NCLEX-RN Process NUR 420 Professor Brenda Rowe

General Information

Application Process Apply for licensure with Board of Nursing ($40 for GA) Apply for licensure with Board of Nursing ($40 for GA) Register for NCLEX-RN ($200) (if provide all communication will be by ): May register online, mail, or telephone Register for NCLEX-RN ($200) (if provide all communication will be by ): May register online, mail, or telephone Georgia Board requests that both applications be submitted at approximately same time Georgia Board requests that both applications be submitted at approximately same time Get Board of Nursing approval Get Board of Nursing approval Receive ATT: Name on ATT must match ID Receive ATT: Name on ATT must match ID

Accommodations Different application Different application Need to apply now Need to apply now

New NCLEX-RN Blueprint Effective April 2007 Effective April 2007 Based on 2005 Practice Analysis Based on 2005 Practice Analysis Passing standard raised Passing standard raised

Changes (Implemented April 2007) Percentage for Client Needs Categories stayed the same from Percentage for Client Needs Categories stayed the same from Safe Effective Care Environment 13-19% Safe Effective Care Environment 13-19% Health Promotion 6-12% Health Promotion 6-12% Psychological Integrity 6-12% Psychological Integrity 6-12% Physiological Integrity Physiological Integrity –Basic Care & Comfort 6-12% –Pharmacological & Parenteral 13-19% –Reduction in Risk Potential 13-19% –Physiological Adaptation 11-17%

Pharmacology Increased pharmacology questions in 2004 Increased pharmacology questions in 2004 Will tell you trade/generic Will tell you trade/generic Know the expected outcomes of meds Know the expected outcomes of meds

Changes from 2004 In 2004 more questions at the application and/or analysis level In 2004 more questions at the application and/or analysis level

Changes from Safe and Effective Care Safe and Effective Care –Management of Care % Added Information Security & Information Technology Added Information Security & Information Technology –Safety and Infection Control 8- 14% Added Ergonomic Principles Added Ergonomic Principles

Passing Rate for BSN graduates, First Time US Educated % % Passage rate for all programs 88.2% Passage rate for all programs 88.2%

What is CAT? –First item is relatively easy –Subsequent items better target test taker –Computer re-estimates the test taker’s ability every time an item is answered. –Test taker should have a chance of answering the item correctly. –“Be aware that both passers and failers tend to answer approximately 50% of items correctly.” –Key is the difficulty of the questions

How score is determined Candidate passes or fails when have 95% certainty that candidate’s ability is above or below the standard

Testing Security Digital fingerprint, signature and photo will be taken at test center Digital fingerprint, signature and photo will be taken at test center Will be observed at all times Will be observed at all times Can take nothing into testing room Can take nothing into testing room Must provide a fingerprint each time enter and exit the testing room. Must provide a fingerprint each time enter and exit the testing room.

General Information Two preprogrammed optional breaks: first after 2 hours of testing, breaks included in time, may take additional breaks Two preprogrammed optional breaks: first after 2 hours of testing, breaks included in time, may take additional breaks 265 questions; 6 hours 265 questions; 6 hours Re-test in GA – must wait 90 days Re-test in GA – must wait 90 days National retesting time is days National retesting time is days

Personal Preparation Know thyself Know thyself Get your planner and make a plan Get your planner and make a plan After you make your appointment After you make your appointment –Drive to the testing site. –Go in the building. Find the office suite –Sleep/eat –Drive safely –Wear comfortable clothing ( although it says no jackets can wear a sweater and have t-shirt under so can be comfortable)

Personal Preparation When you arrive will get a number…they’ll call you to take the test When you arrive will get a number…they’ll call you to take the test Need one form of acceptable ID (i.e. driver’s license) Need one form of acceptable ID (i.e. driver’s license) Need your ATT Need your ATT May not want to go with someone…pressure to finish same time May not want to go with someone…pressure to finish same time

Test Taking Strategies Read each question carefully Read each question carefully What is the question asking? What is the question asking? Look for operative words Look for operative words No penalty for an educated guess except better to run out of time than do “rapid guessing” No penalty for an educated guess except better to run out of time than do “rapid guessing” Be POSITIVE Be POSITIVE Focus Focus Deep Breathing Deep Breathing Use ear plugs if noise distracts you – they will provide Use ear plugs if noise distracts you – they will provide

Tips from Former Students Do not wait for a long time (Research has demonstrated that the longer a graduate waits the probability of failure increases) Do not wait for a long time (Research has demonstrated that the longer a graduate waits the probability of failure increases) Take as many practice questions as possible (thousands & thousands)!! Take as many practice questions as possible (thousands & thousands)!! Use mental rehearsal Use mental rehearsal Think about what works for YOU!!! Think about what works for YOU!!!

Online Survey Tell students that no one came away from NCLEX thinking they passed. Tell students that no one came away from NCLEX thinking they passed. Make sure that you take time with each question. Make sure that you take time with each question. More emphasis on the seriousness of this test. Encourage and emphasize either taking some kind of review class or intensive self study. More emphasis on the seriousness of this test. Encourage and emphasize either taking some kind of review class or intensive self study. Tell students how strict they are with the fingerprinting and checking IDS & taking your picture. Tell students how strict they are with the fingerprinting and checking IDS & taking your picture.

