NCLEX-RN Process NCLEX-RN Process

NUR 420NUR 420Professor Brenda RoweProfessor Brenda Rowe

Application ProcessApplication Process

Apply for licensure with Board of Nursing Apply for licensure with Board of Nursing ($40 for GA)($40 for GA)

Register for NCLEX-RN ($200) (if provide Register for NCLEX-RN ($200) (if provide email all communication will be by email): email all communication will be by email): May register online, mail, or telephoneMay register online, mail, or telephone

Georgia Board requests that both Georgia Board requests that both applications be submitted at applications be submitted at approximately same timeapproximately same time

Get Board of Nursing approvalGet Board of Nursing approval Receive ATT: Name on ATT must match IDReceive ATT: Name on ATT must match ID

General InformationGeneral Information

www.ncsbn.orgwww.ncsbn.org www.sos.state.ga.us/plb/rnwww.sos.state.ga.us/plb/rn http://faculty.mercer.edu/hodges_http://faculty.mercer.edu/hodges_

hfhf www.pearsonvue.com/nclexwww.pearsonvue.com/nclex

Accommodations (GA)Accommodations (GA)

Additional applicationAdditional application Application sent with Board of Application sent with Board of

Nursing ApplicationNursing Application

New NCLEX-RN New NCLEX-RN BlueprintBlueprint Effective April 2007Effective April 2007 Based on 2005 Practice Based on 2005 Practice

AnalysisAnalysis Passing standard raisedPassing standard raised

Changes from 2004Changes from 2004

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

Changes (Implemented Changes (Implemented April 2007)April 2007) Percentage for Client Needs Categories stayed Percentage for Client Needs Categories stayed

the same from 2004.the same from 2004. 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 IntegrityPhysiological Integrity

– Basic Care & Comfort 6-12%Basic Care & Comfort 6-12%– Pharmacological & Parenteral 13-19%Pharmacological & Parenteral 13-19%– Reduction in Risk Potential 13-19%Reduction in Risk Potential 13-19%– Physiological Adaptation 11-17%Physiological Adaptation 11-17%

Alternate Item Format Alternate Item Format QuestionsQuestions What are they?What are they?

PharmacologyPharmacology

Increased pharmacology Increased pharmacology questions in 2004questions in 2004

Will tell you trade/genericWill tell you trade/generic Know the expected outcomes of Know the expected outcomes of

medsmeds

Changes from 2004-Changes from 2004-20072007 Safe and Effective CareSafe and Effective Care

– Management of Care 13-19 % Management of Care 13-19 % Added Information Security & Added Information Security &

Information TechnologyInformation Technology

– Safety and Infection Control 8- 14%Safety and Infection Control 8- 14% Added Ergonomic PrinciplesAdded Ergonomic Principles

Passing Rate for BSN Passing Rate for BSN graduates, First Time US graduates, First Time US EducatedEducated

2008 87.5%2008 87.5% Passage rate for all programs Passage rate for all programs

86.7%86.7%

What is CAT?What is CAT?

– First item is relatively easyFirst item is relatively easy– Subsequent items better target test takerSubsequent items better target test taker– Computer re-estimates the test taker’s Computer re-estimates the test taker’s

ability every time an item is answered.ability every time an item is answered.– Test taker should have a 50-50 chance of Test taker should have a 50-50 chance of

answering the item correctly.answering the item correctly.– ““Be aware that both passers and failers Be aware that both passers and failers

tend to answer approximately 50% of tend to answer approximately 50% of items correctly.”items correctly.”

– Key is the difficulty of the questionsKey is the difficulty of the questions

How score is How score is determineddetermined

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

Testing SecurityTesting Security

Digital fingerprint, signature and Digital fingerprint, signature and photo will be taken at test centerphoto will be taken at test center

Will be observed at all timesWill be observed at all times Can take nothing into testing roomCan take nothing into testing room Must provide a fingerprint each Must provide a fingerprint each

time enter and exit the testing time enter and exit the testing room.room.

