Passing standard for NCLEX-PN raised

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing Inc. has raised the passing standard for the NCLEX-PN‚ examination—the licensure examination for practical nurses—effective April 1, 2005.

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 –0.4700 to –0.4200 logits.

The committee also modified the structure and the content distribution for NCLEX-PN‚ Test Plan, incorporating improvements on readability and clarity to the NCLEX-PN‚ Test Plan document.

Although this revision has been announced before, the question still lingers about how could this affect the number of the CNMI’s licensed nurses?

According to Rosa “Chai” 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.

“Every six years the committee evaluates the standard. If in six years almost every taker passes the exam, that means the exam has become easy,” she said.

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.

“What they’re saying is that you’re going to see more nurses failing because the tests have changed,” Tudela said. “But once you see a lot of people passing, that means you have to revise.”

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. “Then of course you’re going to see more failing rates,” Tudela said.

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.

For nurses who took the exam years ago, as in the case of Tudela, she said she would definitely have difficulties in the exam—the 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.

“That’s how we have to keep ourselves trained by attending classes through this Continuing Education program,” Tudela said. The program requires senior nurses to attend classes to update them on new technologies, new drugs, and procedures in medical science.

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. “We have to go with the flow. Whether we like it or not we have to catch up,” she said, “If I would take the exam today, I would flunk!” she laughed. Hence, these nurses believed that they have to learn now through continuing education.

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)