The World Health Organization has declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. The situation in Washington and the country is fluid and continues to change rapidly. Check here for updated resources, links, and accurate, evidence-based information to help inform your nursing practice.
Selected links for information
CDC: Federal guidelines for infection control, clinical care, and PPE usage. Also helpful information for disinfecting the home, helping children cope, stress and coping, and caring for animals.
NC Department of Health and Human Services: Information regarding statewide COVID-19 response; daily statistics, health information in several languages, resources for small businesses, specifics regarding the Governor’s ‘Stay Home, Stay Healthy’ order, and more.
Resources for North Carolina Nurses: Nurses are on the front lines of the global coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. NCNA has provided relevant resources for NC Nurses.
Nursing Care Quality Assurance Commission (NCQAC): Information regarding nursing licensure, emergency volunteer health practitioner applications, continuing competency, and more. Sign up to receive updates from the Commission at the bottom of the website. NOTE: All questions regarding NCLEX scheduling and testing should be directed to Pearson Vue.
NCLEX NEws
April 24th, 2020:
Starting May 1st Pearson VUE will open their entire Pearson Professional Center (PPC) network across the U.S. and Canada. With this news, please note the following:
- All PPCs will be social distancing compliant
- PPCs will remain open unless government mandated to shut down.
- Current government mandates: Pennsylvania & Puerto Rico
- International PPCs will be open on a nation by nation basis
- NCLEX candidates who are already scheduled after May 1 will not be unscheduled unless social distancing guidelines require it. Candidates who are unscheduled will be given priority for rescheduling at PPCs and Pearson VUE will work with these candidates to reschedule beginning April 28th. Due to social distancing guidelines, PPCs will be at 50% capacity. We are working with Pearson VUE on solutions for the backlog of candidates looking to schedule during the peak NCLEX testing period (May –August).
April 7th, 2020: Update regarding NCLEX testing in WA from the Dept. of Health –
“We have just been notified by Pearson VUE that NCLEX candidates that were to test between April 16-30 were unscheduled erroneously and we are working with Pearson VUE to remedy this issue. Please note: the Essential Testing Network that we have established with Pearson VUE is still operational and delivering the NCLEX examination. Candidates who received notice of cancellation should be directed to log into their Pearson VUE account and re-schedule their appointment as soon as possible. Pearson VUE regrets the inconvenience this has caused you and your candidates.”
March 24th: LIMITED NCLEX TESTING RESUMES!
After making a number of changes to enhance the safety of those taking the test as well as the staff working in the centers test delivery at U.S.-and-Canada based Pearson VUE test centers, the NCLEX test administrator, resumes on March 25th at a limited number of test centers in major metropolitan areas across the United States and Canada. In Washington State, two testing centers are open for NCLEX examinations: Renton and Spokane. Nursing students who had their tests cancelled due to COVID-19 can reschedule now, provided testing is available on the selected date. Please note that due to social distancing, test slots are limited, and centers are not running at full capacity. There have been a few structural changes to the NCLEX exam to aid in testing center capacity. The maximum time allotted for the NCLEX exam has been shortened from five hours to four hours. Computerized Adapted Testing will still be used.
More information can be found here:
NCSBN | Pearson Vue
March 20th: ATTENTION: For NEW or GRADUATING nurses – as most of you know, NCLEX is unavailable until testing sites open up again. In light of this, you may be eligible for the Emergency Interim Permit to practice as a licensed nurse in this healthcare emergency of COVID-19.