NCLEX
        The NCLEX-RN (National Council Licensure EXamination-Registered Nurse) is a computer-adaptive test of entry-level nursing competence. Candidates are required to pass this examination in order to become licensed by all US state and territorial Boards of Nursing and earn the title of Registered Nurse (RN) in the United States.

  •         The NCLEX-RN® is developed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. (NCSBN®). The NCSBN is a not-for-profit organization whose membership comprises the boards of nursing in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and four United States territories-American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands.

        To ensure public protection, each state's board of nursing requires a candidate for licensure to pass the NCLEX-RN exam . The NCLEX examination is designed to test the knowledge, skills and abilities essential for safe and effective entry-level nursing practice .
NCLEX examinations are provided in a computerized adaptive testing (CAT) format and are presently administered by Pearson VUE in their network of Pearson Professional Centers (PPC). Authorized testing centers are located throughout USA and in selected foreign countries (see below). The test is administered only in English with no initiatives for translation to any other foreign language .
CAT is a method for administering tests that merges existing computer technology with modern measurement theory to increase the efficiency of the testing process. The NCLEX examination uses items with a variety of response formats, such as, single response multiple-choice, multiple-choice items that require a candidate to select one or more responses, fill-in-the-blank items, or items asking a candidate to identify an area on a picture or graphic. Any of the item formats, including standard multiple-choice items, may include charts, tables or graphic images.
All items are developed and validated using the expertise of practicing nurses, educators and test developers from throughout the United States. The content of the items of the NCLEX examinations is based on a practice analysis conducted every three years.

Exam content

The majority of test items are written at the application or higher levels of cognition but the exam may include items at all of the cognitive levels.
The exam content is based on the following client needs. The percentage of test questions assigned to each category and subcategory is based on the expert judgment provided by members of the NCSBN Examination Committee.

  • Safe Effective Care Environment
  • Health Promotion and Maintenance (6-12%)
  • Psychosocial Integrity (6-12)
  • Physiological Integrity
    • Basic Care and Comfort (6-12%)
    • Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies (13-19%)
    • Reduction of Risk Potential (13-19%)
    • Physiological Adaptation (11-17%)
  • The NCLEX exam will cover all specialties of nursing, including: Medical-Surgical, Pediatric, Psychiatric, and Maternity. The exam does however place more emphasis on Medical-Surgical nursing. Other topics included on the NCLEX will be Issues in Nursing, Nursing Sciences, Fundamental Skills, and Medications.

Question types

Most of the questions on the NCLEX-RN exam are multiple choice questions. In recent years, however, the NCSBN has added broader types of questions . For example, some questions require:

  • I dentifying and selecting a particular area of a drawn body part pertaining to the question
  • S electing multiple correct answers (by checking the correct boxes)
  • Calculating an answer for a mathematical question (usually for medication dosages) and inputting the answer
  • Placing response items in the correct order by dragging and dropping

Difficulty Level of NCLEX Questions

  • Each candidate’s examination is unique because it is assembled interactively as the examination proceeds. Computer technology selects items to administer that match the candidate’s ability level. The items, which are stored in a large item pool of approximately 3,000 questions, have been classified by test plan category and level of difficulty. After the candidate answers an item, the computer calculates an ability estimate based on all of the previous answers the candidate selected. The next item presented to the candidate is selected from the set of items that measure the candidate’s ability most precisely in the appropriate test plan category.
  • This means that if the examinee answers the question correctly, the test increases in difficulty. Conversely, if the examinee answers incorrectly, the test decreases in difficulty 
  • This process is repeated for each item, creating an examination tailored to the candidate’s knowledge and skills. The examination continues with items selected and administered in this way until a pass or fail decision is made.

All registered nurse candidates must answer a minimum of 75 items, 15 of which are pretest items and will not count toward the exam score. The maximum number of items that the candidate may answer is 265 during the allotted six-hour time period. Examination instructions and all rest breaks are included in the measurement of the time allowed for a candidate to complete the examination.

