The Dreaded NCLEX
Take it and Forget it!
You have to take the NCLEX after nursing school if you plan on practicing in the United States. For those of you interesting in becoming a registered nurse in Canada be sure to check out www.Registered-Nurse-Canada.com and look at the comparison of the NCLEX and the Canadian nursing entrance test. You primary goal in school is to prepare yourself to pass this test. You can be the best student in the world, and you won’t become a nurse without passing. It is given to make sure individuals practicing nursing are competent to do so. Considering we do so much in the daily care of very sick people, I find this test unquestionably necessary (even if I did hate having to take it!).
I don’t want to scare you. I just wish someone would have explained to me what this nursing exam was early in nursing school. I would hear the term thrown around, but somehow didn’t “get it” until my senior year. This nursing exam is like the Golden Ticket in Willy Wonka—obtainable if you are persistent (with your studying and preparing that is).
The NCLEX is given by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. If you are getting an associates or bachelors degree, then you will take the NCLEX-RN. If you are studying to become a licensed practical nurse, then you will take the NCLEX-PN. The two tests differ only in the content and number of questions. Everything else is the same.The tests are computerized adaptive tests. A tutorial tells you how to take the test before you begin on test day, however because you are on this website, you should find it pretty self explanatory. For the RN test you will have up to six hours to complete the test. For the PN test you will have up to 5 hours to complete the test. The NCBSN reports that more than half of all test takers finish in 2.5 hours. You are allowed breaks (bathroom etc) throughout the tests, however you time is not adjusted.
The number of questions you get on the exam is always a big question for nursing students. Every RN can get between 75 and 265 questions. Every LPN can get between 85 and 205 questions. I do not recommend dwelling on these numbers. If you study adequately and don’t panic, you have a very reasonable chance of passing. If VERY curious as to how the exam is scored--Click Here. Not anyone can become a nurse and therefore not just anyone can go in and take the test to become a nurse. You must apply to take the test and pay a $200 (as of September 2008) fee with your state’s nursing board. This fee may be more in certain states, but will never be less. Applying is pretty easy, but I recommend doing it as soon as you finish school so you don’t have to wait too long to take the test. When you have been approved you will receive an ATT (Authorization to Test). You then have one full year time period that you remain eligible for test taking.
The day of your test can be daunting. The week before the test can make you want to tear your hair out--all of it! Click here for some tips on getting through the test week.Once you have finished taking the test, you should get the results within 1-2 weeks. Some states are as quick as 2 business days. Check with your states nursing board for exactly how you will receive your results. Some states do letters via snail mail. Others have phone lines and online sites to check your results. If you fail the test…DO NOT PANIC. You can take the NCLEX again. Click here for more information if you have failed and don't know where to go next.
Click here for official NCLEX information from the NCSBN Click here to go to the home page
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