NCLEX Information

The undergraduate BSN program prepares you to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) to become a Registered Nurse (RN). The School of Nursing does not administer the examination. It is your responsibility to prepare for and take the NCLEX for the state in which you want to work.

When Do I Take the Exam?

Upon graduation and completion of the school-sponsored NCLEX review at the end of your senior year, you will have met the requirements to take the NCLEX examination. A list of graduating students is sent to the Board of Nursing. This allows you to register for the NCLEX, begin the application process, and choose a date on which to take the exam. The NCLEX application is distributed in your the School of Nursing graduation packet which you receive at the end of your final semester. You may also request information from the State Board of Nursing by visiting the National Council of State Boards of Nursing website.

How is the NCLEX Exam Constructed?

The computerized adaptive testing (CAT) exam is administered using computer technology. The test consists of multiple choice questions, and adaptive item format questions that are fill in the blank items. All registered nurse candidates must answer a minimum of 75 questions. The maximum number of items that a candidate can answer during the examination period is 265 questions. There is ample time to finish the exam. Some test takers may finish in as little as an hour. The exam is scored by the computer on a pass/fail basis. Passing the NCLEX is determined by the number of correct answers given above a predetermined difficulty threshold, not the overall number of correct answers. The State Board of Nursing notifies candidates of their individual pass or fail results about two or three weeks after taking the exam. Failing candidates receive a profile that describes their overall performance. Candidates who do not pass the exam may re-take it after 45 days.

Any more information about the Exam?

The exam questions come from four major categories that are based on client needs as illustrated below.

• Safe, Effective Care Environment. Subcategories include Management of Care, and Safety and Infection Control.
• Health Promotion and Maintenance. Subcategories include Growth and Development throughout the Lifespan, and Prevention and Early Detection of Disease.
• Psychosocial Integrity. Subcategories include Coping and Adaption, and Psychosocial Adaption.
• Physiological Integrity. Subcategories include Basic Care and Comfort, Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies, Reduction of Risk Potential, and Physiological Adaption.

More Information

For more information on NCLEX exam, and the Nurse Licensure Compact, visit the National Council of State Boards of Nursing website.