Clinical judgment is said to be used in 46% of all tasks performed by entry-level nurses according to the NCSBN, but recent studies have shown that new nurses typically lack this ability. Despite the fact that medical errors are the third leading cause of death in the US, only one-fifth of employers are happy with the decision-making skills of new nurses.
The Next Gen NCLEX® will try to gauge clinical judgment capacity in an effort to reverse these trends. While conducting research and creating the upcoming exam, the NCSBN is operationally defining "clinical judgment" as "the observed result of critical thinking and decision-making, which is an iterative process that uses nursing knowledge.
When Is NCLEX® changing?
In April 2023, the Next Generation NCLEX® (NGN) exam will replace the current NCLEX®-RN exam, thanks to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN).
Better questions on this updated NCLEX® test will aid nurses in exercising critical thought while providing care and in reaching the best decisions. The NGN aims to safeguard the public and produce the best results for patients, nurses, and organizations.
Is the New Gen NCLEX® Harder?
"Hard" is a relative term when it comes to exams. You must comprehend disease processes and have independent thought because the NGN places a strong emphasis on critical thinking. It might be advantageous for you if you've always had trouble remembering "dry information" but excel at case studies!
You must begin studying differently for the new Next Gen NCLEX®® format, though.
In the end, becoming a nurse is a process that extends beyond the exam. Your chances of success will be increased if you maintain a strong academic schedule throughout your career and enter the real world, prepared to take the lead.
New Exam Formats
Candidates had the option to finish a unique research section on the NCLEX® between July 2017 and December 2018 that assessed their capacity for clinical judgment. It was chosen by 85% of test-takers, and NCSBN used information from these applicants to confirm the need for an exam revision and to test the reliability of new item types.
Extended drag and drop items
Candidates are required to pair items from two columns in extended drag-and-drop questions. You might be given a list of clients and an explanation of their symptoms, for instance. You will then need to match room assignments with client scenarios.
Cloze (drop down) items
In cloze (drop-down) questions, candidates are given a narrative case study and asked to choose up to six options for the best course of treatment.
Matrix
Candidates must make decisions about the findings after being given a scenario and client data by checking the appropriate boxes on a supporting matrix in matrix items.
Hot spot items
A scenario and client data are also presented by enhanced hot spot items. In order to respond to questions, candidates are instructed to highlight particular sections of the scenario.
The new questions on the Next Gen NCLEX® are designed to test candidates' critical thinking, judgment, and decision-making abilities while simulating the work nurses do on a daily basis. Despite the fact that none of these question types explicitly test clinical knowledge, success depends on having a clinical fluency. Candidates completed each of these new item types in the NCSBN test in about a minute in 2017–2018.
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