Lippincott’s Review for NCLEX-PN NINTH EDITION [full doc] by Ann Carmack Barbara Kuhn Timby and Diana L. Rupert over 2000 questions with answers

Frequently Asked Questions The following are frequently asked questions concerning the NCLEX-PN® and the most current information that is available about the testing process. What is the NCLEX-PN®? The abbreviation NCLEX-PN® stands for the National Council Licensure Examination for Practical/Vocational Nurses. In short, the NCLEX-PN® is a computerized test developed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing. The test is used to regulate the licensing of prac- tical and vocational nurses in each of its member states. Can foreign-educated nurses take the NCLEX-PN®? Foreign-educated nurses can take the NCLEX-PN®. How- ever, before taking the test, they must first meet eligibility requirements in the state where they wish to practice. In most states, foreign-educated nurses are asked to present credentials describing their course of study in the country where they were schooled. How is the NCLEX-PN® developed? Before the examination is administered, it goes through several stages of development. What is the purpose of the NCLEX-PN®? All National Council member states and territories cur- rently use the NCLEX-PN® as the standard for licens- ing practical and vocational nurses. Practical nurse and vocational nurse are regional terms; they differ in name only. Whether referred to as practical or vocational, each nurse completes similar educational programs, and gradu- ates from both take the NCLEX-PN®. The terms practical nurse and practical nursing are used in this book to refer to both. Licensing serves to assure the public that a graduate practical nurse is a competent practitioner. Passing the NCLEX-PN® demonstrates that a graduate of a practical nursing program can perform entry-level nursing skills that meet the needs of clients who have common health problems with predictable outcomes and demonstrate at least a minimum level of competency. What is the NCLEX-PN® Test Plan? The Test Plan, which changes from time to time, serves as the framework for the content that is included in the NCLEX-PN. The current Test Plan, implemented in April 2011, is based on the results of a study called the Report of Findings from the 2009 LPN/LVN Practical Analysis: Linking the NCLEX-PN® Examination to Practice. This study sampled data from newly licensed practical nurses who provided information on how often they performed each of the studied nursing activities, the impact of the nursing activities on their clients’ well-being, and the settings in which the activities were performed. xiii xiv Frequently Asked Questions Client Needs Categories Distribution of Content for the NCLEX-PN® Test Plan Integrated Processes Safe & effective care environment Clinical problem-solving process (nursing process) Health promotion & maintenance Psychosocial integrity Physiological integrity Caring Communication & documentation Teaching & learning 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 Percentage of items on NCLEX-PN® examination (From National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. [NCSBN] [2010]. NCLEX-PN® Examination: Test Plan for the National Council Licensure Examination for Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses. Chicago, IL: National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. [NCSBN]. Copyright by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. All rights reserved.) The tabulated results of the job analysis study influence the subject matter tested and the percentage of questions asked in particular NCLEX-PN® test categories. The test categories on the current NCLEX-PN® Test Plan follow the framework of Client Needs Categories and Client Needs Subcategories. (See Structure of the Test Plan below.) The distribution of NCLEX-PN® test items in the Cli- ent Needs Categories and Subcategories is as follows: Physiological integrity Basic care and comfort, 9% to 15% Pharmacological therapies, 11% to 17% Reduction of risk potential, 9% to 15% Physiological adaptation, 9% to 15% Safe and effective care environment Coordinated care, 13% to 19% Safety and infection control, 11% to 17% Health promotion and maintenance, 7% to 13% Psychosocial integrity, 7% to 13% Client Needs Categories and Subcategories Of the four Client Needs Categories, the emphasis is on physiological integrity. Safe and effective care environ- ment is the next most important; health promotion and maintenance and