Before aspiring nurses can apply for RN licensure, they have to ace the NCLEX exam. The testing process, facilitated by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), evaluates the fundamental knowledge of nursing candidates to guarantee their eligibility to provide medical care in healthcare facilities and hospitals.
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Two Types of Nursing
One test, the NCLEX-PN, focuses on evaluating hopefuls who seek to become practical nurses, also referred to as licensed practical nurses or licensed vocational nurses. The other exam, the NCLEX-RN, is designed to examine individuals who aspire to become registered nurses.
It’s quite perplexing to imagine the level of complexity these exams must entail. It’s truly a burst of knowledge and expertise required to pass these rigorous assessments. There are some similarities between them two, but there are also important differences that distinguish them.
The RN exam puts greater emphasis on care management and gauges the advanced scope of practice of registered nurses. The RN exam puts greater emphasis on care management and gauges the advanced scope of practice of registered nurses.
Meanwhile, the PN exam might involve a lot more questions about coordinating care, which can definitely be more challenging in its own way. It’s almost like the two tests are dancing to two different beats, but still trying to arrive at the same conclusion.
NCLEX Examination
There’s this whole cluster of test-prep outfits with NCLEX programs aimed at getting you ready for the exam. The bigwig folks at the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), who actually make the NCLEX test, have got this awesome practice test that totally mimics the real one. For both PN and RN level exams, there are sets of practice examination papers available, each with a cost of $150.
The practice packets come with not one, but two computerized tests, boasting a whopping 125 questions per round. It’s imperative that you knock them both out in one go. Once you’ve survived this trial by fire, you’ll receive a score report that reveals the percentage of correctly answered questions—a clear measure of your mettle.
There’s a boatload of free NCLEX practice questions all over the internet, yet I always suggest putting more weight on quality than quantity. It’s crucial to combine NCLEX exam theory with NCLEX Practice Tests if you want to ace that exam.
Effective Studying
Try a practice exam
If you’re looking to nail the NCLEX, one primo method is to tackle a practice exam. These assessments feature questions that were once part of the NCLEX test, allowing you to familiarize yourself with the exam’s question types. The NCLEX official site is your go-to for practice tests galore.
Study guide
Many folks find that crafting a thorough and well-structured study aid is what ignites their successful conquest of the NCLEX. Take the pre-exam as a starting point to grasp the types of queries that will appear and make necessary preparations. Or, you could consider giving 1-1 NCLEX Tutoring a shot and collaborate with a skilled tutor to devise a personalized study strategy that’s tailor-made just for you. It’s baffling how a well-crafted guide can make all the difference.
Exam format
Wrap your head around the exam structure. Just like any other standardized test, comprehending the format is a crucial aspect of sailing through with ease. This test is all about multiple-choice questions, so honing your test-taking chops for that type of setup and going into the exam with a solid strategy. Sharpen your skills for this kind of format, and you’ll increase your chances of acing the test.
Study it your way
Are you more of a visual learner? Are you most successful when studying alone, or do you thrive in dialogue-heavy group settings? Knowing your preferred learning style can have a huge impact on your success. That being said, a private tutor can undoubtedly offer some guidance.
Make a schedule
By allocating a certain amount of time each day or adhering to a set schedule, you’ll be able to maintain your focus and stay on top of things when it comes to the NCLEX. It’s important to find a balance that works for you and doesn’t leave you feeling overwhelmed or frazzled.
Manage your anxiety
Be sure to prep beforehand by snoozing well and eating a balanced meal. Because most folks experience a sense of unease before a test—some worse than others—so don’t let that throw a wrench into your passing prospects and consider how to help yourself.
As for the actual test itself, it’s crucial to have on-hand an arsenal of reliable coping mechanisms to employ when stress comes knocking on your brain’s door. Whether that be chomping on a wad of Dubble Bubble, taking a cleansing breath, or closing your eyes and visualizing a successful outcome.
Next Generation NCLEX
On April 1, 2023, the NCSBN hit us with a brand spanking new NCLEX for registered nurses and licensed practical nurses. The updates aimed to sharpen clinical judgment and called for test-takers to bring their A-game like never before. Nevertheless, the testing milieu adopted the same ol’ format of a CAT test. But wait, there’s more!
One of the most noteworthy changes came in the manner your NCLEX score got tallied. For eons, the NCLEX has been using dichotomous scoring, wherein there’s only one answer that’s either right or wrong. Boring, right? But now, with the NGN, you could even snag partial credit if your answer’s kinda sorta right. Yeah, you read that right. Pats on the back!
Computerized adaptive assessment
The NCLEX tests are dynamic computer adaptive assessments, which adjust the questions you face based on your previous answers. So, if you answered a question incorrectly, the next one will be less difficult, while if you answered it correctly, the following question will be more challenging. The computer will keep doing this until it can accurately pinpoint your abilities.
Scoring system
Your state’s regulatory board will send you the official exam results, and it usually takes around six weeks to receive them.
The NCLEX employs an evaluation method known as logits. The passing standard for the NCLEX-RN is 0.00 logits, and for the PN, it’s -0.18. These measurements assess the discrepancy between the level of skill that a test-taker is believed to possess and the level of difficulty of the questions they are given.
The exams undergo evaluation initially by applying the 95% Confidence Interval Rule. Once you’ve answered the minimum number of questions, the computer will engage in a thorough inquiry of your abilities, ensuring it reaches at least a 95% level of certitude. And if you thought it was over, think again! The test keeps going until the computer can confidently hit that sweet spot of 95% confidence in the outcome.
If you manage to give answers to all the questions thrown your way, your outcome will depend purely on the final estimate of your aptitude, no matter if the computer’s estimation hits the high watermark of 95%. If the test reckons that your ability estimate is higher than the passing benchmark, you come out with flying colors. But if it falls below, well, you’re out of luck, my friend.
Essential requirements for passing the NCLEX
The NCLEX doesn’t require a fixed score or question count for a pass. It’s more about keeping up a baseline logit score of 0.00 to stay in the game. Given that the NCLEX functions as a CAT, it waits until there’s at least 95 percent certainty in your proficiency before proclaiming you’ve made the grade.
NCLEX cost
To acquire a license in the U.S., you have to fork over $200 as a base fee for either of the NCLEX exams. You can pay by credit or debit card when you register with PearsonVue. Depending on where you’re kicking it, your state’s board of nursing might slam you with some extra registration charges.