Online Survey (cont.) I was surprised that I had a large portion of questions that asked the side effects of medications and the signs and symptoms of certain diseases/disorders. I was surprised that I had a large portion of questions that asked the side effects of medications and the signs and symptoms of certain diseases/disorders. There were a lot of which patient would you see first questions. There were a lot of which patient would you see first questions. Tell students that you start when you arrive and have registered. Tell students that you start when you arrive and have registered.

Online Survey (cont.) They really are serious about locking everything up and finger printing every time you enter or leave the room They really are serious about locking everything up and finger printing every time you enter or leave the room There were bold words like first and priority There were bold words like first and priority There are other types of testing going on & some of the tests requires test taker to type an essay so lots of keyboard noise There are other types of testing going on & some of the tests requires test taker to type an essay so lots of keyboard noise They do provide ear plugs but they are big and bulky They do provide ear plugs but they are big and bulky

Online Survey (cont.) You cannot wear a watch into testing area. You cannot wear a watch into testing area. I should have been more relaxed because all that anxiety only made me tired. I needed to be more confident. I should have been more relaxed because all that anxiety only made me tired. I needed to be more confident. People at the center were very nice and accommodating. People at the center were very nice and accommodating. Forgot ATT, had to go to Kinko’s and print it off. Forgot ATT, had to go to Kinko’s and print it off.

Online survey (cont.) Questions, Questions, Questions, the best book I found was the NSNA Review guide, and I used Kaplan, Rayfield, Lippincott, and Saunders. Questions, Questions, Questions, the best book I found was the NSNA Review guide, and I used Kaplan, Rayfield, Lippincott, and Saunders. Know signs and symptoms of diseases and drug interactions Know signs and symptoms of diseases and drug interactions I wish someone would have told me that waiting for results was the worst 2 days of my life. I wish someone would have told me that waiting for results was the worst 2 days of my life.

Online Survey (cont.) It can be cold or hot at the testing center. Air conditioning broken with I took. Advise students to prepare for anything! It can be cold or hot at the testing center. Air conditioning broken with I took. Advise students to prepare for anything! I wish someone had told me that it is much quicker to register online rather than mailing NCLEX application. I wish someone had told me that it is much quicker to register online rather than mailing NCLEX application.

Online Survey (cont.) “I wish I hadn’t taken a break from studying…it was really hard to get back into the testing mindset.” “I wish I hadn’t taken a break from studying…it was really hard to get back into the testing mindset.” All comfortable with online testing All comfortable with online testing

May 07 Statistics Average test time Average test time Passers: 152 Failers: 272 Average Number of questions Average Number of questions Passers: 135 Failers: 235

Advice to Faculty Do more tests during the last semester. Do more tests during the last semester. Include a review course in 420. Include a review course in 420. Need to review some basic care info that we learned at the beginning of school (crutch walking etc.) Need to review some basic care info that we learned at the beginning of school (crutch walking etc.) Reinforce the importance of doing lots of practice questions. Reinforce the importance of doing lots of practice questions.

Advice to faculty I believe that the Kaplan book, the review course, and doing two hours of studying a night for 1 plus month helped me pass. I believe that the Kaplan book, the review course, and doing two hours of studying a night for 1 plus month helped me pass. Students should know all lab values, all ABGs, all basic health assessments, and pharmacology. As soon as I started I wrote down things Nagle’s Rule, lab values, etc. on dry erase board. You cannot erase anything on board but if you need another you can get one. Students should know all lab values, all ABGs, all basic health assessments, and pharmacology. As soon as I started I wrote down things Nagle’s Rule, lab values, etc. on dry erase board. You cannot erase anything on board but if you need another you can get one.

Surprises? Much more pharmacology than I expected Much more pharmacology than I expected Lot of select all that apply questions Lot of select all that apply questions Probably questions out of 75 were “Which of these patients would you see first after receiving report.” Probably questions out of 75 were “Which of these patients would you see first after receiving report.” Yes. I had 6 questions on peritoneal dialysis. Yes. I had 6 questions on peritoneal dialysis. I had a lot of infection control questions I had a lot of infection control questions I had so many teaching questions! I had so many teaching questions!

Surprises (cont.) I had 7 alternate item format questions! I had 7 alternate item format questions! “No, I was well prepared to see everything and that was exactly what happened!” “No, I was well prepared to see everything and that was exactly what happened!”

May 08 Feedback from Survey Mosby’s flashcards very helpful – “mirrors the NCLEX question style”- Barnes and Noble or Borders Mosby’s flashcards very helpful – “mirrors the NCLEX question style”- Barnes and Noble or Borders Rayfield CDs were “awesome to reinforce material” Rayfield CDs were “awesome to reinforce material” Had “at least alternate format questions”. Had “at least alternate format questions”. “There were LOTS of select all that apply.” “There were LOTS of select all that apply.”

May 08 feedback (cont.) “Do lots of questions and take a review course.” “Do lots of questions and take a review course.” “Don’t over stress. Do LOTS of questions. Review some content, but questions are most important!” “Don’t over stress. Do LOTS of questions. Review some content, but questions are most important!” “Prepare, prepare, questions more than content and pray.” “Prepare, prepare, questions more than content and pray.”