Your clinical rotations are over. You’ve passed your courses and graduated from nursing school. The final obstacle that stands between you and your first nursing job: The National Council Licensure Examination, also known as the NCLEX. The test challenges applications to recall knowledge across a variety of topics, including anatomy, pharmacology, administration, nursing best practices, and patient communication.
In order to become a registered nurse, it’s required you pass the NCLEX. That pressure to memorize, understand, and apply the concepts you’ve learned can be intimidating. Memorizing huge chunks of material is important and knowing what different kinds of questions will be seen on the test is critical too, but a solid studying strategy is needed to tackle the whole test.
As a healthcare professional, you know fully well that you’ll be interfacing with thousands of medical procedures, medications, and processes that will be used everyday throughout your career. Although you might feel as if you’re drowning in so much information, there is a safety line you can rely on: mnemonic memory techniques.
What are Mnemonics?
A mnemonic is a special technique that can be used to remember difficult or complex concepts much easier. Typically, a short phrase, acronym, or song, a mnemonic can be anything you can readily call upon to help you remember anything you might have trouble remembering.
The most popular mnemonic is ROY G BIV, which stands for the colors of the rainbow.
How Mnemonics Can Help You Excel at Exams
The power of making mnemonics lies in converting dull, inert and uninspiring information into something vibrant and interesting that sticks out in your mind.
However, it’s often not very easy to actually make mnemonics. Below, we’ll talk about how you can take advantage of the 100 mnemonics we’ve compiled help develop confidence in your nursing skills and pass the NCLEX.
Use them to remember anything—from medication prescriptions to hard to remember symptoms.
Mnemonics You’ll Need for the NCLEX
A strong strategy to studying the many concepts covered in the NCLEX are critical to passing. Our list of 100 mnemonics were created with the pressure and stress of studying for the NCLEX in mind. It’s nerve-wracking enough that that it costs money every time you take it, and it’s recommended you allot 6-8 weeks to study.
These easy to use mnemonic techniques will help you understand core nursing procedures, specialized knowledge, and best practices you need to be a great nurse and pass the test. You’ll learn about:
- What actions to prioritize in tough situations
- What treatments are available for different diseases and other illness
- How to read the signs for shock, hypertension, or even kidney failure
What’s awesome is if you’ve graduated from a good nursing school, you’ve already learned everything you need to know to become a great nurse. Use the NCLEX to prove to yourself and the board that you are ready for anything.
Mnemonics are only one of many different strategies you can use to help prepare. For more NCLEX study strategies, tips, and advice, take a look at our collection of digital flashcards, another great tool for preparing for the exam.
The NCLEX is one beast of an exam. It’s easy to feel stressed and become overwhelmed—even when just thinking about it! It’s important to realize that taking a moment to step away, breathe in some fresh air and take your mind off it can relieve test-taking anxiety and center your focus.
It may seem like a daunting task, but it’s not impossible to overcome. When equipped with the right tools and study techniques, you’ll be able to conquer the exam.
