Harder NCLEX-RN Exam

Do you feel nurses have more to learn in today’s world in order to be safe and competent entry-level nurses? According to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) we do. Recently NCSBN made the decision to raise the NCLEX-RN testing standards and make the exam more difficult. They did this by reviewing all available information to determine that new graduate nurses need a greater level of knowledge and skills in order to safely and effectively care for patients than was required in 2007 when the NCSBN had implemented the existing standard.

After reviewing the 2008 NCLEX test plan with the new 2010 version (found at https://www.ncsbn.org/1287.htm) I had a difficult time determining the difference between the two. One minor difference that I found was in the Management of Care category. 2008’s test had 13-19% of questions from this category while the 2010 version has 16-22%. So don’t forget to study appropriate delegation of tasks! It sounds like an easy category, but the questions can be very difficult and tricky if you are not well-prepared. The new exam will also have a higher passing standard and will most likely include more multimedia questions. When I took the NCLEX in December I had an audio question which was a complete surprise to me since I was unprepared for any other question besides text. So be ready for anything!

I have noticed that this change in the test has sent a shockwave of fear through nursing schools around the country. I felt it recently when I made a trip back to my nursing school. A few senior students came up to me and quizzed me on the NCLEX. Not only were they scared and nervous about graduating from nursing school and taking the NCLEX (as we all were!) they also expressed concerns over the rise in difficulty that they will face in June. The only advice that I could give them was to trust themselves and their knowledge.

So study as hard as you can -stress-out a little- and then let it all go. In nursing school we become really great at jumping through the hoops, so although some of you may feel ripped-off at having to study more and do better than my class did – just jump through the hoop and reach your end goal.

After all, you are proving that you are a competent, well-trained, and professional hoop-jumping entry-level nurse.

For more information on raising the passing standard of the NCLEX, here’s a link to view the NCSBN press release - https://www.ncsbn.org/1983.htm.