Passing the NCLEX ®:
Replace Stress with Certainty Using the Right Prep Resources
By Samantha Pruser
Picture this: Two nursing students head into a testing center to take their NCLEX ®. Both have been preparing for the five-hour challenge ahead with extensive test prep for months but are still— understandably— nervous. One, however, walks in with a tad lighter step and a much deeper sense of confidence. Both nursing students have worked hard to get to this point, but only one begins the NCLEX ® sure of where she stands— and sure that she is prepared to pass.
The NCLEX ® is a must-pass milestone, but it’ s just one step on the journey toward a successful nursing career. You might assume that any stress you endure while studying for the NCLEX ® is simply“ part of the process,” but it doesn’ t have to be. Passing the exam is great, but feeling confident in your ability to do so, certain that you are fully prepared for the NCLEX ® on test day, is invaluable.
U. S. Educated First-Time NCLEX ® Test-Takers
Pass Rates Toggle While Stress Levels Increase
Over the last five years, NCLEX ® pass rates have fluctuated from quarter to quarter and year to year, with the highest rates frequently reported in Q1 and the lowest in Q4. Interestingly, the annual pass rate for 2024( 91.16 %) stands on the higher end of what the National Council of State Boards of Nursing( NCSBN) has documented over the past five years.
Year |
Q1 |
Q2 |
Q3 |
Q4 |
Year |
2024 |
94.15 |
92.72 |
89.19 |
82.21 |
91.16 |
2023 |
80.48 |
94.32 |
90.69 |
88.63 |
88.56 |
2022 |
82.44 |
82.19 |
78.25 |
72.44 |
79.90 |
2021 |
84.83 |
85.69 |
81.1 |
71.92 |
82.48 |
2020 |
89.61 |
88.85 |
84.87 |
78.44 |
86.57 |
2019 |
89.94 |
89.27 |
88.23 |
79.14 |
88.18 |
* Source: NCSBN
What these numbers don’ t capture is the rising stress among nursing students preparing for the exam. Ask around, and you’ ll hear how the NCLEX ® looms large— for good reason. This test determines whether you can officially practice as an RN. That weight is overwhelming, especially when every passing or failing score seems to influence future prospects.
A 2024 study in Nursing Education Perspectives found that nearly 54 % of nursing students reported severe to extremely severe anxiety, depression, or stress( Lyons, 2024). Meanwhile, a 2023 study published in the National Library of Medicine confirmed that failing the NCLEX ®-RN can lead to difficult outcomes, including financial troubles, low self-esteem, and limited employment options. The stress nursing students feel about the NCLEX ® often stems from the pressure of knowing how important it is that they pass, paired with the uncertainty of how prepared they really are to do so.
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