Preparing for the NCLEX

Key Steps & Strategy

1. Understand the licensure/credential process

• Everyone: Know the structure: The NCLEX-RN is administered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) using computer‐adaptive testing (CAT). The number of questions and the stopping point depend on performance (NCSBN).
• US students: Check your state’s Board of Nursing for eligibility (education, criminal history, background checks) and the exact process for taking the NCLEX.
• International students: Confirm credential evaluation requirements, language proficiency benchmarks (if applicable), and whether taking the NCLEX is your goal or just benchmarking. For example, credential verification via, e.g., CGFNS International may be required.

2. Get familiar with exam format & content

• Understand the test domains. Topics are framed under broad categories such as Safe & Effective Care Environment, Health Promotion & Maintenance, Psychosocial Integrity, and Physiological Integrity, with sub-topics such as Pharmacology and Basic Care (Maryville University).
• Recognize new formats: Case-scenario items, drag-and-drop, extended multiple response, hotspots, etc. (Global Nurse Partners).
• International students may have specific additional challenges, such as language nuance, cultural/terminology differences, and different nursing scopes of practice. If English is not your first language, extra attention to test language, medical terminology, and US nursing practice contexts is wise.
  
  

3. Design your study plan

• Create a schedule and start early. Don’t leave all preparation to the last minute. A well-structured study plan beats cramming. 
• Break your time into manageable chunks. Dedicate specific hours each day/week, focus units by topic (e.g., pharmacology one week, delegation and leadership next).
• Use frequent practice questions, not just reading content, and apply them in an NCLEX-style format. Review the questions and answers thoroughly (not just “right/wrong,” but why the right option is correct) (Health Carousel International).
• Tip for US students: Your local nursing curriculum is likely aligned with much of what NCLEX tests. Focus on exam style, clinical judgment, and weak areas.
• Tip for international students: You may need extra time to map your educational experience to the US nursing context (terminology, roles, delegation, documentation). For example, the NCLEX emphasizes US practice standards.
• Identify your weak areas (e.g., pharmacology, US-style clinical judgment, prioritization) and devote more time to them. For international students, bridging gaps in the US nursing context may be key (Slone NCLEX Review).
  
  

4. Leverage targeted resources, especially from Nurses International

• Use our NCLEX Practice Question Bank to simulate real-style questions, test your knowledge and track progress.
• Use flashcards and summaries of US nursing standards (e.g., delegation, documentation, culture, and spirituality) to build familiarity with the US clinical context.
• Join study groups virtually or locally, if possible. Collaborating with peers helps keep motivation and provides mutual support.
• For US students: Make sure you are comfortable with the US style of documentation, legal/ethical standards in US nursing, and the newest item types.
• For international students: Acquire familiarity with US nursing practices (for example, delegation, therapeutic communication, and patient safety culture) and review terminology (Slone NCLEX Review).
  
  

5. Practice test-day skills & mindset

• Understand exam logistics: check-in procedures, acceptable IDs, what to bring, and breaks allowed (Post University).
• Develop stamina: The exam may run up to five hours or more, depending on your responses (Global Nurse Partners).
• Don’t obsess over every question: In CAT format, you may take anywhere from 75 to 145 questions, depending on your responses (Maryville University).
• During the test: Focus on prioritizing patient safety, applying the nursing process (assess‐diagnose‐plan‐implement‐evaluate), and choosing answers aligned with safe nursing practice rather than just “what I know” from the international context (Maryville University).
• For international students, make sure you account for the extra stress of unfamiliar test centers, possible travel, and being far from your usual support networks.
  
  

6. Bridge the practice gap (if studying outside the US)

• Understand key differences: Nursing roles vary across countries; the US emphasis may differ. For example, earlier emphasis on delegation, leadership, and patient-safety culture (SimpleNursing).
• Revise pharmacology using the US drug names and contraindications/side effects, as these often show up (Slone NCLEX Review).