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The National Council of State Boards of Nursing, NCSBN research states pass rates 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 a total of 71,475 US educated students and 7,506 internationally educated students taking the NCLEX RN. International students made up only 10.5% of the students sitting for the exam.

Although the number of nursing students increased significantly in 2007, it is not meeting the needs of the demands. Aging Baby Boomers, population explosion, and nurses performing the tasks that were traditionally performed by doctors is causing a serious demand for nurses.

The demand for nurses in the US is being answered by students in other countries. Many US 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 nurses in the US be competing for jobs in the US with students educated abroad? In 2007 there were 119,579 US educated students and 33,768 internationally educated pupils sitting for the NCLEX RN test. This is a bit more than 28% of all nursing students taking this exam.

The dramatic increase is quite possibly the result of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing opening three exam centers abroad. In just seven years the percentage of international students has risen 17.5%

Students educated outside the US 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 permanent residency in the US and may garner them a life of a greater quality of living and freedom from oppression.

How well are US educated students performing compared to their internationally educated counterparts? are still out performing international students, but international students are gaining on them.In 2007, there were 119,579 US educated nursing students taking the NCLEX RN. 85.5% of them passed. 52% of the 33,768 internationally educated

How about the students who did not pass the exam? In 2007 26,411 students sat for the exam for at least the second time. These were US 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 a few 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.