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The Ultimate NCLEX Overview

The Ultimate NCLEX Overview

Passing the NCLEX exam is one of the most important steps en route to becoming a nurse. Though it is inevitable that it, like all exams, will make prospective nurses stressed and feeling overwhelmed, there are several important tips that may serve to mitigate these pressures.

First of all, It is important to remember that the NCLEX-PN and NCLEX-RN are designed to test your ability to assess a patient’s medical condition and not your knowledge of every medical term involved. That being said, you should rely more on the assessments that you studied through your coursework rather than through practical experience. There are several terms that are important to review prior to the exam, but remember to concentrate on how these medicines/conditions relate to patient assessment. More comprehensive approaches to each term may waste value study preparation time.

Exam Format

The NCLEX-PN is comprised of 205 questions and the NCLEX-RN has 265. Both tests are administered as computer adaptive tests (CAT). It is very important to remember that the questions you will be given adjust on a continuous basis. If you answer a question correctly, the next question will be more difficult than the last and vice versa. Most times the testing system shuts down before the test taker reaches the full amount of questions. If this happens, it is still possible to pass. Your final score reflects your baseline knowledge of nursing, so the first several questions are extremely important in determining your overall score. You will literally either sink or swim.

Would You Pass the NCLEX?

1. As a Nurse Manager, DMLM enjoys her staff of talented and self motivated individuals. She knew that the leadership style to suit the needs of this kind of people is called:

Autocratic
Participative
Democratic
Laissez Faire

Exam Time

Five hours; individual questions are not timed.


Exam Content

The NCLEX-RN content areas are overlapping and somewhat vague. Each question focuses on specific Client Needs topics, while also assessing the Integrated Practices , or problem solving approaches, that nurses take while assessing these needs. The Client Needs topics are split into eight subcategories: Management of Care, Safety and Infection Control, Health Promotion and Maintenance, Psychosocial Integrity, Basic Care and Comfort, Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies, Reduction of Risk Potential, and Physiological Adaptation.

How to Apply

Applicants for the NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN must send their applications to their state boards of nursing. Following acceptance of the application, candidates must set-up a specific exam time and place through the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN).

NCLEX Study Guide >>>

Related:
NCLEX Study Guide
Pass the NCLEX
Quiz Yourself! NCLEX Quizzes
Failed the NCLEX? We Can Help!


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    oyin

    5 months ago

    2 comments

    pls i want to go for test in the college,to be able to know if nursing is what i need.can you tell me how the test go

  • Photo_user_blank_big

    tina3593

    6 months ago

    2 comments

    Does anyone know of a good study program for the RN nclex i've taken it twice and can't seem to pass it any help would be greatly appreciated

  • Photo_user_blank_big

    lwarda01

    7 months ago

    4 comments

    Does anyone know of a PN NCLEX review class? Kaplan doesn't have it. Thanks!

  • Photo_user_blank_big

    myriamc5

    7 months ago

    2 comments

    I work with the federal government for 10 yrs and recently I decided to move on. BAD MOVE!! I do not have a CT nursing license therefore I can not work as a nurse yet. I took the NCLEX-RN 6months ago and didnt pass. I will be taking a KAPLAN before I try again. I been feeling anxious about the course and the test. Do you guys have any helpful hints on studying or preparing for the big testing day.

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    tinu

    8 months ago

    8 comments

    what a useful information but have not even started the program at all.Have just enrolled into a college.

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    Jessicawhite

    9 months ago

    2 comments

    socorrok... you have to go through an accredited RN program in your state. It would be either a 2 or 4 year program. After you graduate, the faculty would have to "recommend" you to the state board to sit for the NCLEX.

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    gatica

    9 months ago

    2 comments

    If a foreign nurse LPN take the course here in the USA,obtain the certificate of conclusion,and want to sit to take the NCLEX-PN,what will be the requirements? Can I set up a date or you need the school to send paper works? Thank you

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    Budda

    10 months ago

    2 comments

    Can anyone help me I been asking for help for years and get nothing. I graduated in 1993 from LPN School and haven't passed my boards yet. I hope this is the year for me (2009) or should I just give up. Ming Ming

  • Whitney_019_max50

    wjflpn

    about 1 year ago

    4 comments

    Waiting on my letter from the OBN so that I can schedule my test. Just not sure what to study. Can't remember everything! I have heard so many different things about the NCLEX.......just have to wait and see.

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    hp4373

    about 1 year ago

    4 comments

    I took my NCLEX-PN today and the computer shut off at 85. I am FREAKING OUT! I felt like there was so much I didn't know...and the select all that apply....my goodness!! I am still very nervous...Any one have any suggestions...because I am thinking about trying sleep until I get my results...I can;t take the pressure. I am seriously not sure if I passed or not.

  • Yes_max50

    T_kj3

    about 1 year ago

    10 comments

    good to know but im still anxious

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    katja29est

    about 1 year ago

    14 comments

    hey there, does anybody know which books are recommended and useful to prepare for the NCLEX-RN?

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    sfox7

    about 1 year ago

    2 comments

    I am so scared, I recieved 156 questions on my RN NCLEX yesterday. The questions for the most part were very tricky and I feel I failed. The students in my class who have passed got 75 questions. I think the last question I got right but the questions were all over the spectrum, one calculation, one assessment, one select all that apply and so forth. Can you tell me anything that might help me understand what I may face

    thanks

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    socorrok

    about 1 year ago

    2 comments

    hi there,
    I'm a CNA and wanted to know if I qualify to take the nclex?
    Thanks

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    rickie

    about 1 year ago

    2 comments

    I took the nclex-pn on thursday and had 205 questions and did not receive an email from person vue about taking the test with them

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