Frequently Asked
Questions About the 2010
NCLEX-RN ® Test Plan
Updated Recently
1. What was the basis for making changes in the 2010 NCLEX-RN ® Test Plan?
NCSBN reviews the test plans for both the NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN once every three
years. The recommended changes to the 2010 NCLEX-RN® Test Plan are based upon
empirical data collected from newly licensed nurses, which can be found in the study
published by NCSBN entitled Report of Findings from the 2008 Practice Analysis: Linking
the NCLEX-RN® Examination to Practice.
In this study, 6,000 newly licensed nurses were surveyed via a paper survey, with
another 6,000 surveyed via the Web. The respondents were asked about the frequency
and importance of performing 155 nursing care activities. The data was analyzed and
used to determine whether changes were needed in the test plan. The practice analysis
provides validity evidence to support the activities that entry-level nurses are performing
and the importance of those activities. Based upon the most recent survey results, as
well as expert opinion and feedback from stakeholders, the NCSBN Delegate Assembly
adopted the 2010 NCLEX-RN® Test Plan in August 2009.
2. Who provided feedback on the test plan?
Recommendations regarding the 2010 NCLEX-RN® Test Plan were sent to boards of
nursing, the NCSBN Board of Directors, the NCLEX Examination Committee, the Practice
Analysis Panel of Experts, and NCSBN legal counsel. Feedback to the NCLEX Examination
Committee regarding the test plan recommendations was requested. The feedback was
reviewed and appropriate changes were made to the test plan. The NCLEX Examination
Committee then recommends the test plan changes to NCSBN’s governance body, the
Delegate Assembly. This process helps to ensure a comprehensive review of the test
plan and involvement of groups with a variety of viewpoints.
3. What decisions were made for the 2010 Test Plan and what are the
NCLEX-RN ®
rationales for those decisions?
Based upon empirical data from the practice analysis, expert judgment, and
feedback from stakeholders, the “Client Needs” structure was retained as the
framework for the 2010 NCLEX-RN® Test Plan.
Rationale: The practice analysis data and expert opinion supported retaining this
structure. In addition, the “Client Needs” structure provides a common
framework that is easily understood by candidates and other stakeholders.
This structure also allows for updating content without a test plan change and
facilitates reliable item coding.
The eight categories/subcategories of the 2007 NCLEX-RN® Test Plan are retained in the
2010 NCLEX-RN® Test Plan.
Rationale: These content areas continue to work well and are understood by all
stakeholders.
Bulleted concepts, specific changes and rationale are as follows:
Copyright © 2010 National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. (NCSBN)
All rights reserved. The NCSBN logo, NCLEX®, NCLEX-RN® and NCLEX-PN® are registered trademarks of NCSBN
, o Resource Management – subsumed throughout management of care content
o Staff Education – an integrated process throughout the test plan
o Accident Prevention and Injury Prevention – combined into single concept
o Disaster Planning – subsumed under Emergency Response Plan
o Medical Asepsis subsumed under Standard and Transmission-based Precautions;
Surgical Asepsis added to this bullet point
o Disease Prevention – combined with Health Promotion as an integral
part of this content
o Expected Body Image Changes – subsumed under Developmental
Stages and Transitions
o Family Planning, Family Systems, Growth & Development and Human
Sexuality – subsumed under Developmental Stages and Transitions,
Lifestyle Choices
o Immunizations – subsumed under Health & Wellness
o Psychopathology – subsumed under Mental Health Concepts
o Situational Role Changes, Unexpected Body Image Changes –
subsumed under Coping Mechanisms
o Complementary and Alternative Therapies – are integrated throughout the
content in basic care and comfort
o Palliative and Comfort Care - subsumed under Non-Pharmacological
Comfort and/or Pharmacological Pain Management
o Pharmacological Agents/Actions – subsumed under Expected Actions/Outcomes
o Pharmacological Interactions – subsumed under
Adverse Effects/Contraindications/Side
Effects/Interactions
o Monitoring Conscious Sedation – subsumed under System Specific Assessments
o Changes/Abnormalities – added to Vital Signs for clarification
o Infectious Diseases and Radiation Therapy – subsumed under Alterations
in Body Systems
Rationale: These changes were necessary based upon the NCLEX Examination
Committee review and assignment of each of the 2008 Practice Analysis task
statements to a category/subcategory of the “Client Needs” structure. Other
revisions are necessary for reasons of conceptual clarity, currency and correction
of redundancy.
The following is a comparison of the percentage of items shown for the test plan
categories, comparing the new 2010 NCLEX-RN® Test Plan to the 2007 NCLEX-
RN® Test Plan.
2007 RN TEST PLAN 2010 RN TEST PLAN CATEGORIES
CATEGORIES
Client Needs Percentag Client Needs Percenta
Categories/Subcategories e of Categories/Subcategories g e of
Items
Items
Safe Effective Care Safe Effective Care Environment
Environment
Management of Care 13-19% Management of Care 16-22%
Safety and Infection Control 8-14% Safety and Infection Control 8-14%
Health Promotion Health Promotion and Maintenance
6-12% 6-12%
and Maintenance
Psychosocial Integrity 6-12% Psychosocial Integrity 6-12%
Physiological Integrity Physiological Integrity
2
Questions About the 2010
NCLEX-RN ® Test Plan
Updated Recently
1. What was the basis for making changes in the 2010 NCLEX-RN ® Test Plan?
NCSBN reviews the test plans for both the NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN once every three
years. The recommended changes to the 2010 NCLEX-RN® Test Plan are based upon
empirical data collected from newly licensed nurses, which can be found in the study
published by NCSBN entitled Report of Findings from the 2008 Practice Analysis: Linking
the NCLEX-RN® Examination to Practice.