General InformationGeneral Information

Two preprogrammed optional breaks: Two preprogrammed optional breaks: first after 2 hours of testing, breaks first after 2 hours of testing, breaks included in time, may take additional included in time, may take additional breaksbreaks

265 questions; 6 hours265 questions; 6 hours Re-test in GA – must wait 90 daysRe-test in GA – must wait 90 days National retesting time is 45-90 daysNational retesting time is 45-90 days Quick Results (not all states participate Quick Results (not all states participate

but Georgia does)but Georgia does)

Personal PreparationPersonal Preparation

Know thyselfKnow thyself Get your planner and make a planGet your planner and make a plan After you make your appointmentAfter you make your appointment

– Drive to the testing site.Drive to the testing site.– Go in the building. Find the office suiteGo in the building. Find the office suite– Sleep/eatSleep/eat– Drive safelyDrive safely– Wear comfortable clothing ( although it says Wear comfortable clothing ( although it says

no jackets can wear a sweater and have t-no jackets can wear a sweater and have t-shirt under so can be comfortable)shirt under so can be comfortable)

Personal PreparationPersonal Preparation

When you arrive will get a When you arrive will get a number…they’ll call you to take number…they’ll call you to take the testthe test

Need one form of acceptable Need one form of acceptable ID (i.e. driver’s license)ID (i.e. driver’s license)

Need your ATTNeed your ATT May not want to go with May not want to go with

someone…pressure to finish same someone…pressure to finish same timetime

Test Taking StrategiesTest Taking Strategies

Read each question carefullyRead each question carefully What is the question asking?What is the question asking? Look for operative wordsLook for operative words No penalty for an educated guess except No penalty for an educated guess except

better to run out of time than do “rapid better to run out of time than do “rapid guessing”guessing”

Be POSITIVEBe POSITIVE FocusFocus Deep BreathingDeep Breathing Use ear plugs if noise distracts you – they will Use ear plugs if noise distracts you – they will

provideprovide

Tips from Former Tips from Former StudentsStudents Do not wait for a long time (Do not wait for a long time (Research Research

has demonstrated that after a has demonstrated that after a period of time the longer a period of time the longer a graduate waits the probability of graduate waits the probability of failure increases) failure increases)

Take as many practice questions as Take as many practice questions as possible (thousands & thousands)!!possible (thousands & thousands)!!

Use mental rehearsalUse mental rehearsal Think about what works for YOU!!!Think about what works for YOU!!!

Online SurveyOnline Survey

Tell students that no one came away Tell students that no one came away from NCLEX thinking they passed.from NCLEX thinking they passed.

Make sure that you take time with Make sure that you take time with each question.each question.

More emphasis on the seriousness of More emphasis on the seriousness of this test. Encourage and emphasize this test. Encourage and emphasize either taking some kind of review class either taking some kind of review class or intensive self study.or intensive self study.

Tell students how strict they are with Tell students how strict they are with the fingerprinting and checking IDS & the fingerprinting and checking IDS & taking your picture.taking your picture.

Online Survey (cont.)Online Survey (cont.)

I was surprised that I had a large I was surprised that I had a large portion of questions that asked the portion of questions that asked the side effects of medications and the side effects of medications and the signs and symptoms of certain signs and symptoms of certain diseases/disorders.diseases/disorders.

There were a lot of which patient There were a lot of which patient would you see first questions.would you see first questions.

Tell students that you start when you Tell students that you start when you arrive and have registered.arrive and have registered.

Online Survey (cont.)Online Survey (cont.)

They really are serious about locking They really are serious about locking everything up and finger printing every everything up and finger printing every time you enter or leave the roomtime you enter or leave the room

There were bold words like first and There were bold words like first and prioritypriority

There are other types of testing going on There are other types of testing going on & some of the tests requires test taker to & some of the tests requires test taker to type an essay so lots of keyboard noisetype an essay so lots of keyboard noise

They do provide ear plugs but they are They do provide ear plugs but they are big and bulkybig and bulky

Online Survey (cont.)Online Survey (cont.)

You cannot wear a watch into testing You cannot wear a watch into testing area.area.

I should have been more relaxed I should have been more relaxed because all that anxiety only made me because all that anxiety only made me tired. I needed to be more confident.tired. I needed to be more confident.

People at the center were very nice People at the center were very nice and accommodating.and accommodating.

Forgot ATT, had to go to Kinko’s and Forgot ATT, had to go to Kinko’s and print it off.print it off.

Online survey (cont.)Online survey (cont.)

Questions, Questions, Questions, the Questions, Questions, Questions, the best book I found was the NSNA best book I found was the NSNA Review guide, and I used Kaplan, Review guide, and I used Kaplan, Rayfield, Lippincott, and Saunders.Rayfield, Lippincott, and Saunders.

