From Prep to Pass: The Ultimate Guide to Acing Your Next Gen NCLEX-RN Exam (Part 2)

The Next Generation NCLEX-RN (NGN), launched by the NCSBN (National Council of State Boards of Nursing) on April 1, 2023, is the newest version of the NCLEX licensure exam for nurses. 

In the second part of this two-part guide, we’ll provide an actionable blueprint for NGN success. From how to prepare for the NCLEX-RN exam to successful test-day strategies, we’ll equip you with the confidence and tools you need to pass the Next Gen NCLEX the first time. 

For starters, see for yourself how Achieve simplifies your Next Gen NCLEX journey towards developing competent clinical judgment with our Next Gen NCLEX-RN course. It is everything you need to ace your NCLEX-RN licensure exam on your first try.  

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Key Takeaways

• Strategic Preparation Ensures Next Gen NCLEX-RN Success: Mastering the Clinical Judgment Measurement Model (CJMM) and practicing NGN-style questions is critical to passing the NCLEX-RN with confidence. Consider partnering with Achieve Test Prep to move stepwise through focused topics to help you achieve mastery.
• Effective Test-Taking Strategies Improve Performance: Boost your exam-day scores by leveraging partial credit, managing your time and staying focused under pressure. Experience with innovative question types like bowtie and trend questions will help you navigate the adaptive format.
• Get Ready to Begin Your Nursing Career After Passing: Passing the Next Gen NCLEX-RN is your first step to a great nursing career. Make sure you understand licensing procedures and discover career advancement options for the best career path forward. 

How to Prepare for the Next Gen NCLEX

The NCLEX-RN is more than just a licensure exam – it tests your ability to respond to real-life scenarios that nurses face every day. Comprehensive and strategic preparation is key to ensuring you pass the first time. Here are some key ways to doing so:

Mastering the CJMM Framework

The six mentioned stages of the CJMM are the backbone of the Next Gen NCLEX. This decision-making process is essential for passing the NCLEX-RN and for clinical judgment in nursing practice every day. Here are some useful strategies to understand and apply the CJMM framework into your test-taking review to build confidence and competency:

Break Down Each Stage Into Focused Study Sessions

Don’t try to tackle the CJMM all at once. Instead go stepwise through each stage, focusing your review sessions on topics like:

• Recognizing Cues: Practice identifying essential patient data from case studies, including vital signs, lab results and patient charts. 
• Analyzing Cues: Always ask, “What does this tell me?” when you’re reviewing patient condition cues. Use practice scenarios to discern how best to analyze these cues. 
• Prioritizing Hypotheses: Prioritize possible explanations about a patient’s condition based on urgency and likelihood. 

Use CJMM-Centered Practice Questions

Use practice exams and the following targeted exercises to understand how the CJMM applies to high-pressure situations:

• Scenario-Based Learning: Engage with CJMM case studies and NGN-style unfolding scenarios to determine how best to apply the six-stage framework. 
• Cue Recognition Drills: Create flashcards and identify critical patient cues from patient data sources. 
• Simulation Software: Go through the CJMM process stepwise by utilizing apps and tools that simulate clinical scenarios. 

Relate the CJMM to Real-Life Scenarios

Keep in mind your hospital rotations or clinical experiences to cement your practical understanding of how the CJMM applies to real-world examples. These will go a long way to counteract test-day pressures for recall. 

Achieve Test Prep: Your Partner in NCLEX-RN Success

If you are taking the Next Gen NCLEX, consider partnering with Achieve Test Prep so you can pass the first time. Our specialized Next Gen NCLEX exam course is designed to address the singular challenges that the NCLEX-RN presents, with a focus on real-world CJMM application and developing your practical clinical judgment.  

Here’s how we do it: 

• Comprehensive NCLEX-RN Prep Courses: Achieve offers expert-led Next Gen NCLEX-RN instruction with an emphasis on clinical judgment and applied, real-world nursing scenarios.  
• Exclusive Practice Exams: Unlock NGN-style case studies and questions that are similar to the actual exam so you can gain the confidence you need to pass on your first try. 
• Personalized Tutoring Options: Benefit from one-on-one or group sessions with professional instructors who provide targeted strategies for your NCLEX-RN test-day needs.
• Intensive Focus on Dosage Calculations: Because we appreciate that you need to emphasize clinical judgment, patient assessment  and complex decision-making, Achieve emphasizes helpful dosage calculations for real-world examples. In fact, we dedicate an entire lesson to ensuring you succeed in this subject matter.  

Why Choose Achieve Test Prep?

We know you have options when it comes to how you prepare for NCLEX success. We also believe that Achieve Test Prep is your strategic, winning solution for exam-day preparation. Here’s why we are your best choice for passing the Next Gen NCLEX the first time:

• Proven Results: Our students succeed with higher pass rates thanks to our structured and innovative approach to Next Gen NCLEX preparation.
• Flexible Learning Options: Achieve fits your busy nursing schedule with our live, online classes or self-paced materials designed for you.
• Effective Test-Taking Strategies: We work with you to implement the best NCLEX-RN exam strategies to master the exam format through critical thinking assessments, time management methodologies, prioritization and scenario-based delegation.
• Support Every Step of the Way: From study planning to test-taking strategies for exam day, we’re with you until you achieve NCLEX-RN success.

Partnering with Achieve’s Next Gen NCLEX course will help you pass your NCLEX exam on your first try with confidence. With our comprehensive, customized learning, Achieve is with you throughout your NCLEX-RN journey as you prepare for test-day success.  

Tips for Test Day Success

Exam day is your opportunity to shine. On that day, you demonstrate all the knowledge you’ve learned and all the skills you’ve built to master the Next Gen NCLEX. Here are some practical skills to help you ace the exam with confidence:

Mental and Physical Preparation

Test-taking can be a nerve-wracking experience. Prime your prep by managing stress with deep breathing and mindfulness techniques. Remember to have good rest, hydration and a healthy diet before the exam. 

Boost your NCLEX confidence by visualizing your successes so that you picture yourself successfully answering questions. Ensuring that you stay balanced and alert will go a long way to helping you keep your focus and calm on exam day. 

Navigating the NGN Exam Format

The NCLEX-RN’s adaptive CAT format and innovative, CJMM-based questions can be challenging so keep focused and paced. Here are some strategies to help ensure you succeed:

• Pace Yourself: Be mindful of the clock so that you give due time to each question without feeling overwhelmed or rushed.
• Master Complex Question Types: For bowtie questions, focus on identifying critical actions and possible complications. For trend questions, carefully assess patient data and identify patterns and prioritize interventions.
• Maximize Partial Credit Opportunities: Even if you’re not sure about the complete answer, give your best effort for as much as you can as the Next Gen NCLEX allows for partial credit. 

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoiding NCLEX exam pitfalls is essential to passing your test. Common mistakes include overthinking answers and losing out on precious time. Another difficulty is not reading the question carefully and bypassing key details in the case studies. 

Some test-takers also fail to read the answer choices thoroughly, which precludes them from discerning what the best answer might be. By preparing with practice exams, you can familiarize yourself better with the exam conditions and format so you can avoid these typical mistakes.

Post-Exam Strategies and Next Steps

Congratulations! You’ve completed the NCLEX-RN licensure exam. It’s a significant milestone in your nursing career journey and what follows is just as crucial. Here is an overview of what comes next including assessing your results, applying for licensure and beginning your career as a nurse. 

Understanding Your Results

As you know, the CAT and the more nuanced partial credit scoring systems enable the Next Gen NCLEX to rate your clinical judgment with greater accuracy. You’ll receive your score through the NCLEX scoring system. Your nursing regulatory board (NRB) will provide your final score within six weeks but an unofficial one will be released after two days of taking the exam. 

What to Do if You Don’t Pass on the First Try

If you did not pass the NCLEX-RN, ensure that you carefully review your NCLEX Candidate Performance Report (CPR). This individualized, two-page assessment is given to those candidates who did not pass and contains a review of your performance across the exam subject areas. 

Use this CPR to target topics needing improvement and study those more rigorously for your next attempt. Practice high-yield questions that focus on these key subjects so you can ace your next exam. 

Don’t be discouraged if you don’t pass your NCLEX-RN exam. Take the 45-day waiting period to retake the exam to re-review areas you might need improvement. And always remember that Achieve Test Prep is here to help you whenever you might need it. Our personalized support helps ensure you have the resources to succeed. 

Licensure Process After Passing the NCLEX-RN

After passing your Next Gen NCLEX, the next step is to obtain your nursing license. Although each state has its own specific requirements, generally, you must submit proof of passing the Next Gen NCLEX-RN, complete a background check and pay the required fees. Ensure that you reach out to your state board to determine your specific requirements. 

Conclusion: Taking the Next Steps in Your Nursing Career

Once you pass the NCLEX-RN exam, you are ready to become a licensed RN in your state. This achievement signals the end of your education and the beginning of your career as a nurse. As a licensed nurse, you are now ready to make a difference in the countless lives of patients and your community. 

Because your nursing journey is just starting, the career possibilities are open to you to gain specialization, more education or career advancement in exciting new healthcare areas of expertise. In your profession, all the reasons you’ve wanted to become  a nurse are now at hand, with daily opportunities to impact your patients’ lives. 

Explore Achieve Test Prep’s Proven NCLEX-RN Strategies and Flexible Courses So You Pass the First Time Today!

With our expert-led instruction, personalized, one-on-one tutoring and Next Gen NCLEX-style practice exams, we provide you with everything you need to master clinical judgment and pass on the first try with the help of our specialized Next Gen NCLEX course. Our expert-led NCLEX-RN exam prep course is designed to fit your busy schedule so you can prepare for the NCLEX on your own terms. 

If you are looking to fast-track your nursing career, we’re here to support you with bridge programs in LPN to RN, LPN to BSN, CNA to RN, RN to BSN among many more options. Be among the many satisfied students who have succeeded with Achieve and get ahead in your nursing path today. Consider partnering with Achieve Test Prep today!