|
|
|
NCLEX Test Breakdown
Here are the sections on the NCLEX test: One of the primary differences between the NCLEX-RN test and NCLEX-PN test is the different number of questions. Please review the following chart:
Both of these tests require the same basic understanding of nursing practice and knowledge. The NCLEX-RN test questions and the NCLEX-PN test questions are presented with four multiple choice answer scenarios. In some cases, the NCLEX test is using a more difficult question format that requires multiple right answers to be selected. However, the material that is covered is the same. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) in conjunction with Pearson VUE administers two tests that are used to aid in the determination of the licensure of nurses. These examinations are the National Council Licensure Examination for a Practical Nurse (NCLEX-PN) and the National Council Licensure Examination for a Registered Nurse (NCLEX-RN). These two tests are used with state and territorial boards of nursing to aid in the determination of the licensure of nurses. The first step in registering for either the NCLEX-PN test or the NCLEX-RN test is to apply in the state in which you wish to be licensed. Once this is done, the next step is to register for the NCLEX test either by mail, phone, or online. Registration is done with Pearson VUE (the administrator of the exams). All necessary fees must be paid when registration is completed. Detailed fee information as well as information on what is necessary when registering for the NCLEX test can be found online at the NCSBN website, as well as in the Candidate Bulletin (also found at the NCSBN website). Once registration has been completed and approved, a candidate will receive a confirmation of their registration directly from Pearson VUE. The board of nursing in the state in which you wish to be licensed then approves the application that was submitted, and this makes the candidate eligible to take the NCLEX test. Once the candidate has been approved by the state board of nursing, Pearson VUE then sends the candidate an Authorization to Test (ATT). When the ATT is received, an exam time may be scheduled. The NCLEX test is given at Pearson Professional Centers (PPC), and location information can be found online at the NCSBN website or at the website for Pearson VUE. Scheduling the exam can be done online or via phone, and details can be found in the Candidate Handbook. Once arriving at the exam, the ATT as well as a valid ID must be presented in order to be permitted to take the examination. Both the NCLEX-PN test and the NCLEX-RN test are variable length, adaptive tests that are given on a computer. The lengths of the examinations are determined by a candidate’s responses to test items, so candidates will have varying examination lengths, as well as varying questions on the exams. Testing will stop when the minimum number of test items has been answered, and the candidate’s ability is determined to be above or below a passing standard, within a 95% certainty. Candidates have up to five hours to complete the NCLEX-PN test, and up to six hours to complete the NCLEX-RN test. These time limits include any necessary breaks as well as any computer tutorial time. The NCLEX-PN test will have between 85 and 205 questions, and the NCLEX-RN test will have between 75 and 265 questions. Out of these questions, 25 questions on the NCLEX-PN test are pretest questions, which are not scored. On the NCLEX-RN test, 15 questions will also be pretest questions. All questions that are presented must be answered, and candidates are instructed to make their best guess if they do not know the answer to a particular test item. Most of the test items are multiple choice in format, but there are some other formats as well. Information about these other test formats can be found in the candidate tutorial on the Pearson VUE website or on the NCSBN website. Both the NCLEX-PN test and the NCLEX-RN test are based on four major client needs categories. These categories make up the test plans for the exams. For the NCLEX-PN test, the client needs categories are safe and effective care environment (further broken down into coordinated care and safety and infection control), health promotion and maintenance, psychosocial integrity, and physiological integrity (further broken down into basic care and comfort, pharmacological therapies, reduction of risk potential, and physiological adaptations). Typical percentages of questions on the NCLEX-PN exam are as follows: 11-17% coordinated care, 8-14% safety and infection control, 7-13% health promotion and maintenance, 8-14% psychosocial integrity, 11-17% basic care and comfort, 9-15% pharmacological therapies, 10-16% reduction of risk potential, and 12-18% physiological adaptations. The client needs categories on the NCLEX-RN test are safe and effective care environment (further broken down into management of care and safety and infection control), health promotion and maintenance, psychosocial integrity, and physiological integrity (further broken down into basic care and comfort, pharmacological and parenteral therapies, reduction of risk potential, and physiological adaptations). Typical percentages of questions on the NCLEX-RN exam are as follows: 13-19% management of care, 8-14% safety and infection control, 6-12% health promotion and maintenance, 6-12% psychosocial integrity, 6-12% basic care and comfort, 13-19% pharmacological and parenteral therapies, 13-19% reduction of risk potential, and 11-17% physiological adaptations. The NCLEX-PN
test and NCLEX-RN test are given on computer using a computerized adaptive testing (CAT) method. This allows candidate ability to be estimated from their responses to questions on the exam, thereby allowing questions that are nearly equal to the candidate’s ability to be asked. This CAT method also aids in the scoring of the examination. When a candidate has answered enough questions (at least the minimum required) and it is clear that the candidate’s ability is above or below a passing standard, to a 95% certainty, the examination will stop, and the candidate will either pass or fail. There is no correlation between the length of the exam and if a candidate will pass or fail, and in order to pass, a candidate must perform above the passing standard. In some situations, a candidate may run out of time on the examinations. If this happens, it means that the computer could not determine if the candidate was performing below or above the passing standard to a 95% certainty. In the scoring of exams in this situation, a rule of “last 60” is utilized. If the candidate had been performing above the passing standard for the last 60 questions, the candidate will pass the examination. During the exam, it is best to keep a steady pace and to spend approximately one minute on each exam question. This will insure that time does not run out, and that all necessary questions are answered. Copyright TestPrepReview.com 2008, All Rights Reserved. TestPrepReview.com's Online Courses are provided as a free service to the Internet community. For additional resources, you may want to consider this NCLEX Test Study Guide website.
|