Having a high school diploma or GED is a prerequisite for being accepted into a nursing program at a college or vocational school. If you have completed high school, simply request a full transcript from your school. If you did not finish high school, then you must take the GED exam. You can get more information about Florida's GED exam at http://www.fldoe.org/workforce/ged.
This step is also a prerequisite for taking the NCLEX-PN. Nursing programs are offered at most community colleges, technical and vocational schools and even some hospitals. These programs will teach you basic nursing concepts, including anatomy, physiology nutrition and first aid. You must also complete a one-hour course on domestic violence and at least three hours of HIV and AIDS education, which many nursing programs will help you achieve.
You can register for the exam online by visiting the Pearson Vue website (www.pearsonvue.com). If you do not pass on your first attempt, you have two more chances. If you have not passed the examination after your third try, you will have to take remedial training that must be approved by the Florida Board of Nursing.
There are three scenarios that lead to passing the NCLEX-PN.
Scenario No. 1: The 95 Percent Confidence Interval Rule. The computer will stop serving up questions when it is 95 percent certain that your ability is clearly above or clearly below the passing standard.
Scenario No. 2: Maximum Length Exam. For students whose skill levels are very close to the passing standard, the computer will likely serve up the maximum number of questions. In such a scenario, the computer ignores the 95 percent confidence rule and only considers the final ability estimate.
Scenario No. 3: Ran-Out-of-Time Rule. If you run out of time before reaching the maximum number of items and the computer has not been able to pass you under the 95 percent confidence rule, an alternate criteria is used:
If you have not answered the minimum number of required questions, you fail.
If you have made it through the minimum number of required questions, the computer looks at the last 60 ability estimates. If the last 60 estimates were consistently above the passing standard, you pass. If your ability estimate drops below the passing standard even once over the last 60 questions, you fail. This does not mean that you must answer the last 60 questions correctly, because each ability estimate is based on your success over all previously answered questions.