Report of Findings from the Practice and Professional Issues Survey (Vol. 2)

This periodic performance of practice analyses (i.e., job analysis) studies assists NCSBN in evaluating the validity of the NCLEX-RN test plan that guides content distribution of the licensure examination. Because changes can occur in registered nurse (RN) practice, practice analyses are conducted on a three-year cycle. This publication analyzes the U.S. & Canadian nurse testing populations.

This annual publication provides national and state summary data of member boards’ licensure activities, as well as data on candidate performance on the NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN Examinations. On Jan. 5, 2015, the first candidates were able to take the NCLEX-RN for purposes of licensure/registration in Canada. This publication provides a detailed breakdown of candidate performance for 2017, as well as historical data. 

NCSBN is focused on establishing the validity and legal defensibility of the NCLEX-RN by ensuring it is comprehensive and that it aligns with the requirements of the nursing profession as it is currently practiced. To keep pace with the changing requirements of the job, NCSBN partnered with a research firm to conduct two studies as part of strategic job analyses of the RN job from 2012 through 2014. The Strategic Practice Analysis is the summary of their findings.

This annual publication provides national and state summary data of member boards’ licensure activities, as well as data on candidate performance on the NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN Examinations. On Jan. 5, 2015, the first candidates were able to take the NCLEX-RN for purposes of licensure/registration in Canada. This publication provides a detailed breakdown of candidate performance for 2016, as well as historical data. 

This study reports the activities performed and the essential knowledge needed by certified entry-level medication aides/medication assistants (MAs) employed in various health care settings. The findings from this study are used to evaluate the validity of the test plan, content outline and examination questions for the MA certification examination.

The First National Survey of Medication Aides was developed with the goal of providing insights into medication aide (MA) education, training, supervision and work role from the MA perspective. The results will help regulators make decisions about the implementation or development of safe and effective MA programs.

This annual publication provides national and state summary data of member boards’ licensure activities, as well as data on candidate performance on the NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN Examinations.

This study identifies the knowledge needed by newly licensed practical/vocational nurses (LPN/VNs). The results of this study (i.e., the important knowledge statements) will be used to inform item development.

This periodic performance of practice analyses (i.e., job analysis) studies assists NCSBN in evaluating the validity of the test plan that guides content distribution of the licensure examination. Because changes can occur in licensed practical/vocational nurse (LPN/VN) practice, practice analyses are conducted on a three-year cycle.

This study reports the importance ratings for activities performed by certified entry-level nurse aides/nursing assistants (NAs) employed in various health care settings. The findings from this study are used to evaluate the validity of the test plan, content outline and examination questions for the nurse aide certification examination.

This annual publication provides national and state summary data of member boards’ licensure activities, as well as data on candidate performance on the NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN Examinations.  

 This study identifies the knowledge needed by newly licensed RNs. The results of this study (i.e., the important knowledge statements) will be used to inform item development.

A practice analysis study aims to investigate the applicability of the 2013 NCLEX-RN Test Plan. This periodic performance of practice analyses (i.e., job analysis) studies assists NCSBN in evaluating the validity of the test plan that guides content distribution of the licensure examination. Because changes can occur in registered nurse (RN) practice, practice analyses are conducted on a three-year cycle. This publication analyzes both the U.S. and Canadian nurse testing populations.

This annual publication provides national and state summary data of member boards’ licensure activities, as well as data on candidate performance on the NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN Examinations.

This periodic performance of practice analyses (i.e., job analysis) studies assists NCSBN in evaluating the validity of the test plan that guides content distribution of the licensure examination. Because changes can occur in licensed practical/vocational nurse (LPN/VN) practice, practice analyses are conducted on a three-year cycle.

This periodic performance of practice analyses (i.e., job analysis) studies assists NCSBN in evaluating the validity of the test plan that guides content distribution of the licensure examination. Because changes can occur in registered nurse (RN) practice, practice analyses are conducted on a three-year cycle.

A practice analysis study aims to investigate the applicability of the 2013 NCLEX-RN Test Plan to the Canadian testing population. The study surveyed Canadian entry-level registered nurses (RNs) and found similar results with those obtained from U.S. entry-level RNs. It validates the applicability of the 2013 NCLEX-RN Test Plan to the Canadian testing population.

This study identifies the knowledge needed by newly licensed practical/vocational nurses (LPN/VNs). The results of this study (i.e., the important knowledge statements) will be used to inform item development.

This annual publication provides national and state summary data of member boards’ licensure activities, as well as data on candidate performance on the NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN Examinations.

