NCSBN
National Council of State Boards of Nursing is an independent and not for profit organization.
I will explain the test plan of NCLEX which is developed by the NCSBN in which questions are based on to address LEVEL OF COGNITIVE ABILITY, CLIENTS NEEDS AND INTEGRATED PROCESS.
LEVELS OF COGNITIVE ABILITY: It includes knowledge, understanding, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, evaluating, creating. Nursing practice requires complex thought process along with critical thinking in decision making.
DESCRIPTIONS OF THE LEVEL OF CONITIVE ABILITY ALONG WITH EXAMPLES:
KNOWLEGDE: The nurse should be able/ to recall information from memorizing. For example: Normal Blood Pressure is considered to be between 90/60mmHg and 120/80mmHg.
UNDERSTANDING: The nurse should be able to recognize the meaning of the information. For example: High blood pressure considered to be 140/90 or higher
APPLYING: She should be able to take an appropriate action based on information. For example: In case of low blood pressure, she has to provide plenty of water to patient to prevent from dehydration, changing position slowly, provide salty diet etc.
ANALYZING: She should be able to examine the broad concept and after that break it down into smaller parts for example: The broad concept is mild hypertension. and the smaller concepts are the signs and symptoms of mild hypertension.
SYNTHESIZING: It is opposite of the analyzing process. She would be able to examine the smaller part of the information and determine the broad concepts. For example: severe headache, fatigue or confusion, blurry vision etc. are the sign and symptoms of severe hypertension. The broad concept is severe hypertension.
EVALUATING: She would be able to make appropriate judgements, conclusions, or validations based on the evidence. For example: Determining the treatment for mild hypertension was effective if the blood pressure level returned to a normal level after a specified time period.
CREATING: She should be creative in nature. Able to produce a new outcome or plan by putting parts of the information together. For example: Designing the effective nursing care plan for the patients with hypertensive problem that meets the patient’s physiological needs, psychological needs.
CLIENTS NEEDS: The NCSBN identifies a test plan framework based on client needs, which have 4 major categories.
- SAFE AND EFFECTIVE CARE ENVIRONMENT. Management of care 17 – 23 % of questions Safe and infection control 9 – 15% of questions
- HEALTH PROMOTION AND MAINTENANCE. 6-12% of questions
- PSYCHOLOGICAL INTEGRITY. 6-12% of questions
- PHYSIOLOGICAL INTEGRITY. Basic care and comfort 6-12% of questions Pharmacological and Parenteral therapies 12-18% of questions Reduction of risk potential 9 – 15% of questions Physiological adaptation 11 – 17% of questions
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INTEGRATED PROCESS
The NCSBN identifies five processes in the teat plan that are fundamental to the nursing practice.
1.CARING
2.COMMUNICATION AND DOCUMENTATION.
3.NURSING PROCESS including ASSESSMENT, ANALYSIS, PLANNING, IMPLEMENTATION and EVALUATION.
4.CULTURE and SPIRITUALITY.
5.TEACHING and LEARNING.