I’m entering my last year of nursing school so I’ve been doing some hard-core studying for the NCLEX. I’m not the best at taking standardized tests, so I’ve been trying to boost my confidence by being as prepared as humanly possible on all topics of nurse education. I actually had a professor recommend apps for those who like a more interactive way to study so, of course, I immediately took to the internet to see what I could find.
In the process, I came across a website with the best NCLEX prep apps – how convenient is that?!? It was like winning the lottery! I absolutely had to give a few of the apps a try and I’m glad I did because there were some really awesome ones on there. In fact, that list was a really great place to start, so I’ll link it below.
I’ve chosen my favorite three apps (of all those that I’ve tried) to share with you. These are the ones that I keep going back to again and again, so they’re the ones that I think will be most helpful for you too!
NCLEX PN Mastery
NCLEX PN Mastery is wonderful because it lets you create customized practice tests with only the questions you need to practice most so you’re not going over and over the same things you already know. There are over 1,600 questions on each topic, including pharmacology, medical-surgical nursing, and maternity. You are also able to view detailed statistics on your test results so you know right away the areas you need to work on most.
Unfortunately, NCLEX Mastery doesn’t have an option to adjust the difficulty level of the questions because the goal of the app is to mimic the real NCLEX exam. While this can be tough if you’re just starting out, it challenges you to think like you would on the exam which I, personally, find to be really helpful.
UWorld NCLEX
With UWorld NCLEX, there are thousands of realistic test questions you can use to study along with detailed explanations of the answer for every single question. There are also medical images and charts for a more realistic test-like feel. And, there are over 2,000 RN-style questions and 1,000 PN-style questions to simulate the difficulty of the real NCLEX exam. You can even get statistics on your performance to see how you’re doing and where you need to improve.
UWorld NCLEX does let you bookmark a test so you can return to it later, but sometimes (when you log back in to finish the test) it makes you repeat a few questions before you get back to where you left off. This can be frustrating, sure, but it’s also a bit of extra review, so I guess it’s up to you whether you think this is annoying or not.
NCLEX-RN Pocket Prep
NCLEX-RN Pocket Prep has two modes of review: simulation and study. You can choose the study method that’s right for you, which is really helpful. If you’re more interested in learning the facts you need to know, study mode will give you a more in-depth understanding of the materials. Then, when you’re ready to try a mock exam, simulation mode lets you experience what the real NCLEX feels like so you won’t get nervous when you actually take the exam. Plus, you can keep track of your results and receive study reminders to keep you in the zone.
Just know that some users have had an issue with the app not loading correctly, which can be frustrating if you’re trying to study. I haven’t really experienced this but, just in case, you might want to open the app a little before you plan to use it just to make sure it is running properly when you’re ready to sit down and start studying.
Conclusion
If you or someone you know is in the process of studying for the NCLEX, you should really give these apps a try. Whether it’s coming up in a few months or you have a couple of years before you need to think about scheduling your exam, it’s never too early to start studying and these are such great resources they can even help you in your classes. Seriously, I use them almost every day and I think you will too!
