Evolving Licensure Examination: Assessing Student Confidence and Accuracy With Next Generation NCLEX

The Next Generation NCLEX (NGN) includes new item types. Little is known about nursing students' confidence and accuracy in answering these questions.

A descriptive comparative study examined prelicensure nursing students' confidence and accuracy in answering NGN-style items versus multiple-choice questions (MCQs) of the same content via a 12-item quiz.

Less than one third of students (n = 194; 32.1%) reported feeling confident in answering NGN questions. Students' confidence levels had no relationship on scores with NGN items. When comparing NGN-style items to MCQs, students' (n = 221) scores on NGN-style items were lower with bowtie or a select-all-that-apply questions but higher with highlight table or matrix multiple-choice questions.

Students' lack of confidence with certain item types suggests faculty should incorporate these item types into classroom activities or course assignments. NGN test-taking strategies also should be incorporated and frequently reinforced throughout the curriculum. [.