Library Research Guides for Nursing Students:
NCLEX-RN Review
(this guide is available online at http://www.nvcc.edu/medical/meclibrary/nursing/nclex.htm)
The MEC Library has many resources to help you prepare for the NCLEX-RN exam:
- Books (can be searched online, then sent to any NOVA library and checked out with your NOVA card)
- E-books (use from home!)
- Online practice exams in Learning Express database (use from home!)
- DVDs (on reserve in MEC Library: NCLEX EXCEL! RN Review and NCLEX-RN Review)
Search the library catalog for books that can be checked out from the library. In the search box, try a search for NCLEX-RN. If you'd like to have a book sent to a different NOVA library for pick-up, see these instructions.
Three of the NOVA Libraries e-book collections have NCLEX-RN review material: NetLibrary, R2 Library, and Stat!Ref. NetLibrary has the most. The advantage to e-books is that you can use them from any computer with an Internet connection- no need to come to campus!
To access NCLEX-RN e-books in NetLibrary ():
- Go to the NOVA Libraries homepage
- Mouse over the Books & More box (middle of the page) and select E-books from the menu
- Select NetLibrary (NOTE: to use from off campus, you must first create a NetLibrary account from any NOVA computer, or call the MEC Library for assistance: 703-822-6684)
- If you are off campus, you also need to enter your VCCS username and password
- Type NCLEX-RN Review in the Basic Search box
- You will get a list of e-books that contain NCLEX-RN exam review materials. We've found the most useful to be:
- Fundamentals Success: A Course Review Applying Critical Thinking to Test Taking
- Med-surg Success: A Course Review Applying Critical Thinking to Test Taking
- McGraw-Hill Review for the NCLEX-RN Examination
McGraw Hill Professional
To access NCLEX-RN e-books in R2 Library and STAT!Ref:
- Go to the NOVA Libraries homepage
- Mouse over the Books & More box (middle of the page) and select E-books from the menu
- Select either R2 Library or STAT!Ref
- If you are off campus,enter your VCCS username and password when prompted
The most helpful books in R2 Library are Clinical Nursing Skills and Fundamentals of Nursing. These have questions at the end of each chapter and answers & rationales at end of the book.
The most helpful book in STAT!Ref is OLDS' Maternal-Newborn Nursing & Women's Health Across the Lifespan (8th ed.) See a companion web site with NCLEX review questions, case studies, and other interactive resources here.
3) Online Practice Exams: Learning Express database
To access NCLEX-RN practice exams in Learning Express Library (
- Go to the NOVA Libraries homepage
- Mouse over the Articles & More box (middle of the page) and select More from the menu
- Scroll down until you see the section titled Interdisciplinary. Click on Test Preparation (Learning Express)
- If you are off campus, enter your VCCS username and password when prompted
- NOTE: the first time you use the Learning Express database, you will need to create a free account with a username and password by clicking on Register. This allows you to save certains tests to your "library", to save test results, and to stop and resume practice test taking as you please.
- On the left, click Jobs and Careers
- Click on Nursing and Allied Health
- Click on Licensure and Certification Test Preparation
Two helpful DVD sets are available in MEC Library:
The NCLEX Excel! RN Review is a set of 21 DVDs kept on reserve behind the MEC Library's front desk. Reserve items can be checked out one at a time with a current NOVA card and must be used in the library.
According to the back of the case, these DVDs focus on "test taking strategies as well as clinical information where there is an emphasis on difficult and frequently tested material. Topics discussed include pediatrics, adult nursing, obstetrics, psychiatric nursing, common diseases in major body systems, pharmacology, management of patient care, psychosocial concepts, developmental tasks, life cycle changes, and legal issues.
Here is the breakdown of content on each DVD in the set (you can preview some of them online here):
#1 – 6: Adult Nursing
#7 – 8: Maternity & Female Reproductive Nursing
#9: Normal & High-Risk Newborn
#10 – 12: Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing
#13 – 15: Pediatric
#16 – 18: Pharmacology
#19: Computerized Q & A
#20: 4 Day Prep Course for Boards
#21: Test Taking Techniques Boot Camp
The NCLEX-RN Review is a set of 17 DVDs kept on reserve behind the MEC Library's front desk. Reserve items can be checked out one at a time with a current NOVA card and must be used in the library.
According to the website, "The purpose of the NCLEXTM-RN DVD Review is to review material likely to be on the licensing exam. Judy Miller discusses the material in a clear and concise manner. Sample questions on the content are included in the discussion. Ms Miller helps the viewer to become more skilled at answering exam type questions. Medications are discussed when appropriate."
For further assistance, please contact the MEC Library at (703) 822-6684.
(please direct comments or questions about this page to Librarian Beth DeAngelo)