Computerized Adaptive Testing Adapts to each students test

Computerized Adaptive Testing • Adapts to each student’s test taking ability • Divides test bank questions into levels of difficulty – Difficult, moderately difficult, easy • If student gets question correct, will ask a question up a level, if not already on the highest level • If student answers question incorrectly, will go down a level, if not already on the lowest level

Completing Exam • Students that complete the exam in 85 questions have either answered most of the highest difficulty questions correctly and passed or missed most of the lowest difficulty questions and failed • Computer stops the exam when there is a statically significant probability that the student is going to either pass or fail the exam • Students that take 205 questions are borderline – they miss a questions, then get one correct, etc. The computer can not determine if the student will pass or fail until all of the questions are taken

Obtaining NCLEX Results • Log into BON website and check to see if you have a nursing license • It will list the expiration date of your nursing license • You will receive a letter from the BON notifying you of your results, but checking the website should get your results faster

Content Specific to Practical Nursing • Content tested is based on skills needed by a newly graduated LPN • Scope of practice varies from state-to-state – some states do not allow LPNs to give IV medications, for example, so this area will not be tested • Advanced skills that an experienced LPN may acquire, will not be tested • NCLEX exam evaluates candidates for minimal competency to practice practical nursing

Content Specific to Practical Nursing • In general, LPNs care for pts with chronic, stable conditions with expected outcomes • Focus on chronic conditions as Diabetes Mellitus, CHF and COPD • Do not spend time studying acute, unstable or emergency conditions – these are the pts the RN should be assigned to care for • Patient education is within the scope of practice of the RN – LPNs reinforce information that has been taught by others

Requirements for Licensure • Complete practical nursing program at an accredited school • High School diploma or GED • 18 years of age or older • Apply for licensure & pay fee • Pass PN-NCLEX exam • All 50 states have licensure by endorsement required to pay licensure fee for that state & meet continuing education requirements • License may be suspended or revoked for immoral or unethical conduct or for violation of the regulations of the Nurse Practice Act or for commission of criminal or civil lawlessness

Disciplinary Process • Written complaint is filed with BON – individuals, employer, professional organizations, BON • Complaint is reviewed for violation of the Nurse Practice Act • Formal hearing is held in Montgomery at BON – reprimand, probation, inability to renew license, revocation • May appeal decision through the justice system • Acceptance of appeal is based on whether or not BON violated their authority • May appeal to Alabama Attorney General

• • Requirements for Continuing Licensure BON website – www. abn. state. al. us 24 contact hours of continuing education q 2 yrs A contact hour is 1 classroom hour of instruction Continuing education units or CEUs are 50 minutes of instruction • Inservices are not eligible for continuing education credit • Continuing education provider must be approved by the Board of Nursing in the state you practice nursing in order for you contact hours to be accepted

• A list of all providers of continuing education that are approved by the ABON is on their website • It is your responsibility to pay for continuing education classes, some employers provide them free or a minimal charge • ABON provides 4 free continuing education classes per year at various locations • LPNs renew licensure in odd numbered years, renew period begins in September

• New graduates are required to get one continuing education hour for each month they are out of school up to 20 hours, before their first renewal • If regular renewal is less than 6 mths after a student’s graduation, no CEUs are required for that first renewal period • A renewal fee is due at the beginning of each renewal period • Renewal requests are audited at random • You will be required to submit copies of continuing education certificates if you are chosen for audit • Once in a lifetime, you may not meet the continuing education requirements for a renewal period, but you must notify the BON that you are taking this one time exemption

• Many nursing journals and other companies offer continuing education through the mail or attend continuing education classes • It does not matter which method you chose for obtaining your continuing education hours • If you go back to pursue an additional nursing degree, each hour spent in nursing classes is credited as one contact hour of continuing education

Preparation for the PN-NCLEX Exam • NCLEX exam determines if you can practice safely & effectively at the entry level • A job analysis is done periodically on graduate nurses to determine the skills needed and level of knowledge required • PN-NCLEX consists of multiple choice and alternative test item questions • Find a quiet place to study away from distractions & interruptions • Make sure you have gathered all needed supplies

