NCLEX (National Council Licensure EXamination) is an examination for the licensing of nurses in the United States. The NCLEX tests are designed to be one of the final hurdles in nursing career. There are two types of examinations, the NCLEX-RN and the NCLEX-PN. NCLEX examinations are developed and owned by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. (NCSBN). NCSBN administers these examinations on behalf of its member boards which consist of the boards of nursing in the 50 states and four U.S. territories American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands and the Virgin Islands.
To ensure public protection, each board of nursing requires a candidate for licensure to pass the appropriate NCLEX examination, NCLEX-RN for registered nurses and the NCLEX-PN for vocational/practical nurses. NCLEX examinations are designed to test the knowledge, skills and abilities essential to the safe and effective practice of nursing at the entry-level. NCLEX examinations are provided in a computerized adaptive testing (CAT) format and are presently administered by Pearson VUE in their network of Pearson Professional Centers (PPC)
Most of the questions of the NCLEX-RN exam are worded multiple choice questions. In recent years, however, the Boards of Nursing have added broader questions that don’t involve multiples choices. Log on to http://binbrain.com/exam to practice model NCLEX tests.
How to Register for an LPN NCLEX Exam ?
• Step 1
Apply for a nursing license from your state board of nursing by filling out and submitting a form. Contact your state board to find out requirements for licensing and how to obtain the form.
• Step 2
To register online to the NCLEX, go to the Pearson VUE website (pearsonvue.com); Pearson VUE administers the test. Answer each question on the application, using the candidate bulletin as a guide. Pay the $200 registration fee by credit card online, or download a confirmation and send that along with a certified check, cashier’s check or money order to the organization name and address provided on the website.
• Step 3
To register by mail, download the application form from the Pearson VUE website. Complete the form and send it with the $200 fee paid by certified check, cashier’s check, or money order to the organization name and address provided on the website.
• Step 4
To register by phone, download the application form from the Pearson VUE website. Complete the form and then register by phone; in the U.S. call 1-866-496-2539. A customer service representative will ask for answers to the questions you completed on the form. Pay the fee over the phone by credit card.
How to Pass the NCLEX RN Exam ?
- Pay attention in nursing school. The better you do academically, the less stressed you’ll be when the actual test comes around.
- Take a prep test while you are still in school, like Binbrain online tests, where you can get a set of NCLEX-style practice questions. These pre-tests can really show both your weak and your strong points, and give you a point to focus studying.
- If you are unclear on a concept, continue about learning it. Whatever it takes, if you know your weaknesses, hone in on them and don’t give up. Eventually, many of them will become clear to you if you come at them from a couple different angles.
- Seek new opportunities in practical sessions. If you can learn concepts hands on, you will be a lot more likely to remember them later when you study. Look up your patients’ labs and find out why they are the way they are. Look up your patients’ meds and learn the side effects, proper dosages, etc, even if they are medicines you’ve seen a hundred times.
- Get a good NCLEX-RN preparation book early in your academic career. It is never too early to start reviewing and practicing answering NCLEX-RN style questions.
- Take an NCLEX-RN preparation class beyond what your school has to offer. Many independent institutions contract with nursing schools and/or student groups across the United States to provide 4-day review courses to prepare for the test.
- As soon as you graduate, set up your test. Your school should be able to help you out with this, but it’s very important that you do it soon after graduating, while the knowledge is fresh in your head.
- Use more than one source for review information, and do as many questions as possible before your test. If you want to be confident going into the test, count on answering at least 5,000 test preparation questions prior to the test itself.
- At some point before your test, sit down and do 265 questions in a row. Answering that many questions in a row takes discipline and stamina, but bear in mind that you can answer 265 questions and pass the test, so make sure you can.
- Take computerized tests for preparation if possible. Get a review book with a CD-ROM in it, which will allow you to take the test on the computer.
- Drive to the test site the day before, especially if it is far from your home (i.e., in unfamiliar territory). This will cut down on stress the day of as you will already know where the test site is.
- Your brain needs glucose to operate properly, so have a decent breakfast with the major food groups represented on the day of the exam, even if you are not hungry.
- Sit down and familiarize yourself with your computer station. Find the calculator. Complete the tutorial.
- Take a moment, close your eyes, clear your mind, and visualize very clearly what you are about to do. This is also a great time to pray.
- Calmly start the test, taking one question at a time and allowing each question to hold your attention completely.
