9 QUESTIONS TO ASK NOW FOR THE BEST INSIGHT ON NGN
GET TIPS ON HOW TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR SUCCESS ON THE NEW NCLEX
In an interview with Sheryl Sommer, PhD, RN, CNE, the chief architect of the Next Generation NCLEX discussed the new version of the exam, set to launch in 2023.
Phil Dickison, PhD, RN, Chief Officer of Operations & Examinations for The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) said he knew educators were concerned about the exam.
To help allay your worries, we’ve summarized Dr. Dickison's answers to 9 key questions educators have been asking about the new test.
1. What does a new NCLEX mean for educators?
It does not mean you need to change how you teach. The new test is a measurement tool to assess the way students think. You should use whatever mental model works best for you for teaching, whether it's the nursing process or another option.
2. Will NCSBN offer a Special Research Section to the NCLEX-PN?
Yes. The Special Research Section started appearing on tests for PN candidates in October 2020.
3. How will the NGN be graded?
Using a partial-credit scoring model with levels of rightness and wrongness that better measure candidates’ abilities.
4. How many new test items will be on the Next Gen NCLEX?
Not as many as you think. Most items on the minimum-length exam will be standard NCLEX items. Case studies focused on clinical judgment will be added that use new item types. New bowtie items, also focused on clinical judgment, will be added as standalone items.
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5. How did NCSBN decide the launch date of Next Gen NCLEX?
The organization based its decision on 2 things:
- Time. Building the many new item types necessary for measuring clinical judgment is very time- and labor-intensive.
- New technology. A new infrastructure is necessary to measure answers to the new item types.
6. What should nurse educators focus on to prepare students?
Ensure clinical judgment is part of your lessons. Incorporate iteration into assessments by continually adding new info as students attempt diagnosis or planning. Force re-evaluation throughout the process rather than waiting until the end.
7. What should educators tell students about the NGN?
Tell them not to be afraid. The new test is not designed to trick them or measure whether they are master nurses yet. Its purpose is to produce more fidelity on how the graduate will act as a new nurse in real-life practice vs. simply measuring the graduate's memory-based, stand-alone knowledge.
8. How is NCSBN helping educators prepare for the Next Gen?
- Creating a relationship with stakeholders, such as ATI and other large publishers, to create tools to help both educators and students engage in their personal roles in learning and educating.
- Developing a communication campaign, from speaking at events to offering item-writing seminars that include NGN, to a webinar series with regulators, and more.