Free Online NCLEX School

The NCLEX PN and the NCLEX RN are tests that are both adaptive and of variable length. Each is designed differently, NCLEX RN is for RN’s or registered nurses and NCLEX PN are for PN’s or practical nurses (though the NCLEX PN is also for VN’s or vocational nurses). Both these tests are provided on a computer. Compared to ordinary tests, the lengths of these examinations depend on the taker’s responses and therefore the candidates will have different number as well as changeable questions. Interestingly, the test stops when the least amount of items has been taken and a 95% certainty of a passing rate has been determined.

The number of items for a NCLEX PN test can be between 85 to 205 questions, while the NCLEX RN test will have around 75 to 365 questions. The 25 questions in the LPN test will be pretest questions and will not be counted. With the number of items given, it would be best to go through an NCLEX PN review or an LPN review before taking an LPN exam.  On the NCLEX RN test, however, will have around 15 questions that are also pretest questions and will not be scored. Every question in both tests count, so therefore must be answered. If in doubt, the candidate must make an intelligent guess. The formats of the test item include multiple choice formats; however there are other formats as well. The candidate tutorial on the Pearson VUE and the NCSBN website provides information about the test formats.

The length of time given to each candidate to take the LPN exam test is 5 hours, while the NCLEX RN test a candidate is given six. These already include all the necessary breaks along with the allotted time for computer tutorial.

The NCLEX Practical Nurse and NCLEX Registered Nurse tests are founded on four chief client needs groups which make up the test plans for the exams. The NCLEX PN test covers the safe and effective care environment which is further split up into infection control and safety and coordinated care. Health promotion and maintenance, psychosocial integrity, and physiological integrity are also covered. The physiological integrity is split up to pharmacological therapies, basic comfort and care, risk reduction of potential and physiological adaptations. Typical percentages of questions on the NCLEX PN test are like so: 11-17% coordinated care, 8-14% infection control and safety, 7-13% health promotion and maintenance, 8-14% psychosocial integrity, 11-17% basic care and comfort, 9-15% pharmacological therapies, 10-16% reduction of risk potential, and 12-18% physiological adaptations.

For the NCLEX RN test, however, the client needs categories are safe and effective care environment which is also split up into managing care and safety and controlling infection. Same as the NCLEX PN, the test also covers health promotion and maintenance, psychosocial integrity, and physiological integrity. The physiological integrity is also broken down into reduction of risk potential, physiological adaptations, pharmacological and parenteral therapies, and basic care and comfort.  The usual break down of the percentages of questions on the NCLEX RN exam are in this fashion: 13-19% reduction of risk potential, 13-19% pharmacological and parenteral therapies, 13-19% management of care, 11-17% physiological adaptations, 6-12% health promotion and maintenance, 6-12% basic care and comfort, 6-12% psychosocial integrity, and 8-14% infection control and safety.

Given the descriptions of the NCLEX above, one can immediately tell that it is not an easy task to take an NCLEX RN or NCLEX PN exam. It is best for an aspiring candidate to go through a NCLEX RN or NCLEX PN review before taking the actual assessment.