| The final step after graduation from nursing school is | | | | take the boards and then must reapply. This is a time |
| to sit for the national nursing board exams, termed | | | | consuming process, since all paper work must be |
| the NCLEX. This is a very grueling test. It behooves | | | | once again submitted to various licensing authorities. |
| all who are going to sit for the exam to get as much | | | | It is highly advisable that all graduate nurses sit for |
| information as possible. The more information the | | | | their state boards soon after graduation. Research |
| better and the less stress there is going into the | | | | has shown that the scores of state boards go down |
| exam. The first step is to be prepared with the | | | | dramatically the longer the applicant waits to take the |
| necessary information needed to pass. | | | | exam. |
| This comes from everything that has been taught in | | | | According the a 2003 report from the Oklahoma |
| nursing school. However, that is not sufficient. | | | | Board of Nursing research task force, it was |
| Practicing test questions that are similar to those | | | | concluded that the negative factors effecting the |
| from the NCLEX is a very good way to increase | | | | graduates scores were the following employment |
| scores. Although nursing school tests are designed to | | | | hours and family responsibilities, English as a second |
| help students pass the NCLEX, they are not always | | | | language, delaying taking the exam five months or |
| sufficient in building the necessary critical and | | | | more and the limited knowledge by the nursing |
| analytical thinking skills necessary to pass the boards. | | | | faculty not adequately preparing students with |
| There are many NCLEX study guides on the market. | | | | sufficient practice at answering questions requiring |
| Choose the ones that are recommended by nursing | | | | critical and analytical thinking skills. |
| instructors. | | | | Toward the end of the students graduating |
| The process of obtaining licensure as a Registered | | | | semester, the nursing department will send candidate |
| Nurse is governed by authorities within each state. | | | | information to the State Board of Nursing. It is |
| The NCLEX is developed by the National Council of | | | | important that the student follow up to be sure that |
| State Boards of Nursing. The purpose of the exam is | | | | all information that is being sent is accurate and up to |
| to test the candidate to be sure that they are | | | | date. One omission can mean a set back of several |
| capable of the width and breadth of knowledge to | | | | weeks. |
| practice nursing safely, in accordance with the Nurse | | | | The organization that administers the exam is |
| Practice Act of each state and the Boards of Nursing | | | | Pearson Vue. Their testing centers are centrally |
| act. More information is available at their web site at | | | | located so that students don't have far to drive. For |
| ncsbn.org | | | | a list of centers and scheduling times their web site |
| Although the exam is considered a national board | | | | address is Testing |
| exam, each state offers it separately. The fee for | | | | It is always good to arrive at the testing center at |
| the exam is about two hundred dollars. Upon | | | | least thirty minutes prior to the test. Be sure to bring |
| graduation the nursing school will send all of the | | | | with you driver license and any and all important |
| information necessary to the state of issuance. Once | | | | papers, such as graduation transcripts, birth certificate |
| the state is in possession of all of the students | | | | and social security card. Like any test, it is beneficial |
| information, then the state will notify the National | | | | to get a good nights rest, have a healthy breakfast, |
| Council of Licensing Exams for Registered Nurses. | | | | and think positive. The student should feel confident |
| Therefore the student needs only to fill out the | | | | that they know the material. The many practice |
| application and pay the fee. The fee and registration | | | | tests that nursing schools make the students take |
| are only good for one year from the date of | | | | online throughout nursing school are all part of the |
| acceptance. | | | | preparation to take their boards. |
| Once the student has exceeded that time frame, | | | | Learn more about nursing education at The NET |
| they have automatically forfeited their opportunity to | | | | Study Guide. |