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Every nurse must pass the NCLEX®. Learn how Galen prepares you for this licensing exam from day one.
When you choose a nursing school, you want one that will prepare you to pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), the nationwide examination for the licensing of nurses in the United States.
Passing the NCLEX is the key to your licensure as a nurse. Choosing Galen for your nursing studies means choosing a school where our entire curriculum is designed to help you succeed at every step, especially this milestone exam.
Here’s an insider tip: Dr. Dara Lanman, Galen’s Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, says, “Every day in nursing school is getting you ready for the NCLEX.”
If you focus on your Galen coursework and let each section build on your prior learning, you will have everything you need to pass the exam. Every test and module you study here aligns with the NCLEX test plan’s style, structure, technique and mapping.
From the first day of class to the day you sit for your licensing exam, you’re supported throughout your nursing education journey. Our specialists know what content you need to succeed — some of our team members have even written official NCLEX exam questions!
This is why Galen students consistently outperform the national NCLEX pass rates. Over 87% of Galen BSN students across our campuses passed on their first try — and several campuses had a 100% pass rate.
With the right preparation, you can take the NCLEX with confidence! Dr. Lanman has put together her top tips for how to succeed before, during and after your exam.
We design the curriculum of each Galen nursing program so that each lesson and course builds from the day before. In every class and clinical experience, you will gain key information to pass the NCLEX and provide the best care to your future patients.
To supplement your coursework, you’ll get exclusive access to custom video tutorials through Galen All Access, a library of video resources that lets you review key concepts at your own pace. Tutoring resources and one-on-one NCLEX prep help are available year-round.
You’re balancing a lot — which means your schedule is too stacked to be cramming! Dr. Lanman and her team use proven research on how people learn and retain information to help ensure Galen students build a strong, lasting understanding of key concepts.
“Adult learners are most successful when they understand the ‘why’ and tie new content to old content,” Dr. Lanman says.
Galen emphasizes understanding over simple memorization by layering concepts as courses progress. Each course’s content builds toward the next. This approach equips you to confidently navigate exam questions using lasting knowledge rather than temporarily memorizing facts.
You’ll also get clear guidance on your readiness for the NCLEX. Dr. Lanman explains, “Galen provides you with a report after your exams showing strengths and weaknesses in the concepts based on the NCLEX. This gives you a powerful guide to focus your test prep on weaker areas, making the overall studying process less intimidating.”
The most important thing to keep in mind on the day of the NCLEX is that your coursework has prepared you for the exam. You’ll take the exam on a computer in a room that is monitored. People will enter and exit the room based on their testing times. There is a time limit of 5 hours.
The exam is set up as a computer adaptive test, which means you’ll keep getting questions based on the response to your last question. There are several question formats, including multiple choice, “select all that apply,” and ordering. The minimum number of questions is 85 and the most you can get is 150. Getting more or fewer questions is not a reflection of how well you are doing. Stay calm and confident, even if your test seems shorter or longer than your peers’ tests.
Dr. Lanman cautions students not to introduce too many “what ifs” as you read the exam questions. You should be able to answer the questions based on the information provided. So, if you find yourself introducing additional information to support a possible answer (e.g. “what if the patient also has a heart condition?”), re-focus on the information directly provided in the question.
The NCLEX is not an open-book exam. However, you’ll be able to rely on the deep understanding you’ve built through your coursework at Galen. Trust your studying and your process — you’ve got this!
Related: Read “20 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me About Becoming a Nurse”
When you pass the NCLEX, it will be time for some well-earned celebration! You will be ready to start doing the life-changing work of a licensed nurse.
If you don’t pass the NCLEX on your first try, Galen offers continued help through our lifetime NCLEX® support program. We will be by your side, providing one-on-one support, ample test prep resources and the opportunity to audit courses as needed. You will have everything you need to confidently re-take the exam and embark on your nursing career.
Each year, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc., (NCSBN) publishes an NCLEX-RN® and an NCLEX-PN® Test Plan. Using the PDF as a supplement to your regular studying and coursework can help you:
Related: Review this year’s NCSBN NCLEX® test plan
At Galen, our goal is to educate successful nurses. We give you the knowledge and support to provide high-quality care and build a satisfying career, not just basic facts so you can cram for a test. If you focus on your goals and commit to your coursework, we are confident that you will succeed on the NCLEX and move on to an impactful nursing career.
If you’re ready to start your journey towards NCLEX success and a fulfilling nursing career, request information from Galen College of Nursing today!
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