When did the NCLEX become the NCLEX?

Published

My mother is a LPN and my aunt is a RN and a CCRN with a MSN. They all did this way back in the day (like 30+ years ago) and neither one of them know what the NCLEX is. They just remember taking "the boards." When did the NCLEX officially become the NCLEX?

Up Vote Up Vote ×

The CAT (Computer Adaptive Testing) model was introduced in 1994. As I recall, the test was already being referred to as the NCLEX at that time. Or they may have introduced the term NCLEX with the advent of the CAT model. Maybe someone else has a better recollection of this.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

As the NCSBN shows stats from 1983 I would hazard a guess to that date, was pen and paper

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Yeah Ive heard of old school nurses (nursing for over 20 years) who took a NCLEX style exam with pencil and paper and waited months to get their scores in the mail

Up Vote Up Vote ×

I just did an internet search. The NCSBN (promulgates NCLEX) site does not give the history of the NCLEX. Didn't go much further as other links are turning out to be bad links.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Trauma, Teaching.
Yeah Ive heard of old school nurses (nursing for over 20 years) who took a NCLEX style exam with pencil and paper and waited months to get their scores in the mail

Oh thank you for making me feel old!! lol

Yes, I took the boards when it was still 5 separate exams, over two days, offered twice a year. You showed up at the testing site, diploma in hand to prove you had it, and wrote and wrote and wrote. Break for lunch, come back for more, come back the second day. We waited 6-8 weeks, not months. If you failed you waited 6 months for another chance, could not work as a grad nurse in between. Your head nurse usually got your scores before you did, and would call you at home to tell you not to come to work anymore.

My class was the last to take the 5 exam boards, 1981. After that it moved a mixed exam rather than 5 sections where you could pick your answers depending on the area you were testing in. Pysch, Med-surg, OB/peds, are the ones I recall.

My buddy got knocked off her bicycle by a hit and run, on the way to the second day. She picked herself up, pushed the bike the rest of the way, got there a half hour late and sat the exam, covered with mud. We threw her bike in my truck at lunch time, rushed to her house, let her shower and we grabbed some sandwiches, ran back for the last exam and then we went to the ER for her pelvic pain. Only bruises, PTL, and we both passed.:bowingpur:bowingpur

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion