NCLEX-RN Exam: What’s New and What You Need to Know
The NCLEX-RN (National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses) is a standardized exam that nursing graduates must pass to obtain licensure as a registered nurse (RN). Here is an overview:
Purpose
The exam assesses the candidate's ability to apply critical thinking skills and knowledge to ensure safe and effective nursing care. It focuses on entry-level nursing competence.
Structure
The NCLEX-RN is computer-adaptive, meaning the difficulty of questions adjusts based on the test-taker's ability. It includes:
Types of Items: Candidates may encounter stand-alone questions, case studies, and alternate-format items on the exam. These questions may incorporate multimedia elements like charts, tables, and graphics. Every item undergoes a thorough review process before being included in the exam.
Question Types: Multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, drag-and-drop, ordered response, and hot-spot questions.
Length:
Minimum: 85 questions (including 15 unscored questions).
Maximum: 150 questions.
Maximum time: 5 hours.
Content Areas
The test is based on the NCLEX-RN Test Plan, focusing on four major client needs categories:
Safe and Effective Care Environment
Management of Care (e.g., advance directives, advocacy).
Safety and Infection Control.
Health Promotion and Maintenance
Growth and development, prevention, and early detection of disease.
Psychosocial Integrity
Coping mechanisms, behavioral interventions, and mental health conditions.
Physiological Integrity
Basic Care and Comfort.
Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies.
Reduction of Risk Potential.
Physiological Adaptation.
NCLEX RN Exam
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) is committed to creating nurse licensure and certification exams that are psychometrically robust and legally defensible, aligning with current entry-level nursing practices. The NCLEX, recognized as the leading licensure exam globally, uses computerized adaptive testing (CAT) to provide a reliable and accurate assessment of nursing competence.
COMPUTERIZED ADAPTIVE TESTING(CAT)
Each time a candidate answers a question; the computer recalculates their ability based on their earlier responses and the difficulty of those questions. It then selects the next question that best aligns with their demonstrated ability. This process ensures the questions are neither too easy nor too difficult, allowing the exam to gather the most exact information about the candidate’s competence. As candidates progress, each question is designed to be challenging and targeted to their skill level, leading to a more precise estimate of their ability.
The NCLEX uses three rules to decide if a candidate passes or fails:
95% Confidence Interval Rule: This is the most common rule. The exam ends when the computer is 95% certain that the candidate's ability is either clearly above or below the passing standard.
Maximum-Length Exam Rule: For candidates, whose ability is remarkably close to the passing standard, the exam continues until the maximum number of questions is reached. The final ability estimate, based on all responses, decides if the candidate passes (at or above the standard) or fails (below the standard).
Run-Out-of-Time (R.O.O.T.) Rule: If time expires before the exam ends and a clear pass/fail determination has not been made:
Candidates who do not complete the minimum number of questions automatically fail.
If the minimum number is completed, the final score is based on responses given before time ran out. A score at or above the passing standard results in passing; below the standard results in failing.
Whats New?
NEXT GENERATION NCLEX/ An Enhanced NCLEX
The NGN Project
The NGN, launched on April 1, 2023, enhances the assessment of nursing candidates' clinical judgment and decision-making skills using innovative question formats. This initiative was driven by findings from the 2013-2014 NCSBN Strategic Practice Analysis, which highlighted that newly licensed nurses must increasingly make complex decisions in patient care.
Online NCLEX RN exam coming soon:
The NCSBN is developing technology that could allow candidates to take the NCLEX outside of traditional testing centers. Expected to launch in 2026, this option aims to provide greater convenience through flexible scheduling, increased comfort, more options, and easier accessibility.