Resource Center

We continue to develop the REx-PN examination to support the valid and reliable assessment of the knowledge and abilities required to practice safe and effective registered practical nursing at the entry-level in British Columbia and Ontario. The nurse regulatory bodies remain committed to this aim and have dedicated this session to presenting a few updates to the REx-PN exam.

NCSBN ensures the fair and secure delivery of the REx-PN by administering the exam under strict supervision and security measures. These measures help ensure the validity of the scores remain intact. The first part of this session will highlight the security measures NCSBN has in place for the REx-PN, including incidents that occur at testing centers as well as our confidentiality agreement with candidates. During the second part of the session, you will learn about the testing accommodation process, including the roles of the candidate, NCSBN, Pearson VUE and nursing regulatory bodies. Providing adequate and necessary accommodations to qualified candidates is also crucial for ensuring the validity and fairness of test scores.

NCSBN has several processes to ensure fairness for all groups taking the REx-PN. This ensures candidates with comparable nursing knowledge perform similarly on exam items, regardless of their gender, ethnicity or other factors irrelevant to nursing practice? This session will describe how Sensitivity and Differential Item Functioning (DIF) panels contribute to an exam’s fairness and legal defensibility.

Ever wonder how REx-PN items are developed? This session will explain the processes and steps every REx-PN item goes through before it can be used on the exam. Opportunities for educator involvement will also be highlighted.