Know signs and symptoms of diseases Know signs and symptoms of diseases and drug interactionsand drug interactions

I wish someone would have told me I wish someone would have told me that waiting for results was the worst 2 that waiting for results was the worst 2 days of my life.days of my life.

Online Survey (cont.)Online Survey (cont.)

It can be cold or hot at the testing It can be cold or hot at the testing center. Air conditioning broken center. Air conditioning broken with I took. Advise students to with I took. Advise students to prepare for anything!prepare for anything!

I wish someone had told me that I wish someone had told me that it is much quicker to register it is much quicker to register online rather than mailing NCLEX online rather than mailing NCLEX application.application.

Online Survey (cont.)Online Survey (cont.)

““I wish I hadn’t taken a break I wish I hadn’t taken a break from studying…it was really hard from studying…it was really hard to get back into the testing to get back into the testing mindset.”mindset.”

All comfortable with online testingAll comfortable with online testing

May 07 StatisticsMay 07 Statistics

Average test timeAverage test time

Passers: 152 minutesPassers: 152 minutes

Failers: 272 minutesFailers: 272 minutes Average Number of questionsAverage Number of questions

Passers: 135Passers: 135

Failers: 235Failers: 235

May 08 StatisticsMay 08 Statistics

Average test timeAverage test time

Passers: 123 minutesPassers: 123 minutes

Failers: 212 minutesFailers: 212 minutes Average number of questionsAverage number of questions

Passers: 100Passers: 100

Failers: 171Failers: 171

Advice to FacultyAdvice to Faculty

Do more tests during the last Do more tests during the last semester. semester.

Include a review course in 420.Include a review course in 420. Need to review some basic care Need to review some basic care

info that we learned at the info that we learned at the beginning of school (crutch walking beginning of school (crutch walking etc.)etc.)

Reinforce the importance of doing Reinforce the importance of doing lots of practice questions.lots of practice questions.

Advice to facultyAdvice to faculty

I believe that the Kaplan book, the I believe that the Kaplan book, the review course, and doing two hours of review course, and doing two hours of studying a night for 1 plus month helped studying a night for 1 plus month helped me pass.me pass.

Students should know all lab values, all Students should know all lab values, all ABGs, all basic health assessments, and ABGs, all basic health assessments, and pharmacology. As soon as I started I pharmacology. As soon as I started I wrote down things Nagle’s Rule, lab wrote down things Nagle’s Rule, lab values, etc. on dry erase board. You values, etc. on dry erase board. You cannot erase anything on board but if cannot erase anything on board but if you need another you can get one.you need another you can get one.

Surprises?Surprises?

Much more pharmacology than I expectedMuch more pharmacology than I expected Lot of select all that apply questionsLot of select all that apply questions Probably 20-30 questions out of 75 were Probably 20-30 questions out of 75 were

“Which of these patients would you see first “Which of these patients would you see first after receiving report.”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 questionsI had a lot of infection control questions I had so many teaching questions! I had so many teaching questions! No, I was well prepared to see everything No, I was well prepared to see everything

and that was exactly what happened!”and that was exactly what happened!”

May 08 Feedback from May 08 Feedback from NCLEX-RN Online NCLEX-RN Online SurveySurvey Mosby’s flashcards very helpful – Mosby’s flashcards very helpful –

“mirrors the NCLEX question style”- “mirrors the NCLEX question style”- $38.95 @ Barnes and Noble or Borders$38.95 @ Barnes and Noble or Borders

Rayfield CDs were “awesome to Rayfield CDs were “awesome to reinforce material”reinforce material”

Had “at least 10-15 alternate format Had “at least 10-15 alternate format questions”.questions”.

““There were LOTS of select all that There were LOTS of select all that apply.”apply.”

May 08 feedback May 08 feedback (cont.)(cont.) ““Do lots of questions and take a Do lots of questions and take a

review course.”review course.” ““Don’t over stress. Do LOTS of Don’t over stress. Do LOTS of

questions. Review some content, questions. Review some content, but questions are most but questions are most important!”important!”

““Prepare, prepare, questions Prepare, prepare, questions more than content and pray.”more than content and pray.”

Post NCLEX-RNPost NCLEX-RN

Call us and let us know your good Call us and let us know your good news!news!

Go to Dr. Hodges’ website and Go to Dr. Hodges’ website and complete the NCLEX-RN Online complete the NCLEX-RN Online SurveySurvey

Remember … determine a study Remember … determine a study plan that works for you and then plan that works for you and then do it!do it!