilderness without a hat; your head has a sunburn and is hurting. Your brain hurts to think this way at first.
A compass.
2. The Compass of Topic Study:
As we previously discussed, a topic study is a way to build the base of your knowledge. If we think of this base as a base of firewood, we know that if the base is incorrectly constructed, the fire will not burn. The most missed practice question is your compass to the topic you must study. What topic is in those questions? What direction (north, south, east, or west) do you need to go? Some student’s compasses point north, so they need to focus their studies on medical surgical patients. Another student’s compass may point south, so they need to focus their studies on pharmacology. Still others may have their compass point east, and they need to focus their studies in maternity/health promotion. Lastly, another student’s compass may point west, and they will need to focus on all things cardiac, or a specific care topic.
2023 PN Test Plan Effective: 04/01/23 - 03/31/26
3. Separating Fact from Fiction: Debunking Common Myths
A common misreading of the NCLEX journey’s map will lead to the thought of, “All this information is unnecessary for the NCLEX!”. If you ever have taken a test and find yourself no knowing anything the test asked about, you will not follow this misguidance. But if you have not had this experience, let's dig into why all this information is needed. The NCLEX Next Gen gives us our journey map in the NCLEX plan for RNs and LPNs this year. Here is the link to the page where both RN and LPN test plans can be downloaded: https://www.nclex.com/test-plans.page
Check out what topics and areas they are indicating are on the test. They leave little trash in the trash can at the campsite. Refrain from throwing your journey map into the garbage. It is precious to you!
A women setting up her tent
4. Setting Up Your Tent: Setting Clear Study Goals
Now it is time to rest for the night and set up our camp by pitching our tents. The tent is a study goal for when I want to be at the next campsite. So, if I want to know about cardiac strips by the next campsite, that is my goal. If I do not sit down with the journey map and make places to set up my tent or set my goals, I will wander around in the wilderness and forest. I prefer knowing where I am going and how to get there.
Camping gear need for the journey.
5. Know Your Gear: Identifying Strengths and Weaknesses
In the last blog, I discussed an assessment test (survival test). This assessment is like a competence test for surviving in the wilderness (NCLEX Next Gen) alone. You need to know what will help you and what you need help with. Use the test to identify your strengths and weaknesses in the river of knowledge. Which topics did you need to canoe for because of the rapids (evolved case studies)? Which topics did you need a life jacket to be able to float (cardiac strips)? Which topics did you not need any assistance with (fundamentals)? Most of us know our strengths and weaknesses, so we make sure with the survival test.
6. Trailblazing Priorities: Choosing Topics to Conquer
Those areas where you do not need assistance, would not be a priority. But I would make the canoe areas (evolved case studies), or life jacket areas (cardiac strips) a priority. These are the areas I will drown in if I do not have assistance. Get that assistance before you go to take the test in the wilderness!
Trailblazing through
Option 1: Trailblazing Through Content - Organized Review
A.) Breaking Down the Expedition Map: Navigating Content Areas
Take the content and outline what you need to learn. Fill in the outline, like painting a picture of the wilderness after drawing with a pencil. The fill-in area is the parts of the required content listed on our journey map for that topic area. If it is a condition, it includes the name, what it does to the body physically, labs, medications given, what the medicines do to the body, adverse effects, and signs and symptoms. It will be all the better to figure out how those signs and symptoms occur. Is it because of the change in one certain lab? Once you have answered all of these questions, part of the wilderness now has become your backyard. You know it!
B.) Marking Key Points of Interest: Exploring Content Subtopics
Most NCLEX reviews and textbooks divide the content into topics or areas. Take a look at your strengths and weaknesses, look at the book, and then see where you are on the journey map. Are you in an area of rocks and rapids? Is the water moving fast? Or is the water going slow? Rapids are life-threatening and need special attention from the captain of the canoe or boat. For any topic or subtopic listed, make sure you have the base of the firewood built so the fire can start. The base is where you put kindling and small twigs and leaves. These would be the small items in the topic most students overlook, like labs, signs, and symptoms (because the list is long!). At this point my may be thinking to yourself, “No way would the NCLEX expect me to know all of that!”. Yes, it will. Now look at the journey map NCLEX Next Gen has provided us!
C.) Packing Your Backpack: Strategies for Comprehensive Review
Comprehensive review strategies are as complex as you want or as simple as you want. I prefer body systems to help divide the content and age. Peds is one area. Endocrine and Cardiac are another area. Both ways are fine, and completely up to you.
Forging ahead
Option 2: Forging Ahead with Practice: Skills and Assessments
A.) Equipping Your Backpack: The Importance of Practice
Your practice needs to be true to life, for the wilderness survival test (NCLEX Next Gen). So sit at a desk with only a computer when you take practice tests, nothing else. No music or TV should be on in the background. No books are allowed to be used. You should time yourself as you will be timed at the exam location. If any of this preparation scares you or makes you anxious, then you must practice. The more practice you have, the more likely you will survive the test and pass.
