The NCLEX-RN(R) Examination Passing Standard Revised for Public Safety

CHICAGO, IL -- (MARKET WIRE) -- December 13, 2006 -- The National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. (NCSBN®) (www.ncsbn.org) voted at its Dec. 5-7, 2006 meeting to raise the passing standard for the NCLEX-RN® examination (the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses). The new passing standard is -0.2100 logits on the NCLEX-RN logistic scale, 0.070 logits(1) higher than the previous standard of -0.2800. The new passing standard will take effect on April 1, 2007, in conjunction with the 2007 NCLEX-RN® Test Plan.

After consideration of all available information, the NCSBN Board of Directors determined that safe and effective entry-level RN practice requires a greater level of knowledge, skills, and abilities than was required in 2004, when NCSBN established the current standard. The passing standard was increased in response to changes in U.S. health care delivery and nursing practice that have resulted in the greater acuity of clients seen by entry-level RNs.

The Board of Directors used multiple sources of information to guide its evaluation and discussion regarding the change in passing standard. As part of this process, NCSBN convened an expert panel of 11 nurses to perform a criterion-referenced standard setting procedure. The panel's findings supported the creation of a higher passing standard. NCSBN also considered the results of a national survey of nursing professionals including nursing educators, directors of nursing in acute care settings and administrators of long-term care facilities.

In accordance with a motion adopted by the 1989 NCSBN Delegate Assembly, the NCSBN Board of Directors evaluates the passing standard for the NCLEX-RN examination every three years to protect the public by ensuring minimal competence for entry-level RNs. NCSBN coordinates the passing standard analysis with the three-year cycle of test plan content evaluation, conducted using a practice analysis of entry-level RNs. This three-year cycle was developed to keep the test content and passing standard current with entry-level practice. A PDF of the 2007 NCLEX-RN® Test Plan is available free of charge from the NCSBN Web site (https://www.ncsbn.org/RN_Test_Plan_2007_Web.pdf).

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. (NCSBN) is a not-for-profit organization whose membership comprises the boards of nursing in the 50 states, the District of Columbia and four U.S. territories.

Mission: The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), composed of Member Boards, provides leadership to advance regulatory excellence for public protection.

Media inquiries may be directed to the contact listed below. Technical inquiries about the NCLEX examination may be directed to the NCLEX information line at 1.866.293.9600 or nclexinfo@ncsbn.org.

(1) The definition of a logit may be found on NCSBN’s Web site at https://www.ncsbn.org/02_18_05_brief.pdf

National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc.
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Chicago, IL 60601-4277

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