| This is the day that you will sit for your nursing | | | | the administrator, and there is also a camera above |
| boards, and take the NCLEX®. Be sure that you | | | | each person testing. You are given an erasable white |
| have you ATT, (Authorization To Test) form with | | | | board with marker for calculations. You are instructed |
| you. You will not be able to test without this form. | | | | to raise your hand if you need to leave the testing |
| You will also need to present picture identification. Of | | | | area or to use the facilities, after which the test |
| course now is not the time to ask yourself if you | | | | administrator will escort you out. The test is |
| have studied enough, but hopefully you have. Many | | | | scheduled for a maximum of six hours or two |
| people who sit for the NCLEX have fears that they | | | | hundred and sixty five questions, or there about. |
| have not studied enough. | | | | Due to the fact that the test is based on a |
| The truth is, that if you are taking the exam within a | | | | computer adaptive testing format or CAT, you may |
| month or so after you have graduated from nursing | | | | finish the test before reaching the maximum number |
| school and have spent at least three hours per day | | | | of questions. The number of questions that you finish |
| studying various NCLEX tutorials, you should be just | | | | with does not have any bearing on whether you |
| fine. It is important to relax. Remember, you have | | | | passed or failed. Those that pass may do so with |
| had two intense years of nursing practice and | | | | answering only seventy five questions or two |
| material. In addition to the material that you have | | | | hundred and sixty five questions. While testing you |
| studied in nursing school, you probably also had to do | | | | are allowed to take a break at any time, but the |
| training modules on the internet. Try not to let | | | | time is counted toward the total six hours. Once you |
| yourself get caught up worrying about others who | | | | have completed the test, you must raise your hand |
| didn't pass the NCLEX. | | | | and be escorted out by the test administrator. |
| You do not know others study regime, focus only on | | | | They will return your license to you and fingerprint |
| yourself and what you have done to prepare for the | | | | you one last time. You can find out if you have |
| nursing boards. If you are already working as a | | | | passed or failed the NCLEX within forty eight hours, |
| graduate nurse, it may be wise to ask for a day or | | | | including Saturday's and Sunday's, either by checking |
| two off prior to taking your boards. Many hospitals | | | | the Pearson Vue web site, or by phone. There is a |
| will gladly oblige in allowing their newly hired graduate | | | | small charge between seven and ten dollars for this |
| nurses some time off to study for their boards. | | | | service. It usually takes about five working days |
| After all, the hospitals want their graduate nurses to | | | | from the time that your results became available to |
| get their Registered Nurses Licensure. | | | | receive your Registered Nurse Licensure from the |
| Hospitals will not allow graduate nurses to pass | | | | Nursing Boards of your state. The hospital can also |
| medications until they have their license. Hospitals will | | | | access the results for you as well. |
| also pay you for the day that you sit for your | | | | Once you have received your Registered Nurse |
| nursing boards. It behooves those graduate nurses to | | | | Licensure, the rate of pay goes up from graduate |
| begin work in a hospital setting soon after graduation. | | | | nurse to staff nurse by several dollars or more, |
| Many hospitals have two to three week classroom | | | | depending on the hospital organization. Your nursing |
| orientation for new nurses. These orientations cover | | | | license is good for one year. During this time it is not |
| hands on demonstrations of various nursing skills such | | | | mandatory to collect continuing education points |
| as chest tube management, how to draw blood | | | | toward license renewal. However, after one year, |
| through PIC lines, I.V. insertion, tube feeding, PCA | | | | you will renew your license and will have to begin to |
| (Patient Controlled Analgesic Pumps) and many other | | | | earn continuing educational credits toward renewal of |
| skills. | | | | your license after two years. The state of Michigan |
| This learning also benefits those who are preparing | | | | requires twenty five continuing educational units for |
| for the NCLEX, which is why it is advisable to start | | | | Registered Nurse License renewal. It is important to |
| working prior to taking the boards. Now let's get | | | | keep documentation of your continuing educational |
| back to the NCLEX testing day. The place of testing | | | | credits toward your license, because you can be |
| will be a Pearson Vue® testing center. When you | | | | audited by the State Board of Nursing at anytime. |
| approach the main desk, you will be asked to present | | | | Failure to provide the State Board of Nursing proof |
| your Authorization To Test form and a picture I.D., | | | | of continuing educational credits or CEU's may result |
| usually your driver's license. The receptionist will then | | | | in a temporary suspension of your license. |
| ask you to sign in and give you number. You will be | | | | Remember, you license is public knowledge. Anyone |
| given some reading material regarding the test and | | | | can access the State Nursing Boards to see who has |
| be asked to take a seat and return to the desk | | | | had their license suspended or who is facing |
| after you have finished reading. | | | | disciplinary actions. Therefore it is very important to |
| Once you have returned the reading material, you will | | | | protect your license at all time and to know your |
| be given a key. This is a key to one of the lockers in | | | | states Nurse Practice Act by laws. In abiding by the |
| which you will put your belongings. You cannot take | | | | rules and regulations of your State Board of Nursing |
| anything into the testing room with you. This includes | | | | you will ensure safe practice as well as protect your |
| any pocket change, comb, hair clips, wrist watch and | | | | license. |
| anything else that you can think of that you may | | | | Best wishes to all and much success in your futures. |
| carry on your person. The next step is to verify | | | | For more information on nursing education, visit |
| your identification. You will be photographed and | | | | If you would like to find out more in regards to |
| fingerprinted. Upon being called into the testing area, | | | | taking the NCLEX, you may contact your State |
| you will be fingerprinted again prior to entry into the | | | | Board of Nursing and Pearson Vue. |
| testing room. The testing room is in constant view of | | | | |