The NCLEX-RN Test

What is the NCLEX?

The NCLEX examination is a national test taken by nursing students to certify they are ready to practice in the field. Nursing students who have passed all their classes, and are ready to graduate, will take the test and hopefully receive their registered nurse certification. There is a great deal of history behind the exam. That history has led to an evolution of testing, which has made a significant impact in the nursing field.

In the past, the NCLEX-RN exam was given as a pencil and paper exam. This meant that there would be booklets for each candidate and a proctor for each exam session. In addition, the exam was only offered two times per year. Once in February and once in November. This meant, if a candidate had graduated

The program for the exam is CAT, which is a method for administering exams that combines computer technology with a recent measurement theory to cause the exam to be extra efficient. CAT is used for the NCLEX mostly since it reduces the occurrence of "easy" questions that “high-ability” candidates receive, and reduces the occurrence of "difficult" questions that low-ability candidates receive. It is also advantageous for security purposes, meaning it is harder to cheat on this test, than in previous tests. While taking the test, every time a candidate answers a question, the computer re-estimates their ability based on the their previous answers and the difficulty of those questions. In other words, if they continue to answer questions right, the test will become increasingly difficult, and if they continue to answer questions wrong, the test will become easier. The computer decides whether a student passed or failed the NCLEX using one of three rules: the 95% confidence interval rule, the maximum-length exam rule, and the run-out-of-time (R.O.O.T.) rule (CAT). All three of these rules are in place to make sure students are okay to practice safe nursing once they obtain a job in the workforce, making this exam vital for nursing