This study identifies the knowledge needed by certified entry-level medication aides/assistants. The results of this study (i.e., the important knowledge statements) will be used to assist item development.

This study identifies the knowledge needed by newly licensed RNs. The results of this study (i.e., the important knowledge statements) will be used to inform item development.

This study reports the importance ratings for activities performed by certified entry-level medication aides/medication assistants (MAs) employed in various health care settings. The findings from this study are used to evaluate the validity of the test plan, content outline and examination questions for the MA certification examination.

This annual publication provides national and state summary data of member boards’ licensure activities, as well as data on candidate performance on the NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN Examinations.

This annual publication provides national and state summary data of Member Boards’ licensure activities, as well as data on candidate performance on the NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN examinations. (© 2010)

This study reports the importance ratings of statements listing the knowledge needed by certified entry-level nurse aides/nursing assistants (NAs) employed in various health care settings. The results of this study (i.e., the important knowledge statements) will be used to inform item development. (© 2010)

This study compares entry-level nursing activities of U.S. registered nurses with a cohort from British Columbia, Canada. The College of Registered Nurses of British Columbia (CRNBC) collaborated with NCSBN on this initiative. (© 2010)

This study compares entry-level nursing activities of U.S. registered nurses with a cohort from Ontario, Canada. The College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) collaborated with NCSBN on this initiative. (© 2010)

This study reports the importance ratings for activities performed by certified entry-level nurse aides/nursing assistants (NAs) employed in various health care settings. The findings from this study are used to evaluate the validity of the test plan, content outline and examination questions for the nurse aide certification examination. (© 2010)

A new initiative seeks to understand the role of nurses and nursing education from an international perspective. The goal of this study was to evaluate the consistency of nursing educational competencies globally. (© 2010)

This study describes LPN/VN practice to assist NCSBN in evaluating the validity of the test plan that guides content distribution of the licensure examination. (© 2010)

This study is to identify the knowledge needed by newly-licensed LPN/VNs. The results of this study (i.e., the important knowledge statements) will be used to inform item development. (© 2010)

This annual publication provides national and state summary data of Member Boards’ licensure activities, as well as data on candidate performance on the NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN examinations. (© 2009)

This study identifies factors that place nurses at risk for disciplinary action. This research describes and analyzes the characteristics of disciplined nurses and the influence of various environmental factors on remediation outcomes. (©2009)

This volume focuses on the trends of disciplinary actions and the characteristics of disciplined nurses using 11 years of data from NCSBN’s Nursys databank of license and discipline information. (© 2009)

This report explores the characteristics of registered and licensed practical/vocational nursing from entry through five years of practice to discover how nursing practice changed post-entry, when the changes occur, and the competencies needed by nurses with up to five years of experience. (© 2009)

This study is to identify the knowledge needed by newly licensed RNs. The results of this study (i.e., the important knowledge statements) will be used to inform item development. (© 2009)

This periodic performance of practice analyses (i.e., job analysis) studies assists NCSBN in evaluating the validity of the test plan that guides content distribution of the licensure examination. Because changes can occur in registered nurse (RN) practice, practice analyses are conducted on a three-year cycle. (© 2009)

This annual publication provides national and state summary data of Member Boards’ licensure activities, as well as data on candidate performance on the NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN examinations. (© 2008)

This study compares the effectiveness of two survey administration methods of researching LPN/VN practice to assist NCSBN in evaluating the validity of the test plan that guides content distribution of the licensure examination. (© 2008)

In order to improve the process of conducting practice analyses, NCSBN undertook this comparability study to investigate two different survey administration methods: the traditional paper-and-pencil, mail-based survey versus an electronic, Web-based survey. (© 2008)

This role delineation study provides data to boards of nursing to assist them in determining the level of regulation appropriate for nurse practitioners and clinical nurse specialists.

This study assists NCSBN in evaluating the validity of the NCLEX-RN examination. This study is the first to describe post entry-level RN practice to determine if there is a core set of RN activity statements that can be used to assess core RN competencies regardless of practice setting, specialty area and years of experience. (© 2007)

This study describes LPN/VN practice to assist NCSBN in evaluating the validity of the test plan that guides content distribution of the licensure examination.(© 2007)

This study provides information on the activities performed by medication assistants (MAs). Results of this study can be used to describe MA practice across a variety of work settings and identify core MA activities (© 2007)

This study describes post entry-level LPN/VN practice with the intention of determining if there are core nursing activity statements for LPN/VNs regardless of practice setting, specialty practice area and/or years of experience (© 2007)

This annual publication provides national and state summary data of Member Boards’ licensure activities, as well as data on candidate performance on the NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN examinations. (© 2006)

A National Survey links the elements of nursing education to perceived preparedness of new graduates for nursing practice (© 2006).

