The nursing profession is growing popular among job seekers and is also the first choice for individuals who wish to make a career in health and allied sectors.  It gives a great amount of satisfaction once an individual clears all the tests associated with the nursing degree program and understandably so.  But unless a student passes the NCLEX (National Council Licensure Examination) test, the student would not be deemed a registered nurse and would not be able to practice. Passing this test enables an individual to practice as a nurse throughout the United States.

The NCLEX Nursing examination is conducted at the national level by a council formed by the nursing boards of all the states.  The NCLEX examination essentially comes in two forms. The first one is called NCLEX-PN and this is essential for those who wish to practice as a vocation or practical nurse.  The other test is called NCLEX-RN and this is essential for those who wish to practice as a registered nurse.  The examinations are conducted separately by each state.

The NCLEX exams are conducted in a systematic manner and everyone has to pay a fee for taking the examination.  In case a student fails the examination, the student will have to wait a good forty five to ninety days before they can take the examinations again.  The number of times a student can take the examination is decided by each state separately.  The contents of the test are also different for different states with the proportion of fill in the blanks questions and multiple choice questions varying.  The highlight of this exam is that it is computer based and the computer arranges the questions on the basis of how the candidate has answered the previous questions.  This is done in order to make this exam a learning experience for the students taking the test. Continue Reading »
NCLEX Exam for Nursing Schools

There are plenty of nursing degrees to choose from and each nursing degree comes with its own specifications and scope of work.  The yearly remuneration, the place of work and the degree of responsibility will depend a great deal on the nursing degree and the institution from which the student has graduated.

There is nothing to despair.  With medical sciences opening the gates of opportunities, there is plenty to look forward to.  In many places the position of a certified nursing assistant is considered as the most basic level.  Here the nursing assistant mainly works as per the instructions of the senior nurse and does not have any decision making powers.  Moreover, the training course of a nursing assistant extends only for a few weeks and once they are through with the test, they can begin with their work.  Now you may begin to wonder as to what is the difference between a qualified nurse and a nursing assistant.  The job responsibilities of a nursing assistant are limited and they carry out the most basic functions.  The basic functions include making beds for the patients, helping them in dressing, bathing and feeding the patients and monitoring their vital parameters.

Now there is a great demand for the two types of nursing degrees offered by the community colleges.  One is an Associate Degree and the other is a Diploma.  There is also an accelerated program offered by many community colleges called the Bachelor of Science in Nursing which can easily be completed within three years.  For a nurse to obtain a license to practice in the state of their choice it is necessary for them to graduate with an Associate degree or diploma in Nursing.  Depending upon the nature of license examination taken by the nurse, they are classified either as a Registered Nurse or a Licensed Practical Nurse also addressed by the abbreviations RN and LPN respectively.

As the name suggests, a LPN performs the most basic functions and their duties are similar to those of a nursing assistant.  In addition to the basic functions, a LPN performs far more advanced functions than the nursing assistants.  This may include assisting the doctors in the delivery rooms, bathing and feeding the newborn babies, keeping a strict vigil on the patient’s health and monitoring the improvement, providing medications and giving injections to the patient.  To become a LPN, the students will have to equip themselves with a nursing diploma which may extend for a year.

The LPNs are required to take instructions from the senior nurses.  A RN is usually senior to a LPN and is eligible to perform the sum total of all the functions performed by the nursing assistants and LPNs.  A RN reports directly to the doctor and receives instructions from the doctor himself.  Their functions include providing medication and giving injections to the patients, assisting the doctors in surgeries, operating advanced medical equipments, design care plans for patients and monitoring the work of junior nurses.  Most of the RNs are expected to equip themselves with an Associate Degree and ought to have at least two years of nursing education.  However, most of the hospitals prefer their RNs to equip themselves with a Bachelors degree usually extending for four years.

For all the RNs who wish to pursue their education, plenty of nursing degrees are offered by both graduate and undergraduate programs.  These types of nursing degree programs are available at all leading universities and colleges.  For registered nurses, who hold an Associate degree or a diploma, there are programs where a RN can be converted in to a BSN.