As many nurses are graduating and taking the NCLEX, one question is on many of their minds: How easy will it be to get a job? The standard expectation has been that, as a nurse, you will be in demand and that finding a perfect job should not be a struggle. Recently, however, many experts are questioning whether there still is a nursing shortage due to the difficulty new grads are having with finding work. Rebecca Hendren of HealthLeaders...  Read More »

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 »

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 »

Ah, graduation. It’s a time to sit back, relax, and celebrate all your hard work. Ah, the NCLEX-RN®. Gulp. It’s a time to sit up straight, get serious, and put in all your hard work. Life’s like that, isn’t it? You pass one hurdle and there’s another one staring you in the face. Anyway, many of you will be taking the NCLEX this summer and we’re here to provide some help courtesy of Stressed Out About...  Read More »

By Richard Freedberg, RN, MSN, MPA That’s a tough circumstance to be in! Nursing students have to be smart, capable people with proven track records of success to get into competitive nursing programs. So why is it so hard now? First, let me just confirm that you are not alone! Your classmates may not proclaim it from the rooftops, but others most assuredly failed, and the majority may not have done as well as they would have liked....  Read More »