In this study, 6,000 newly licensed nurses were surveyed via a paper survey, with
another 6,000 surveyed via the Web. The respondents were asked about the frequency
and importance of performing 155 nursing care activities. The data was analyzed and
used to determine whether changes were needed in the test plan. The practice analysis
provides validity evidence to support the activities that entry-level nurses are performing
and the importance of those activities. Based upon the most recent survey results, as
well as expert opinion and feedback from stakeholders, the NCSBN Delegate Assembly
adopted the 2010 NCLEX-RN® Test Plan in August 2009.
2. Who provided feedback on the test plan?
Recommendations regarding the 2010 NCLEX-RN® Test Plan were sent to boards of
nursing, the NCSBN Board of Directors, the NCLEX Examination Committee, the Practice
Analysis Panel of Experts, and NCSBN legal counsel. Feedback to the NCLEX Examination
Committee regarding the test plan recommendations was requested. The feedback was
reviewed and appropriate changes were made to the test plan. The NCLEX Examination
Committee then recommends the test plan changes to NCSBN’s governance body, the
Delegate Assembly. This process helps to ensure a comprehensive review of the test
plan and involvement of groups with a variety of viewpoints.
3. What decisions were made for the 2010 Test Plan and what are the
NCLEX-RN ®
rationales for those decisions?
Based upon empirical data from the practice analysis, expert judgment, and
feedback from stakeholders, the “Client Needs” structure was retained as the
framework for the 2010 NCLEX-RN® Test Plan.
Rationale: The practice analysis data and expert opinion supported retaining this
structure. In addition, the “Client Needs” structure provides a common
framework that is easily understood by candidates and other stakeholders.
This structure also allows for updating content without a test plan change and
facilitates reliable item coding.
The eight categories/subcategories of the 2007 NCLEX-RN® Test Plan are retained in the
2010 NCLEX-RN® Test Plan.
Rationale: These content areas continue to work well and are understood by all
stakeholders.
Bulleted concepts, specific changes and rationale are as follows:
Copyright © 2010 National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc. (NCSBN)
All rights reserved. The NCSBN logo, NCLEX®, NCLEX-RN® and NCLEX-PN® are registered trademarks of NCSBN
, o Resource Management – subsumed throughout management of care content
o Staff Education – an integrated process throughout the test plan
o Accident Prevention and Injury Prevention – combined into single concept
o Disaster Planning – subsumed under Emergency Response Plan
o Medical Asepsis subsumed under Standard and Transmission-based Precautions;
Surgical Asepsis added to this bullet point
o Disease Prevention – combined with Health Promotion as an integral
part of this content
o Expected Body Image Changes – subsumed under Developmental
Stages and Transitions
o Family Planning, Family Systems, Growth & Development and Human
Sexuality – subsumed under Developmental Stages and Transitions,
Lifestyle Choices
o Immunizations – subsumed under Health & Wellness
o Psychopathology – subsumed under Mental Health Concepts
o Situational Role Changes, Unexpected Body Image Changes –
subsumed under Coping Mechanisms
o Complementary and Alternative Therapies – are integrated throughout the
content in basic care and comfort
o Palliative and Comfort Care - subsumed under Non-Pharmacological
Comfort and/or Pharmacological Pain Management
o Pharmacological Agents/Actions – subsumed under Expected Actions/Outcomes
o Pharmacological Interactions – subsumed under
Adverse Effects/Contraindications/Side
Effects/Interactions
o Monitoring Conscious Sedation – subsumed under System Specific Assessments
o Changes/Abnormalities – added to Vital Signs for clarification
o Infectious Diseases and Radiation Therapy – subsumed under Alterations
in Body Systems
Rationale: These changes were necessary based upon the NCLEX Examination
Committee review and assignment of each of the 2008 Practice Analysis task
statements to a category/subcategory of the “Client Needs” structure. Other
revisions are necessary for reasons of conceptual clarity, currency and correction
of redundancy.
The following is a comparison of the percentage of items shown for the test plan
categories, comparing the new 2010 NCLEX-RN® Test Plan to the 2007 NCLEX-
RN® Test Plan.
2007 RN TEST PLAN 2010 RN TEST PLAN CATEGORIES
CATEGORIES
Client Needs Percentag Client Needs Percenta
Categories/Subcategories e of Categories/Subcategories g e of
Items
Items
Safe Effective Care Safe Effective Care Environment
Environment
Management of Care 13-19% Management of Care 16-22%
Safety and Infection Control 8-14% Safety and Infection Control 8-14%
Health Promotion Health Promotion and Maintenance
6-12% 6-12%
and Maintenance
Psychosocial Integrity 6-12% Psychosocial Integrity 6-12%
Physiological Integrity Physiological Integrity
2
