Taking the Test
The NCLEX-RN® exam has one purpose: to determine if it's safe
for you to begin practice as an entry-level nurse. The exam is
prepared by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing
(NCSBN). Each state requires passage of the NCLEX-RN® exam to
obtain a license to practice as a registered nurse. The
designation registered nurse or R.N. indicates that
you have proven to the state board of nursing that you can
deliver safe and effective nursing care.
What's It Like?
The CAT
CAT is an acronym for computer adaptive test, a testing format
that is interactively based on your response to the questions.
Based on your skill level, the CAT ensures that the questions are
not "too hard" or "too easy".
Your first question will be relatively easy - below the level
of minimum competency. If you answer it correctly, the computer
selects a slightly more difficult question. If answered
incorrectly, the computer selects a slightly easier question. By
continuing to do this throughout the test, the computer is able
to calculate your level of competence.
What do you have to
know?
While the questions on the NCLEX-RN® exam are primarily
multiple-choice with four possible answer choices, there are also
alternate question types. Alternate question types include:
multiple-response, fill-in-the-blank, hot spots, chart/exhibit
and drag-and-drop. Any necessary background information will
appear with the question. Some questions will appear without
background information. All questions involve integrated nursing
content. Many nursing programs are based on the medical model.
Students take separate medical, surgical, pediatric, psychiatric,
and obstetric classes. However, on the NCLEX-RN® exam, all
content is integrated. Look at the following question:
A 23-year-old woman with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
(IDDM) is returned to the recovery room one hour after an
uneventful delivery of a 9 lb., 8 oz., baby boy. The nurse would
expect the woman's blood sugar to
(1) rise.
(2) fall.
(3) remain stationary.
(4) fluctuate.
Is this an obstetrical question or a medical/surgical
question? In order to select the correct answer, (2), you must
consider the pathophysiology of diabetes along with the
principles of labor and delivery. This is an example of an
integrated question.
Answering the questions
There is no time limit for each individual question. You will
have a maximum of 6 hours to complete the exam, which includes a
tutorial in the beginning. There are no mandatory breaks. There
is an optional break after 2½ hours of testing, and another
optional break after 3½ hours of testing.
Everyone answers a minimum of 75 questions to a maximum of 265
questions. Regardless of how many you answer, you will be given
15 experimental questions that do not count for or against you.
The exam administrators use them to test for future questions on
the exam.
Your exam will end when one of the following occurs:
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You have demonstrated minimum competency and
answered the minimum number of questions (75). |
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You have demonstrated a lack of minimum
competency and answered the minimum number of questions
(75). |
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You have answered the maximum number of
questions (265). |
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You have used the maximum time allowed (6
hours).
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Try not to focus on the length of your exam. You should just
plan on testing for six hours and completing 265 questions. And
if you have a long exam, remember that you are still in the game
as long as the computer continues to give you questions; so focus
on answering them all to the best of your ability.
This article was adapted from:
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NCLEX-RN® with
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Other articles about the NCLEX-RN®
exam:
