Nclex Tutor
Find a NCLEX Tutor
Study for
the NCLEX With a Practicing Nurse
Verifying a
nurse's credentials takes only a few moments. Google the "State Board of
Nursing" for the state of interest and "verify a license." Many
states have verification pages that allow for search by name. If a nurse does
not have a license or has a suspended license, move on to another tutor.
Get a
Dedicated NCLEX Tutor
Many
tutors are available who tutor the MCAT, biology, or other related areas, but
they do not have the professional preparation or experience needed to
critically reason through bedside nursing scenarios. While the NCLEX exam
contains a variety of question types often found in other exams, such as
graphic, exhibit, fill-in-the-blank, and multiple-choice questions, it is the
only one that requires candidates to utilize the nursing assessment, diagnosis,
planning, intervention, and evaluation steps that are used in nursing care
across settings. Therefore, recent graduates who want a piece of the
professional pie need to find dedicated nursing and NCLEX tutors.
Enjoy Professional On-boarding
While Preparing To Pass the NCLEX
One of
the aspects of nursing I most enjoy is the close, professional ties I have with
other nurses. Nursing patients and their families through some of the most
challenging life events builds strong bonds and efficient working relationships
with colleagues. When recent graduates study for the NCLEX with a working
nurse, they can learn how nurses work together to strengthen one another's
knowledge and skill base for improved patient outcomes.
When
recent graduates study for the NCLEX with a professional nurse, they also
receive valuable mentorship such as lots of practical wisdom. New graduates can
also ask their tutor for job leads. Every nurse was once a new nurse who
depended on their new professional community for help getting established. Even
if a tutor doesn't have job leads, they have valuable personal experience
finding and keeping that first nursing position.
Talk To Prospective NCLEX Tutors
A recent
graduate needs to find out a tutor's philosophy, approach, and personality as
it relates to the NCLEX. While tutoring companies and individual tutors often
have impressive web pages, such sites should only be a starting point for
finding the right tutor.
Once a
new graduate finds a tutor that seems like a good fit, I recommend interviewing
the tutor on the phone or through an online video call. In my experience, I
have found that a tutor's personality comes through a lot more when they must
answer random questions in real-time. Since 93% of communication is nonverbal,
a video conferencing environment can give a prospective student a more
comprehensive view of a potential tutor.
During a
video or phone interview, I think it's especially important for a prospective
student to watch the tutor for signs of:
·
Impatience
·
Irritation
·
Arrogance
·
Dishonesty
If a
potential tutor doesn't want to give you at least 30 minutes of their time,
then I don't think you should pay them for hours of tutoring. This is especially
true since so many conscientious and patient tutors are available who genuinely
want to help new graduates join their profession over undeservedly lining their
own pockets with their money.
Hire an
NCLEX Tutor on a Trial Basis
I
understand how time pressure can alter a new nursing school graduate's
thinking. When the state issues a Graduate Nurse or Graduate Practical Nurse
credential, the clock starts ticking, and the race is on to pass the NCLEX.
After all, once these temporary practice permits expire one year after
graduation, employers might not be able to hold a nursing job.
Even
though this time pressure is genuine, I can also speak to the value of slowing
down and logically considering the options. In selecting a tutor to work with,
I wish more recent graduates would realize they can hire and fire tutors until
they find someone who meets their needs.
Since the goal of studying for
the NCLEX is to pass the test, an excellent tutor gets results. Most tutors
will provide multiple NCLEX-style quizzes or tests for students. There are also
several commercially available NCLEX-preparation books and question banks that
many nursing schools allow their recent graduates to access. My advice for
hiring a tutor is to take a few pre-tests, attend three or four tutoring
sessions, and conduct a post-test. If scores don't improve, then find someone
else to help you study for the NCLEX. This happens all of the time to
professional tutors and is something they expect during their practice.
Request a
NCLEX Study Plan From the Tutor
Passing
the NCLEX requires much more study than can be accomplished in an hour or two
of weekly tutoring. It is my professional opinion that creating study plans for
students is a part of a tutor's job. If a tutor won't create a plan for a
student, then the student needs to find another tutor.
A
reasonable study plan needs to consider the student's learning style, attention
span, and time available for study. In my experience, the minimum time most
students need to spend studying for the NCLEX is two to three months. This
time-frame assumes a strong foundation in nursing school content.
A
successful study plan will balance daily practice in reasoning like a
professional nurse, answering NCLEX style questions with a comprehensive review
of the most crucial concepts needed for independent practice. Excellent study
plans also include frequent opportunities for self-assessment, ideally more
than one practice test per week.
Find a Retest Specialist, if
Needed
I can see how many new nursing
school graduates can assume everyone is passing the NCLEX. After all, who posts
anything but winning smiles and passing scores? I want everyone to know that
not passing the NCLEX on the first try is more common than many think.
In my
experience, recent graduates who need to take the NCLEX another time need a
tutor who can analyze test performance using the Candidate Performance Report (CPR) NCSBN
sends to students who don't pass the exam. CPR is an appropriate name because
an experienced tutor can use this document to bring career prospects back to
life. Although reviewing content and answering questions is still important, I
believe second-timers need specialized techniques for combating the self-doubt
and performance nerves that are more common in repeat test-takers.
Whether a
student is taking the NCLEX for the first time or not, finding a suitable tutor
can help to make the process less stressful and more successful. In my
experience, the feeling of becoming a new nurse makes all of the preparation
and tutoring worth it. I wish everyone who
needs to clear this hurdle the best of luck and welcome everyone who has
already passed the NCLEX to this marvelous profession.
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