This study provides information on the activities performed by nurse aides employed in nursing homes, home health care agencies and hospitals. (© 2006)

Practice and Professional Issues Surveys are conducted by NCSBN to collect information from entry-level nurses to measure the preparation for practice and describe the transition activities of newly licensed RNs and LPN/VNs. The study also explores the relationship between educational preparation and involvement with medical errors (©2006).

NCSBN performs job (practice) analysis studies every three years. This is an executive summary of the 2005 RN Practice Analysis.

The purpose of this practice analysis is to describe and compare the practice characteristics and activities of newly licensed registered nurses (RNs). The empirical findings are used to evaluate the 2007 NCLEX-RN Test Plan (© 2005).

This annual publication provides national and state summary data of Member Boards’ licensure activities, as well as data on candidate performance on the NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN examinations. (© 2005)

This annual publication provides national and state summary data of Member Boards’ licensure activities, as well as data on candidate performance on the NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN examinations. (© 2004)

Practice and Professional Issues Surveys are conducted twice a year by NCSBN to collect information from entry-level nurses on specific practice activities and current professional issues.

NCSBN has collected a wealth of information on a variety of regulatory topics. Prominent among those topics has been the preparation of new nurses for the practice setting and the issues surrounding the appropriate preparation and utilization of assistive personnel. Information has been gleaned on these topics from newly licensed nurses and assistive personnel. This study was designed to obtain the unique perspectives of health care employers on these issues.

This annual publication provides national and state summary data of Member Boards’ licensure activities, as well as data on candidate performance on the NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN examinations. (© 2003)

The purpose of the Practice and Professional Issues (PPI) survey is to collect information from entry-level nurses on specific practice activities and current professional issues. The Winter 2003 PPI was designed to collect data from entry-level nurses educated in the U.S. and from nurses educated in foreign countries who had recently been licensed to practice in the U.S.

This practice analysis describes and compares the practice characteristics and activities of newly licensed practical/vocational nurses (LPN/VNs). The empirical findings will be used to evaluate the 2005 NCLEX-PN Test Plan (© 2003).

This study evaluates the validity of the NNAAP blueprint. It provides information on the activities performed by nurse aides employed in nursing homes, home health care agencies and hospitals. (© 2003)

This volume describes an outcome-based performance measurement system for state and territorial boards of nursing. (© 2004)

This practice analysis describes and compares the practice characteristics and activities of newly licensed registered nurses (RNs). The empirical findings were used to evaluate the 2004 NCLEX-RN Test Plan. (© 2003)

Practice and Professional Issues Surveys are conducted twice a year by NCSBN to collect information from entry-level nurses on specific practice activities and current professional issues. Data is collected from nurses during their first six months of practice on activities they are performing as nurses and on selected issues surrounding that practice. This study was conducted October through December 2001.

This practice analysis describes and compares the possible differences in the entry-level practices of newly licensed associate and baccalaureate degree nurses. (© 2004)

Practice and Professional Issues Surveys are conducted twice a year by NCSBN to collect information from entry-level nurses on specific practice activities and current professional issues. Data is collected from nurses during their first six months of practice on activities they are performing as nurses and selected issues surrounding that practice.

Establishment of a link between mandatory continuing education (CE) and the development of professional competence has been deemed crucial to future decision-making about the best methods of assuring the continued competence of health care practitioners. The NCSBN) Research department developed a research study to explore that issue. This report presents the results from registered nurse (RN) and licensed practical/vocational nurse (LPN/VN) study respondents. The study was conducted May through August of 2002.

This annual publication provides national and state summary data of Member Boards’ licensure activities, as well as data on candidate performance on the NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN examinations. (© 2002)

Practice and Professional Issues surveys are conducted twice a year by NCSBN to collect information from entry-level nurses on specific practice activities and current professional issues. Data is collected from nurses during their first six months of practice on activities they are performing as nurses and selected issues surrounding that practice.

Empiric evidence from the NCSBN RN practice analyses has demonstrated that associate degree and baccalaureate degree graduates are hired into the same types of positions and perform the same tasks within their first six months of practice; however, the employers of entry-level nurses have not been systematically surveyed about their actual hiring and employment practices. This survey addressed those practices and also asked employers to rate new RNs and LPNs on their preparation for various practice tasks.

The purpose of this study is discovery of any potential differences between the entry-level practices of graduates of associate degree and baccalaureate degree RN educational programs (© 2002).