March 9, 2015

NCLEX RN Test

The NCLEX-RN test, formally known as the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses, is a comprehensive and challenging assessment for men and women looking to enter this rewarding field of health care. This exam is developed by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing in consultation with an expert team of test administrators.

The exam features somewhere between 75 and 265 items and takes approximately six hours to complete. Fifteen of the questions are pretest items used to develop future versions of the exam. Pretest questions do not contribute to the final score and are impossible to identify.


The NCLEX-RN test covers four main content domains: safe and effective care environment, which covers the management of care and safety and infection control; health promotion and maintenance; psychosocial integrity; and physiological integrity, which includes basic care and comfort, pharmacological and parenteral therapies, reduction of risk potential, and physiological adaptation.

NCLEX-RN exam scores are sent directly to the relevant board of nursing in a candidate’s jurisdiction. Test takers receive an unofficial score report about one month after the examination date. However, for a small fee, candidates can receive unofficial results 48 business hours after administration of the test.

NCLEX-RN Study Guide

Start learning how to be successful on your NCLEX RN exam. Our NCLEX RN study guide is guaranteed to help you get the results you deserve on your NCLEX RN test. Some test takers prefer to study using flashcards and so we have created the best NCLEX RN flashcards that cover everything you need to know for the NCLEX RN exam. Note that using multiple study aids will help you maximize the benefit from your study time.

NCLEX RN Study Guide
NCLEX RN Flashcards

NCLEX-RN Job Directory

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RN Salary

The nursing shortage has led many people to consider the profession of registered nurse (RN). There are many types of nursing degrees and state licensing, all of which require education, time, and money to pursue. What is important to know is that, to qualify for a professional RN license, a person must possess one of three criteria:

A bachelor’s degree in nursing, BSN (four years to complete)
An associate’s nursing degree, ADN (two years to complete)
A diploma from an accredited nursing program or hospital diploma (three years to complete)
The diploma is less popular than the other two because it is harder to find. To possess one of the three will require the study of English, math, a foreign language and sufficient GPA, SAT, and ACT scores. Once these requirements are complete, a person must pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) or for Practical Nurses (NCLEX-PN), which are state-approved tests by the board of nursing.

The primary role of a nurse is to interact with patients and assist them in recovery. They may administer injections and IVs, assist with therapeutic and diagnostic procedures, and update medical records. In some cases, their jobs may involve additional duties. For instance, an emergency or trauma RN treats patients with life-threatening conditions. A critical care RN provides care to patients with cardiovascular and respiratory failure. A perioperative nurse assists surgeons with instruments, addressing bleeding, and incisions. And, a perianethesia nurse assists pre- and postoperative patients who have undergone anesthesia.

The nurse spends more time with the patient than the doctor and is an essential part of the health care team. Although most nurses work in hospitals, nursing jobs are found in schools, clinics, government agencies, corporations, and home health facilities. A nursing job offers flexibility in scheduling and location with high job stability. Most nurses find the job personally rewarding as they have significant impacts on people’s lives. If you have passion to help people and want to make a difference in a person’s life, than the nursing profession may be for you. Some of the common personality traits a nurse needs are attention to detail, compassion, and dedication with the ability to analyze data. On the flip side, the job can be stressful, and burnout can be an issue. Because most nurses work rotating schedules, including off hours on the weekends and nights, personal commitments may be compromised.

The average RN salary is between $40,000 and $80,000 a year according to Payscale.com. The top salaries in the nursing field are well over $100,000 a year. The highest hourly rates are earned by people with bachelor’s degrees. Nearly 89 percent of RNs are female, and 41 percent of nurses have between one and four years of experience. The five top industries for RNs are health care, hospitals, medical services, long term care and rehabilitation, and acute care hospitals. Top employers are Davita Inc., Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, HCA, Kaiser Permanente, and Memorial Hospital. An RN salary at Kaiser Permanente can be up to $61.99 an hour! One career that is not that commonly known is that of an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN). The APRN is someone who has been an RN and then decides to continue his or her education at a master’s level and beyond. Usually, an APRN specializes in a particular field, like pediatrics, oncology, or anesthesiology, and typically receives the highest of RN salaries.

Nursing jobs with the greatest career paths for the future include the following:

Family Nurse Practitioner (NP), which pays between $57,000 and $100,000 a year
Charge Nurse (RN), which pays between $46,000 and $90,000 per year
Emergency Registered Nurse (RN), with an annual salary between $42,000 and $90,000

NCLEX-RN Study Options

  1. NCLEX RN 2018 & 2019 Study Guide: NCLEX RN Examination Review & NCLEX RN Questions and Answers (click here)
  2. Official site (click here)