What do the questions measure?
The NCLEX consists of items that use Bloom’s taxonomy as a basis for writing and coding items. Benjamin Bloom was an educational psychologist who identified six levels of cognitive domains. Ranging from lowest level to the highest, the cognitive domains are classified as following: knowledge, understanding, application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation.

  •  Since the practice of nursing requires application of knowledge, skills and abilities, the majority of items are written at the application or higher levels of cognitive ability, which requires more complex thought processing.

How many questions must one answer before passing or failing?
Most examinees finish the exam after answering the minimum number of questions (75). However, the number of questions answered is not as important of a determinant of passing as the level of difficulty of questions answered.  The test ends when the computer determines with 95% certainty that the examinee’s ability is either above or below the passing standard.

  • Most examinees will answer about 50% of the questions correctly. However, if the examinee answers 50% of the more difficult questions correctly, that person will pass the NCLEX exam. Therefore, the number of questions answered correctly is not as important as the difficulty of the questions. 
  • Although six hours are allowed for the exam, only a small percentage of NCLEX candidates run out of time. More than half of the examinees finish in less than 2.5 hours. 

 

Cambridge Staffing Solution's role in preparation for the NCLEX
Preparation for the NCLEX is divided in place and time.
The f irst phase of training will take place in regional training centers with use of on-line resources and assistance of qualified nurse educators. During this phase, the candidate will recall forgotten information and learn the specifics of American nursing .
During the second phase, the Candidate will move to Ternopil for 1-3 months where he or she will undergo an intense training program designed to ensure the highest possibility of an NCLEX passing rate.  Since Cambridge invests all of the money for a Candidate’s testing, immigration, and placement, we want to ensure the best results in the fastest time for our Candidates.
Why Ternopil? Because in Ternopil there is an American Nursing School that is a part of Ternopil State Medical University. This school is the one of the leading Nursing educational establishment in Ukraine that has both the resources and qualified personnel to intensively train nurses for successful NCLEX passage. Moreover, this is the only installation in Ukraine that has a right to issue a Nursing Diploma to Physicians and Pheldshers. In just three semesters, a medical specialist can earn a Bachelor of Nursing Diploma. 

Prior to taking the NCLEX exam, each candidate will undergo vigorous testing and evaluations to ensure he or she is ready.  Each competence will be assessed individually as well as together in comprehensive practice exams.  The candidate will not be sent to take the NCLEX exam unless our specialists are confident the candidate is adequately prepared.  The harder each candidate studies, the sooner the NCLEX exam may be taken, and the faster the candidate can work in United States.

  • Many resources and teaching methods will be used in preparing candidates for the NCLEX.  These will include individual readings, lectures, group work, projects, assignments, and tests.  To assist in learning the necessary information, all or some of the following books will be provided free of charge during the duration of study:
  • Mosby's Review Questions for NCLEX-RN
  • Kaplan NCLEX-RN
  • Lippincott's Review for NCLEX-RN
  • Saunders Comprehensive Review for NCLEX-RN
  • The Princeton Review: Cracking the NCLEX-RN with Sample Test on CD-ROM
  • Saunders Comprehensive Review for NCLEX-PN
  • Successful Problem Solving and Test Taking for the Nursing and NCLEX-PN Exams
  • Mosby's Questions and Answers for NCLEX-PN

Many web sites are also available that will assist in studying for the NCLEX:

The NCLEX is administered in test-centers throughout the world. The nearest test centers are located in London, UK; Frankfurt, Germany; Athens, Greece; and Istanbul, Turkey. Unfortunately there are no test centers in Ukraine  or Russia.  Cambridge Staffing Solutions will pay for the NCLEX testing, as well as transportation to the test location and living allowances. 
Your success on the NCLEX will depend on your motivation and work ethic and will influence your success as a future Registered Nurse in United States .
G ood luck to you as your prepare for the NCLEX!