The NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) is required for both Registered Nursing and Practical Nursing graduates to pass prior to practicing in healthcare. The NCLEX-PN assesses if graduates have the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities for entry-level practical or vocational nursing practice. It focuses on safe, effective care, aligning with real-world responsibilities in a clinical setting.
NCLEX-PN Test Plan
The NCLEX- PN is broken up into four major content areas (2 of those areas are broken into subcategories):
- Safe and Effective Care Environment
- Coordinated Care
- Safety and Infection Control
- Health Promotion and Maintenance
- Psychosocial Integrity
- Physiological Integrity
- Basic Care and Comfort
- Pharmacological Therapies
- Reduction of Risk Potential
- Physiological Adaptation
The NCLEX-PN test plan should be reviewed by all Practical Nursing graduates prior to taking the exam.
What to expect
- Computerized adaptive testing (CAT)
- NCLEX-PN is administered using a CAT method which means that question difficulty will adjust based on whether the graduate answers correctly.
- Exam length
- The exam may be between 85 to 150 questions, ending when the CAT system determines the graduates competency or when the maximum number of questions is reached.
- Types of Questions
- The NCLEX-PN includes multiple-choice, select-all-that-apply, fill-in-the-blank, and case study questions. It’s designed to assess clinical judgment and application rather than memorized knowledge.
Conclusion
Preparation for the NCLEX-PN should involve reviewing test plans, practicing questions, and reviewing pertinent content learned during nursing school. You’ve got this Future LPN.
