NCLEX-PN vs. NCLEX-RN

[Diahni]

Greetings:

Can anyone tell me the difference between these two tests? I am confused because I learned that the PN test has around 200 questions and the RN has 260 - also the questions are similar - wouldn't this make the LPN test more difficult, given that one has to answer 75 and 85 questions respectively.

Thanks!

Diahni

[NYSNOWBUNNY007]

sorry, don't have an answer but this is a good question..i will def keep on the look out and curious to see the responses...XoXo

[fultzymom]

I have taken both and thought that the RN was a lot harder. I believe that there is over 200 possible on both of the tests. It just depends on how you are doing along the way. The reason I thought the RN was a lot harder was that it was a lot of delegation questions on mine and there was some questions about a certain disease that I had never heard of before. There is also a lot of priority questions on there and they all seem to need your attention first.

[hikernurse]

The LPN has more questions, but they are based on LPN studies which are shorter than RN; therefore the questions are "easier". I put it in quotes because you are also taking it with less school behind you.

I took both, answering the minimum amount of questions with each and walked out of the PN test thinking it was pretty easy (although I had studied) and walked out of the RN test wondering if I had passed.

I hope this helps :).

Here's another way to put it. An 8th grade final is easier than a 12th grade final, but each is as relatively hard for the student taking it because it is based on recently learned knowledge.

[suzanne4, RN]

Move thread to the NCLEX Forum that we have here. The questions are completely different on both exams. Minimum number of questions for the RN exam is 75, and for the PN exam is 85.

There are already several discussions here on the differences between the two exams, so I will not go into it again here.

[KacyLynnRN]

I have sat for the NCLEX-PN and the NCLEX-RN and would have to say the NCLEX-RN was more difficult, only because it required more critical thinking skills, while the PN test seemed to ask more direct questions. The questions on the NCLEX-RN were more open to interpretation. However, it is hard to compare the two since you have to complete two totally different programs of study to take each one. Good luck!

[Diahni]

I have sat for the NCLEX-PN and the NCLEX-RN and would have to say the NCLEX-RN was more difficult, only because it required more critical thinking skills, while the PN test seemed to ask more direct questions. The questions on the NCLEX-RN were more open to interpretation. However, it is hard to compare the two since you have to complete two totally different programs of study to take each one. Good luck!

KacyLynn and everybody:

Thanks for the info - I guess the description "more or less the same" is subject to a lot of interpretation. By "direct" questions, I'm assuming you mean less interpretation of the situation and more "what do you do first" kinds of questions.

In any case, I appreciate the responses. Allnurses.com is 200,000 members strong, and wow, is it ever a great resource for everybody.

Thanks again,

Diahni