NCLEX-RN Exam: Your Guide to Becoming a Registered Nurse

Every U.S. state and territory use a nursing entrance exam known as the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) to evaluate candidates for entry into the profession as an RN.

History

• Nursing licensure was originally the responsibility of the American Nurses Association (ANA). In 1978, the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) was established to ensure that the regulation of nursing practice was separate from ANA's mission of representing professional nurses.

Qualifications

• In order to take the NCLEX, you need to apply to your state's board of registered nursing and meet its criteria. Typically, you must have an associate degree in nursing or a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing and possess completed paperwork from your school.

Components

• The NCLEX covers four areas of client needs: safe and effective environment for care, health promotion and maintenance, psychosocial integrity, and physiological integrity.

Format

• The NCLEX uses a computer adaptive format to determine your next question. If you give the right answer, your next item will be harder. If you miss a question, you'll be taken back a level.

Tips

• According to NCSBN, the pass rate for the NCLEX was 69.9 percent in 2008 and 75.3 percent as of September 2009. There are many review courses that can improve your chances of passing the first time.