Understanding the 2023 NCLEX ® Changes
Preparing for the Next Generation NCLEX ®
Aspiring nurses know the challenges that come with preparing for the NCLEX ®. However, those expectations are shifting as the exam is undergoing changes that will be effective April 2023. This may cause concern for some upcoming nursing students. With some background information and the right prep, students can take on the new NCLEX ® and accomplish their goals despite updates to the exam. Join us as we take a look at the Next Generation NCLEX®.
What to Know About the Next Generation NCLEX®
When Will It Change?
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) announced in 2019 that the NCLEX ® would undergo updates. The modified version of the test will go into effect April 2023. The updated exam will be called the Next Generation NCLEX ®, or NGN for short.
Why is it Changing?
The NCSBN saw opportunities to apply improvements that would make an important impact on nursing. Exams are fact-based and require strong test-taking skills for students to pass. While those facts apply to the medical field, exams generally don’t measure the critical thinking abilities that are so essential in nursing. The NGN will make it so critical thinking is a major emphasis on the exam rather than just facts. The NGN, as the NCSBN puts it, will ask “better questions to help nurses think critically when providing care and make the right decisions.”
Essentially, the exam with be updated with conceptual changes to focus on clinical judgment and decision-making abilities. These changes to the NCLEX ®, coming April 2023, will measure clinical judgment, including areas such as the interaction between the nurse and patient, the patient’s needs, and expected outcomes. This is significant because 65% of nursing errors result from poor clinical decision-making, and 50% of those errors involve novice nurses, according to NCSBN.
“The next generation will need to more complex decisions about client care.”
— NCSBN
What to Expect
The NGN will feature new question types students should be aware of. The new question types will focus on applicable interactions and situations nurses will have to face, assessing decision-making abilities. Below is a quick overview of additions to the format.
New Question Types
Extended Multiple Response
This allows test takers to select one or more answer(s) at a time.
Extended Drag and Drop
Users will move or place responses into appropriate answer spaces; however, not all response options will necessarily be an answer, so test takers will have to pick and choose accordingly.
Cloze/Drop Down
Simply, this feature allows students to choose an answer from a drop down list.
Enhanced Hot Spot
This feature will require users to find an answer within text by highlighting predetermined words or phrases.
Matrix/Grid
Students will select answers from a table with columns and rows.
Make the Right Decision
Ready to Pass has the Prep You Need for the NGN
This may seem like a lot of information all at once, but we are here to help students understand how to successfully pass the NGN.
Ready to Pass is an established NCLEX ® review center that offers webinars and online coaching to help aspiring nurses reach their goals. Our courses and services are led by nurses who know the ins and outs of this ever-changing industry and the educational requirements needed to enter it. With a passion for investing in the next generation of nurses, Ready to Pass’ experienced staff is here as a resource to you. Find your success on the upcoming 2023 changes to the NCLEX ® with the guidance of Ready to Pass.
Give us a call today at (516) 408-3696 or fill out our contact form to learn about the next steps of enrolling at Ready to Pass. We look forward to being a part of your success!
“This was the best class I have ever taken. Simple to follow and the nurses that taught the classes were so organized and professional. I took the class in December 2020 and passed the nclex on January 5 2021. I would highly recommend this! I gained so much knowledge on how to answer questions and how to eliminate answers as well as tricks and ways to remember the nursing aspects. I can’t say enough about these professors! Thank you so much.”
— Valerie Saladino