NCLEX RN Exams- Not Just For US Students
Carolyn Thompson
According to NCSBN, National Council of State Boards of Nursing the gap between international students and US educated students passing the NCLEX RN is diminishing.
In 2000 there were a total of 71,475 US educated students and 7,506 internationally educated students taking the NCLEX RN. International students made up only 10.5% of the students sitting for the exam.
As demands for nursing students increased so did the number of pupils studying 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 United States Citizens are arguing that there are citizens with education and experience who want a job in the computer science field and issuing more work visas will only increase unemployment in the US. Will this be the same for the nursing industry? Last year there were 119,579 United States educated students and 33,768 internationally educated pupils taking for the NCLEX RN exam (http://www.audiolearn.net/NCLEX/NCLEX-RN.html). More than 28% of all nursing students taking this exam.
The dramatic increase is quite possibly the result of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing opening three exam centers abroad. In just seven years the percentage of international students has risen 17.5%
Students educated outside the United States are alert 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 United States 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 United States educated nursing students taking the NCLEX RN. 85.5% of them passed. 52% of the 33,768 internationally educated
How about those students who had to repeat the test? In 2007there were a total of 26,411 students retaking the exam These were United States educated students retaking the exam. Simple math indicates that there are students taking the exam for at least the third time Only 52.4% of these repeat test takers passed. The pass rate for Students educated outside the United States dropped to 25.7%
Students are actively seeking ways to increase their chances of passing the exam the first time. Audio study guides for NCLEX has demonstrated tremendous results. Since the audios are available online they are accessible to anyone in the world.
Many students utilize the audios to prepare for the exam, but some 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. NCLEX review materials on audio make it easier to review while performing other activities such as driving or going to the gym.
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