All About The NCLEX Examination

To ensure public protection, the United States and its territories require entry into the practice of nursing to be regulated by licensing authorities within each jurisdiction. Each jurisdiction requires all candidates for licensure as entry-level nurses to pass an examination which assesses the knowledge required to perform safely and effectively. NCLEX stands for The National Council Licensure Examination which is a standardized exam used by each state board of nursing to determine if RN or LPN/LVN candidates are competent for entry-level nursing practice.



There are two NCLEX tests offered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN): the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses - NCLEX-RN ? and the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical Nurses - NCLEX-PN ? . The NCLEX-RN is for registered nurse candidates while the NCLEX-PN is for practical and vocational nurses. The main difference between the two tests is the number and difficulty of correctly answered questions required to pass the exam. The States and territorial boards of nursing use these exams in making licensure decisions.



The NCLEX-RN has 265 questions and the minimum number you need to answer is 75. The NCLEX-PN has 205 questions and the minimum number you need to answer is 85. The NCLEX exams are administered using Computerized Adaptive Testing ? CAT. There is a six hour limit for NCLEX-RN and a five hour time limit for NCLEX-PN which includes time for the computer tutorial and breaks. Both tests require an understanding of nursing practice and cover the following categories of client needs:



Safe, Effective Care Environment



Management of Care

Safety and Infection Control



Health Promotion and Maintenance


Growth and Development Through the Life Span

Prevention and Early Detection of Disease




Psychosocial Integrity


Coping and Adaptation

Psychosocial Adaptation




Physiological Integrity


Basic Care and Comfort

Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies

Reduction of Risk Potential

Physiological Adaptation






Using this method (CAT) each exam is unique and the questions are retrieved from a database as the exam progresses. The computer measures the ability of the candidate using the answers provided previously and changes the difficulty and topic of the new questions accordingly - if you answer correctly the computer will select harder questions and if you are answer incorrectly it will choose easier questions. The software estimates your ability every time you provide the answer to a question and with each new answer you provide the estimate of your ability gets more precise.



The exam software selects questions that it believes you will have a close to 50% chance of answering correctly ? not too hard or too easy for the ability it believes you have. This is done so that a well prepared candidate will be asked more difficult questions thus having a good chance of passing the exam by answering the minimum number of questions while less prepared candidates are not forced to guess the answers to questions too difficult for them. The expected number of correct answers is half the total number of questions you are presented with because of the adaptive nature of the test.



After you answer the minimum number of questions for the exam the software will analyze your performance and it may shut-down the computer. This means that you either passed or failed the exam. The computer will shut-down only when the program running the test has determined with 95% certainty that your ability is either above or below the passing standard.



The only way to get additional questions is if you are very close to the passing score ? either 2.5% above or 2.5% below it. If this is the case you should not worry about failing but instead should concentrate on answering correctly the next set of questions. You must understand that you are very close to passing the exam if you answer most questions correctly from this point on. You must answer the maximum number of questions on the exam only if at the end of each set of questions you are within the 2.5% above or below the passing score. The time you spend on each question is not an important factor with regard to passing but you should answer the required number of questions in the allotted time.



If you are required to answer the maximum number of questions and the computer still isn't 95% sure you can pass, the 95% confidence requirement is dropped. If at this point you have a score higher than the minimum required you pass the exam otherwise you fail. If you run out of time and did not answer the minimum number of questions required you fail automatically. If you run out of time but you answered the minimum number of questions required and for the last 60 questions your score was never below the passing standard you pass otherwise you fail the exam. This does not mean that you have to answer the last 60 questions correctly but only that at any point during the last 60 questions your score was above the minimum required to pass the exam. You can think about it this way: for each correct answer add one to your score while for each incorrect answer subtract one. Adding your scores one at a time for each question answered should never result in a negative score in order for you to pass if you run out of time but you have answered the minimum number of questions required.



The NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN questions are mostly multiple-choice questions with four answers. In some cases the NCLEX exam uses more difficult question formats such as multiple-choice questions that require you to select one or more correct answers, fill-in-the-blank questions or questions that require you to identify an area on a picture. Both exams cover mostly the same topics but the NCLEX-RN is more difficult.?



You must apply to your state board of nursing in order to take the NCLEX examination. That board of nursing will decide whether or not you are eligible for the NCLEX examination. If you are eligible you must register to take the exam using the Authorization to Take the Test (ATT) provided by the board of nursing in your state. They will also provide you with a list of testing centers and instructions for how to schedule and take the licensure examination.



Here are a couple of things you might want to consider if you are taking the NCLEX exam:




attend an NCLEX review class to refresh your knowledge

always read and understand the entire question before answering it

answer and understand 3000 - 4000 practice questions

you can't change an answer once you moved to another question so forget about it ? good or bad what it is done is done so it is better to concentrate on the current question instead of pondering if you were right or wrong

always pick the answer you believe is best ? the test is not designed to trick you but good reading and comprehension skill are required

always think about the safety of the patient when answering the NCLEX questions



After you take the test you will have to wait for the results. The time you need to wait depends on how the results are reported in your state: mail, online, phone or email. If you fail the test you will receive a summary of your test performance indicating topics where you did well and topics that you need to study further. You will be able to take the test again after a mandatory waiting period (usually 45 days) which may vary from state to state. If you are interested in becoming a registered or practical nurse you may want to visit this nursing site.



Good luck!

