Here are a few of the biggest mistakes some NCLEX-PN® exam test takers make before test day.
Some students use what is knows as the “hope” method of study. “I hope that I don’t have questions about chest tubes on the test.” “I hope that I don’t have questions about medication on my test.” “I hope that I have questions about electrolytes because I did great on that test in school.” The “hope” method usually doesn’t work very well. The test pool contains thousands of questions. How many topics do you “hope” won’t be on your test?
Many candidates for the NCLEX-PN® exam are good students in school. Because of their school success, they expect to pass the exam with minimal preparation. After all, it’s just a test of minimum competency. These students do some studying, but they really believe there is no chance they might fail this exam. You might think that you can’t possibly fail, but if you do not respect this exam and prepare for it correctly, you run the risk of failure!
All students know why they take the NCLEX-PN® exam. However, after interviewing hundreds of students, we have discovered that many have no idea what the exam content is. How can you effectively study for a test if you don’t know what content the exam tests? Learn what is on the NCLEX-PN® exam and then you will realize that preparation with a planned method of study is essential.
Some students completed nursing school with a minimal understanding of nursing content. These students studied long and hard on the night before a nursing school test, cramming as many facts into their heads as they could remember. Because the test questions primarily involved recognition and recall, cramming worked for tests in nursing school. But as we said earlier, the NCLEX-PN® exam is not an exam about facts. It tests your ability to apply the knowledge that you have learned and to think critically. Recognition and recall will not work!
As with all standardized exams, you must work on your areas of weakness. This is hard to do because there’s usually a reason you’re weak in an area. Some graduate practical/vocational nurses, for example, profess a weakness in or dislike for obstetrical nursing. Some students didn’t understand the theory, while other students had a poor clinical experience or didn’t get to see many deliveries; still other students simply didn’t like this rotation. Whatever the reason, it causes you to have a weakness in a particular area. In order to pass a standardized test, you must work on your areas of weakness.
Some students don’t establish a plan of study. Other students establish a plan of study but don’t follow it. You can buy review books, but if you don’t apply yourself, they will do you no good.