NCLEX Preparation Tips from Nurses Who Just Passed

You’ve survived nursing school and all that stands between you and your license is the NCLEX. 😅 It’s the ultimate exam, and let’s be real… It can be intimidating. But here’s the good news: thousands of nurses pass it every single week, and many of them have shared what actually works.

We spoke to recent passers to gather real, honest NCLEX preparation tips—straight from those who were in your shoes just weeks ago. Whether you’re a planner or a procrastinator, you’ll find advice here that can help you walk into that testing center calm, confident, and ready.

✅ 1. “Practice questions were EVERYTHING.”

Almost every new nurse we spoke with said that NCLEX-style practice questions were their #1 tool. Not only do they help you apply what you’ve learned, but they train your brain to think the NCLEX way.

🗣️ “I stopped rereading textbooks and just focused on doing 75–100 practice questions a day. Then I’d review the rationales—even the ones I got right.”
— Jamie, LPN (Passed in 82 questions)

Tip: Use a variety of question banks and mix in SATA, priority questions, and Next Gen case studies. The more question types you see, the more confident you'll feel on test day.

✅ 2. “I made a 30-day plan—and stuck to it.”

One big mistake students make? Cramming or studying without structure. Nurses who passed say it’s all about consistency.

🗣️ “I gave myself 30 days. Week 1 was fundamentals, week 2 was med-surg, week 3 was OB/peds/psych, and week 4 was full-length practice tests. That timeline kept me focused without burning out.”
— Michelle, RN

📅 If you need structure, use a digital planner like the Nurse Life Digital Planner to keep track of your daily goals.

✅ 3. “Know your red flags.”

One recurring theme? You don’t need to know everything—you need to know how to keep patients safe. The NCLEX is about identifying what requires immediate action.

🗣️ “I memorized normal lab values and focused on what side effects or findings would make me hold a med or call the provider. That’s what NCLEX really tests you on.”
— Aaron, RN

Hot Topics to Know Cold:

• Vital sign abnormalities
  
  

• Priority lab values (K+, Na+, INR, etc.)
  
  

• Signs of toxicity (digoxin, lithium, theophylline)
  
  

• Airway, Breathing, Circulation (ABC) hierarchy
  
  

✅ 4. “Mnemonics saved my brain.”

We’ve all been there—trying to memorize 50+ drug names and what they do. Nurses who passed say mnemonics and visual cues made it all stick.

🗣️ “Pharmacology overwhelmed me until I found mnemonics. 'LOL for beta blockers' and ‘SLUDGE’ for cholinergic effects saved me during my exam.”
— Chelsea, RN

🧠 Try color-coded flashcards, memory hacks, or grab one of The Nurse Sam’s visual study guides for quick recall on high-yield topics like pharm, med-surg, and fluids & electrolytes.

✅ 5. “Don’t panic if the test feels hard.”

One of the most surprising pieces of advice? If your test feels difficult, that’s a good sign. The NCLEX is adaptive—so the better you do, the harder it gets.

🗣️ “I left the test thinking I failed. I had tons of SATA and priority questions, and I was sure I blew it. But I passed in 78 questions. Trust the process.”
— Darnell, LVN

📌 Reminder: The number of questions doesn't determine if you pass or fail—how you answer them does.

✅ 6. “Take care of your mental health, too.”

The pressure of the NCLEX can mess with your head. But staying balanced is just as important as studying.

🗣️ “I was burning out fast, so I started doing 10-minute walks after study sessions, eating better, and shutting off my phone at night. It made a huge difference.”
— Kiara, RN

🧘♀️ Make time for breaks. Protect your sleep. Journal. Meditate. Your brain retains more when you’re not in survival mode.

🎯 Your NCLEX, Your Pace

There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to NCLEX exam prep. But if there’s one thing all recent passers agree on, it’s this: you’ve got what it takes.

✔ Practice consistently
✔ Focus on safety and priority care
✔ Learn how the NCLEX thinks
✔ Stay calm and trust your prep

You've already completed the hardest part—nursing school. Now it's time to finish strong.

🎁 Need study tools that make NCLEX prep actually enjoyable?

Grab the Complete Nursing School Study System from The Nurse Sam—packed with visual study guides, mnemonics, pharm tips, NGN prep, and a digital planner to guide your final weeks of study.

🩺 You’re not just preparing for a test. You’re preparing to save lives 💉🔥