Resources available to you during test?

[Vanillanut, DNP, RN, APRN]

I am a Canadian RN, I'm writing my NCLEX in Washington next month. It's quite different from what the Canadian test was (CRNE).

I was wondering if during the exam on the computer, you have access to a calculator and/or lab norms. The reason I ask this is because I've used several different studying materials/courses, each one with slightly differing lab "normal" values... and what is normal for one seems to be slightly high/low for another. Or is it all purely ballpark and memorization?

I did a few online practice exams where they had both a calculator and lab norms..... I don't want to rely on them if I won't be using them.

[Nessa,RN]

When I took the NCLEX in Ohio they provided a calculator on the testing computer as well as a dry erase board to do any math problems you need to write out. No lab norms....that is expected of us to know like in the real world :)

Best of luck to you!

[Vanillanut, DNP, RN, APRN]

Thanks for your reply :) I know my labs, don't get me wrong. It's just that trying to learn the new "norms" are proving a little tricky, when each person (Kaplan, Saunders, etc) has different values. A couple online review companies I have tried also have labs there, so I was wondering if this was the case on the day- I guess not!

[Nessa,RN]

Well, from what I noticed about the labs on the NCLEX is that it's pretty obvious that they are normal or abnormal. Just memorize around the average lab values and you should be fine!

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

All that is provided is a white board to make notes or calculations as well as a calculator on the PC. no other material is provided ie norm lab results

Would also suggest DO NOT take any learning material into the center as that is not allowed

[SunshineAnytime]

I second what everyone else is saying. You get a calculator on the computer, the erase board and no lab values. The lab values I was tested on were way outside of the normal range. Good luck on your exam!

[caliotter3]

I didn't use either the drop down calculator or the white board. But I knew they were available. Some people write an encouraging message to themselves on the white board as soon as they sit down.