Trying to study for the NCLEX on your own can be overwhelming. If you’re struggling with it, don’t worry—our team here at Blueprint Nursing can help! We’ve got an NCLEX study planner and courses that’ll help you feel prepared, stay focused, stress less, and actually enjoy the process. Not only that, our NCLEX study schedule lets you get ready for the exam and still have a life, we promise!
With Blueprint Nursing, both of our NCLEX courses (Self-Paced Crash Course and Live Study Group) include access to a “smart” NCLEX study planner—you tell us about your schedule/study availability, and your planner will automatically create an NCLEX study plan that’s completely unique to you. 🤩
Plus, your schedule adjusts as you go along! Need to skip a class or change your test date? Your study planner auto-adjusts, easy peasy!
To get a better sense of how a NCLEX study schedule will help you head into exam day confident and ready to crush it, let’s get into all of it in a bit more detail.
3 Reasons to Use an NCLEX Study Schedule
1. It means less stress, more studying!
No more wasting time deciding what you should study. An NCLEX study schedule will keep you on track so you can dive right in! We can help you study smarter, not harder, so you have more time to enjoy life outside of NCLEX prep.
2. It covers everything!
You won’t accidentally skip over an important topic! A trustworthy study plan ensures you review all the “need to know” content.
3. There’s no last-minute panic.
Studying that’s spaced out means you’ll retain information better and you don’t have to do any cramming the night before (which we don’t recommend!).
One thing I wish I could go back and tell my pre-NCLEX self is to take the day off when you need to, and give your brain a break! With an NCLEX study schedule, you’ll get to do just that.
Choosing the Right NCLEX Study Plan For You
We know one size doesn’t fit all. There are a number of different options, but first, start by identifying your NCLEX exam date or when you plan to schedule it. Then, assess how much time you have available to study each week leading up to the exam.
Keep life circumstances in mind! Do you have a job? Are you still in school? Any other personal commitments that may impact your ability to study? These will all come into play (and remember our “smart” study planner can schedule around them!) when creating your official NCLEX study schedule.
From there, pick your path:
Option #1: Opt for a standard 2-3 month plan.
This timeline allows you to cover all the necessary material, prevents burnout by making sure you don’t study too far in advance, and helps you avoid cramming!
Option #2: Create a custom plan based on your availability.
Got a busy life? This allows you to adjust your schedule to fit your needs, but still be consistent in your approach.
Step-By-Step: How to Create Your NCLEX Study Schedule
From there, follow these steps to successfully prep for the NCLEX using your plan:
1. Check the NCLEX blueprint.
The NCSBN tells you exactly what’s on the test! Use it to your advantage to guide your study plan.
2. Assess your strengths and weaknesses.
You may want to take a diagnostic test or review previous nursing school assessments to help determine your personal areas of strength and weakness. From there, you can make a list of NCLEX content areas and topics to focus on the most.
3. Break it down.
Organize topics by weeks! Depending on which NCLEX study schedule you choose, you can organize multiple topics a week if needed. Be sure to prioritize extra time on topics you need improvement on.
4. Practice questions = your BFF!
Do NCLEX-style practice questions, such as those reviewed in our TikTok Lives, on our Instagram and YouTube pages.
For more in-depth review, our NCLEX Self-Paced Crash Course includes quizzes after each topic and a predictor exam! This full length practice exam can help build your endurance and help you thoroughly understand why answers are correct or incorrect.
These questions help you get familiar with the NCLEX format and test your knowledge. This can only boost your confidence heading into the exam!
5. Review, review, review!
Plan regular refreshers so you don’t forget what you’ve learned. (If you want some more tips for how to retain information for the NCLEX, check out Nicole’s study technique!)
6. Be flexible.
Life happens—always make sure to track your progress and adjust as needed! Give yourself buffer days for when things don’t go as planned. Keep a log of the topics you’ve covered, scores from practice tests, and areas that need more review.
From there, you can adjust your study plan based on your individual performance trends and needs. Stay flexible and make modifications as needed to promote efficiency. Study smarter not harder!
Sticking to Your NCLEX Study Schedule
So now that we know how to put together our NCLEX study schedule…how do you actually stick to it? Follow these steps!
1. Set weekly and daily goals.
Know what you want to accomplish before you start studying. Assigning priority levels to each topic based on your proficiency and the NCLEX blueprint. Set SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achieveable, Relevant, Time based) goals for each week.
2. Create a weekly study schedule.
Allocate specific days and times for studying based on your availability. Be sure to balance content review with NCLEX practice questions and test-taking strategies. Plan time for active learning methods including teaching concepts to a friend, relative, or classmate, and using mnemonics.
3. Mix it up.
Use different study methods! For example, our Self-Paced Crash Course provides various formats for study prep:
- For those who prefer visual and auditory learning, you’ll have access to 23+ hours of video lessons, divided into hours of engaging video content on 200+ Next Generation NCLEX topics, including 17 case studies.
- The course also includes 150+ NCLEX practice questions with detailed rationales and video explanations for a mix of written and video content.
- Additionally, you’ll also gain access to 17 quizzes (one at the end of every module to ensure you’ve got it down) and a full-length 150-question predictor exam that matches the breakdown of NCSBN’s NCLEX-RN test plan!
4. Teach it back.
Explaining concepts to a friend or even out loud to yourself helps cement the info!
5. Take breaks.
Give your brain the rest it needs! Breaks might feel counterintuitive but they help prevent burnout and make you more productive.
6. Find support.
Study groups with fellow students, mentors, and online forums (we’ve got a great community of nursing students on our social media pages), can keep you focused, motivated, and encouraged on your journey to becoming a real deal RN!
7. Plan for test day readiness.
Set aside time for final reviews in the days leading up to the NCLEX but allow your brain time to relax the day before the exam. Practice relaxation techniques to manage test anxiety. To help ease pre-test anxiety ensure you understand the logistics of your test day, such as the testing facility location, timing, and required materials.
Ready to level up your prep?
You can prep for the NCLEX and have a life, we promise! If you want a structured plan without the hassle of mapping it out yourself, consider joining our Self-Paced Crash Course or Live Study Group to gain access to an adaptive study calendar that adjusts to your progress.
Again, study the smart way and be confident going into exam day! And as always, don’t forget to reach out if you have any questions. 💙
