NCLEX (National Council Licensure EXamination) is an examination for the licensing

of nurses in the United States. There are two types, 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, the District of
Columbia, 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. PLEASE NOTE: The NCLEX is NOT about memorization but rather one
must understand the concept behind critical thinking. As of 2010, the NCLEX is focusing
a lot on how to delgate and prioritize as well as infection control.

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).

NCLEX-RN
NCLEX-RN (National Council Licensure EXamination-Registered Nurse). Passing the
exam is required of candidates for licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN) by all US state
and territorial Boards of Nursing.

Exam content

The majority of test items are written at the application or higher levels of cognition but
the exam may include items at all of the cognitive levels; mainly, memorization or
recalling, knowledge, analysis and application.

The exam's content is based on client needs:

• Safe Effective Care Environment

o Management of Care
o Safety and Infection Control
• Health Promotion and Maintenance
• Psychosocial Integrity
• Physiological Integrity
o Basic Care and Comfort
o Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies
o Reduction of Risk Potential
o Physiological Adaptation
Question types

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. For example, some questions:

• Require identifying and selecting a particular area of a drawn body part pertaining
to the question
• Involve selecting multiple correct answers (via check box)
• Calculating an answer for a mathematical question (usually for medication
dosages) and inputting the answer
• Arranging according to order a certain medical or nursing procedure (e.g. how to
don sterile gloves or how to do a guaiac test)
• You will now also experience fill in the blank questions.
• Besides multiple choice, these are what are known as "New Format Questions".

NCLEX-PN
NCLEX-PN (National Council Licensure EXamination-Practical Nurse). Passing the
exam is required of candidates for licensure as a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) or
Licensed Vocational Nurse (LVN) by all US state and territorial Boards of Nursing.

Exam content

The majority of test items are written at the application or higher levels of cognition but
the exam may include items at all of the cognitive levels.

The exam's content is based on client needs:

• Safe Effective Care Environment

o Coordinated Care
o Safety and Infection Control
• Health Promotion and Maintenance
• Psychosocial Integrity
• Physiological Integrity
o Basic Care and Comfort
o Pharmacological Therapies
o Reduction of Risk Potential
o Physiological Adaptation
o Psychiatric
Question types; Most of the questions of the NCLEX-PN exam are worded multiple
choice questions. In recent years, however, the Boards of Nursing have added broader
questions that don't involve multiples choices. For example, some questions:

Require identifying and selecting a particular area of a drawn body part pertaining to the
question Involve selecting multiple correct answers (via check box) Calculating an
answer for a mathematical question (usually for medication dosages) and inputting the
answer Arranging according to order a certain medical or nursing procedure (e.g. how to
don sterile gloves or how to do a guaiac test) You will now also experience fill in the
blank questions. Besides multiple choice, these are what are known as "New Format
Questions".