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Field Notes

Field notes
from nursing school.

Study strategies, NCLEX® prep walkthroughs, and StudyWithLily updates.

A stack of nursing study guides with bookmarks and a page of notesNURSING NOTESTHE STUDY GUIDEONE TOPIC AT A TIMEKEEP LEARNING
  1. Free NCLEX-PN® Practice Questions (2026): Where to Start

    Where to get free NCLEX-PN® (LPN/LVN) practice questions in 2026, ranked, with what each source gives you and what it leaves out.

    Oct 4, 2026

  2. Free NCLEX® Practice Questions: Every Source Worth Your Time in 2026

    Where to get free NCLEX® practice questions in 2026: NCSBN's sample pack, Nurseslabs, provider trials, and Study With Lily's free plan, with what each one actually gives you.

    Sep 12, 2026

  3. Can You Work During Nursing School? Build a Schedule You Can Actually Sustain

    Working through nursing school is about capacity, not willpower. Use this capacity-first framework to build a work schedule that survives exams and clinicals.

    Sep 4, 2026

  4. How to Run a Nursing Study Group That Actually Helps

    A nursing study group works when everyone attempts questions alone first. Run this 60-minute agenda with rotating roles and ground rules that stop the drift.

    Aug 28, 2026

  5. Failed Your First Nursing Exam? A 72-Hour Remediation Plan

    Failing your first nursing exam is common and fixable. Work this 72-hour plan: regulate, classify every miss, and rebuild your study system around the pattern.

    Aug 21, 2026

  6. Can You Use ChatGPT Safely in Nursing School? What to Verify First

    Yes, you can use ChatGPT in nursing school if you treat it as a study aid, not a clinical source. Here is what to verify before you trust any answer you get.

    Aug 14, 2026

  7. How to Study for Nursing School Exams: A 7-Day Active-Recall Plan

    Stop rereading lecture slides. This 7-day plan turns one heavy deck into questions, spaced review, and an error log you can use on exam day.

    Aug 7, 2026

  8. Starting Nursing School: What to Do Before First Semester (and What Not to Pre-Study)

    Starting nursing school? Skip pre-learning the curriculum. Before first semester, sort your logistics, refresh medical terminology and dosage math, and rest.

    Jul 31, 2026

  9. How to Answer NCLEX® Bow-Tie Questions (2026 Guide)

    Bow-tie NCLEX questions have 5 boxes: 1 condition, 2 actions, 2 to monitor. Answer the center first. Scored for partial credit, so near-misses still count.

    Jul 15, 2026

  10. The 2026 NCLEX-PN® Test Plan, Explained for LPN/LVN Students

    Four Client Needs groups, eight categories, and a scope built around the practical nurse role. What the 2026 PN test plan covers and how to study for it.

    Jul 12, 2026

  11. How Hard Is the NCLEX-PN®? 2026 Pass Rates and What They Mean

    86% of first-time U.S.-educated students passed the NCLEX-PN® in early 2026. Repeat takers passed at 42.7%. Here's what the numbers really say.

    Jul 12, 2026

  12. NCLEX® Clinical Judgment Model: The 6 Steps

    The NCLEX® Clinical Judgment Model has 6 steps: Recognize Cues to Evaluate Outcomes. Learn how the NGN is built on it and how to think through any question.

    Jul 6, 2026

  13. NCLEX® Case Study Example: A 6-Step Walkthrough

    See a full unfolding NGN case study: one patient, 6 questions, one clinical-judgment step each. Walk through all 6 parts with reasoning and takeaways.

    Jul 3, 2026

  14. NCLEX® SATA Partial Credit: How It's Scored and How to Answer

    Yes, NCLEX® SATA questions earn partial credit. Since April 2023 they use +/- scoring, floored at zero per item. Here's the math and a method for answering them.

    Jun 21, 2026

  15. Summer NCLEX Study Plan: 6-Week Guide for May Graduates

    Test 1 month after graduation and pass at 93.4%. Wait 3 months and it drops to 71% (FCN, 2024). Build your sourced 6-week 2026 summer NCLEX-RN plan now.

    May 9, 2026

  16. Best NCLEX® Prep Apps 2026: Price and Free Trials Compared

    Price, access length and free trial terms for seven NCLEX® prep options, with a date on every price. See what each includes before you pay.

    Apr 3, 2026

  17. Lily Daily: One Free NCLEX Question, Every Day

    Lily Daily delivers one free NCLEX®-style question every day, with streaks, leaderboards, and rationales. Students who self-test retain 61% vs. 40% with re-reading.

    Apr 2, 2026

  18. Study Groups: Practice NCLEX Questions Together in Real Time

    Lily Study Groups is Kahoot for NCLEX prep. Create a room, share a code, and quiz up to 30 classmates in real time with a live podium.

    Apr 2, 2026

  19. How Does Spaced Repetition Build Long-Term NCLEX Retention?

    How Does Spaced Repetition Build Long-Term NCLEX Retention?" description: "Students using spaced repetition recalled 61% of material after one week vs. 40% with re-reading. Here's how to apply it to your NCLEX prep.

    Mar 26, 2026

  20. Stop Studying Everything Twice: How to Prep for NCLEX While You're Still in Nursing School

    You shouldn't have to re-learn pharmacology for boards when you just passed the midterm. Here's how to study once, not twice.

    Mar 10, 2026

  21. How Many Questions Is the NCLEX in 2026? What the 85 to 150 Range Actually Means

    The NCLEX isn't a fixed-length exam, and the number of questions you get doesn't tell you whether you passed. Here's how the 85 to 150 range works, what changed in 2026, and why you should stop watching the counter.

    Mar 4, 2026

  22. How to Study for NCLEX 2026: Complete Preparation Strategy

    Evidence-based study strategies for the new NCLEX 2026 test plan. Learn how to practice case studies, master bow-tie questions, and distribute your study time across all 8 Client Needs categories.

    Feb 13, 2026

  23. NCLEX 2026 Changes: What Every Nursing Student Must Know

    The NCLEX changed in April 2026. Most prep apps haven't updated. Learn what's different about Clinical Judgment case studies, bow-tie questions, and the new test plan that will determine your nursing career.

    Feb 11, 2026

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