The National Council of State Boards of Nursing Inc. has raised the passing standard for the NCLEX-PN\u201a examination\u2014the licensure examination for practical nurses\u2014effective April 1, 2005.<\/p>\n
This revision of the examination standards for practical nurses was approved by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. in a vote held during a Nov. 29 to Dec. 1, 2004 meeting, raising the passing rate from \u20130.4700 to \u20130.4200 logits.<\/p>\n
The committee also modified the structure and the content distribution for NCLEX-PN\u201a Test Plan, incorporating improvements on readability and clarity to the NCLEX-PN\u201a Test Plan document.<\/p>\n
Although this revision has been announced before, the question still lingers about how could this affect the number of the CNMI\u2019s licensed nurses? <\/p>\n
According to Rosa \u201cChai\u201d Tudela, associate director for Nursing Services at the Commonwealth Health Center, this revision was not reached in just a short span of time. She said it takes six years for the council to revisit the process.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery six years the committee evaluates the standard. If in six years almost every taker passes the exam, that means the exam has become easy,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Consequently, the committee has to revise the test to conform with the changing times. The passing grade for registered nurses was revised early this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat they\u2019re saying is that you\u2019re going to see more nurses failing because the tests have changed,\u201d Tudela said. \u201cBut once you see a lot of people passing, that means you have to revise.\u201d<\/p>\n
She also added that because of changes in technology and knowledge, the test plan must be changed. As a result scores must also be improved. \u201cThen of course you\u2019re going to see more failing rates,\u201d Tudela said.<\/p>\n
Eventually, though, she said the rate will even up in time, considering that takers will adjust and study harder to make it on the exam. That means that, after six years, the system will be assessed again, possibly for a higher passing mark as required.<\/p>\n
For nurses who took the exam years ago, as in the case of Tudela, she said she would definitely have difficulties in the exam\u2014the reason why the council has been encouraging them to continue learning and honing their skills. The council introduced the Continuing Education program for the group. <\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s how we have to keep ourselves trained by attending classes through this Continuing Education program,\u201d Tudela said. The program requires senior nurses to attend classes to update them on new technologies, new drugs, and procedures in medical science.<\/p>\n
Though the revision does not automatically spare nurses who took the exam earlier or years ago, Nathania Maui, a local nurse who took the exam in 1969, simply smiled about the issue. \u201cWe have to go with the flow. Whether we like it or not we have to catch up,\u201d she said, \u201cIf I would take the exam today, I would flunk!\u201d she laughed. Hence, these nurses believed that they have to learn now through continuing education.<\/p>\n
If in case takers would fail on the revised test plan, they would only have to take it again in due time. Nurses who would take the licensure exam may be affected by the revisions, but at the end of the day the council and the committee ensures the best quality servicing professionals will be products of this step. (Marconi Calindas)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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