Nursing Exam Practice Tests & Study Guides

How to Become a Nurse

Nursing is an in-demand profession with many opportunities for career growth. Nurses work in a wide variety of environments, from hospitals to operating rooms to elementary schools and travelling assignments. Successful completion of a nursing degree, and a passing grade on the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) Nursing Exam, are required of anyone attempting to obtain a nursing license.

There are two main types of nurses: registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs), also called licensed vocational nurses (LVNs). Many other types of nurses exist, but this article will focus on preparing for the exams prospective nurses may need to take in order to begin a career with either RN or LPN certification. No matter what type of nursing a candidate wishes to pursue, the same study skills and test preparation will help them in their nursing school journey!

RNs are responsible for many crucial elements of patient care, including administration of medications, coordination with doctors and other members of the care team, hygiene and infection prevention, and comfort care. RNs must complete either a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree or an Associate Degree (ASN) before taking the NCLEX-RN Exam and obtaining a nursing license. LPNs play a vital role in patient care by providing a safe care environment through daily hygiene and comfort care. LPNs often work at nursing homes or long-term care facilities, but also in some hospitals. In facilities where LPNs and RNs work together, LPNs typically report to RNs. Before earning an LPN certification, candidates must complete a licensed practical nursing program and pass the NCLEX-PN exam.

Preparing for the Nursing Entrance Exam

While not every nursing school requires an entrance exam, competitive programs often use assessments to determine which candidates to accept. Different schools use different exams, so some prospective nurses must take several entrance exams if they are applying to different schools. Generally, students have no choice in which entrance exam they must take. It is imperative for students to prepare for the nursing entrance exam appropriately or risk being wait-listed or denied from their desired schools. There are many free practice nursing entrance exams available online to help students achieve success in admission to their program, but there are also courses students can pay for to access nursing exam practice tests.

Types of Nursing Exams

Whether attempting to gain admission to nursing school or trying to obtain licensure, here are some of the nursing entrance exams that may be used for admission purposes:

• Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) - This is an evaluation required by some schools for entrance into health science programs. It's a test of basic academic skills like math, reading, and language usage.
• Health Education Systems, Inc. Admissions Assessment (HESI A2) - Similar to TEAS, the HESI may be used as an entrance exam for competitive nursing schools. This evaluation specifically gauges potential success in a nursing program and includes a wider range of subjects that are more specific to nursing (like anatomy and biology).

Many other entrance exams are commonly used, including the National League for Nursing Pre-Admission Exam (PAX), the Kaplan Nursing School Admission Test, and the Nursing Entrance Test (NET).

Upon completion of nursing degrees, candidates become eligible to take the NCLEX. Both the NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN are composed of critical thinking questions with real-life scenarios. However, the NCLEX-RN includes a wider range of questions to reflect the RN's broader scope of practice. Many online courses offer NCLEX practice questions to help candidates prepare for the specific question style used on the exam.

Format of the Nursing Test

Different nursing entrance exams may have completely different formats and goals. Some nursing tests can take up to two and a half hours to complete. Nursing entrance exams do not ask nursing-specific questions but ask questions to determine potential success in the types of math, science, and language skills necessary to become a nurse.

In contrast, the NCLEX exams are meant to bridge the gap between nursing school education and working as an RN or LPN. The questions are situational and require the candidate to use critical thinking skills.

Nursing Practice Tests

Nursing practice exams can be useful study skills to help students prepare for the types of questions they will see on entrance exams and the NCLEX. Using nursing practice tests before entrance exams can familiarize students with the information they'll need to know in order to score well. Similarly, NCLEX practice exams can be helpful in reviewing information from school as well as the specific style of questions. Overall, taking a nursing practice test can make candidates feel more comfortable and prepared on the day of the test.

Nursing Exam Practice Questions

The questions on entrance exams are similar to high school exam questions in terms of content and style. Practice entrance exams reflect this and may be a review from high school courses with a focus on topics that are the foundation for nursing school courses (like biology, anatomy, and chemistry). Many free nursing practice questions can be found online, often through the company that administers the official test.

NCLEX practice tests are even more specialized due to the fact that NCLEX questions are unlike nursing school exam questions. Many students who understand the material on the NCLEX do not pass on their first try simply because they do not understand how to answer the questions. Practice tests can help students put themselves into real-life scenarios that they'll encounter as RNs, like prioritizing an assignment and making decisions about patient care. There are many resources online to help students find nursing practice questions and get used to NCLEX nursing questions.

RN Practice Test Study Tips

When studying with RN practice tests, either for an entrance exam or the NCLEX, it is important to review not only the correct answers but the reasoning behind the correct answers. Reviewing in this way can be a helpful study strategy for students who feel prepared in terms of material but may still experience testing anxiety. Students should review how they score on these practice tests to understand which topics they need to spend more time reviewing.

Other helpful study tips include creating a study plan, studying with classmates, reviewing study guides, and utilizing practice resources online. It's important to plan ample time to prepare for nursing entrance exams and the NCLEX -- don't cram! These tests cover a wide range of material that can't be memorized overnight. Instead, students should take time to develop a well-rounded understanding of the material.

Expert Contributor

Stephen Thorne

Stephen Thorne, RN is a Registered Nurse with nursing experience that includes 5 years of High Acuity Nursing in Emergency departments, 4 years of Behavioral Health Nursing in support of individuals with substance use disorders, and 2 years as a Nurse Manager. He has experience with both HESI and NCLEX preparation courses, as well as GRE preparation for nursing graduate programs. Stephen received his BSN from Virginia Commonwealth University and has completed 12 additional graduate courses while working towards an MSN in Acute Care.