NCLEX Rules - Please Follow Them!

[BloomNurseRN, ASN, BSN, RN]

I took the NCLEX-RN on June 10, 2013 and passed. Before I ever sat at the computer I was handed a sheet of rules to read thoroughly and it was expected that I would follow them. I have to say though, sitting in to that room was not the first time I saw the rules. They aren't a secret and they shouldn't be a surprise. They are available on the NCSBN website for everyone to see. Apparently there are some that aren't told this because results are still being put on hold due to issues during testing.

There have been other articles on allnurses.com but they are older and have been pushed down into the forums so I thought a new list might help. These are rules that apply to the NCLEX-RN and NCLEX-PN.

Be careful what you bring with you to the testing site.

All personal items have to be stored in a locker during the exam. Cell phones are placed in a sealed plastic envelope and are NOT to be accessed after you begin your NCLEX. You absolutely cannot be on a cell phone during a break. Also, study materials are NOT to be brought to the testing center. If you feel like you will be tempted to use your cell phone, do NOT bring it with you to the site. Leave it at home or in your glove compartment. Do not set yourself up for failure. These things can absolutely result in an automatic failure and possibly more severe consequences.

Don't touch your white board until the tutorial is over.

The tutorial is a quick walk through of what the NCLEX will look like and the types of questions you will encounter. Until the tutorial is complete, absolutely do NOT write anything on the board. Writing on the board (e.g. lab values or acronyms) before the tutorial is complete is considered a form of "brain dumping", which can result in your results being placed on hold or more severe consequences.

If you need something, raise your hand.

Once your NCLEX exam has begun do not do anything in the room without raising your hand. If you have filled up your whiteboard, need a break, your computer has locked up, or your test is complete, raise your hand for a testing center employee to come to you. Do not get up on your own and do not talk or your results can be placed on hold or more severe consequences.

Try to stay calm as you leave.

It's easy to be overwhelmed as you complete the NCLEX. All of the nerves, adrenaline, whatever you want to call it may either be coming to a head or you may be exhausted following the exam. You still need to keep a clear head. Raise your hand when the test is over to be escorted out, redo your palm scan, and then retrieve your items from your locker. If you brought your cell phone with you, the envelope it was stored in has to be opened by the staff at the center before you leave. If you leave without finishing these steps (and with your cell phone still in the envelope) your results can be placed on hold or more severe consequences.

Obviously there is a pattern to this list. These are issues that I have seen on the message boards recently and that are covered very clearly in the NCLEX rules. These are all things that can result in a hold placed on NCLEX results or more severe consequences (failure being one of them).

My nursing school instructors, as well as my ATI Live Review presenter and Kaplan presenter, all put great emphasis on following the rules (seriously put the fear of God in us - I asked both of the monitors if it would be ok to remove my sweatshirt if it got hot just to be on the safe side). There were horror stories of a woman using her cell phone as she left the testing site being spotted by one of the testing center employees. There was a concern that she was calling to relay NCLEX information and her results were placed on hold and an inquiry ensued. You have worked too hard and too long to let something like that happen over a cell phone. There are certainly other issues that come up (e.g. completing the NCLEX quickly, odd testing pattern, perceived odd behavior) but the ones that I have listed above are all controllable and preventable.

My personal example also involves a cell phone. I did take mine with me to the testing center because I walked from my hotel and I wanted to be able to call my husband should it begin raining while I was testing so he could come and pick me up. I followed all of the procedures, completed my exam, and was allowed to leave by the testing center monitor that was watching us test takers. She did my exit palm scan and wished me a good day. I went to get my wallet and cell phone out of the locker but the person who had been at the front desk was not there. I stood and waited for the other monitor to be available so that she could remove my cell phone from its sealed envelope. I didn't want to take even the remotest chance that it would be realized I had left without someone at the center opening my cell phone.

The rules are available on the NCSBN website all day, every day. Read them carefully before you go and read them thoroughly the day of the exam. Use it as a moment to take a deep breath and review something you already know. These seem like small things but I highly recommend keeping your wits about you and keeping a cool head so you don't make a silly mistake that could cost you something you have worked so hard for.