According to NCSBN, National Council of State Boards of Nursing test results among students studying outside the United States and US educated students taking the NCLEX RN are both on the rise from 2000.
In 2000 there were more than seventy-one thousand US educated pupils sitting for the NCLEX exam and over seventy-five hundred pupils educated outside the United States. About 88.5% of students taking the NCLEX were educated in the United States
As demands for nurses increased so did the number of students going into nursing. An aging population, population explosion, and increased number of nurses used in place of doctors is causing a serious demand for nurses.
Is the need for nurses similar to the need for computer engineers? Computer engineer positions were met by students outside the United States who were willing to learn the trade. These students are also recognizing and satisfying the need for nurses. Many United States Citizens are arguing that there are citizens with education and experience to fill the positions in the computer science field and issuing more work visas will only increase unemployment in the US. Will this be the same for the nursing industry? Last year there were 119,579 United States educated students and 33,768 internationally educated students taking for the NCLEX RN exam (http://www.audiolearn.net/NCLEX/NCLEX-RN.html). More than 28% of all nursing students taking this exam.
The increase in international students could be as a result of the NCSBN opening three new test sites outside the United States. In just seven years the percentage of international students has risen 17.5%
Students educated outside the United States are keen to the need for nurses in North America and know that educating themselves may be their opportunity to obtain a work visa and possible citizenship in the United States and may garner them a life of a greater quality of living and freedom from oppression.
Students Educated in the United States are still out performing international students, but international students are gaining on them.In 2007, there were 119,579 United States educated nursing students taking the NCLEX RN. 85.5% of them passed. 52% of the 33,768 students educated outside the United States nurses passed the first time.
How about those students who had to repeat the test? In 2007there were a total of 26,411 students retaking the exam These were United States educated students repeating the test. Since this is obviously more than 14.5%
Students from around the world listen to the audios to prepare for the nursing classes, reinforce what they are learning and prepare for the exams., but some students have thought ahead and use it to learn the class material before they start the course
Most students attribute poor test results to the lack of time they have to study. NCLEX review materials on audio make it easier to review while performing other activities such as driving or going to the gym.
NCLEX (http://www.audiolearn.net/NCLEX/NCLEX-RN_review.html) Exam Study Guide- Audios