The National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc., otherwise known as NCSBN, has raised the passing standard for the NCLEX-RN Exam. The new passing standard is -0.16 logits (the unit of measure for the exam) on the logistics scale. The standard is 0.05 logits higher than the previous standard of -0.21. The new standard takes effect on April 1, 2010. The standard is reviewed by the NCSBN Board of Directors every three years. The Board...  Read More »

My sister got married last fall and I recently found out that she is pregnant. I currently have two nieces and five nephews and I’m excited that I will soon have another. My mother used to say she wanted 64 grandchildren. I doubt that will ever happen, but she will likely end up with more than the average grandmother by the time all eight of her children finish having children of their own. Pregnancy is a major event that brings many...  Read More »

Are you determined to get healthy this year?  This is a big goal involving many complicated behaviors. Don’t try and make all your changes at once. You may want to break the process down into stages. What do you want in five years, one year, three months, or one month from now? For some people, exercise is easier, while changing eating habits is easier for others. As a health coach, I start my clients on a healthy diet first. We don’t...  Read More »

The nursing shortage places a heavy emphasis on the education and development of competent nurses to provide the safest patient care. A Web site is now offering nursing school educators and students some assistance outside the classroom. Liko North America, a supplier of patient lift and transfer products and resources, recently launched a “Nursing Schools” section of its Safe Lifting Portal Web site to help educators develop...  Read More »

After a couple of our recent NCLEX articles about waiting for results and finding success, we received an interesting email. Lawrence Underwood, a recent nursing school graduate from Illinois, told us he whizzed through the NCLEX in only 35 minutes. Thirty-five minutes!? We had to hear more. Here’s his story: Two years of school and countless hours of studying and anxiety all boiled down to one simple test: the NCLEX (insert scary...  Read More »

Who knew two days could feel like an eternity? From Monday to Wednesday, I sat in suspense wondering my fate after taking my NCLEX. I wouldn’t have cared if I had to pay $100 to know my results immediately; I would have done anything to not have to wait those days. I was walking on eggshells. My mother asked me afterwards how it went and I didn’t have any words for her. I couldn’t explain what I had just gone through. It...  Read More »

Last week, we shared a Q&A with a recent college graduate who had just passed the NCLEX®. Today, with help from our Last Semester columnist, Chelsea, we’ll touch on some of the fears and anxieties leading up to the big day. And, as an added treat, she lets us inside her mind for a glimpse at some NCLEX dreams. Or are they NCLEX nightmares? D-day is approaching! I can’t believe I am actually taking the NCLEX. What a weird...  Read More »

On Wednesday, we shared the first part of our conversation with recent Curry (MA) College graduate Julia Tenuta. She found out she had passed the NCLEX® and gave us some helpful hints and tips that brought her to the big day. Now, we’ll take a closer look at the exam itself. SO: Okay, back to the test. What did you do that morning? JT: I got up at 6 to leave by 6:30. On the way there, I ate peanut butter and graham crackers. SO: Did...  Read More »

Summer has just begun and already, recent Curry (MA) College graduate Julia Tenuta has thrown “RN” after her name. She took the NCLEX-RN® exam last Thursday at 8 a.m. and found out on Monday that she passed with flying colors. She’s obviously very, very happy. But Julia managed to break her permanent grin for a few minutes and chat with us about the test. We asked her about some study tips, the questions on the exam, and...  Read More »

Our Last Semester columnist, Chelsea, has shared her life with us as she navigated the last few months of nursing school. She shared lots of highs—her time at the NSNA Convention in Texas and the joy and pride she took in developing a nursing philosophy, to pick just two examples. This time, though, she shares a low. Chelsea recently flew to Maryland for her first real job interview and recently found out she didn’t get chosen for...  Read More »