The NCSBN Board of Directors voted to raise the passing standard for the NCLEX-RN Examination at its meeting on Dec. 10, 2009

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Media Contact: Dawn M. Kappel
Director, Marketing and Communications
312.525.3667 direct
312.279.1034 fax
dkappel@ncsbn.org
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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CHICAGO – The National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. (NCSBN) voted on Dec. 10, 2009, to raise the passing standard for the NCLEX-RN Examination (the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses). The new passing standard is -0.16 logits on the NCLEX-RN logistic scale, 0.05 logits higher than the previous standard of -0.21. The new passing standard will take effect on April 1, 2010, in conjunction with the 2010 NCLEX-RN Test Plan.
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After consideration of all available information, the NCSBN Board of Directors determined that safe and effective entry-level RN practice requires a greater level of knowledge, skills, and abilities than was required in 2007, when NCSBN implemented the current standard. The passing standard was increased in response to changes in U.S. health care delivery and nursing practice that have resulted in the greater acuity of clients seen by entry-level RNs.
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The Board of Directors used multiple sources of information to guide its evaluation and discussion regarding the change in passing standard. As part of this process, NCSBN convened an expert panel of nine nurses to perform a criterion-referenced standard setting procedure. The panel’s findings supported the creation of a higher passing standard. NCSBN also considered the results of national surveys of nursing professionals including nursing educators, directors of nursing in acute care settings and administrators of long-term care facilities.
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In accordance with a motion adopted by the 1989 NCSBN Delegate Assembly, the NCSBN Board of Directors evaluates the passing standard for the NCLEX-RN examination every three years to protect the public by ensuring minimal competence for entry-level RNs. NCSBN coordinates the passing standard analysis with the three-year cycle of test plan evaluation.  This three-year cycle was developed to keep the test plan and passing standard current. A PDF of the 2010 NCLEX-RN Test Plan is available free of charge from the NCSBN Web site https://www.ncsbn.org/2010_NCLEX_RN_TestPlan.pdf.
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The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) is a not-for-profit organization whose members include the boards of nursing in the 50 states, the District of Columbia and four U.S. territories — American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands and the Virgin Islands. There are also four associate members.

Mission: The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), composed of Member Boards, provides leadership to advance regulatory excellence for public protection.
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Media inquiries may be directed to the contact listed above. Technical inquiries about the NCLEX examination may be directed to the NCLEX information line at 1.866.293.9600 or nclexinfo@ncsbn.org.
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The definition of a logit may be found on NCSBN’s Web site at https://www.ncsbn.org/02_18_05_brief.pdf.

The National Council Licensure Examination for registered nurses (NCLEX-RN®) measures the knowledge and abilities necessary for entry level nurses. Competency and knowledge needs to be tested because we deal with lives and it is necessary before we work on any hospital legally. It is administered by Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT), which individualizes tests to match the unique competencies of each test taker. Each exam adheres to the NCLEX-RN® Test Plan, which describes the content and scope of RN competencies. The practices basic to nursing (e.g., nursing process, caring, teaching, learning, communication, documentation) are integrated throughout, and most questions require application and analysis of information.

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Taking the NCLEX-RN® Test on a Computer
■ First: You will receive general information about the exam and the testing center. Your time spent on this will not count.
■ Second: You will take a tutorial on how to use the computer to answer the questions on NCLEX-RN®. Your answers will not count toward your score, but the time you take will be subtracted from the total 6 hours you have for the exam.
■ Third: You will then be presented with real NCLEX-RN® items; there will be between 75 and 265 items. The test ends when it is 95% certain your ability is ↑ or ↓ the passing standard.

■ Answers may be selected or deleted several times if desired before confirming a final answer. You must answer every question. You cannot return to a previous question though.
■ A time-remaining clock is in the screen’s upper right-hand corner which you can hide if it causes anxiety. But clock timer would remain and cannot be hidden in the last 15 minutes of your 6-hour exam time.
■ A calculator on the computer is available for calculations.

■ Try not to wear any type of jewelry or charms on your day of examination because you will be asked to remove them. No earring, necklace, bracelet, watch would be allowed. If you insist not to remove your wedding ring, the testing center might allow you but a report on your Board of Nursing will be sent regarding this matter even after a tight inspection.

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Go to www.NCSBN.org to access an NCLEX tutorial to practice multiple choice and alternate format items on the computer.

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Good luck on your examination and we wish you all the best!

Nurses Notes

Your Source. Your Guide.

Health care workers and professionals, including nurses, can now look forward to working inGuam.

Emmanuel Geslani, a recruitment consultant from Guam said that because of the transfer of a military base from Okinawa, Japan to Guam. The country will now need to recruit foreign workers to address their health care needs.

The said military base relocation will be completed by 2012. And during this time, it is advised that nurses who wants to work in Guam should now ready themselves so they will be qualified for nursing job opportunities there.

Aside from nurses, some of the needed positions that will require employment are medical technicians in radiology, cardio labs, CT-Scan, occupational and physical therapists, medical transcriptionists and medical administrative personnel.

In order for you to qualify to take National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), you must:

1. Decide what state you want to practice as a Registered Nurse.

Visa Screen Program

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requires, under section 343 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, internationally educated health care professionals, such as:

• Registered Nurses
• Physical Therapists
• Occupational Therapists
• Physician Assistants
• Clinical Laboratory Technicians (Medical Technicians)
• Clinical Laboratory Scientists (Medical Laboratory Technologists)
• Speech Language Pathologists
• Speech Language Audiologists
• Licensed Practical or Vocational Nurses

seeking temporary or permanent occupational visas as well as those who are seeking Trade NAFTA (TN) status, to first obtain a CGFNS/ICHP VisaScreen^® Certificate as part of the visa process. VisaScreen^® is administered by the International Commission on Healthcare Professions (ICHP) a division of CGFNS International.

