NCLEX Success Archives - Collaborative Momentum Consulting

Infusing Clinical Judgment Into All Corners of the Nursing Curriculum

Susan Sportsman, PhD, RN, ANEF, FAAN

April 2023 marks the first time that new nursing graduates complete the Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) Examination. The results of the work of the National Council of State Board of Nursing (NCSBN) in developing the NGN and the responses of nurse educators who are preparing students for this innovative licensing approach will be documented in the test results over the next year. All nurse educators and regulators are hopeful that the NGN will more accurately differentiate among new graduates who are prepared to make clinical judgments required for today’s nursing practice and those who are not. In addition, Continue reading “Infusing Clinical Judgment Into All Corners of the Nursing Curriculum”

Report from the 2022 NCSBN NCLEX Conference

By Susan Sportsman, PhD, RN, ANEF, FAAN

On September 22, 2022, I participated in the National Council of State Boards of Nursing’s 2022 NCSBN NCLEX Conference and found all of the presentations helpful in understanding how to prepare both RN and PN students for the Next Generation NCLEX (NGN), coming in April 2023. As we move closer to the initial implementation of the NGN, the content of these presentations helped to clarify various components of the 2023 exam, including information regarding Continue reading “Report from the 2022 NCSBN NCLEX Conference”

Setting Students Up for Success

By Susan Sportsman, PhD, RN, ANEF, FAAN

Ashley’s Story

Regular readers of the Collaborative Momentum Consulting blog may remember the November 2020 story of Ashley, a high school dropout who wanted to be a nurse. A single mother of a small boy, Ashley had been working at low paying jobs when she was encouraged by a friend to complete a GED and take prerequisite courses necessary for a nursing degree. Grades in these courses, although not outstanding, were sufficient for admission to the nursing program. Ashley struggled her first year in the nursing program—making low C’s in all her nursing courses, although she performed well in during her clinical experience.

We all have had students like Ashley. Continue reading “Setting Students Up for Success”

Student Remediation Programs Make Success Possible for Nursing Students

By Susan Sportsman, PhD, RN, ANEF, FAAN

“Ashley” was admitted to a nursing program with several challenges. She had dropped out of high school at 15 because she was pregnant; she got married and had a baby at 16; and was divorced at 17. For years, she worked at low paying jobs to support her son, although her dream was to become a nurse. Her grades in high school were not great because she rarely went to class. Finally, at 30 years of age, encouraged by a nurse who was the mother of one of her son’s friends, she successfully completed a GED exam and slowly began to take the required courses to apply for a nursing program. Her grades, although not stellar, were sufficient to make her competitive for admission. Her math score on the admission test was extraordinarily high, despite a low reading comprehensive score, which made her admission possible. Continue reading “Student Remediation Programs Make Success Possible for Nursing Students”

Report from the 2020 NCSBN NCLEX Conference

By Susan Sportsman, PhD, RN, ANEF, FAAN

On September 14, 2020, I participated in the first-ever virtual 2020 NCLEX Conference offered by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN). There were many interesting presentations, but I believe that you will agree that the discussion about Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) was most important for nursing educators. So here is an overview of the discussion about NGN. Continue reading “Report from the 2020 NCSBN NCLEX Conference”

Highlights from the new NCSBN Report on Quality Indicators for Nursing Programs

By Susan Sportsman, PhD, RN, ANEF, FAAN

COVID-19 has changed how nurse educators prepare students for practice. The changes in the health care environment—and nursing specifically—over the last decade have given faculty numerous challenges: integration of important new content in an already “stuffed” curriculum, evolving expectations of students, parents and college administrators, and the difficulty in finding appropriate clinical sites and sufficient numbers of faculty. As if these challenges weren’t enough, now faculty must cope with an international pandemic that has huge implications personally and professionally. In addition to their other responsibilities, faculty now must prepare students for practice using masks, social distancing, and limited clinical sites-all while working from home!

One thing, however, has not changed. Continue reading “Highlights from the new NCSBN Report on Quality Indicators for Nursing Programs”

Testing Online in the Era of Social Distancing

By Susan Sportsman, PhD, RN, ANEF, FAAN

Most of us have been coping, both personally and professionally, with the results of social distancing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. While we would like life to return to “normal,” we also worry about the health impact of returning to our “face-to-face” lives. Equally important, when this crisis passes, what will the new normal look like? Continue reading “Testing Online in the Era of Social Distancing”

NGN-Style Questions—What Should We Do Now?

By Susan Sportsman PhD, RN, ANEF, FAAN

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) recently posted on their website five types of questions that they will include as part of the Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) test revision. While the NCSBN intends to continue to use the multiple-choice test format which currently makes up a significant portion of the NCLEX exam, other types of test items will also be included. Continue reading “NGN-Style Questions—What Should We Do Now?”

Report from the 2019 NCSBN NCLEX Conference

by Susan Sportsman, PhD, RN, ANEF, FAAN

Last week I joined four hundred-plus nurse educators from the US and Canada to participate in the 2019 NCSBN NCLEX Conference in Phoenix, Arizona. From my perspective, here are the highlights of this event. Continue reading “Report from the 2019 NCSBN NCLEX Conference”

Does your Nursing Program Prepare Students to Use Clinical Judgment?

by Susan Sportsman, PhD, RN, ANEF, FAAN

Does your nursing program prepare students to effectively use clinical judgment? How will you know?

These are the questions that we are all asking ourselves as the National Council for State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) continues its work in developing the Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) initiative. Continue reading “Does your Nursing Program Prepare Students to Use Clinical Judgment?”