5 Crucial Updates for the NCLEX 2021 Exam You Must Not Miss
If you have made your mind to choose nursing as your career, it’s critical to stay updated with any of the latest changes in this field. The NCLEX Examination Committee reviews and approves the test plan for NCLEX-PN and NCLEX-RN exams every three years. The Committee ensures that the test plan is in compliance with nurse practice acts. By staying updated with the newest changes, aspirants can prepare for the examination more efficiently.
In this article, we have covered 5 essential updates for the NCLEX 2021 exam. Take a look!
1. The NCLEX Examination is going to be a Little Bit Difficult
The exam seems to be difficult, especially for those who will take it after a long time after completing their nursing school.
Earlier, the NCLEX questions were prepared based on the interview of nurses working in various hospital settings. As the clinical field has undergone several changes over the past couple of years to meet the expectations of the patients, the difficulty level of test questions is likely to increase in 2020. The NCLEX Examination Committee analyzes the recent practices of nurses and seeks opinions of experts, nursing regulatory bodies and National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) content staff to prepare the test plan.
Success Tips:
- Volunteer at a local hospital to gain an understanding of fast-changing clinical settings and how nurses carry out their daily tasks to fulfill patients’ requirements.
- Watch more videos that demonstrate how nurses respond to patients’ needs.
2. More Questions Centered Around Management of Care
In NCLEX examination 2020, more questions will be based on cultural diversity and health practices. In this section of the test, you will be supposed to demonstrate your skills and knowledge of incorporating client cultural beliefs and practices when planning and providing patient care.
Success Tip:
- Learn diverse types of cultures and their impact on health practices.
3. The Format of Test Question Will Become Complex
With increasing complexities in patient care, potential nurses are expected to be more advanced in their knowledge and skills.
Success Tip:
- Do study from the best NCLEX books to get in-depth knowledge of topics.
4. NCSBN Clinical Judgment Model
In order to assess the clinical judgment of potential nurses, the NCSBN is likely to introduce Clinical Judgment Model in 2021 NCLEX exam. The NCLEX has named this project as the Next Generation NCLEX test that will use a complex mix of item types, including:
- Multiple Section
- Highlight
- Matrix (Extended Multiple Response)
- Dynamic Exhibit
- Extended Drag-and-Drop
- CLOZE (Drop-down)
5. NCLEX-RN 2021 Updates in Test Plan
No changes have been made in the NCLEX-PN 2021 test plan, and it looks similar to the 2016 test plan. However, some changes have been made in the NCLEX-RN 2021 test plan:
- Minor editorial changes
- The following changes have been made in the NCLEX-RN Activity Statements.
| Added Activity Statements | NCLEX-RN Activity Statements | Update |
| Psychosocial Integrity | Provide care for a client experiencing grief or loss | |
| Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies | Handle and/or administer high-risk medications | |
| Reduction of Risk Potential | Manage client during a procedure with moderate sedation | |
| Maintain percutaneous feeding tube | ||
| Transferred Activity Statements | Moved from Management of Care to Safety and Infection Control | Report unsafe practice of health care personnel and intervene as appropriate (e.g., substance abuse, improper care, staffing practices) |
| Moved from Basic Care and Comfort to Reduction of Risk Potential | Apply and/or maintain devices used to promote venous return (e.g., anti-embolic stockings, sequential compression devices) |
Source: NCSBN
- One more term – Unlicensed Assistive Personnel (UAP) – has been added to the NCLEX Terminology.
For more details on the NCLEX-RN test plan, click here.
NCLEX-PN 2021 Test Plan
The NCLEX-PN test plan furnishes detailed information about the topics that are tested in the exam. It comprises of the following content:
| Category | Sub-category | Percentage |
| Safe and Effective Care Environment | Coordinated Care | 18-24% |
| Safety and Infection Control | 10-16% | |
| Psychosocial Integrity | — | 9-15% |
| Health Promotion and Maintenance | — | 6-12% |
| Physiological Integrity | Basic Care and Comfort | 7-13% |
| Pharmacological Therapies | 10-16% | |
| Reduction of Risk Potential | 9-15% | |
| Physiological Adaptation | 7-13% |
For NCLEX-PN content overview, read NCLEX-PN Study Course Material
For more details on the NCLEX-RN test plan, click here.
Stay updated with the latest NCLEX 2021 changes and prepare well.
Good luck!