NCLEX RN Exams- Not Just For US Students
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing, NCSBN research states the gap between international students and US educated students passing the NCLEX RN is diminishing.
In 2000 there were more than seventy-one thousand US educated pupils sitting for the NCLEX exam and over seventy-five hundred pupils educated outside the United States. About 88.5% of students taking the NCLEX were educated in the US
As demands for nurses increased so did the number of pupils going into nursing. An aging population, population explosion, and nurses performing the tasks that were traditionally performed by doctors is causing a serious demand for nurses.
Is the need for nurses similar to the need for computer engineers? Computer engineer positions were met by students outside the United States who were willing to learn the trade. These students are also recognizing and satisfying the need for nurses. Many US Citizens are protesting that there are citizens with education and experience to fill the positions in the computer science field and issuing more work visas will only increase unemployment in the US. Will nurses in the US be competing for jobs in the US with students educated abroad? In 2007 there were 119,579 United States educated students and 33,768 internationally educated pupils taking for the NCLEX RN exam. This is a bit more than 28% of all nursing students taking this exam.
The increase in international students could be as a result of the NCSBN opening three new test sites outside the United States. In just seven years the percentage of international students has risen 17.5%
Students educated outside the United States are keen to the demand for nurses in North America and know that educating themselves may be their opportunity to obtain a work visa and possible permanent residency in the US and may garner them a life of a greater quality of living and freedom from oppression.
US are still out performing international students, but international students are gaining on them.In 2007, there were 119,579 US educated nursing students taking the NCLEX RN. 85.5% of them passed. Only 52% of the 33,768 internationally educated
How about those students who had to repeat the test? In 2007 26,411 students sat for the exam for at least the second time. These were US educated students retaking the exam. Since this is obviously more than 14.5%
Many students use the audios to prepare for the test, but a few students have thought ahead and use it to become familiar with the class material before they start the course
Most students attribute poor test results to the lack of time they have to study. Audio study materials for the NCLEX exam make it easy to learn while doing other tasks.
Published July 25th, 2008
Filed in Education