Certification Program

The CGFNS Certification Program is designed specifically for first-level, general (registered) nurses educated outside the United States who are eligible to practice as registered nurses in the United States. The program is comprised of three parts:

1. The program is comprised of three partsa credentials review, which includes an evaluation of secondary and nursing education, registration and licensure;

2. the CGFNS Qualifying Exam^SM a test of nursing knowledge offered three to four times a year in over 50 test sites worldwide, also satisfies one of the immigration requirements for securing an occupational visa to work in the United States; and

3. an English language proficiency examination.

The CGFNS Certification Program Certificate is required of internationally educated registered nurses by a majority of U.S. states in order to take the NCLEX-RN^® licensure examination.

CGFNS Certification Program Certificate holders consistently have a higher rate of success on the NCLEX-RN^® examination than internationally educated nurses who do not hold the Certificate.

Credentials Evaluation Service

The CGFNS International Credentials Evaluation Service (CES) analyzes the credentials of multiple types and levels of health care professionals who are educated outside of the United States and who wish to pursue licensure or academic admission in the United States.

The CES report is advisory in nature and does not make specific placement recommendations. The process generally takes from 6 to 8 weeks after receipt of all required documentation and fees. Processing times may vary during periods of high volume.

The resulting CES report serves as a valuable tool for regulatory/licensing agencies, specialty certification authorities, academic institutions, immigration attorneys, prospective employers and others. It also helps qualified applicants demonstrate the merits of their credentials with regard to U.S. standards, facilitating their pursuit of educational or career opportunities in the United States. We suggest you contact the organization (the recipient) that asked to receive your CES Report and find out which type of report they require.

Credential Verification Service for New York State

The New York State Education Department requires that internationally educated:

• Registered Nurses
• Licensed Practical Nurses
• Physical Therapists
• Physical Therapy Assistants
• Occupational Therapists
• Occupational Therapy Assistants

obtain independent verification of the authenticity of their credentials from a State Education Department approved Credential Verification service.

The CGFNS Credential Verification Service for New York State independently collects and verifies the authenticity of an applicant’s educational and licensure/registration credentials. Once verified, the credentials are forwarded to the New York State Education Department to be evaluated as part of the applicant’s licensure application.

There is a separate, additional application for licensure in New York State, the Application for Licensure and First Registration. In order to be licensed in New York State, you must complete that application and send it to NYSED, not to CGFNS. It is available at http://www.op.nysed.gov/pt.htm.

International Consultants of Delaware

In 2000, CGFNS acquired International Consultants of Delaware (ICD). ICD is recognized globally as an expert in the field of international education. Established in 1977, ICD is a credentialing agency that evaluates international educational documents and provides their U.S. equivalents. These equivalents assist individuals who are in pursuit of continuing their education, employment, obtaining immigration visas and seeking professional licensure.

As a charter member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES), ICD utilizes the most up-to-date data available from sources such as the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO), Association of International Educators (NAFSA), Institute of International Education(IIE), and the American-Mideast Educational and Training Services (AMIDEAST). These data resources are continually monitored and updated by current overseas and U.S. educators, American embassies, and referenced in ICD’s own country databanks. A provider of world-class educational evaluation services for more than 20 years, ICD is aware of the importance of its reports to the future and professional careers of its clients.

ICD Services

ICD’s various credentials evaluation services benefit candidates applying for employment, admission to college or university academic programs, professional licensure in the United States, or to support an immigration application to the United States. ICD conducts credentials evaluations for numerous fields including but not limited to: accounting, business administration, business management, computer programming, computer science, engineering, doctor of medicine, medical technology, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, physical therapy, pure and applied sciences, respiratory therapy, speech and hearing science, and teacher certification.

Country Specific Program

- HHRDC-CGFNS-ISPN (International Standard for Professional Nurses)in the People’s Republic of China

The HHRDC-CGFNS-ISPN program has been developed through a joint effort between The HHRDC in the People’s Republic of China and CGFNS International in the United States. It includes administration of the CGFNS Qualifying Exam for first-level, general nurses in China as a way to strengthen nursing education and practice in China.

The program consists of two components: an initial status verification of first-level, general nurses followed by an examination to assess nursing knowledge.

- CGFNS AGNK (Assessment of General Nursing Knowledge) Pilot program in India

The CGFNS Assessment of General Nursing Knowledge (AGNK) is a test that predicts the ability of an applicant to be successful in providing in-country nursing care.

This pilot program was introduced in India and focuses on enhancing the employability of nurses within India and in other countries outside the United States. The test does not substitute for the State Nursing Council Examination required for licensure in India, nor is it used for immigration purposes.

Although developed for local use, it also provides additional value as an international standard of assessment. The AGNK can be designed to the specific dimensions of the end-user, and thus can be used in a variety of professional, clinical and educational arenas.

This test is developed and builds on CGFNS International’s 30 years of experience in predicting success on the NCLEX-RN^®. The CGFNS AGNK measures a nurse’s basic knowledge. It establishes a minimum standard for a first-level, general nurse to practice locally or in other countries and provides decision makers across the globe with information to make important decisions about nursing candidates.