Sensitivity
NCLEX-RN glossary · Reduction Of Risk Potential
Definition
A psychometric measure of a test item's capacity to correctly differentiate between candidate ability (theta) and item difficulty (b), particularly at the 0.00-logit passing threshold.
Sensitivity in plain English
High sensitivity ensures the examination accurately identifies candidates who possess the minimum clinical judgment required for safe practice. The tempting mistake is misinterpreting a highly sensitive item as merely 'difficult' rather than a precise tool designed to pinpoint the candidate's safety level.
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