During nursing school, the Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) sounds like something that’s far off in the distant future. But once you graduate, the transition from faraway to reality happens almost too fast. Your mind is filled with questions such as “When should you begin to prepare? And just how long should you study for the NCLEX?”
Luckily, here at Blueprint, we have answers to these questions. And trust us, you can prepare for the NCLEX and still have a life, we promise! Keep reading for a time frame on NCLEX preparation that’ll take some of the stress away and help you feel more confident about test day.
So…how long should you study for the NCLEX?
The short answer is allow yourself 2-3 months to prepare for the exam. But keep in mind this is a guideline and not set in stone! It can change once you begin studying if you feel like more or less time is needed, but it’s an excellent starting point.
A 2-3 month preparation timeline allows you to cover all the necessary material, prevent burnout by making sure you don’t begin studying too far in advance, and avoid cramming.
In that 2-3 month study period, you’ll need to cover all the topics and question types you might encounter on test day. That’s where Blueprint can help you out!
Which NCLEX study resources should I use?
From the National Council of State Board of Nursing (NCSBN) data, we know that NCLEX pass rates for baccalaureate nurses taking the exam for the first time are about 92-94%. This number decreases to a 47-51% pass rate for repeat test takers.
So it’s important to prepare the right way and pass on your first try!
The key to successfully studying for the NCLEX within a 2-3 month time frame is having the right study resources. Finding one, two, or maybe three comprehensive study resources is recommended.
However, ideally you will have one main resource. This prevents the confusion that results from jumping back and forth between resources, and helps ensure no topics are missed.
Comprehensive and trusted study resources, like Blueprint’s Live Study Group or Self-Paced Crash Course, offer all the information needed to adequately prepare for the NGN in 2-3 months.
With 18+ hours of review videos, hundreds of practice questions, crash course modules, and a pretest/posttest approach to assess how your prep is going, all the information you need to prepare for and pass the NGN is packaged into one, easy-to-use resource. This allows you to spend less time flipping between study resources and more time actually studying.
Utilizing your nursing school books to prepare can seem like a good idea, but textbooks can actually be an overwhelming, unproductive, and time-consuming method of learning. Nursing school books should only be used as quick supplemental resources, while the main study resource you choose serves as your guide to the majority of material. If you do choose to utilize nursing school textbooks, keep in mind you still need a resource that helps you apply the information to NGN-style questions.
If the thought of digging through your textbook makes you miserable and you’re looking for an easy-to-access and quick resource that tackles difficult learning topics, check out Blueprint’s FREE NCLEX prep videos on YouTube that serve as a great refresher for multiple topics.
Once you’ve decided on which comprehensive study resource(s) you’ll be using, it’s time to design a study plan.
How do I make an NCLEX study plan?
Your study plan is key to ensuring you cover all necessary material within the desired time frame. But how do you know if your allotted time to study is too much, just right, or too little? And how can you design a plan that works for you?
Our Live Study Group and Self-Paced Crash Course let you design a personalized study plan. Tell us about your schedule and availability and we’ll help you develop a study plan that allows you to stay consistent all the way to exam day. The study plan we help you create covers all study topics and is based on 2-3 hour study days.
At Blueprint, we also include rest days in your study plan. This helps reduce burnout and test anxiety, allowing you to maximize time and remain energized, focused, and productive while you study.
But what if studying gets delayed, or you can’t bear the thought of studying on a non-rest day? Will that impact your study plan? Yes, but it’s also not a problem! That’s why a personalized study planner is, well, personalized.
💡 Your Blueprint planner auto-adjusts easy-peasy if you need to skip a class or study day, or change your test date. And your study planner can evolve as you identify areas of strength and areas that need more focus!
Here’s an idea of what one month of your study plan can look like. Keep in mind, those days can be changed and modified as needed!
Click here for a snapshot of what designing your study plan through Blueprint’s courses looks like!
Here’s the TL;DR…
To review, here’s your 5-step plan to passing the NCLEX!
- How long should you study for the NCLEX? Allow 2-3 months as a starting point.
- Choose a comprehensive study resource so you spend your time efficiently and actually studying material…rather than looking for it.
- Take a pretest to help recognize areas of strength and those that need improvement.
- Design a study plan that includes 2-3 hours of study per day AND rest days.
- Expect and accept that modifying your study plan is part of the process. (Let Blueprint worry about the nitty-gritty planning so all you need to do is focus on the material!)
Now get ready to take that NGN with confidence! If you want even more help with prepping for the NCLEX, check out these other posts on the blog:
