Nursing Examination Subject Matter Expert (MSN Required)

The School of Nursing seeks a highly qualified nursing education professional to support examination development, implementation, and continuous quality improvement across nursing programs. This position will partner closely with Program Directors, curriculum leaders, and faculty to facilitate the development of high-quality assessments that align with NCLEX®, the NCSBN Clinical Judgment Measurement Model (CJMM), program outcomes, and best practices in nursing education assessment.

The Nursing Exam SME will provide subject matter expertise in test item writing, exam assembly, exam delivery processes, psychometric review, and item analysis. This role will support the ongoing enhancement of assessment practices across the School of Nursing and contribute to faculty development related to examination quality and student success.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and review of nursing examination items across nursing courses and exam blueprints.
• Ensure exam items align with course outcomes, program outcomes, NCLEX test plan expectations, CJMM principles, and exam blueprints.
• Collaborate with Program Directors and faculty to create and revise exam blueprints.
• Review assessments for content validity, fairness, clarity, and appropriate cognitive level.
• Support exam construction and balancing of content areas and cognitive complexity.

• Coach Program Directors and faculty on evidence-based exam development practices.
• Provide guidance on:
• Best practices for test item writing
• Determination of Bloom's cognitive levels
• Classification of CJMM cognitive processes
• Construction of Next Generation NCLEX-style items
• Assessment alignment with learning outcomes
• Develop faculty resources, workshops, and reference materials related to nursing assessment.

• Support the implementation and administration of nursing examinations.
• Collaborate with academic leadership to identify and resolve assessment-related concerns.
• Assist with exam security, version control, and quality assurance processes.
• Participate in assessment workflow design and continuous process improvement initiatives.

• Conduct post-exam psychometric reviews and item analyses.
• Partner with Program Directors to evaluate examination performance data.
• Interpret key assessment metrics, including:
• Item difficulty
• Item discrimination
• Distractor effectiveness
• Reliability measures
• Provide recommendations for item revision, retention, or retirement.
• Monitor assessment quality trends and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.

• Serve as a resource for nursing assessment best practices.
• Promote consistency in examination standards across nursing programs.
• Support ongoing curriculum redesign and assessment initiatives.
• Assist in establishing and maintaining assessment quality benchmarks.

Requirements

• Master's degree in Nursing (MSN) from an accredited institution
• Current RN license that has never been encumbered
• Minimum of three years of experience in nursing education
• Demonstrated experience in nursing exam development and assessment design
• Strong understanding of NCLEX-RN test plans and contemporary nursing education assessment strategies
• Experience analyzing exam performance data and item analysis reports
• Knowledge of learning outcomes assessment and curriculum alignment principles
• Certified Nurse Educator (CNE) credential preferred
• Continuous quality improvement processes for nursing assessments.

About Us:

American Public University System (the System) is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) (www.hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. HLC accredits degree-granting institutions nationwide and is also recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. The System is comprised of American Military University, American Public University, Rasmussen University, and Hondros College of Nursing. The System is authorized by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and other appropriate agencies in the states where it has campuses. The System is authorized to operate as a postsecondary educational institution by the Illinois Board of Higher Education. American Public University System, Inc., which operates the System, is a wholly owned subsidiary of American Public Education, Inc. American Public University System, American Public University, and American Military University are not affiliated with American University or the U.S. Military.