When is the best time to start reviewing for your NCLEX exam? Is there really a recommended timeframe that aspiring nurses must follow for better NCLEX success? How does one choose an NCLEX RN or NCLEX PN review schedule that works? Is it possible to review for the NCLEX while working? Are evening NCLEX review classes effective? How do you make sure that you have an effective NCLEX review schedule? Whew! These are a lot of questions and we will answer them one by one in this blog! Are you ready? Then keep on reading and find out the answers below.

When is the best time to start reviewing for your NCLEX exam?

The best time to start reviewing for your NCLEX exam is NOW. You do not have to wait for a specific month or season because things are bound to change; and, your situation may not be ideal by the time a new season rolls in. If you have the time now, start looking up review programs as well as other options that are accessible to you. You can choose to go the in-person route or opt for an online NCLEX review program. Stop the delay and act now!

Is there really a recommended timeframe that aspiring nurses must follow for better NCLEX success?

Yes and no. While we generally recommend an ideal timeframe of 1 to 3 months, the truth is that each nurse candidate has different needs and what timeframe may work for one may not work for another. For a student nurse who has an amazing nursing foundation for nursing concepts, 4 to 6 weeks of NCLEX review should suffice, hence a minimum of 1 month of preparation.

The sweet spot is at about 8 to 10 weeks of preparation plus a few more weeks to account for things that life may throw your way. If you are very busy or have a lot of things going on, preparing for your NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN can be stretched to about 6 months but longer than that is not ideal because not only will you lose both momentum and interest but there is also a danger of overstudying which can result in over-analyzing exam questions. Overanalyzing is the most common reason why some knowledgeable nurses fail their NCLEX.

How does one choose an NCLEX RN or NCLEX PN review schedule that works?

It is only you who will know what NCLEX review schedule suites you. Generally, it is ideal to pick NCLEX review classes that conduct lectures around the time that you will be taking your exam. For example, if your exam is scheduled in the morning, then take NCLEX review classes that offer a morning schedule so that your mind is properly trained to be active around that time of the day.

Another way to pick a schedule is to choose at what time of the day you have fewer commitments. For example, if you have a regular job during the day, then an evening NCLEX review program might be great for you. If you work at night, then pick an NCLEX review program with classes during the day to make sure that you will not miss any classes.

How about if your exam schedule is in the afternoon? Then you can choose any schedule that can work for you but make sure that you schedule your NCLEX practice exams around the time of day when you will be taking your exam. Say you enrolled in an evening NCLEX review program at the Global School of Health, then see to it that you have a couple of weeks left for NCLEX practice exams after the formal review so that you can train your mind to be fully optimized in the afternoons.

Is it possible to review for the NCLEX while working?

Yes! A lot of our review students for the NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN review at the Global School of Health were working full-time and part-time during their review. What made it possible is our review schedule. We have an online NCLEX review program with morning classes and an online NCLEX review program with evening classes. Our students who work the nightshift attend our morning live online NCLEX lectures in the morning which arefrom 8am to 12m pm EST. Our students who work during the day attend our evening NCLEX review classes which are from 6pm to 10pm EST.

How do you make sure that you have an effective NCLEX review schedule?

The key is, to be honest with yourself. The person who knows you the best is you. At the end of the day, an effective NCLEX review schedule that the one that works for you and that you can fully commit to. Going for a morning schedule when you know that you are not available during the mornings will not do you any good.

Ready to start your NCLEX-RN or NCLEX-PN review? Take a look at our 35-Days NCLEX Bootcamp at the Global School of Health! We offer an intensive online NCLEX review with 4 hours of live lectures, coupled with NCLEX practice questions, and focused assessment at the end of the formal review. You’ll enjoy more than 120 hours of live lectures in which you can interact with the nursing expert and have fun learning with your future colleagues. And on top of that, class recordings are shared in a timely manner to review the concepts that are missed during the review. How amazing! Contact us at Global School of Health today and find out how we can make your NCLEX review easier!