This article is free for republishing
Source: http://www.articlealley.com/article_13015_22.html

How To Stop Panic Attacks

Panic attack natural treatments are preferred by the health-conscious communities worldwide. Studies in America shows that more than 2 percent of the adult population suffers from panic and anxiety attacks. That is more than 2 million Americans struggle with this problem. How do you know if you are suffering from a panic attack and what are the panic attack natural treatments available to help you?

Look out for the following symptoms if you suspect you could be
having a panic and anxiety attack:
1. Overwhelming Sense of Fear Especially of Death
2. Profuse Sweating
3. Shaking and Trembling in Body and Speech
4. Shortness in Breath
5. Heart Palpitation
6. Dizziness
7. Abdominal Cramps

These are just some of the signs. If you are experiencing one of these, it does not necessarily mean that you are suffering from a panic and anxiety attack. However, a combination of a few symptoms could be a tell tale sign of a panic attack. Panic attack natural treatments can be in the form of home remedies meant to calm your nerves or simple lifestyle and dietary changes. Do
not underestimate the influence and impact some of these panic attack natural treatments can make in your life. It has been known that several age old methods have saved celebrities and public figures at the crucial moments of their careers.

1. Lifestyle and Diet Changes
a. Exercises
Regular exercises thrice a week is helpful for stress relief and keeps our bodies healthy and fit. Depression-induced anxiety patients have seen improvement in their mental health and panic attack condition when they get into shape with regular exercises.

b. Foods, Medicines and Beverages to Avoid
Alcohol, caffeinated drinks like coffee and tea, and some over-the- counter and prescribed medicines could actually increase heart palpitation and lead to panic attacks. Drug abuse has been reportedly associated with increased anxiety.

c. Rest
People are too engrossed with their work and leisure. There are many distractions in our lives that rob us of our sleep. Without proper sleep, our bodies face mounting pressures in coping with daily stresses from work, studies, relationship etc. Make sure you get
enough sleep about 7 - 8 hours each day.
2. Home Remedies as Panic Attack Natural Treatments
Herbal remedies are making inroads into many American homes due to their effectiveness and increasing acceptance of herbal cures as panic attack natural treatments. Here is a list of herbs that can calm your nerves and relieve stress and anxiety.
a. Ashwaganda
b. Bugleweed
c. Borage Juice
d. Chamomile
e. Ginkgo Biloba (Maidenhair Tree)
f. Kava Kava (Piper Methysticum)
g. Lemon Balm
h. Lavender
i. Peppermint
j. Passion Flower
k. Valerian Root
Kava Kava and valerian root can be ground into powder and mixed with water for consumption. Both are excellent anti-anxiety herbs. If you find the taste too bitter, add some honey for sweetness and flavor.

Vitamins likewise make great panic attack natural treatments. Vitamin B group are known calming and soothing agents that bring stability to our body's lactate levels. Our lactate levels are directly related to anxiety. Niacin also produces a calming effect on our nerves. Daily
intake of calcium and magnesium also helps to improve sleep and relieves our nervous system.
Discover through my blog how you can quickly treat your panic attacks with some of the best panic attack natural treatments ever known. This article may be freely reprinted or distributed in its entirety in any ezine, newsletter, blog or website. The author's name, bio and website links must remain intact and be included with every reproduction.

Practice Relaxation Techniques Now

Practice Infection Control Questions

I have completed an update on my infection control seminar. See if you can answer these questions.

If you want all the entire infection control quiz Click here.

6. The proper sequence of precautions for taking care of a pt on Infection Control Precautions are as follows :

1) Wash hands upon completion
2). Care for pt
3). Don mask/gown/gloves
4). Enter Room
5). Remove mask/gown/gloves

7. What type of precaution is used with persons that have Cytomegalovirus
infection?

A. Standard precautions
B. Contact precautions
C. Droplet precautions
D. Airborne precautions

8. What illness/disease process requires the use of disposable dishware according to the center for disease control guidelines? Choose all that apply:

A. Tuberculosis
B. MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus).
C. Meningitis
D. Chicken pox

9. What are the symptoms of Acinetobacter infection caused by pneumonia? Check all that apply:

A. Fever
B. Chills
C. Sneezing
D. Congestion
E. Cough
F. Runny Nose

10. When caring for someone on “Contact Isolation”. The following is true. 2 part answers must be entirely correct. Check all that apply:

1. Wear gloves for all contact with the patient, the patient's bedside
equipment, and the patient's environment.
a. Change gloves between distinctive tasks (e.g. wound care, perineal
care, suctioning).
b. Gloves must always be removed before leaving the room.

2. Wear a disposable gown for direct contact with the patient or the
environment if the patient is incontinent, or has diarrhea or a
draining wound.
a. Gowns are removed and placed in a special container for next use.
b. Cloth gowns may be substituted if there is no risk of splash

3. As per Standard Precautions, wear a mask and protective eyewear
when performing procedures that generate aerosols (Standard
Precautions)

Place your answers in the comments.

[ click here for more seminar information ]

---

________________________________________________________________________

---

ANSWERS

6). Is correct

I was incorrect when I said 7). was wrong the answer is A. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) (from the Greek cyto-, "cell", and -megalo-, "large") is a viral genus of the Herpesviruses group: in humans it is commonly known as HCMV or Human Herpesvirus 5 (HHVTransmission of HCMV occurs from person to person through bodily fluids. Infection requires close, intimate contact with a person excreting the virus in their saliva, urine, or other bodily fluids. CMV can be sexually transmitted and can also be transmitted via breast milk, transplanted organs, and rarelyfrom blood transfusions. Standards precautions are recommended by the CDC.

8). Is half correct. There is one other.

9). Correct if you dropped D. It should not be in the answer.

10). Is Correct