The National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN® exam)
has one purpose: to determine if it's safe for you to begin
practice as an entry-level nurse. It is significantly different
from any test that you took in nursing school. Nursing school
exams are knowledge-based. The NCLEX-RN® exam, however, is
application-based. You will be tested on how you can use critical
thinking skills to make nursing judgments.
The NCLEX-RN® exam is organized according to the framework,
"Meeting Client Needs." There are four major categories and eight
subcategories. All of the questions on the exam involve
integrated nursing content. Many nursing programs are based on
the medical model where students take separate medical, surgical,
pediatric, psychiatric, and obstetric classes. However on the
NCLEX-RN® exam, all content is integrated.
Important Notice: Passing the NCLEX-RN® Exam is
Getting Harder
On April 1st 2010, the passing standard for the NCLEX-RN® Exam
changes. The National Council of state Boards of Nursing (NCSBN)
recently voted to raise the passing standard for the NCLEX-RN®
examination. The passing standard increases in response to
changes in U.S. requirements for an entry-level RN. The new
passing standard takes effect April 1st, 2010.