• Make a plan on a calendar of how much time you will spend studying each day & then stick to your plan • Buy an NCLEX preparation book & do the practice tests • You will have five hours to take the exam & will take between 85 -205 questions • Practice taking 205 questions in 5 hours – 1 1/3 minutes per question • Schedule the test for a time of the day when you are the most alert & fx the best • The evening before the exam – don’t study, relax & get to bed early, eat before the test • Don’t talk to other people taking the test when you arrive at the testing center

• You will be recorded by video/audio equipment • Your picture and thumb print will be taken • You must bring your ID and your ATT (Authorization to Test) • Be on time! • You may go through a tutorial before you begin the exam to be sure you understand how to choose the response you want • You must answer each question before you can go on to the next question • Once you have entered an answer, you will not be allowed to view that question again • Don’t go back and forth between two answers endlessly, if you can’t decide after a minute, pick one, go on and forget about it

• There is no penalty for guessing and each question must be answered • Read all of the choices before choosing one • Don’t read anything into the question or the possible options, answer the question on the basis of the information presented • Pay attention to specific details given in the question, these details will often guide you to the correct response • Take a watch with you and set a time goal, so you will know if you are going fast enough • Chose the best answer of the options you are given • You will be given a mandatory break after 2 hours, after another 1 ½ hrs you will be given the opportunity to take an optional break, this is the last break you will be offered

• The computer will decide on the difficulty of the next question, based on your response to the current question • The passing point of each test is calculated by the computer based on the difficulty of the questions on your test • Nursing process serves as the foundation for the test, be sure you have a clear understanding of each part of the nursing process • The exam also focuses on decision making & problem solving • Remain calm & positive, do your best & do not obsess over questions, focus on the current question • Find a way to relax

• Anxiety will prevent you from using the knowledge you have • Give yourself time to unwind after graduation before scheduling your exam • Don’t schedule any stressful events between graduation & the exam • Determine what each question is really asking, there are no hidden meanings or trick questions • When two answers appear correct, but one is more general & the other option is more specific, the correct answer is usually the more specific choice • Pay close attention to the wording of a question, don’t overlook a negatively stated question

• Questions that ask you to prioritize will have four correct options, remember the ABCs when prioritizing these options, determine if the pt’s condition is acute or chronic • Use rules of grammar when selecting options • Make sure the option chosen answers what the question is asking for • The correct answer is usually the longest or the shortest option, read the longest & shortest options twice to be sure they are incorrect before rejecting them • Do not base your answers on personal beliefs or biases, don’t let prejudices influence your thinking

• Don’t change an answer unless you have a very strong rationale for doing so, your chances of changing to the correct option is low, changing an answer also undermines your self-confidence • Do not allow yourself to become emotional, any strong emotions will interfere with your concentration • Keep your spirits up • If two options mean the same thing, neither one of them can be the correct answer

• Options that contain the following words are usually incorrect: all, only, always, every & never • If an option does not relate to the information in the stem, don’t choose it • If the answer is a number, the correct answer is usually a number in the middle of the range • When finished don’t worry about whether you passed the test or not • Do something to relax

Practice Exams • Many companies provide practice tests for the NCLEX exam for a fee • NCLEX review books include practice exams • NCSBN – makes the NCLEX exam and has practice exams and a study course available on their website for a fee • Practice exams should help you pinpoint the specific content you have missed, so only the missed content can be reviewed • You do not want to waste your study time studying content you already know

ATI Reviews • You are an existing user – receive discount • Virtual ATI - includes the services of a Nursing faculty tutor and detailed information on content you missed via testing and where to find the content in the ATI texts and Power. Points • The tutor and practice exams are yours to use for the original price paid for the review, until you pass NCLEX • ATI Live Review – faculty member comes to your College and does a three day NCLEX review

• • • Other Reviews Live Reviews Hurst – online or Live, Books Reinhardt – Books or Live Sylvia Rayfield – Books or Live Other Reviews – Elsevier or Saunders Books • NCLEX Review Texts • NCSBN Test Questions – Pay for how long you want access to the test questions • Free test questions on the Internet