TY - JOUR T1 - The NAPLEX: evolution, purpose, scope, and educational implications JF - American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education Y1 - 2008 A1 - Newton, D. W. A1 - Boyle, M. A1 - Catizone, C. A. KW - *Educational Measurement KW - Education, Pharmacy/*standards KW - History, 20th Century KW - History, 21st Century KW - Humans KW - Licensure, Pharmacy/history/*legislation & jurisprudence KW - North America KW - Pharmacists/*legislation & jurisprudence KW - Software AB - Since 2004, passing the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) has been a requirement for earning initial pharmacy licensure in all 50 United States. The creation and evolution from 1952-2005 of the particular pharmacy competency testing areas and quantities of questions are described for the former paper-and-pencil National Association of Boards of Pharmacy Licensure Examination (NABPLEX) and the current candidate-specific computer adaptive NAPLEX pharmacy licensure examinations. A 40% increase in the weighting of NAPLEX Blueprint Area 2 in May 2005, compared to that in the preceding 1997-2005 Blueprint, has implications for candidates' NAPLEX performance and associated curricular content and instruction. New pharmacy graduates' scores on the NAPLEX are neither intended nor validated to serve as a criterion for assessing or judging the quality or effectiveness of pharmacy curricula and instruction. The newest cycle of NAPLEX Blueprint revision, a continual process to ensure representation of nationwide contemporary practice, began in early 2008. It may take up to 2 years, including surveying several thousand national pharmacists, to complete. VL - 72 SN - 1553-6467 (Electronic)0002-9459 (Linking) N1 - Newton, David WBoyle, MariaCatizone, Carmen AHistorical ArticleUnited StatesAmerican journal of pharmaceutical educationAm J Pharm Educ. 2008 Apr 15;72(2):33. U2 - 2384208 ER - TY - JOUR T1 - An examination of exposure control and content balancing restrictions on item selection in CATs using the partial credit model JF - Journal of Applied Measurement Y1 - 2003 A1 - Davis, L. L. A1 - Pastor, D. A. A1 - Dodd, B. G. A1 - Chiang, C. A1 - Fitzpatrick, S. J. KW - *Computers KW - *Educational Measurement KW - *Models, Theoretical KW - Automation KW - Decision Making KW - Humans KW - Reproducibility of Results AB - The purpose of the present investigation was to systematically examine the effectiveness of the Sympson-Hetter technique and rotated content balancing relative to no exposure control and no content rotation conditions in a computerized adaptive testing system (CAT) based on the partial credit model. A series of simulated fixed and variable length CATs were run using two data sets generated to multiple content areas for three sizes of item pools. The 2 (exposure control) X 2 (content rotation) X 2 (test length) X 3 (item pool size) X 2 (data sets) yielded a total of 48 conditions. Results show that while both procedures can be used with no deleterious effect on measurement precision, the gains in exposure control, pool utilization, and item overlap appear quite modest. Difficulties involved with setting the exposure control parameters in small item pools make questionable the utility of the Sympson-Hetter technique with similar item pools. VL - 4 N1 - 1529-7713Journal Article ER - TY - JOUR T1 - NCLEX-RN performance: predicting success on the computerized examination JF - Journal of Professional Nursing Y1 - 2001 A1 - Beeman, P. B. A1 - Waterhouse, J. K. KW - *Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate KW - *Educational Measurement KW - *Licensure KW - Adult KW - Female KW - Humans KW - Male KW - Predictive Value of Tests KW - Software AB - Since the adoption of the Computerized Adaptive Testing (CAT) format of the National Certification Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN), no studies have been reported in the literature on predictors of successful performance by baccalaureate nursing graduates on the licensure examination. In this study, a discriminant analysis was used to identify which of 21 variables can be significant predictors of success on the CAT NCLEX-RN. The convenience sample consisted of 289 individuals who graduated from a baccalaureate nursing program between 1995 and 1998. Seven significant predictor variables were identified. The total number of C+ or lower grades earned in nursing theory courses was the best predictor, followed by grades in several individual nursing courses. More than 93 per cent of graduates were correctly classified. Ninety-four per cent of NCLEX "passes" were correctly classified, as were 92 per cent of NCLEX failures. This degree of accuracy in classifying CAT NCLEX-RN failures represents a marked improvement over results reported in previous studies of licensure examinations, and suggests the discriminant function will be helpful in identifying future students in danger of failure. J Prof Nurs 17:158-165, 2001. VL - 17 N1 - 8755-7223Journal Article ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Dispelling myths about the new NCLEX exam JF - Recruitment, Retention, and Restructuring Report Y1 - 1996 A1 - Johnson, S. H. KW - *Educational Measurement KW - *Licensure KW - Humans KW - Nursing Staff KW - Personnel Selection KW - United States AB - The new computerized NCLEX system is working well. Most new candidates, employers, and board of nursing representatives like the computerized adaptive testing system and the fast report of results. But, among the candidates themselves some myths have grown which cause them needless anxiety. VL - 9 N1 - Journal Article ER - TY - JOUR T1 - Computerized adaptive testing: the future is upon us JF - Nurs Health Care Y1 - 1993 A1 - Halkitis, P. N. A1 - Leahy, J. M. KW - *Computer-Assisted Instruction KW - *Education, Nursing KW - *Educational Measurement KW - *Reaction Time KW - Humans KW - Pharmacology/education KW - Psychometrics VL - 14 SN - 0276-5284 (Print) N1 - Halkitis, P NLeahy, J MUnited statesNursing & health care : official publication of the National League for NursingNurs Health Care. 1993 Sep;14(7):378-85. ER -