For Filipino nurses, the american dream still lives on until now. We have all been imagining how exciting and satisfying it would be to work in the Land of Milk and Honey. However, as if we haven't had enough of all these qualifying exams, we still need to face the NCLEX, our ticket to our US nursing career. Often regarded as a very hard exam, yet the key to everything they say is Preparation.
NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) is a nationwide examination for the licensing of nurses in the United States and Canada since 1994 and 2015, respectively.[5][6] There are two types, the NCLEX-RN and the NCLEX-PN. After graduation from a school of nursing, one takes the NCLEX exam to receive his or her nursing license. A nursing license gives an individual the permission to practice nursing, granted by the state where he or she met the requirements.
NCLEX examinations are developed and owned by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. (NCSBN). The NCSBN administers these examinations on behalf of its member boards which consist of the boards of nursing in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and four U.S. territories, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands and the Virgin Islands.
To ensure public protection, each board of nursing requires a candidate for licensure to pass the appropriate NCLEX examination, NCLEX-RN for registered nurses and the NCLEX-PN for vocational or practical nurses. NCLEX examinations are designed to test the knowledge, skills and abilities essential for the safe and effective practice of nursing at the entry-level.
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). The NCLEX is a type of exam called a criterion-referenced examination. According to the chapter, “NCLEX: What You Need to Know,” in the textbook Nursing Now, a criterion-referenced examination is a “test that compares an individual’s knowledge to a predetermined standard rather than to the performance of others who take the same test.” With computerized exams such as this, the computer selects which question you are asked based on how you answered the previous question. The NCLEX covers a wide range of material. The individual will be scored by their ability to think critically about decisions involving nursing care.
Helpful tips on how prepare for the Exam:
- Take advantage of resources that provide practice test questions, study guides and flashcards. There are plenty of free online guides and sample questions – along with the correct answers.
- Find a study buddy to help you prepare; someone from your college classes would be ideal. You can quiz each other with flashcards, study the rationales, focus on learning key phrases used in the exam, and practice using the nursing process to prioritize – all of which can help you choose the correct answers during the exam.
- Check out NCLEX-RN exam prep applications designed for mobile devices and tablets, so you can study wherever you go.
- Find the study method that works for you. For some, it means locking yourself in a room for a week or two; others prefer to study in smaller chunks; still other candidates take advantage of every available minute to study, whether it’s on the bus, during work breaks or over morning coffee.
Try a variety of methods to determine what works best for you.
Top 10 Tips For NCLEX Exam Day:
- Get plenty of sleep in the days leading up to the exam, and especially the night before.
- Avoid alcohol the night before, and don’t go overboard on caffeine the day of the exam.
- Dress comfortably, in layers that you can add or take off as needed.
- Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes early so you won’t be rushed.
- Take along a high-energy snack, such as fruit, nuts or trail mix.
- Relax. Try not to focus on the length of your exam.
- Take the time necessary to analyze each question, as well as all the possible answers. Once you’ve submitted an answer, you cannot return to the question.
- Plan to be testing for six hours. Don’t become anxious if others finish before you.
- Expect to feel as though you’re only getting half the questions correct. Even if you’re well on your way to passing, the NCLEX is designed to really challenge your knowledge.
- Remember, as long as the computer is still posing questions, you’re still capable of passing.
Passing the NCLEX takes nursing knowledge, skill and preparation. It won’t be easy – but then, neither was earning your BSN degree! You owe it to yourself to do what it takes to pass the exam, so you can begin to enjoy the challenges and many benefits of your nursing career.
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