The National Council Licensure Examinations/differential item functioning process

The National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc., is committed to administering licensure examinations that test minimum, essential entry level nursing competence. The item development process used by the National Council includes extensive procedures that are designed to minimize the possibility that test items contain factors unrelated to the purpose of the examination. This article described one of those procedures, known as the NCLEX DIF process. The NCLEX DIF process combines a statistical review with a judgmental review to detect items that may be measuring other than the intended construct. National Council Licensure Examinations are closely scrutinized to ensure fairness and validity. While it may not be possible to conduct DIF analyses on classroom test items, nursing educators should endeavor to review all items for potential item bias by examining them for stereotypical and sensitive material. Guidelines to assist the nursing educator in the review process to prevent item bias are available (Wendt, Holz, Worcester, 1996; Shepard, 1982).