The National Council of State Boards of Nursing is the ...



The National Council of State Boards of Nursing is the organization that administers the state boards of nursing. The member boards are divided into four regional areas that supervise the selection of test item writers such as educators and clinicians. The NCLEX exam is a computerized examination or CAT (computerized adaptive testing). There are several formats for questions such as multiple choice, fill in the blank, or identification/graphing. Exam questions may include “select all that apply” or prioritization of interventions.

All candidates are oriented to the computer prior to the examination starting. Because each exam is geared toward the test-taker’s skill level, each candidate will have an individual exam. Each exam will include several experimental questions. The exam is scored by the computer with a pass/fail grade. Candidates are notified of their success or failure by the board of nursing of the state in which they are tested. Unsuccessful candidates are provided with a diagnostic profile that describes their overall performance on a scale from low to high and their performance on the questions testing their abilities to meet patient needs.

Candidates will have the opportunity to take the NCLEX examination after completion of their formalized education. The NCLEX examination has 75 to 265 questions that the graduates can answer randomly. Candidates are allowed up to 6 hours to complete the exam and are expected to take a 10-minute break after 2 hours of testing. Because the candidate does not know how many questions they will be taking, it is suggested that they spend approximately 1 minute on each question to ensure adequate time if by chance they receive all 265 questions.

The NCLEX review prior to testing should be organized and reflective of strengths and weaknesses. Candidates are encouraged to purchase one or more review books and to make certain those texts are from different authors in order to gain different perspectives. Candidates should use software that mimics testing situations and they should complete a comprehensive exam in order to reflect on their weaknesses and opportunities for improvement. Studying should be continued in the transition from student to generalist. The use of memory methods such as mnemonic devices are useful, as is mental imagery.

Several measures have proven to be effective in controlling test anxiety levels: 1) guided imagery; 2) breathing exercises; 3) relaxation exercises; and 4) relaxation audiotapes. Candidates must be well nourished and have three well-balanced meals a day for at least three days prior to the examination. Avoid foods that will make you thirsty or cause gastrointestinal distress. Plan sufficient time in your schedule the week before the exam to review the suggestions about dress, shoes, distracting thoughts, and other factors that could influence your performance on the test.

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