(Updated April 2025)
Studying for the NCLEX in 2025? You're not alone—and you're not without help. The NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN are some of the most challenging exams for nursing students, but with the right strategy, tools, and mindset, you can crush it on the first try.
This updated guide shares 25 of the most effective NCLEX study tips, plus mnemonics, case study strategies, AI-powered tools, internal links to deep-dive articles, and bonus resources to supercharge your prep.
📌 Use this guide like a roadmap. Bookmark it. Highlight it. And most importantly—practice what’s inside.
🧠 Quick Checklist: Are You Studying the Smart Way?
- Have you mapped out a study schedule?
- Are you using Next Gen NCLEX-style questions?
- Have you reviewed priority concepts like safety, infection control, and dosage calculations?
- Do you use flashcards or AI tools to review weak areas?
- Have you practiced case-based scenarios?
If you answered "no" to any of these, this guide is for you.
🔁 1. Know the NCLEX Format (Including Next Gen!)
The NCLEX is now adaptive and case-based, meaning it tests clinical judgment—not just memorization. You’ll see:
- Multiple-choice
- SATA (select all that apply)
- Ordered response
- Fill-in-the-blank calculations
- Drag-and-drop
- Audio & image questions
- Case studies with unfolding scenarios (Next Gen NCLEX)
👉 Read: Different Types of Questions on the NCLEX
🗓️ 2. Create a Study Plan (with Daily Themes)
Break your prep into theme-based blocks. For example:
- Monday: Pharmacology + Med Safety
- Tuesday: Lab Values + Fluid & Electrolytes
- Wednesday: Case Studies (Cardiac, Respiratory)
- Thursday: OB/Peds
- Friday: Mental Health
- Saturday: Full-Length Practice Test
- Sunday: Light Review + Flashcards
📘 Related: 50 Must-Know Nursing Terms
📚 3. Use GoodNurse’s Vocabulary & Concept Guide
Master NCLEX-specific terms and core concepts using this free guide:
🔗 Ultimate NCLEX Vocabulary and Key Concepts Guide (2025)
🤖 4. Use AI Tools Like GoodNurse for Instant Help
AI tools built for NCLEX can help you:
- Break down questions
- Get clear rationales
- Ask unlimited follow-ups
- Practice under test-like pressure
🚀 GoodNurse AI acts like a personal NCLEX tutor in your pocket. Try 5 questions for free at GoodNurse.com.
💊 5. Memorize Key Mnemonics
Mnemonics make memorization easier and faster. Here are a few great ones:
- MONA – Morphine, Oxygen, Nitroglycerin, Aspirin (MI treatment)
- MURDER – Signs of Hyperkalemia: Muscle cramps, Urine abnormalities, Respiratory distress, Decreased cardiac contractility, EKG changes, Reflexes
- ABC Priority – Airway, Breathing, Circulation
📘 Full list: 25 Nursing Mnemonics That Actually Work
🧪 6. Focus on Labs, Electrolytes, and ABGs
These topics show up constantly on the NCLEX. Flashcard them. Drill them. Teach them to a friend.
- Na+: 135–145
- K+: 3.5–5.0
- Ca++: 8.5–10.5
- ABG Normal: pH 7.35–7.45 / CO2 35–45 / HCO3 22–26
📘 Try: Fluid & Electrolyte Mnemonics
📖 7. Turn Weaknesses Into Strengths with Case-Based Learning
Find your toughest topics (pediatrics? pharmacology?) and practice them through realistic case studies. Use AI or real NCLEX-style cases.
Sample Mini Case Study:
Patient: 72-year-old with pneumonia. Vitals: RR 30, SpO2 88% on room air.
Question: What is the nurse’s priority action?
Answer: Apply oxygen (ABC principle – airway/breathing comes first)
🧩 8. Learn How to Break Down Complex Questions
- Read the stem twice
- Identify key terms and distractors
- Think: “What is the question really asking?”
- Eliminate wrong answers, then look for safety, priority, or ABC clues
📋 9. Use This Daily NCLEX Success Checklist
- 25+ Practice Questions Answered
- Reviewed Rationales (Right & Wrong)
- 10 Flashcards/Vocab Terms Reviewed
- Practice Calculation or Lab Drill
- Quick Relaxation or Stretch Break
🔄 10. Review Frequently Missed Concepts
Repetition is key. Spend extra time on topics like:
- Infection Control & PPE
- Diabetes (Signs, Treatment, DKA vs. HHNS)
- Burns, Sepsis, and Shock
- Newborn Reflexes
- Delegation & Scope of Practice
📘 Related: Secrets to Success on the NCLEX
🧠 11. Build a 7-Day NCLEX Prep Sprint
Sample Last-Minute Schedule:
- Day 1: Labs + Pharm + 50 Questions
- Day 2: Case Studies + OB/Peds
- Day 3: Med-Surg Scenarios + Flashcard Drill
- Day 4: Mock Exam + Review Missed Topics
- Day 5: Psych + Prioritization
- Day 6: Light Review + Mnemonics
- Day 7: Rest, hydrate, and test strategy walk-through
🧪 12. Master Delegation with a Quick Chart
| Task | RN | LPN/LVN | UAP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Administer IV Meds | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Reinforce Teaching | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Vital Signs on Stable Patients | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Initial Assessment | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ |
📘 Tip: When in doubt, assign tasks to the most qualified person based on safety, scope, and stability.
💬 13. Join NCLEX Study Communities
Find a study partner or connect with others preparing for the exam:
- r/nurseprep
- NCLEX-focused Discord servers
- Facebook groups for nursing students
🔁 14. Study Smarter with Spaced Repetition
Use apps like Anki or Brainscape to build flashcard decks that repeat based on memory retention intervals. It’s science-backed and highly effective.
🎧 15. Listen to NCLEX Audio Drills
Reinforce tough concepts with:
- Podcasts on pharmacology
- YouTube-style audio walkthroughs
- Guided audio quizzes
Play during walks, chores, or gym sessions.
✅ Final Thoughts: Study with Purpose, Not Panic
The NCLEX can feel overwhelming—but you’re not alone. With strategy, repetition, and support, you can pass with confidence.
Key Reminders:
- Study in blocks, not marathons
- Focus on understanding, not just memorizing
- Use AI + visual tools like GoodNurse
- Stay consistent. Stay kind to yourself. You’ve got this.
🚀 Ready to try it? Explore GoodNurse.com for smart study tools, case study breakdowns, vocab builders, and instant answers.
RN and LVN are just a few study sessions away.
