The test assesses whether graduates can integrate the nursing process, communication and documentation, caring and teaching. The test poses complex patient care situations in which a nurse has to engage in several processes simultaneously. This helps ensure that nurses are able to apply what they've learned on the job.
This is the second largest section of the exam. The Management of Care portion accounts for 13 to 19 percent of the questions, while the Safety and Infection Control section comprises 8 to 14 percent of the questions. The sections cover delivering care that protects the patient, family members and health care personnel and activities such as protecting patients' rights to confidentiality, establishing continuity of care and handling biowaste.
This portion of the exam focuses on education, prevention and overall wellness. Questions address a nurse's ability to promote healthy lifestyle choices and educate patients on human development and self care after an illness or hospital stay.
Test questions address the candidate's ability to tend to the emotional and social needs of patients and their families, addressing issues such as stress, depression and cultural needs.
Four subsections comprise this topic and it is the largest section of the exam. Basic Care and Comfort, Pharmacological and Parenteral Therapies, Reduction of Risk Potential and Physiological Adaptation make up the exam. These sections address the specific physical needs of the patient such as administering therapies, engaging in risk reduction, assisting with adaptation to the illness or injury and providing comfort.