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The National Council of State Boards of Nursing, NCSBN research states the gap between international students and US educated students passing the NCLEX RN is diminishing.

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. International students made up only 10.5% of the students sitting for the exam.

As demands for nursing students increased so did the number of pupils going into nursing. Aging Baby Boomers, 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 US Citizens are arguing that there are citizens with education and experience who want a job 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? In 2007 there were 119,579 United States educated students and 33,768 internationally educated pupils taking for the NCLEX RN exam. More than 28% of all nursing students sitting for this test.

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 alert 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 US and may garner them a life of a greater quality of living and freedom from oppression.

US are still out performing international students, but international students are gaining on them.Last year, there were 119,579 US educated nursing students taking the NCLEX RN. 85.5% of them passed. Only 52% of the 33,768 internationally educated

How about those students who had to repeat the test? Last year 26,411 students sat for the exam for at least the second time. These were US educated students retaking the exam. Since this is obviously more than 14.5%

most students utilize the audios to study for the test, but some students have thought ahead and use it to learn the class material prior to starting the class.

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.