Developed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. (NCSBN), NCLEX, which stands for National Council Licensure Examination, is a comprehensive examination that tests several nursing concepts to determine your eligibility to begin your practice as an entry-level nurse. Candidates who are accredited with a nursing program are eligible to acquire NCLEX licensing.

The NCLEX test assesses the knowledge, skills, and application abilities essential to a professional nurse to meet the client’s needs and maintain health restoration. There are two variations of NCLEX, one is for Registered Nurses (RN), and the other one is for Practical Nurses (PN).

The National Council Licensure Exam determines your level of knowledge and skill for you to begin your practice as an entry-level nurse. The NCLEX exam uses Computerised Adaptive Testing (CAT), administered through Pearson Professional Centers, to measure the competency needed to perform safely and effectively as a newly licensed nurse. CAT is a technology merged with computer technology and modern measurement theory to increase exam efficiency.

NCLEX exam pattern ensures that every time you answer a question, the computer estimates your ability based on the previous answer to select the next question. The majority of the questions will be multiple-choice, although other types of questions include fill-in-the-blank, chart/exhibit, drag-and-drop, and hot spots questions. The minimum number of questions now set for both RN and PR is 75, and the maximum number of questions is set at 145.

All nurses who wish to practice professionally need to pass the NCLEX. The two distinct versions of NCLEX are based on your educational qualifications. Those who have completed a Practical Nursing Diploma and wish to practice as a licensed practical nurse can take up NCLEX-PN. Candidates who have an Associate’s or Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing and want to become a registered nurse can pass the NCLEX-RN.

Although both PN and RN are licensing exams for nursing graduates, there are some differences in education and scope of practice. RN and PN are necessary healthcare elements but licensed practical nurses to focus more on bedside care than critical analysis. On the other hand, registered nurses are trained to assess a patients and look into their overall health status.

RN manages an increased scope of practice as it includes parenteral nutrition and administers blood and blood products. NCLEX-PN does not cover the topics. In addition, RN questions focus on managing a patient’s care and the ability to think critically.

After graduating from a practical or vocational nursing program, NCLEX-PN will give you the title of a Licenced Practical Nurse (LPN). LPN works with the supervision of an RN or a physician and focuses on coordination of care rather than its management. RN and LN have more similarities than differences as they both assist in daily activities.

NCLEX exam pattern consists of three levels that test the student’s knowledge and understanding, analysis and application, and qualitative and aptitude. The exam is organized into a framework of meeting “client needs”. The framework consists of four primary categories, in which two are further divided into subcategories. They are:

Safe and Effective Care Environment: Tests the nurse’s ability to be welcoming and create a functional setting for the patients. It includes accident prevention, ethics, client right, and home safety.

Management of Care

Safety and Infection Control

Health Promotion and Maintenance: Challenges nurse’s knowledge of growth and development with the aging process, postpartum, newborn care, developmental stages and transitions, disease prevention, health screening, high-risk behaviors, and self-care.

Psychosocial Integrity: Tests nursing actions and knowledge of mental health concepts, coping mechanisms, grief and loss, stress management, therapeutic communications, chemical dependencies, crisis intervention, family dynamics, etc.

Physiological Integrity: Practical nurses are expected to promote physical wellness by ensuring that the patient remains calm and comfortable.

Basic Care and Comfort

Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies

Reduction of Risk Potential

Physiological Adaptation

Unlike nursing school programs, NCLEX provides knowledge based on integrated content. The following processes are integrated throughout the Client Needs categories in the NCLEX exam:

Nursing Process

Caring

Communication and Documentation

Teaching and Learning

Culture and Spirituality