How do I prepare for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) Registered Nurse (RN) exam?

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Last updated: November 18, 2025View editorial policy

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I appreciate your question, but I need to clarify an important issue with the evidence provided.

Evidence Does Not Match Your Question

The medical literature provided consists entirely of cancer treatment guidelines (melanoma, multiple myeloma, lung cancer, cervical cancer screening, etc.) and has no relevance to NCLEX-RN exam preparation. 1

Only a small subset of the evidence actually addresses NCLEX-RN preparation strategies 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, but these are older research articles (1989-2019) rather than authoritative guidelines for exam preparation.

What I Can Tell You About NCLEX-RN Preparation

Based on the limited relevant evidence available:

Systematic Assessment and Preparation

Use predictor examinations to identify your risk level for failure and create a targeted study plan based on your specific weaknesses. 4, 6

  • Graduate nurses who used predictor results (such as Assessment Technologies Institute exams) to guide their study habits and followed structured study recommendations showed higher pass rates 4
  • Programs implementing individualized NCLEX preparation processes based on risk assessment achieved first-time pass rates exceeding national norms by 5.41% to 11.5% 6

Key Preparation Strategies

  • Assess your performance throughout nursing school to determine how much preparation time you need 2
  • Focus study activities on your primary learning style for maximum effectiveness 2
  • Use a systematic, organized approach rather than random studying 2
  • At-risk students benefit from in-depth written study plans with ongoing follow-up and support until the examination date 4

Available Resources

  • Review courses 3
  • Review books 3
  • Group study sessions 3
  • Individual review materials 3
  • Computerized testing practice 5

However, I cannot provide comprehensive NCLEX-RN preparation guidance based on the cancer treatment guidelines that comprise most of the evidence provided to me.

References

Guideline

Guideline Directed Topic Overview

Dr.Oracle Medical Advisory Board & Editors, 2025

Research

NCLEX-RN preparation: enabling candidates to pass.

Journal of continuing education in nursing, 1989

Research

A Model for Sustaining NCLEX-RN Success.

Nursing education perspectives, 2019

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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