B.) Selecting the Right Tools: Choosing Reliable Resources
When I was tutoring, I used Saunders NCLEX-RN review 9th edition, and Saunders NCLEX-PN review 9th edition. Here are the links to where both books can be found on Amazon:
RN review link: https://amzn.to/3UzMMvl
PN review link: https://amzn.to/3wtWUO4
C.) Trail Reflections: Strategies for Effective Practice Review
When taking tests, do 125 questions online per day based on the content you have covered. My students started out with 25 question tests, and then we moved up in the number of tests (up to five, 25 question tests) as the student drew closer to their scheduled NCLEX test date.
Venturing off of the beaten path
Option 3: Venturing Off the Beaten Path: Interactive Learning
A.) Embracing the Wilderness: Utilizing Multimedia Resources
Studying is often more enjoyable if you can enjoy different scenery. Like videos, flashcards, diagrams, questions in a book, questions online, etc. Use various resources to study, and to help you learn. Use the dictionary to tear the listed condition's name apart so you can do that during the test to help you remember. Draw a diagram of how the condition affects the body, down to labs, and signs and symptoms. Make mnemonics with ChatGPT to help you if you get stuck. Here is the link to the one I use: https://chatgpt.com/ . This will vary the landscape and make learning easier.
B.) Gathering Around the Campfire: Engaging in Group Study
Join a study group. Most student of travelers believe there is nothing around for them, but we are forming study groups right now. You can join an NCLEX student group today. Join us and learn more from others who share what they know from their travels through the NCLEX wilderness.
C.) Hands On Expedition: Interactive Learning Activities
Hands-on activities include drawing or kinesthetic learning. Use two flashcards, one for the question and the other for the answer. Write the question and make the answer a small amount of information, like a small bite of the rabbit or stew from the campfire. The smaller the bite, the easier it will be to digest and learn. Fill-in-the-blank questions for NGN are also interactive, especially if you are doing them online. Strategies for Student Success on the Next Generation NCLEX® (NGN) Test is a great book and a great resource for doing Next Gen questions online: https://amzn.to/3wpnhEV
Mapping a route
7. Plotting Your Course: Integrating Study into Your Expedition Schedule
A.) Mapping Your Route: Creating a Study Schedule
Now that we have our map, we must determine when to accomplish things. Make a calendar of when you will have completed your topic study of the wilderness. I use a weekly calendar for my study calendar. Below, I have provided links to a blank block calendar, directions for filling out a block calendar, and an example of a filled in block calendar.
- Blank Block Calendar: Block Schedule for Student Nurses
- Block Calendar - How to: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1hwWWFU4wB905c4QghJ9w73EnsYG0b4Ts/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=116892530383745660592&rtpof=true&sd=true
- Filled in Block Calendar: Block Schedule_ Example of how to fill in.doc
B.) Balancing the Load: Integrating Study with Other Activities
Now, there is a downfall of being in the wilderness with our tent and gear. We must remember we also have family and friends who want to spend time with us, or have us at special events. Life does not end because you are in the NCLEX wilderness trying to survive. You can do some of those events with family and friends, but make sure to plan for them in your calendar.
C.) Keeping the Campfire Burning: Strategies for Staying Motivated
When you start to fall behind or you start to lose motivation, remember your “Why”. Why did you chose to be a nurse? At the beginning of this journey, your “Why” was probably very clear. It doesn’t hurt to recall it when you need extra motivation. Visualize your plans for after you pass the NCLEX, and how life will be different when it is done. Use friends who have already passed their survival test to encourage you to finish. Get support from your study group, or from others you meet along the way. You can do this!
Reaching the summit at last!
Conclusion:
Summit Reflections: Recap your NCLEX Expedition
Review all of your journey we have covered here. After passing the test, be sure to encourage those behind you to do the same, and not to get lost in the wilderness.
Onward to New Horizons: Encouragement to Start or Continue Your Journey
Now that you have passed the survival test, you are labeled a nurse (wilderness expert). People will come to you for advice. You will be in charge of caring for clients, and directing other wilderness staff to care for them. This is an exciting time, but sometimes you might hit a river that needs help crossing. There is no bridge or ferry to get across. You will need assistance building either the bridge or the ferry. Get your help from a mentor wilderness guide for New Nurses. I will come alongside and help you. I will not tell you what to do; that is your decision. But, I will guide you when you need it.
Bon Voyage: Final Words of Inspiration for the Road Ahead
I believe in you, my fellow wilderness traveler. Keep going in the direction we have set on our map, remembering all you have learned to make those clinical judgments needed to care for sick clients. You can do this!
If you need help, please contact me by email at: rhodasommer@oneononenclextutoring.com
Comment below!
Is there something I should have covered that you would like information on? Do you need help with any of the resource links I have provided?
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